The Northwoods League Playoffs are coming and with just four games left in the regular season, the Madison Mallards are still very much alive in the hunt for the post-season. The Ducks (34-30) enter play tonight with a three game lead over La Crosse (31-33) for the final playoff spot in the South Division and a magic number of two. The magic number is the number of Mallards victories and Loggers losses needed for the Ducks to clinch their fourth consecutive playoff appearance.

A couple of different scenarios currently exist for the Mallards in their hunt for the post-season. If the Ducks defeat the Loggers tonight in game one of their two-game series, they will secure a playoff spot by handing La Crosse a loss and picking up a win for themselves. That combination would cover the magic number of two and put the Mallards in a first-round playoff series with the Rochester Honkers.

If the Mallards don?t win tonight, they can still clinch a playoff berth by defeating the Loggers in game two of the series. That would also cover the magic number of two (one Mallards victory plus one Loggers defeat equals two) and put the Ducks in the post-season.

If the Mallards are defeated in both games with the Loggers, the Ducks would still control their own destiny. The Mallards magic number would still be two so any combination of Mallards victories in their final series with Duluth, and Loggers losses in their final series with Wisconsin, equal or greater than two would still secure the Mallards a spot in the first round of the playoffs.

If the Mallards do make the playoffs, game one will take place Monday, August 14, at the Duck Pond. The Ducks would take on the Rochester Honkers, the South Division?s first-half champion. The Northwoods League first-round playoff series follows a one-two format meaning game one would be at the Duck Pond with games two and three taking place in Rochester.

If the Mallards do make the playoffs, the team will offer fans a bus ride to game-two in Rochester on Tuesday, August 15. For just 30 dollars, fans can receive a ride on the bus and a ticket to the game. The bus will depart Madison at approximately 2:30 p.m. and return following the conclusion of the game. The bus will return regardless of the outcome of the game.

Tickets for the Mallards first-round playoff game will go on sale Friday, August 11, at 9 a.m. The tickets will be on sale regardless of whether or not the Ducks have clinched their spot in the post-season. Ticket refunds will be offered if the Mallards do not qualify for post-season play. Be sure to stop by www.mallardsbaseball.com on Friday and order your tickets or call 246.4277 for more information.