ALEXANDRIA, MN. – The Alexandria Beetles drew their largest crowd in franchise history last night, 1555, and they were treated to a fantastic light show. They were also treated rudely by the visitors from Madison who snatched a 2-1 victory in a lightning-shortened five innings.
The back drop to one of the biggest games in Mallards franchise history was one of health concerns for Manager Darrell Handelsman. Handelsman spent most of Wednesday in an Alexandria hospital with kidney stones. However, Handelsman was in the dugout for the game and lobbied the umpires to play through at least the fifth inning to make the game official.
“We obviously needed this win, and I was willing to do anything to get the job done,” explained Handelsman, while in obvious pain despite strong pain killers. “Tyler Bullock came up huge tonight and now we have the chance to finish off the first half title at home.”
Skip might have made the understatement of the year when talking about Tyler Bullock. Bullock smashed a two-run homer, his second of the year, in the fourth inning and it turned out to be the only offense the Ducks could muster. It turned out to be the only offense they would need.
Jake Hansen had another strong performance, giving up just one run in four innings, and Kyle Yates pitched the fifth to pick up the win for the Mallards who are now 1.5 games ahead of the Rochester Honkers with two games left in the first half. Wausau beat Rochester 7-6 yesterday afternoon. Despite the win, the Woodchucks were eliminated from the first half race.
The Mallards return home tonight to take on the Woodchucks. A Mallards win or a Rochester loss in either of the two remaining games means that the Mallards would win the first half title and hold home field advantage in the first round of the playoffs.
If a pennant race isn’t enough to make you want to come out to the Duck Pond tonight, it is also SITEL/WKOW Bobblehead Night. The first 1,000 fans 14 and under will receive a Maynard G. Mallard Bobblehead Doll. It is also a Great Dane Beer Tasting Night as you can sample the latest Great Dane brews for free during the pregame.
Also, 100X Radio invades the Duck Pond as Steve & Craig will be performing live from 4-6pm with the 100X Listener Appreciation Party to follow.
The gates open at 5:45pm tonight with the first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm.
