The Mallards are excited to announce five more pitchers for 2007. Highlighting the group is 2006 Northwoods League All-Star Brian Smith, and MATC product Craig Meier. Below is a complete listing (in alphabetical order) of the next five players the Mallards have signed for the 2007 season.
Trevor Feeney, RHP, Jr., Northern Illinois. Feeney is currently 4-3 with a 4.45 ERA for the Redbirds In 2006 he struck out 55 batters in 61.1 innings to rank eighth in the MAC with 8.07 strikeouts per game and ranked sixth with 8.44 strikeouts per conference game. While pitching for the Twin City Stars last summer, he was honored with the Central Illinois Collegiate League Second Half Pitcher Award after allowing just one extra base hit during 21 innings of work over that stretch.
Scott Heitshusen, RHP/OF, Fr., Hutchinson C.C. Heitshusen is 3-1 with a 3.63 ERA for Hutchinson. He led Free State High School (Lawrence, KS) to the 6A State Championship last year after batting .429 with 6 home runs and 23 RBI’s. He also posted a 1.80 ERA in 35 innings of work on the mound. Heitshusen was a Kansas City All Metro Selection in 2006.
Craig Meier, RHP, So., MATC. Meier returns to the Mallards for a second year after posting a 3-1 record and 2.06 ERA in 43.2 innings for the team last season. He is currently 3-1 with a 2.37 ERA for the Wolfpack. Meier is transferring to UW-Milwaukee next year.
Brian Smith, RHP, Jr., Northern Illinois. Smith was a reliable starter for the Mallards last season and posted a 2.87 ERA in 59.2 innings pitched. He walked only seven batters. Smith led the 2006 Redbirds in innings pitched in league play (49.2) while walking just 10 and striking out 31 batters. He is red shirting this season after surgery ended his season last month.
Jake Sullivan, LHP, So., U-Arkansas Fort Smith. Sullivan returns to the Mallards for a second year after posting dominating pitching numbers in the Northwoods League last summer. He was 6-3 with a 1.64 ERA in 66 innings of work and his 11 starts led the team. He is currently 2-0 with a 2.45 ERA for the Lions.
On Thursday, April 26, the Madison Mallards will be giving fans and the media a preview to the 2007 season with the Mallards First Pitch. The event will be held at the Great Dane Brew Pub downtown location starting at 1:00 p.m. Mallards Head Coach C.J. Thieleke and P.A. Announcer Aaron Sims will speak about the 2007 roster accompanied by a slideshow. General Manager Vern Stenman will follow with a presentation about improvements to the ballpark along with insight about the completed promotional schedule. A fan question and answer session will follow. Admission is free
to the public and appetizers, ballpark food, soda, and beer will be provided. Merchandise will also be available for purchase.
The Madison Mallards open the 2007 season against the Eau Claire Express on Thursday, May 31, 2007. Group and season tickets are on sale now. Single game tickets go on sale Saturday, April 28. For more information please call the Mallards ticket office at 608.246.4277 or log onto www.mallardsbaseball.com.
