Two days after the Mallards clinched the first-half South Division Championship, the Northwoods League announced that five members of the Mallards – Ryan Rogowski, Mike Rohde, Jake Hansen, J.J. Hollenbeck and Adam Mills – have been invited to the 2005 Northwoods League All-Star Game in Alexandria, Minn. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. Wednesday, July 13.
The five Mallards All-Stars will be coached by C.J. Thieleke and the rest of the Mallards coaching staff, who, as first-half South Division Champions, have earned the right to coach the South Division All-Stars.
Rogowski and Rohde were the two position players selected to represent the Mallards in Alexandria. Rogowski will make his second appearance in the NWL All-Star Game, and has put up MVP-type numbers in the first half, hitting .378 and leading the Northwoods League in hits (48), runs (30), stolen bases (25), on-base-percentage (.543) and triples (five).
Rohde battled a slow start to the season, but has rebounded to push his average to .310. The utility infielder from Brookfield, Wis. is fourth in the league with 39 hits and second on the Mallards behind only Rogowski with 24 runs scored. Rogowski and Rohde are tied for the team lead in RBI with 18.
Three members of the Mallards pitching staff, Jake Hansen, J.J. Hollenbeck and Adam Mills, have also been invited to Alexandria. Hansen has compiled a 4-1 record to go along with his 1.76 ERA, the sixth lowest in the league. Opponents are hitting just .204 against the lefty from Northern Iowa. J.J. Hollenbeck has been superb for the Mallards in a dual role as a starter as well as coming out of the bullpen. He has a 2.29 ERA and is second in the league in victories (6-0). The right-hander from Virginia Military Institute has 36 strike outs to just 13 walks.
Rounding out the All-Star selections is Adam Mills who has the third lowest (1.24) ERA in the league to go along with his 2-1 record. He has thrown more innings (36.1) than anyone on the Mallards staff, striking out 29 while walking five.
The Mallards continue play Saturday, July 9 at 7:05 against Waterloo, before traveling to Alexandria for a two-game set prior to the All-Star break. The Mallards return home Friday, July 22 to take on the La Crosse Loggers at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are still available for that game and all remaining Mallards home games. For tickets visit www.mallardsbaseball.com or call the Mallards ticket office at (608) 246-4277.
