Taugner Adds Strength to Rotation, Duo of Infielders Look to Make an Impact
Madison, Wis. – The Madison Mallards have announced the signing of right handed pitcher Christian Taugner from Brown University, infielder Robbie Tenerowicz from the University of California, and infielder Trent Higginbothem from the University of North Florida.
Taugner, a 6’2”, 190-pound right handed pitcher from Brown University will pitch for the Mallards following his freshman year with the Bears. In his impressive rookie campaign, Taugner led the team with a 2.39 ERA, 49 strikeouts and 52.2 innings pitched, and allowed just 14 earned runs and nine walks. He earned Ivy League Pitcher and Co-Rookie of the Week honors after limiting the South Carolina Gamecocks to just one run over seven innings in his collegiate debut.
He attended Lake Park High School in Rochelle, Illinois where he was a team captain as a senior. He was a two-time All-Conference and Academic All-Conference selection in high school while also being named to the All-Area team in 2012.
Tenerowicz, a 6’1”, 188-pound infielder from the University of California comes to Madison following his freshman year with the Golden Bears. So far in 2014, he is hitting .172 with one HR and six RBI. He has appeared in 40 games, starting 30 while boasting a .974 fielding percentage.
Tenerowicz played high school baseball at Campolindo High School in Moraga, California. He was a three-time first-team all-league selection and earned first-team all-state honors in 2012. He helped lead his team to state titles in 2012 and 2013 and four straight league championships from 2010 to 2013. As a junior he hit .457 with 42 RBI and finished his high school career with 15 home runs.
Higginbothem, a 6’0”, 200-pound infielder from the University of North Florida will make an appearance with the Mallards following his junior season with the Ospreys. Higginbothem has been strong in 2014, hitting .333 with 66 hits, with 19 extra base hits, and 48 RBI in his first season with the team.
He spent his first two years playing at Tallahassee Community College, where he earned First Team All-American, All-District and All-Region honors as a sophomore and held a .402 batting average, 59 RBIs and belted three home runs. He hit .311 with 52 RBI and six home runs as a freshman.
Higgenbothem played high school ball at Pace High School in Pace, Florida where he received Preseason All-American honors and First Team All-State accolades as a senior. He helped the Patriots to a State Championship title his junior season while garnering First Team All-District honors.
The Mallards host their season opener on Tuesday, May 27th at 7:05 pm when they take on the Kalamazoo Growlers. Mallards single game tickets are on-sale now. Tickets are available for purchase by visiting MallardsBaseball.com, calling 608-246-4277, or stopping by the Mallards ticket office.
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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 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, 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 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live and free of charge via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit MallardsBaseball.com.