For the City Times

KOKOMO, IN – With a 7-3 win over the Kokomo Jackrabbits (2-4) on July 8, the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (4-2) field manager Craig Noto reached 200 Northwoods League wins in his fifth season with the team.

The Rafters scored early and often and staved off a late rally to hold on for the win and move into a tie for first place in the Great Lakes West Division with the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders.

Osvaldo Tovalin drove in a run in the first inning to put the Rafters up 1-0. Wisconsin Rapids added four more runs later in the fourth, including RBIs by Matt Oldham and Richie Schiekofer. Leading 5-0, the Rafters added a pair of runs an inning later. Edarian Williams hit an RBI double and Oldham added his second RBI in the inning.

Kokomo threatened with three runs over the seventh and eighth innings, but Cody Turner pitched a clean eighth inning to close out the game for the Rafters. Wisconsin Rapids starter Nathan Hemmerling threw six shutout innings, striking out two batters and giving up just three hits. Kokomo starter Blaine Traxel is credited with the loss.