Wisconsin Rapids, WI July 18, 2011. With the fans packed into every corner of Witter Field to witness the 2011 Marshfield Clinic Northwoods League All-Star Game, the North Division All-Stars scored early and outlasted the South Division 6-3 Monday night. In all, 2,408 fans witnessed the first All-Star game in the history of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters.

After a lead walk and a double to lead off the game for the North, home run derby champ Shaun Cooper drove home a run with a ground out. Then, with just one out, Dan Olinger of the Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers, rolled a second straight ground ball to second base to put the North up 2-0. The RBI marked just the beginning of the night for Olinger. The former inaugural season Rafter garnered “Star of Stars” honors as the player of the game with three hits, an RBI and two runs scored.

Nate Theunissen got the South Division on the board with a solo home run in the second inning, the only homer of the night for either squad. Back in a one run game, the North responded with two more runs in the very next inning. With Olinger in the mix again thanks to his second base hit, a single from Mike LeViseur of the Alexandria Beetles gave the North a 4-1 lead.

Only one South Division pitcher on the night set the North Division squad down in order in any single inning. The Rafters Skyler Debilzen punched out the first two batters he faced in the second inning. With his home to crowd backing him, the UW-La Crosse sophomore induced a ground out to complete his perfect All-Star appearance.

The North picked up a third pair of runs in the seventh inning to keep the late charging South at bay in a 6-3 final. In all 13 pitchers from the North held the South to just three runs on seven hits with six strike-outs and three walks. The win in 2011 Marshfield Clinic Northwoods League All-Star Game goes to Jason Forjet of Brainerd Lakes, while the loss goes to starter Ben Ballantine of the Battle Creek Bombers

COURTESY WISCONSIN RAPIDS RAFTERS