For the City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (20-18) split a doubleheader against the Pit Spitters (22-16) at Witter Field on July 7, winning game one, 9-2, and dropping game two, 6-0.

The Rafters started the day with a two-hit, one-run first. The second inning saw a two-run double from Josh Nicoloff (Kansas State) and a sacrifice fly from Andrew Duran (New Orleans).

Nathan Hemmerling (Lakeland) started and threw three innings, retiring all nine batters he faced.

Cole Eigenhuis (Sacramento City CC) entered to begin the fourth, and after loading the bases, allowed only one run. He totaled 2.2 innings, worked around three walks, and earned the win.

Wisconsin Rapids added two runs in the fifth, RBI hits from Sterling Hayes (Creighton) and Angelo D’Acunto (Holy Cross), and three in the sixth.

Brayden Bonner (Dixie State) got the final four outs.

In-game two, the Pit Spitters produced early. After Rafters starter Jack Gonzales (Dixie State) escaped bases loaded with no outs in the second and tossed a 1-2-3 third, Traverse City had three consecutive hits in the fourth and plated two runs.

In the fifth, the Rafters committed two throwing errors, resulting in three runs. Gonzales finished with four innings total, allowing three earned runs.

Pit Spitters starter Jacob Marcus allowed only three base runners in the first four innings. In seven innings, he had five 1-2-3 innings, including the last three. He earned six strikeouts, only one walk, and no hits – 25th no-hitter in Northwoods League History.