NORTHWOODS LEAGUE ANNOUNCES

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: April 27, 2009

Mallards Sign Two Louisville Freshman Pitchers

(MADISON, WI) A pair of Louisville Cardinal freshman right-handed pitchers in Derek Self and Tony Zych (pronounced ‘Zick’) have signed with the Madison Mallards for the 2009 season. 

Self earned four letters in both baseball and basketball while playing at Cavera High School (Cave City, KY). As a senior he was named to the 2008 Pro-Day All-American Team, a camp featuring the nation’s best young baseball prospects played in Orange Beach, Al. Meanwhile, Zych comes to Madison after earning four letters in baseball at St. Rita High School (Chicago, Ill.) where he received numerous awards including being named to the Rawlings Preseason All-American Team and National Baseball Coaches Association All-District Team. As a senior he hit .426 with eight home runs and 30 RBIs while also posting a 7-2 record and 2.63 ERA on the mound. Zych was selected in the 46th round of the 2008 MLB Draft by the Chicago Cubs.

Recruiting in the Northwoods League is all about building solid relationships with coaching staffs at various college baseball programs, and Mallards Manager C.J. Thieleke believes he has found a good one at Louisville.

“Pitching coach Roger Williams is one of the best in the country in being able to take a young pitcher out of high school and make him into a viable draft prospect,” said Thieleke. “And if the kid isn’t good enough for the draft, Roger will still instill the proper mechanics and mental toughness needed to win ballgames at any level. He seems to have that magic tough so we’re very excited to receive two kids from his program this summer.”

In 13 relief appearances this spring Self is 3-0 with a 4.35 ERA. He’s struck out 17 in 20.2 innings.

Zych carries a 3-2 record and a 2.42 ERA. He’s appeared in 16 games, thrown 26 innings, struck out 26, and had picked up two saves.