The NWL playoffs are coming and with Friday’s 5-1 victory over La Crosse, the Madison Mallards have secured their spot in the post-season. The Mallards (35-31) will now travel to Duluth to conclude the regular season before returning home to begin their playoff series with the Rochester Honkers on Monday, August 14, at the Duck Pond. Playoff tickets are on sale now.

The Ducks entered play on Friday with a magic number of two meaning any combination of Mallards victories and Loggers losses amounting to two would secure the Ducks a playoff berth. Madison took care of everything by handing La Crosse a loss and garnering themselves a victory and thus covering the two-game magic number.

The Mallards wasted no time on Friday, getting the scoring started right away in the first. With one out Jordan Wolf doubled and scored on Mike Rohde?s double to make the score 1-0 in favor of Madison.

The Mallards added another in the fourth when Bobby Hubbard led off the inning with a single. He moved to second on Mitch Saum?s groundout and to third on Gary Arndt?s grounder to second. Hubbard eventually scored after Danny Dressman reached on a throwing error by La Crosse third baseman Kirk Bacsu.

In the fifth, the Mallards continued to add to their lead. Rohde walked and advanced to second on Jordan Comadena?s ground out. Randy Molina followed with a single to plate Rohde and make the score 3-0.

In the seventh the Ducks would seemingly put things to bed. After Rohde singled Comadena smacked a base hit but was thrown out at second trying to stretch a single into a double. Rohde was able to advance to third on the play, however, and scored on Molina?s double to make the score 4-0. Loggers starter Rodney Brantley was then lifted in favor of relief pitcher Brandon Duffy. Tommy Lentz greeted Duffy with a single, advancing Molina to third. Molina would eventually score on a passed ball to make the score 5-0.

That would be plenty for the Ducks as La Crosse would muster just a sinlge run in the eighth to make the final score 5-1.

Mallards starter Casey Baron worked eight stellar innings allowing one run on six hits. He struck out four and walked just two in one of the Ducks more important starts of the season.

Game one of the Mallards first-round playoff series will take place Monday, August 14, at the Duck Pond. The Ducks will 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 will be at the Duck Pond with games two and three taking place in Rochester.

The Mallards will offer 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 are on sale now! Order yours by visiting www.mallardsbaseball.com or calling 246.4277.