Rafters intern in the majors as intern with the Milwaukee Brewers - Wisconsin Rapids Tribune

Wisconsin Rapids Rafters players aren’t the only ones advancing to bigger stages.

Hilary Bauer, 22, of Wisconsin Rapids, who interned for two years for the Rafters baseball team, now is a corporate marketing intern with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Bauer always had a love for sports, and then, while a student at Wisconsin Rapids Lincoln High School, she took the Sportainment course, a junior and senior elective class that gives students insight into marketing careers.

“I really enjoyed it,” the 2008 graduate said. “I think that’s where the entertainment aspect came in.”

Bauer graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in May with a bachelor’s degree, focusing her studies on business administration, marketing and radio/TV/film. She applied for a spring internship with the Brewers in December and was offered the summer paid position.

She is enjoying the big leagues, but admits it’s different than her hometown gig. The job with the Brewers has her working on behind-the-scenes marketing, including executing promotions with the Kids Club and Brew Crew.
“(In Wisconsin Rapids), I was more on the field,” Bauer said.

And a Jill-of-all-trades, so to speak. Rafters interns spent 80 to 90 hours at the ballpark the first year and did just about everything and anything, from coming up with promotions to cleaning or helping out with Legion tournaments when the Rafters weren’t playing at Witter Field. The interns even did the team laundry.
“We went through a lot of Shout,” Bauer said with a smile.

Liz Kern, the Rafters general manager, got her start as an intern with the Madison Mallards, another Northwoods League team. Other organizations view experience with the Northwoods League with great respect, Kern said.

“They know they can put up with the grind,” Kern said. “I think seeing that on her resume helped.”

Bauer isn’t quite sure where her future will take her, but she always will have a soft spot for the Rafters and her hometown.

“Both years we were a family; I loved coming to work,” Bauer said. “If I could go back in time the last two years, I would not change one single thing.”

For the Rafters’ opener this year, she connected with a couple former colleagues.
“It was weird,” Bauer said. “It was the first time in Rafters history that the three of us actually needed a ticket â€" and could sit down and just be fans.”

No matter where she ends up, Wisconsin Rapids and Witter Field will always be home, Bauer said.