Published On: April 26th, 2010

(Madison, WI) The Mallards have announced pitching coach Jason Immekus will return for a third season while the team has signed a new position coach in Air Force’s Matt Rademacher.

Immekus is currently serving as pitching coach for Missouri Southern State University in Carthage. He was instrumental in helping arguably the league’s fastest rising pitcher in Union Grove, Wisconsin-native Cody Winiarski become a Northwoods League Mid-Season All-Star and the Mallards most consistent starter last summer. Winiarski transferred to the University of Virginia this past fall after pitching for nearby Madison College in 2009, and has posted a remarkable 5-0 record and 3.96 ERA over 10 starts this spring as the Cavaliers number three starting pitcher. Virginia is currently ranked the second best team in the nation according to the latest Baseball America poll.

Immekus coached at Jefferson College (MO) from 2006 to 2009 during which he helped lead the team to its twelfth Midwest Community College and second consecutive appearance in the region XVI championship game in 2008.

Immekus’ college baseball playing career began at Independence Community College (Kansas) before transferring to the nearby University of Washburn. After college he signed a free agent contract with the Richmond Roosters in the independent Frontier League and played there for two seasons. He then spent the following year with the Kalamazoo Kings in the same league.

Matt Rademacher, in his first year as a volunteer assistant coach at Air Force, will arrive in Madison with great knowledge of the Northwoods League. Rademacher was a catcher for the Alexandria Beetles for four years from 2003 to 2006 where he set team records in walks, hits, and games played. He attended the University of Michigan from 2003 to 2005 before transferring to Coastal Carolina University for two seasons from 2006-07. At CCU, Rademacher was a First-Team All Big South Selection in 2007.

He then played one season for the Traverse City Beach Bums in the independent Frontier League and went on to throw out 42 percent of potential base stealers.

“It’s certainly an advantage to have two assistant coaches who have extensive knowledge of the Northwoods League and can relay their experiences to players this summer,” Mallards Manager C.J. Thieleke said. “Getting the most out of a summer collegiate baseball team is all about putting players in the best positions to succeed, and I believe we have the personnel in place to do just that.”

Opening Day is slated for Wednesday, June 2, at 7:05 p.m. against the Wisconsin Woodchucks. Season and group tickets are now on-sale and can be purchased by calling the box office at 608.246.4277.

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