{"id":7427,"date":"2018-08-08T09:07:05","date_gmt":"2018-08-08T09:07:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/eau-claire-express\/?p=7427"},"modified":"2022-11-09T16:44:24","modified_gmt":"2022-11-09T16:44:24","slug":"mallards-host-2018-major-league-dreams-showcase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/eau-claire-express\/2018\/08\/08\/mallards-host-2018-major-league-dreams-showcase\/","title":{"rendered":"Mallards Host 2018 Major League Dreams Showcase"},"content":{"rendered":"

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More than 50 MLB scouts attend annual event<\/em><\/p>\n

Madison, Wis. \u2013<\/strong> The Northwoods League\u2019s top talent assembled at Warner Park in Madison\u00a0on Tuesday\u00a0night for the 2018 Major League Dreams Showcase. The day consisted of a player workout in front of more than 50 MLB scouts and a pair of nine inning games featuring the top players from teams in the North and South Divisions. The workout included players putting on a show in batting practice, crushing home runs to areas of Warner Park that were formerly untouched, and showing off their fielding skills in their respective positions.<\/p>\n

For the most part, pitching had the upper hand throughout the evening as the teams combined for only 24 total hits between the two ballgames while pitchers managed to punch out 35 batters.<\/p>\n

Game One<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Eau Claire’s Justin Slaten<\/strong> (New Mexico) got the start for the home team in game one. He looked sharp, tossing two scoreless innings and not allowing a baserunner. The Northwoods League strikeout leader recorded three on the day.<\/p>\n

The visiting team, led by Duluth infielder\u00a0Augie Isaacson\u00a0<\/strong>(Friends University), won the first game of the doubleheader 3-2. Isaacson collected three hits and knocked in a run while the visiting team pitching staff held the home team in check, allowing only four hits.<\/p>\n

The Visitors were able to climb out to a 3-0 lead in the third thanks to a two-out rally.\u00a0Nick Sogard\u00a0<\/strong>(Loyola Marymount) drew a walk, then swiped second, before Isaacson drove him in with an RBI single. Two batters later,\u00a0Christian Jones\u00a0<\/strong>(Washington) knocked in a pair of runs with another RBI single.<\/p>\n

After the home team was able to add a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth, the visiting pitching staff dominated the rest of the game to seal the victory. Five different hurlers combined to keep the home team hitless through the final five innings of play.\u00a0Finn Del Bonta-Smith\u00a0<\/strong>(San Jose State) and\u00a0Hunter Biggie\u00a0<\/strong>(Harvard) both sat a pair of batters down on strikes in their 1.0 inning appearances.<\/p>\n