Dock Spiders Defeat Rafters, 9-7
Fond du Lac won game one of the two game road series against Wisconsin Rapids off nine runs by setting a season high in single game hit total with 12.
On a rainy and cold Tuesday night where the initial start time was pushed back by 45 minutes, the Dock Spiders got back in the win column thanks in part to highlight performances from the batting order and the pitching rotation.
Starting on the mound, Fond du Lac native Ethan Cole totaled six innings of work only giving up three hits and one run to his seven strikeouts. Defensively, the Dock Spiders would bank on this outing throughout the heart of this game as Cole went through high-count at bat after high-count at bat totalling a game-high 86 pitches.
The Dock Spiders were in control for a majority of the game and even had an eight run lead at one point. Ultimately the Rafters worked their way back into the game and pulled within two in the seventh inning.This made way for the most memorable performance of the night where Dylan Immel came in with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Immel closed out the game and earned the save while striking out five Rafters through heavy rain.
As for offense, Dock Spiders first baseman Matt Hansen led the team in hits going 3-for-4 with two runs, two doubles and five RBI. This performance, paired with Tommy Googins going 2-for-3 with two runs, helped bolster Fond du Lac’s run total to get past the Rafters.
Fond du Lac returns to Witter Field tomorrow night for game two at 6:35 p.m. as the Dock Spiders look for the sweep over the Rafters.
Next home game for the Dock Spiders is on Thursday, June 5 against the Green Bay Rockers at 6:35 p.m. The game not only falls on a Craft Brews and Brats Thursday brought to you by the Fox River Brewing Co., the Sheboygan Sausage Company and 99.5 PKR New Country Now where brats and craft brews will be sold for $3 but it is also Caleb Durbin Night. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for a pregame meet and greet with Caleb Durbin as the former Dock Spider and current Milwaukee Brewer returns to Herr-Baker Field.
Information about ticket packages is currently available at dockspiders.com or by calling the ticket office at (920) 907-9833. Visit the Dock Spiders ballpark Box Office and Team Store during normal business hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Entering its’ 32nd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 24 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 380 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network. Learn more and find complete streaming schedules at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit dockspiders.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Dock Spiders as your favorite team.