You’ve no doubt heard the song “I’ve Been Everywhere”. It was a hit for country singer Hank Snow many years ago and was recorded by Johnny Cash in 1996. It’s Cash’s version that’s been featured in hotel commercials. New Mallards outfielder Tommy Lentz could say the song fits him.

“I like trying different things,” said Lentz when asked why he’s played in three different Summer leagues. Lentz spent last season with the Brewster Whitecaps in the Cape Cod League. Two seasons ago, he played in the Coastal Plain League for the Spartanburg Stingers and was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year.

While Lentz has family in Michigan and Ohio, he’s never been to Wisconsin. He saw pictures of the ballpark on the internet and was impressed.

“We play in front of big crowds during regionals and maybe when we face a big school, but nothing like what I’ve heard about up there.”

Lentz said Winthrop assistant head coach Mike McGuire called the Mallards to see if they were interested in Lentz. “It was that easy,” said the outfielder.

Lentz has been playing center field but says he can, and will, play anywhere. He knows a team can have a big advantage defensively with three outfielders that can cover alot of ground. In 2004, Madison won the NWL Championship with Ryan Rogowski, Greg Thomson and Jay Johnson in the outfield. All three were center fielders for their respective college teams.

Like former Mallards center fielder Thomson, Lentz enjoys fishing in his spare time.

As a junior, Lentz is eligible for the draft and says he’s heard from a couple of scouts. However, while he wants to try and gear up for a pro career by playing with wood bats and playing every night, he has a different motive.

“I just like playing baseball,” Lentz says, “I want to play as long as I can. It beats working.”