Madison, WI – August 5, 2008. As the 2008 Madison Mallards wrap up the regular season and get ready for the postseason, some former members of the team are continuing their solid play in various levels of professional baseball. Here is a look at five former Mallards greats:
Name, Current team (level), College attended
Ryan Spilborghs, Colorado (MLB), Santa Barbara. The injury bug has bitten Spilborghs, who has not played since July 8 after pulling an oblique muscle rounding second base in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers. He had been enjoying his finest season in the big leagues in 2008, appearing in 72 games and hitting .314 with 6 home runs and 33 RBIs. Spilborghs was named co-MVP for the Mallards in their inaugural season of 2001, when he hit .331 with 20 RBI in 43 games. He enjoyed five games with three or more hits that season, including a 4-for-7 performance with 5 RBI on July 13 against Waterloo.
Ryan Rogowski, Jacksonville (AA), Illinois. Rogowski played for the Mallards in 2004 and 2005 and holds the team single-season records in batting average (.345), stolen bases (44) and hits (86). He also is the career batting average (.320), stolen bases (75) and triples (8) record-holder. Rogowski has split time in 2008 between Inland Empire and Jacksonville in the Dodgers organization, hitting .270 in 74 games with Inland Empire before being called up to Double-A Jacksonville on June 6.
Adam Mills, Portland (AA), UNC-Charlotte. A two-year Mallard, Mills lead the pitching staff in 2005, compiling a remarkable 1.00 ERA in 72.1 innings pitched and holding opponents to a .223 batting average. He had an unheard of 6.2:1 strikeout to walk ratio that season. His 1.00 ERA is a Mallards single-season record. Mills is currently playing for Portland, the Eastern League Double-A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox, where he has started six games and pitched 30.2 innings after being called up from Single-A Lancaster.
Bubba O’Donnell, Boise (A), High Point. O’Donnell spent 2007 with the Mallards and is currently pitching for the Boise Hawks in the Chicago Cubs organization. He has appeared in 17 games, pitching 28 innings and recording one save. He has a 5-2 record and an ERA of 4.50. A 34th round draft pick, O’Donnell earned league Player of the Week honors for the week of July 21. The right-hander recorded 12 saves for the Mallards in 2007, a team single-season record.
Mike Rohde, Gary Southshore (IND), Illinois. One of the most popular and most decorated Mallards in team history, Rohde holds the team career records in RBIs (87), hits (175) and home runs (7). Rohde was the first four-year Mallard and his number 9 was the first number to be retired at the “Duck Pond.” Rohde is currently playing for the Gary Southshore RailCats of the independent Northern League, where he is hitting .300 with 32 RBIs in 66 games played. He has also swiped nine bases in 11 attempts.
With a first-half Northwoods League South Division championship under their belts, the Madison Mallards are returning to the postseason after a one-year hiatus and all tickets are now on sale. The team will be hosting its first playoff game on either August 12 or 13 (determined by best overall record of the two South Division postseason foes).
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 $ 36 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.
Playoff tickets can be purchased online at Mallardsbaseball.com, by phone at 246.4277, or by visiting the box office at the “Duck Pond.”
