For the City Times

FOND DU LAC – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are in the midst of a hot streak, as they extended their winning streak to 14 games, tying a franchise record, defeating the Fond Du Lac Dock Spiders, 17-2, on June 14. 

As the Rafters have done a lot during their winning streak, they put runs on the board in the first innings.  Jacob Igawa, Garrett Broussard, and Harry Owen all had RBI singles in the top of the first to put the Rafters up first, 3-0.  This would end up being all the runs Wisconsin Rapids needed on the night, but not all that they would score.  After a bottom half of the first in which Rafters starter Collin Kiernan had to exit the game due to injury, newcomer Dalton Renne recorded the final out to hang up the first zero of the night for the Dock Spiders.  

The scoring did not stop for the Rafters in the top of the second. Brendan Bobo hit his Northwoods League-leading sixth homer, as it was a three-run bomb to put the Rafters up 6-0.  Jacob Igawa went back-to-back with a solo shot to give the Rats a 7-0 lead.  The Dock Spiders put up their lone two runs of the night in the bottom of the second via Cole Messina’s solo homer and an RBI groundout to make it 7-2. 

The Rafters were held scoreless in the third and fourth innings.  However, they took a 9-2 in the top of the first via a Stone Miyao sacrifice fly and a Joe Osborn RBI single. Colin Tuft had an RBI single in the top of the sixth to give the Rafters a 10-2 lead.

Dalton Renne finished his debut as a Rafter at the end of the sixth.  He threw 5.1 innings, gave up two hits, two runs, one walk, struck out six, and received the win. 

The Rafters scored three more in the seventh, as Brendan Bobo had a two-run single, and Garrett Broussard hit an RBI single to put the Rats up 13-2.  Harry Owen left the yard for his first homer in the Wisconsin Rapids uniform in the eighth to give the Rafters a 14-2 lead.  Malakai Vetock threw two scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth for the Rats, only giving up one hit and striking out two Dock Spiders. 

Colin Tuft, Harry Owen, and Stone Miyao all had RBI hits in the top of the ninth to put up a Rafters three spot, to give Wisconsin Rapids a 17-2 lead. Connor Kurki made his Rafters debut in the bottom of the ninth, retiring the side in order.  The Rafters had 23 hits tonight, including 10 extra-base knocks.

Brady Jurgella, Brendan Bobo, Colin Tuft, Harry Owen, and Jacob Igawa all had multi-hit nights.  However, maybe none shined brighter than Rafters third baseman Garrett Broussard, who went 5-for-6 with three doubles, two runs scored, and two RBI.