Published On: August 9th, 2015

8-9 pre game CROPPEDMadison, Wis. (August 9) – The Madison Mallards (22-13, 42-28) have clinched a berth into the Northwoods League’s 2015 South Division Playoffs. Now, all that’s left to be determined is where they’ll play their first-round matchup on Monday. Clarity on that subject will be provided Sunday afternoon when the Mallards duel with the La Crosse Loggers (21-15, 40-30) at Copeland Park, with a 5:05 p.m. CT first-pitch penciled in for Madison’s regular-season finale. Play-by-play coverage of tonight’s contest will be provided by 100.5 FM ESPN Madison beginning at approximately 4:45 p.m. CT.

With the Kenosha Kingfish winning both the first and second-half divisional titles in the south, the Mallards will need to maintain the division’s second-best overall record in order to host a playoff game on Monday. Entering Sunday, they’ve accomplished as much, owning a one-game lead over the Green Bay Bullfrogs (19-16, 41-29). A Mallards victory over the Loggers today, by itself, would seal a home playoff game on Monday. If the Mallards lose today, Green Bay would also need to lose to Wisconsin Rapids in order for Madison to clinch a home playoff game. If the Mallards lose and Green Bay wins, the Mallards would travel to Green Bay on Monday. The Bullfrogs own the season tiebreaker.

Fully aware of the implications of Sunday’s season finale, Mallards field manager Donnie Scott has assigned right-handed pitcher Spencer Goebel (Spring Arbor Univ.) as Madison’s starting pitcher tonight against the Loggers. Goebel, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound native of Belmont, Mich., enters this evening’s affair on the heels of an August 3 start in which he allowed five earned runs across 0.1 innings at the Duck Pond. Goebel tabbed an impressive road outing on July 28 in Kalamazoo, however, surrendering no earned runs on two hits – both singles – and two strikeouts across five frames en route to a winning decision. He made his 2015 debut on July 23 against La Crosse, recording one whiff in a perfect inning of relief.

First-year Loggers field manager Bill Sandillo will counter Goebel with Billy Clemens (Gateway CC), who is scheduled to tab his third start of the summer tonight at Copeland Park. Clemens, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-handed pitcher from Mesa, Ariz., brings into tonight’s contest an 0-2 record, 6.60 ERA and 8:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio across five total appearances (15 IP) during his first stint in the country’s top summer collegiate league. The Mallards are no stranger to Clemens’ repertoire, having clubbed seven hits and three runs against him over 5.2 innings in a 9-4 victory over the Loggers on July 13 at Warner Park. Overall, opposing hitters have mustered a .344 average against Clemens.

  • On the Cusp of History – Mallards outfielder/pitcher Anthony Gonsolin (St. Mary’s College) enters tonight’s contest in La Crosse maintaining a .310 batting average with 11 home runs and 16 stolen bases this summer, giving him a chance to become just the sixth qualifying hitter since 2009 to maintain at least a .300 average, 10 home runs and 15 stolen bases in a single Northwoods League season. Notably, Loggers shortstop Mason McCoy (Illinois Central College) is one home run shy of joining Gonsolin (.369 AVG, 9 HR, 15 SB).
  • Mallards Postseason Honors — The Northwoods League announced its 2015 Postseason All-Star Teams on Sunday, for which four Madison Mallards players were selected. Jean Ramirez (Illinois State), Logan Regnier (Central Michigan), Mike Kaelin (Buffalo) and Gonsolin were selected to the All-Star squad. Ramirez leads all primary catchers with a .307 batting average. Regnier's second season with the Mallards culminated in a .344 average (fourth-best in the league), while Kaelin fanned a team-high 50 batters in just 32 innings (14.1 K/9).

Tickets for potential Mallards playoff home games next week are on sale now by calling the Mallards Ticket Office at 608-246-4277, or visiting www.MallardsBaseball.com for more information. Game times for first-round South Division playoff matchups will be determined after all games on Sunday, August 9 have been completed.

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The Madison Mallards are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website.  For more information, visit www.MallardsBaseball.com.

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