For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters continued to stay hot. Fresh off a road trip to Rockford, the Rafters shut out the Green Bay Booyah to end the second week.

On July 11, the Rafters took to the skies for three home runs to secure their eighth win in 2020. Jack-Thomas Wold, Jake Dunham and Hank Zeisler were the three Rafters to homer in the 6-5 comeback win.

On July 12, the Rafters took control of the game in the first two innings, with Richie Schiekofer as the catalyst of the offense. In the first, Schiekofer led off the game with a single. While on first, Green Bay starter Jack Mahoney uncorked a wild pickoff throw that Schiekofer capitalized on by stealing two. Booyah first baseman Nick Kreutzer then overthrew third allowing Schiekofer to come around and score on the pair of errors.

In the second, Schiekofer came into the batter’s box with two runners on and launched a liner to left center, driving in Parker Nolan and Austin Kryszczuk to put the Rafters up 3-0. The Rafters pitching staff would take it from there.

Starter Glenn Albanese threw five innings, allowing no runs and striking out seven. Albanese’s 24 strikeouts of the season are second-best in the league. Ryan Mitschele took over in the sixth, closing out the game with four scoreless innings, allowing just two baserunners.

The Rafters moved to 9-3 with the win, and were at the top of the WI-IL Pod. The Booyah fell to 5-7 and were tied for fourth in the Pod.

If you can’t attend the games, events are often broadcast on AM 1320 WFHR radio and Northwoods League Baseball Network TV.