The Mallards are excited to announce four more players the team has signed for the 2007 season. Highlighting the group is former Mallard and current University of Illinois-Chicago junior pitcher Ryan Zink. Zink pitched for the Mallards in 2004 and posted a 2.10 ERA in 81.1 innings pitched. He was forced to redshirt his 2005 collegiate season after having Tommy John surgery. Zink is 5-3 in 11 starts and 55 innings pitched for the Flames this year. Below is a complete listing of three other players the Mallards have signed for the 2007 season (in alphabetical order).

Justin Bristow, IF/P, So., Auburn. Bristow was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 22nd round of the MLB Draft in 2005 and was rated as the third-best third baseman in the draft by Baseball America. He started 52 games at shortstop last year and hit .362 against left-handed pitching. Bristow has pitched 30 innings for the Tigers this season.

Michael Hubbard, OF, So., UA-Fort Smith. Hubbard has been named the Bi-State Conference Player of the Year for 2007 after hitting .368 with 77 RBI’s and 20 home runs. He will play for the University of Mississippi next year.

Nick Kirk, LHP, So., Northern Iowa. Kirk appeared in 21 games last season for the Panthers. Currently one of the hottest pitchers in the country, he is 4-3 with a 3.50 ERA in 72 innings pitched. A former high school Iowa athlete of the year, Kirk will be used primarily as a starting pitcher for the Mallards.

The Madison Mallards open the 2007 season against the Eau Claire Express on May 31, 2007. All tickets are on-sale now! For more information please call the Mallards ticket office at 608.246.4277 or log onto www.mallardsbaseball.com.