Michael Gray and Isaiah Terrell dominate rafters in 1-0 win over Chinooks

July 26, 2024 – Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Press Release Lakeshore Chinooks

MEQUON, Wis. – Chinooks starter Michael Gray drove in five scoreless runs, Isaiah Terrell added two scoreless runs to earn the save and All-Star Dominic Kibler hit an RBI double off the left-corner wall in the Chinooks’ 1-0 (7-13) victory over the Rafters (13-9).

Gray (Denison University) struck out seven batters in five innings of impeccable baseball, allowing just three hits and no walks, putting himself in position for an elusive starter’s victory.

“We’re in a bit of a slump, which is unfortunate, but I knew we had to win and I did what I could to make that happen. And we won, so that’s great,” the left-handed pitcher said.

The fastball-breaking ball starter relied heavily on his off-speed stuff early in Friday’s mid-afternoon affair, jumping on Wisconsin Rapids hitters with the slider, using the pitch for each of his first five strikeouts.

“He’s got two main pitches and (the slider) landed, and he can get swing and misses in the dirt,” manager Mitch Rogers said. “He did a really good job of getting ahead of them and burying them in the late counts all day.”

Gray cast an early dark cloud over the Rafters, recording his first strikeout on the third out of the first inning.

In the Chinooks’ top half, Kibler hit the ball hard up the middle, but Wisconsin Rapids shortstop Trotter Boston made a great turn and threw the ball to first base to catch it.

The Lakeshore starter confirmed he would be dealing all afternoon in the second, finishing the first Rafter with a slider low and away for a three-pitch strikeout, then adding a ‘K on the same breaking ball to get the next man.

Finally threatening in the top of the third, the Rafters singled to left. But as the runner raced to second, Gray used his spidey senses to retire the runner on a full count with one strike lost. On the next pitch, the southpaw dotted another breaking ball to the outside corner for his fourth strikeout in the first three frames.

For Lakeshore, the third inning produced its only run of the game. Designated hitter Sam Hunt reached on an error and was replaced by speedy Griffin Cameron on a fielder’s choice. Cameron then stole second and Kibler came to bat. He doubled off the wall in left to bloody the Chinooks.

It would prove to be the only score of the seven-inning game.

Gray kept up his lightning-fast pace on the mound as he struck out three more batters in the fourth and fifth innings, finishing his outing with just 65 pitches thrown.

“In these seven-inning-and-short games, you go all out from the start,” the Denison pitcher said.

Terrell (College of Lake County) followed his fellow left-handed pitcher at Lakeshore with two clean frames, striking out two to earn the save, his first in two seasons in the Northwoods League.

Cameron and Kibler nearly combined for another run in the fifth inning after Cameron stole second. The outfielder then stole third while the catcher walked four pitches. Kibler then stole second as well, but left fielder Joey Nerat broke his bat on a groundout to first.

In the seventh, just two outs away from a shutout victory, second baseman Jack Counsell made a great play to catch a one-hopper and keep the bases empty. The left-hander then perfectly placed a slider for a strikeout to end game one of the doubleheader.

The win snapped a seven-game losing streak for Lakeshore and the Chinooks get a chance to keep the positive momentum going when they play the Rafters again tonight at 6:35 p.m. (CST) in game two of the doubleheader at Moonlight Graham Field.

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