The Scrappy Rats celebrate their late victory and defeat Green Bay at home 8-6
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin – In classic 2024 Rafters fashion, Wisconsin Rapids built a big lead against Green Bay on Friday, fell behind late in the game, but then fought back to snatch the win from the loss.
Ben Loyd, Cashel Dugger and Landon Gaz all hit home runs, Jorge DeGoti allowed a crucial RBI fielder’s choice in the eighth inning, and Seth Creasy threw two scoreless innings to secure the win.
The Rafters opened the scoring with Ben Loyd’s solo home run in the bottom of the second inning. It was his first home run as a Rafter.
“It felt really good, I hit the sweet spot and the ball flew,” Loyd said after the game. “The fans come every night when we’re in the stadium… It’s really fun.”
“He’s a player, that’s one thing I loved about Ben,” Rafters hitting coach Chris Willsey said. “He always wants to get going early… I’m glad to be able to coach him again.”
Wisconsin Rapids scored one more point in the fourth inning before completely blowing the game apart in the fifth inning when Cashel Dugger hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning. That home run knocked Rockers starter Nicholas Graham out of the game after 103 pitches.
But in the seventh inning, the Rockers struck back.
Reliever Dakota Crumbley allowed six runs in that inning, with Jake Bold’s grand slam giving Green Bay the lead providing the exclamation point. After that hit, it felt like all the air had been sucked out of Witter Field.
Enter Landon Gaz, who hit a solo home run off the first pitch of the eighth inning, tying the game and getting the crowd excited. His first home run at Witter Field was his biggest of the season, and it came when Wisconsin Rapids needed it most.
“We blocked tough pitches, stayed in our count and just got good pitches to hit … and we threw out three,” Willsey said. “Just good at-bats from one through nine, all nine, and you saw what happened.”
Wisconsin Rapids then loaded the bases and Gabe Caso raced home on a grounder off DeGotis’ fielder’s choice before Walker Buchanan brought home another run with a bases-loaded walk. Those two runs brought the score to 8-6 for the Rafters heading into the ninth inning.
Seth Creasy got the last three outs all by strikeout, giving Bold the momentum to end the game. Although the Rafters were out of the playoff race at this point, the win was emblematic of the process paying off once again: Even when they’re behind late in a game, Wisconsin Rapids are never out of the race.
In their final home game of the regular season, Wisconsin Rapids will look to take a series win over Green Bay at 6:35 p.m. Khalin Kapoor will provide commentary on the Northwoods League Sports Network and Andy Jachim will be on WHFR Rafters Radio.
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the Northwoods League, the premier developmental league for elite collegiate baseball players. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in developing elite collegiate baseball players. Now in its 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 teams and draws significantly more fans with a friendly baseball experience than any other league of its type. Serving as a valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and management staff, over 245 Northwoods League players have made it 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 can be watched live on the Northwoods League website. All league games can be watched live on 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 Google Play and set the Rafters as your favorite team.
Do you know of any top sporting achievements? Have you seen great teams in action?
We can use your help, and it’s easy to do. Want to see great performances? Want to hear about top athletes and teams in our area?
Athlete of the Week and Team of the Week:
************************************************
Pancakes or waffles! In our world-famous article we present top athletes from the region. Send us your suggestions for the people you would like us to interview. HERE
College Athletes Roundup! We want to recognize local student athletes who compete at the collegiate level. Send us information about local college athletes using our simple form HERE
Where are they now? We feature athletes and personalities who have excelled and evolved over the years. Know of a former athlete, coach or personality we should feature? Know of a former standout competitor whose journey beyond sports in Central Wisconsin we should share? Send us information about athletes and personalities from the past using our simple form. HERE
Baked or fried! We also feature people who are making a difference across Central Wisconsin: coaches, board leaders, administrators, volunteers, whatever. Send us your suggestions for people you’d like us to interview. HERE
