Manager C.J. Thieleke put it best when he said the Mallards play very few games without anything on the line. Down 1.5 games to the Eau Claire Express with only a game to go, Thieleke rewarded his squad by allowing them to switch their everyday roles — pitchers dug in at the plate and fielders climbed the mound during Sunday’s season finale at the “Duck Pond.”

The game resulted in a 9-7 defeat, tallying the Mallards record to 22-11 for the second half and overall record to 38-29. With a crowd of 7,352, the Mallards’ Northwoods League attendance finished with 205,606 fans to lead the league (6,047 fans per game).

Several Mallards’ veterans played their final game in Madison, including Mitch Saum, who finished 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI on the night. Jordan Comadena (pictured) and Randy Molina, both three-year Mallards, also played their farewell games, and both contributed with a basehit — Molina’s successful at-bat was a triple, followed by him stealing home after the catcher lobbed the ball back to the pitcher.

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Mike Rohde, the Mallards’ only four-year player returned to the “Duck Pond” to have his number retired. No. 9 is now showcased in left-center field to remember Rohde’s legacy.

The Mallards would like to thank every supporting fan for following the season and contributing to the success of the team in 2007. We would like to see everyone back next year to welcome a new squad, and build on this season’s strong finish.