Madison, WI – July 20, 2008. Fresh off a two-game sweep of the Battle Creek Bombers, the Mallards will try to finish a five-game homestand on a four-game winning streak with a 5:05 p.m. game against La Crosse. In the last three games the Mallards have scored 28 runs and banged out 42 hits (.396 team batting average). Joe Yermal (Charlotte) will start for the Mallards tonight and will look to build off his last start, in which he pitched five innings and allowed two hits in a win against Wisconsin. It is Goodman Jewelers Diamond Night at the “Duck Pond.” The first 1,000 ladies will receive a gemstone upon entry to the stadium, and one of them will be a real gemstone! The first 1,000 fans will also receive a reusable grocery bag with a Mallards logo, courtesy of Verizon Wireless.
La Crosse Loggers (3-8) at Madison Mallards (6-6)
July 20, 2008 – 5:05 p.m. (CT)
Warner Park – Madison, WI
Pitching Probables:
RHP Joe Yermal (MAD) – 6 GS, 26.0 IP, 1-0, 6.23 ERA
LHP Ryan Millard (LAC) – 3 GS, 27.0 IP, 2-2, 3.00 ERA
Mallards records (first half):
– 1-2 vs. La Crosse
– 10-8 at home
– 12-3 on road
– 14-6 vs. South Division
– 8-5 vs. North Division
Mallards records (second half):
– 0-0 vs. La Crosse
– 4-1 at home
– 2-5 on road
– 3-3 vs. South Division
– 3-3 vs. North Division
Madison is…
– 21-6 when scoring first
– 3-4 in extra innings
– 7-5 in one-run games
– 20-1 when leading after 7 innings
– 19-2 when outhitting its opponent
– 20-1 when scoring 7+ runs
– 20-5 when making equal or fewer errors than opponent
Last time out for the Mallards: W 11-5 vs. La Crosse, July 19
It was another stellar night for all facets of the Mallards offense at the “Duck Pond” on Saturday, as the team tied a season-high with 16 hits in an 11-5 pounding of the Battle Creek Bombers in front of a season-high 7,475 fans. Even after falling behind 5-0 the Mallards offense kept plugging away and scored 11 unanswered runs, including multiple runs in each of the last five innings, to win the game. Madison has won all six meetings against the Bombers this season and moves to 6-6 in the second half with the victory.
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 tomorrow.
Mallards Musings:
-Brandon Wikoff (Illinois) has reached base in each of the 21 games he’s played at the “Duck Pond” this season. It is the longest home consecutive on-base streak in the league this season.
-Rob Lyerly (Charlotte) is second in the Northwoods League with a .343 batting average in 35 games played. Wikoff checks in at ninth in the league with a .322 average.
-Wikoff is fourth in the league in runs scored with 33.
-Luke Stewart’s (UAB) six home runs put him in a tied for third in the league
-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.
-Wikoff earned Northwoods League Player of the Night July 10 when he reached base six times with three singles and three walks. He scored five runs for the Mallards.
-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 third-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.
Season-ticket holders have the first opportunity to purchase playoff tickets that are on-sale right now. Tickets will only be available in a package of all four potential home playoff games. On July 22 all fans who wish to purchase that same package of four games will be able to do so at that time. Single-game playoff tickets will go on sale to the public on July 29. Playoff tickets can be purchased by calling 608.246.4277 or by visiting the Mallards box office.
Box seats for the playoffs will be $ 9, with bleacher seats priced at $ 8. Cheap seats can be purchased for $ 7 and standing room only tickets will be available for $ 6. The Duck Blind will be open for the playoffs, with beer tickets priced at $ 26 for Sunday-Wednesday games and $ 31 for Thursday-Saturday nights. Duck Blind soda tickets will be $ 21 or $ 26. Reserved seats in the Duck Blind will be $ 31 for Sunday-Wednesday games and for Thursday-Saturday nights. Suites are also available for playoff games and fans can receive more details by calling the Mallards box office and asking for group sales.
More details on playoff games at the “Duck Pond” will be made available on mallardsbaseball.com as soon as the second half of the regular season concludes. Tickets for the remainder of the Mallards regular season home schedule can be purchased online, in person at the Box Office or by calling 608.246.4277.
