Sigh of Relief: Rafters Down Mallards 10-4
WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters launched three round-trippers Saturday night and cruised to a much-needed 10-4 victory over the Madison Mallards. Jake Beauchaine homered twice and Trotter Boston added one of his own to end the Rafters’ three-game losing streak.
The Mallards scored the first two runs of the ballgame against Rafters’ starter Zach Voss, but the real fun started in the bottom of the second. With Greyson Shafer on first, Beauchaine ripped a two-run shot to tie the game off Tyson Romero. Bryson Stripling would then single in Mason Onate a few batters later to give the Rafters a 3-2 lead.
And just one inning later, Beauchaine did it again.
After Kyler McIntosh beat out what would have been an inning-ending double play ball, Beauchaine stepped to the plate and sent a no-doubter to left field. His second homer in as many innings gave Wisconsin Rapids a 5-2 lead.
Voss would finish his day with three solid innings of work, allowing just those two runs while striking two. It was a necessary bounce-back effort after a rough first start against Wausau. Evan Parmer then took the baton from Voss and spun three strong of his own with just one run ceded. He would earn the win for his efforts.
Rafters’ bats stayed hot in the bottom of the fifth. McIntosh scored on a double steal executed to perfection by Mason Onate, then Trotter Boston hit a three-run homer to increase the lead to 9-2
Madison added a couple of runs on solo shots in the sixth and eighth innings, but the game was well in hand at that point. A combination of Cannon Restine, Sidney Ferry, and Noah Rodriguez was utilized to slam the door and put the finishing touches on the most dominant win of the season.
The Rafters now stand at 5-6 on the season and will look to get back to .500 Sunday afternoon as they welcome the La Crosse Loggers to Witter Field for a 1:05 first pitch. Khalin Kapoor will have the call on the Northwoods League Sports Network and Andy Jachim will be live on WFHR – 97.5 FM, 1320 AM.
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, over 245 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB All-Star Jordan Zimmermann (DET). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rafters as your favorite team
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Author: David Keech
David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected]
