Madison, WI – July 12, 2008. After an impressive 9-0 shutout of the Woodchucks last night, the Mallards are back at it tonight in Wausau. Right-hander Nolan Cain (LSU) heads to the mound tonight for the Mallards for his third start of the season. The Mallards will be hosting the 2008 NWL All-Star Game on Monday, July 14! Great tickets still remain and can be purchased by clicking tickets or by calling 608.246.4277.
Madison Mallards (3-4) at Wisconsin Woodchucks (5-2)
July 12, 2008 – 6:35 p.m. (CT)
Athletic Park – Wausau, WI
Pitching Probables:
RHP Nolan Cain (MAD) – 2 GS, 4.2 IP, 0-1, 21.21 ERA
RHP Bobby Pritchett (WIS) – 6 GS, 38.2 IP, 5-2, 1.40 ERA
Mallards records (first half):
– 2-0 vs. Wisconsin
– 10-8 at home
– 12-3 on road
– 14-6 vs. South Division
– 8-5 vs. North Division
Mallards records (second half):
– 1-2 vs. Wisconsin
– 1-0 at home
– 2-4 on road
– 1-2 vs. South Division
– 2-2 vs. North Division
Madison is…
– 19-5 when scoring first
– 3-4 in extra innings
– 7-4 in one-run games
– 17-1 when leading after 7 innings
– 16-2 when outhitting its opponent
– 18-1 when scoring 7+ runs
– 17-4 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent
Last time out for the Mallards: W 9-0 vs. Wisconsin, July 11
Joe Yermal (Charlotte), Kyle Heim (Iowa) and Reed Woytek (Baylor) combined to throw a four-hit shutout of the South Division-leading Wisconsin Woodchucks Friday night, shutting down the second-best offense in the league and leading the Mallards to the 9-0 victory. It was the Mallards third shutout of the season and was witnessed by a season-high 7,473 faithful fans at the “Duck Pond.” The Mallards have won three straight and are now 3-4 in the second half. Yermal’s five innings of two-hit baseball earned him his first decision of the season.
Let’s Play Two:
The Mallards are 4-0 in doubleheaders this season. They will try to tack on two more wins in an upcoming double-dip at La Crosse on July 21.
Mallards Musings:
-The Mallards will be represented in the 2008 Northwoods League All-Star Game by pitchers Gabriel Shaw (Louisville) and Matt Jansen (Purdue), as well as outfielder Rob Lyerly (Charlotte) and catcher Eric Nielsen (Purdue). Nielsen is appearing in his second straight All-Star Game.
-Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) earned Northwoods League Player of the Night Thursday night when he reached base six times with three singles and three walks. He scored five runs for the Mallards.
– Lyerly is third in the Northwoods League with a .350 batting average in 30 games played.
-Luke Stewart (UAB) is tied for sixth in the Northwoods League with four home runs.
-After a 4-for-5 performance on June 26 against Brainerd, outfielder Aaron Bray (Charlotte) 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. Lyerly made it two Mallards award-winners in one week when he earned the honor on June 30 after a 4-for-5 game at Mankato. He had a home run, a double, three RBIs and scored three runs in the contest. Drew Martin (NC State) was NWL Player of the Night on July 3 when he was 5-for-7 in two games at Battle Creek on the last day of the first half.
-With a win on June 25 at Thunder Bay, Brandon Johnson (Western Carolina) moved into a tie for sixth in the league in wins with four.
-Wikoff had a 10-game hitting streak snapped on June 28. It was the Mallards second-longest hitting streak of the season.
-Lyerly’s 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 Wikoff reached base in 16 consecutive games.
On Sunday, July 13, the Mallards will host an All-Star Fan Fest at 2:00 p.m. before giving way to the Home Run Derby at 4:30 p.m. The All-American Challenge will follow at 6:05 p.m., pitting local Home Talent League All-Stars versus a Military All-Star Team. The Mallards will then host the 2008 All-Star Game on Monday, July 14 at 7:05 p.m. broadcast live on ESPNU at the “Duck Pond.” Tickets remain for both dates and can be purchased online at Mallardsbaseball.com or by calling the box office at 608.246.4277.
