FOND DU LAC, WI – The Fond du Lac Dock Spiders (31-27, 12-12) are set to take on the Wausau Woodchucks (29-29, 12-10) on the final day of July at Athletic Park in Wausau. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m., with coverage on the Dock Spiders Radio Network beginning at 12:50.

TODAY’S STORYLINES

ROUNDING OUT JULY: Today’s game marks the final game in July for the Dock Spiders. The 16 wins this month for the team marks the sixth straight year that the Dock Spiders have had a winning percentage of at least. 500 in July. All-time, the Dock Spiders are 98-72 in the month, a .576 winning percentage. This year, the Dock Spiders got off to a 7-0 start in the month and have won four of their last five coming into today.

FIRST TIME IN A LONG TIME: This afternoon’s game marks the first game in Wausau for the Dock Spiders since June 25, 36 days ago. In Wausau, the Dock Spiders are 2-1 and have outscored the Woodchucks 16-11.

MULTI-HIT MADNESS: On Saturday night, five different Dock Spiders tallied a multi-hit game, including INF Daylen Reyes, who set a new career-high with four. The five multi-hit games are the most in a game for the Dock Spiders since July 19, 2022, against the Madison Mallards, when six reached the mark in a 19-7 Dock Spiders win. Reyes became the sixth different Dock Spider to tally four hits in a game. OF Nick Mitchell leads all Dock Spiders with three four-hit games. No Dock Spider has recorded five hits in a game this season.

REWRITING THE RECORD BOOKS: Entering today, the Dock Spiders are 13 runs away from breaking the franchise record for the most runs in a single season, set in 2017 at 426. They’re also 61 runs away from breaking the Northwoods League record for runs set in 2017 by the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and matched in 2019 by the Bismarck Larks. OF Nick Mitchell, who already has the single-season franchise record for runs (57) and triples (5), became the third Dock Spider in franchise history to reach the 40 RBI mark in a season with three RBI on Saturday night. INF Jackson Loftin (52, 2021) and INF/OF Andrew Bullock (44, 2017) are the only other Dock Spiders to reach the mark. Mitchell is also six hits away from breaking the franchise record for hits in a season, set in 2021 by SS Chandler Simpson (77). If the season ended today, OF Andrew Sojka would be in sole possession of the highest single-season batting average in team history at .420 (min. 80 PA). INF Branden Comia and C Cole Messina are currently tied for the sixth-most home runs in a season at five. 

PATH TO THE PLAYOFFS: If the season ended today, the Dock Spiders would make the playoffs. The Dock Spiders enter today with the second-best overall record in the Great Lakes West Division two games ahead of the Woodchucks and Chinooks. If the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters win the second-half division title, then the final playoff spot in the division will go to the next-best overall record in the division. The Dock Spiders can make the playoffs by either winning the second-half division title or have the Rafters win the division while the Dock Spiders finish with the second-best overall record.

TODAY’S STARTING PITCHING MATCH-UP

RHP ANDREW POGUE (FDL) makes his first start since June 14 against Wisconsin Rapids. The righty has made 12 consecutive appearances out of the bullpen with a 6.44 ERA. He’s gone at least five innings out of the bullpen twice, most recently on July 21 against the Rafters.

LHP DAWSON LANE (WAU) will make his fourth start of the year after he has failed to allow a walk over his last two appearances (9.2 IP). The Florida Southern product has thrown at least four innings in every start.