Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
| Wisconsin Rapids Rafters | |
|---|---|
 Logo | |
| Information | |
| League | Northwoods League (Great Lakes West 2019-pres) (South Division 2010-2018) |
| Location | Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin |
| Ballpark | Witter Field |
| Founded | 2010 |
| Division championships | 1 (2016) |
| League championships | 1 (2016) |
| Colors | Cranberry, gold, black, white, tan, gray[1] |
| Ownership | Joe and Vinny Fonti |
| Management | Ken Day (GM), Jake Adams (AGM), Connor Filipi (Media), Gwen Filipi (Sales) |
| Manager | Tom Zieglowsky |
| Media | Wisconsin Rapids Tribune |
| Website | RaftersBaseball.com |
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a baseball team based in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin that plays in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league. The Rafters play home games at Witter Field.
History
[edit]The Rafters were founded by Steve Schmitt and Vern Stenman, the owner and president, respectively, of the Madison Mallards. In the lead-up to their inaugural season, the team held an online vote to determine which of three fan-submitted identities (the Rafters, River Rats, and Boggers) would win. The Rafters ultimately won out, with the name a nod to the history using the Wisconsin River to transport logs. The team incorporated the River Rat as a mascot. The primary team color is cranberry red to honor the strong cranberry industry of the Wisconsin Rapids area.[2]
Before their inaugural season, seats from old Milwaukee County Stadium were added to Witter Field, in addition to several other ballpark upgrades. The Rafters played their first home game on June 6, 2010. Witter Field hosted the Northwoods League All-Star Game in 2011 and 2015.[3] Several future MLB players were on the 2015 All-Star rosters, including Daulton Varsho, Zach McKinstry, and Tony Gonsolin.[4]
2016 was an excellent season for the Rafters. They finished the season with a 49-23 record, best among all 18 teams in the league. They defeated the Lakeshore Chinooks in the quarterfinals, the Battle Creek Bombers in the semifinals, and ultimately defeated the Eau Claire Express to win their first Northwoods League championship.[5]
In 2017, the Rafters finished the season with a 52-20 record, best among the 20 NWL teams. They advanced to the single-elimination South Division championship game, but were defeated by the Battle Creek Bombers. Bryson Stott had a standout season for the Rafters en route to an MLB career. At age 19, after his freshman year at UNLV, Stott had 342 plate appearances across 71 games, batting .352 with a league-leading 100 hits. He also added 26 stolen bases.[6]
In 2020, the Northwoods League temporarily altered their structure due to the Covid-19 pandemic, operating with seven hyper-regional pod divisions. The Rafters played in the Wisconsin-Illinois West Division alongside the Wisconsin Woodchucks and La Crosse Loggers. With a roster featuring several future MLB players, the Rafters had a 35-11 record, best in the division.[7] Spencer Arrighetti appeared in seven games (24 innings) and had a perfect 0.00 ERA, with 37 strikeouts and only 10 walks. He was named NWL Pitcher of the Year.[8]
Rafters in MLB
[edit]The following is a list of former Wisconsin Rapids Rafters to have appeared in Major League Baseball.[9]
| Name | MLB teams played for | Years with Rafters | MLB Debut | MLB accolades |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Heller | Yankees, Braves, Pirates | 2012 | August 26, 2016 | |
| J. P. Feyereisen | Brewers, Rays, Dodgers, Diamondbacks | 2012–2013 | July 24, 2020 | |
| Ernie Clement | Indians/Guardians, A's, Blue Jays | 2015 | June 13, 2021 | All-Star (2026) |
| Bryson Stott | Phillies | 2017 | April 8, 2022 | |
| Zach Jackson | A's | 2014 | April 9, 2022 | |
| Richie Palacios | Guardians, Cardinals, Rays | 2016 | April 25, 2022 | |
| Jonah Bride | A's, Marlins, Twins, Rangers | 2015 | June 14, 2022 | |
| Cole Waites | Giants | 2018 | September 13, 2022 | |
| Nick Avila | Giants | 2017 | April 1, 2024 | |
| Spencer Arrighetti | Astros, Blue Jays | 2020 | April 10, 2024 | AL Pitcher of the Month (May 2026) |
| Kyle Teel | White Sox | 2020–2021 | June 6, 2025 | |
| Travis Adams | Twins | 2020 | July 5, 2025 | |
| Hayden Harris | Braves | 2021 | September 2, 2025 | |
| Ben Ross | Twins | 2022 | September 1, 2026 | |
| Jack Sinclair | Nationals | 2019 | September 4, 2026 |
References
[edit]- ↑ "Northwoods League Official Colors (1994 through present)". TruColor.net. Retrieved 12 October 2025.
- ↑ "It's the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters". BallparkBiz. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Witter Field History". Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
- ↑ "2015 Northwoods League All-Stars" (PDF). Northwoods League. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
- ↑ "2016 Northwoods League". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
- ↑ "2017 Wisconsin Rapids Rafters". Baseball Reference. Retrieved September 11, 2026.
- ↑ "2020 Northwoods League". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Northwoods League Announces 2020 Postseason All-Star Team". Northwoods League. September 8, 2020. Retrieved 4 September 2026.
- ↑ "Northwoods League Alumni in Major League Baseball" (PDF). northwoodsleague.com.
