Madison, WI – June 28, 2008. With only six games remaining in the first half, the Madison Mallards will try to move into a tie for first place in the South Division tonight against Green Bay. The Mallards have won their last six games and are in sole possession of second place, just one game behind Wisconsin. Joe Yermal (Charlotte) will take the hill tonight for Madison, looking for his first win of the season. Great seats still remain for tonight’s game. Gates open at 3:30.
Green Bay Bullfrogs (13-14) at Madison Mallards (18-9)
June 28, 2008 – 5:05 p.m. (CT)
Warner Park – Madison, WI
Pitching Probables:
RHP Joe Yermal (MAD) – 3 GS, 14.0 IP, 0-0, 6.43 ERA
RHP Bryce Smolen (GB) – 4 GS, 24.0 IP, 1-0, 3.75 ERA
Mallards records:
– 2-0 vs. Green Bay
– 9-7 at home
– 9-2 on road
– 11-4 vs. South Division
– 7-5 vs. North Division
Madison is…
– 13-3 when scoring first
– 3-3 in extra innings
– 7-2 in one-run games
– 13-1 when leading after 7 innings
– 12-1 when outhitting its opponent
– 11-0 when scoring 7+ runs
– 12-1 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent
Last time out for the Mallards: W 2-0 vs. Brainerd, June 27
Gabriel Shaw (Louisville) pitched seven stellar shutout innings, allowing just two base hits to lead the Madison Mallards past the Brainerd Blue Thunder 2-0. The Mallards have now won six straight games on three straight series sweeps and improve to 18-9 on the season. It was the Mallards second shutout of the season, with both coming in the last four games. Drew Martin (NC State) accounted for two of the Mallards three hits in the game, the second of which drove in the second run in the bottom of the seventh and gave the bullpen an extra insurance run. With the win the Mallards move into sole possession of second place in the South Division as both Wisconsin and La Crosse lost on Friday. They are now just one game back of Wisconsin with six games to go in the first half.
Mallards Musings:
-After a 4-for-5 performance on Thursday against Brainerd, outfielder Aaron Bray was named Northwoods League Player of the Night. He had four singles and scored three runs. Bray is the first Mallard to win the nightly award this season.
-With a win on Wednesday at Thunder Bay, Brandon Johnson (Western Carolina) moves into a tie for the second in the league in wins with four.
-Following a day out of the lineup on June 17 Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) is 15-for-35 (.429) in his last nine games, pushing his batting average back above the .300 mark to .330. He was 2-for-10 in the three games prior to his day off.
-Matt Jansen (Purdue) continues to pitch well and make a strong case for mid-season all-star honors. In 32 innings pitched over five starts and a relief appearance he has allowed just four earned runs (1.13 ERA). He is 2-0 on the season, and opponents are hitting just .193 against the left-hander.
-Luke Stewart (UAB) is tied for second in the Northwoods League with four home runs. His 13 extra-base hits rank him fourth in the league
-Rob Lyerly’s (Charlotte) 12-game hitting streak dating back to June 11 ended with a 0-for-2 performance at Thunder Bay on June 24. He hit .380 with 11 runs scored and four doubles during the streak. It is the second-longest hitting streak in the Northwoods League this season.
-From the beginning of the season on May 29 until June 15 Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) reached base in 16 consecutive games.
Two Mallards win College World Series Championship:
Mallards Alan Ahmady and Trent Soares will arrive in Madison as College World Series Champions. The Fresno State Bulldogs defeated the Georgia Bulldogs 6-1 Wednesday night to win the College World Series two games to one. Ahmady had a remarkable postseason to conclude a breakout 2008 campaign, going 17-for-48 (.354) in Fresno State’s 13 postseason games. He drove in 12 runs and scored 10 more. In 2008 Ahmady hit .386 and drove in 92 runs, a total that was good for second in the NCAA. After losing game one to Georgia 7-6 on Monday night, the Bulldogs evened the series on Tuesday with a 19-10 win and then wrapped up the championship with a 6-1 victory on Wednesday night. It is Fresno State’s first baseball championship in school history.
More baseball at the “Duck Pond” Sunday Night:
Following Madison’s series finale against Green Bay on Sunday night, Evansville and Lake Mills of the Home Talent League will take to the field for a game. The league started in 1929 and is comprised of 43 teams in south-central Wisconsin. Tickets for the game will be available for purchase from players on the Evansville Jays. For more information visit www.evansville.hometalent.org.
There are plenty of promotions on tap at the “Duck Pond” tonight. It is Meriter & Physicians Plus Insurance Kick Ball Night with Mallards kick balls being given to the first 1,000 kids 14 & under. Also, all kids will be able to participate in a kick ball game on the field after the game! There will also be a Diamond Dig, sponsored by TQ Diamonds. The first 1,000 ladies will have a chance to come on the field after the game and dig in the infield for a buried diamond! The new version of the movie “Bad News Bears” will be shown in the outfield after the game.
