For the City Times

GREEN BAY – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (11-6) offense dominated as they cruised to an 11-5 victory over the Green Bay Booyah (10-7) on July 22 to move into first place in the Great Lakes West Division.

Richie Schiekofer put the Rafters on the board first when he scored on a ball put in play by Davion Downey. Jake Dunham started a big second inning with a solo home run to right field. Davion Downey and Frankie Garriola each had RBI doubles in the inning as the Rafters took a 6-0 lead.

Green Bay battled back and made it 6-4, but Downey extended the Rafters lead with a home run in the fifth. Garriola continued his stellar Rafters debut with an inside-the-park grand slam in the eighth inning to put Wisconsin Rapids up 11-4.

Matt Osterberg struck out three batters in 5.2 innings as the starter to get the win. Izzy Fuentes pitched 2.1 innings out of the bullpen and fanned two batters while giving up no hits. Winston Allen closed out the game in the ninth to secure the 11-5 win.

The Rafters are now 7-2 against Green Bay this season and hold a one-game lead on the Booyah for first place in the division. The Rafters hit three home runs in the win and nine of their 16 hits were extra-base hits.