Caption: Dan Burawa (St. John’s) picked up his third save of the season to preserve the 4-3 victory over the Loggers Tuesday night.
Last night’s Box Score
La Crosse, WI – July 15, 2009. With a victory over the La Crosse Loggers Wednesday night, the Mallards will find themselves back in first place in the race for the South Division second-half championship with a big 4-game homestand looming this weekend at the “Duck Pond” beginning Thursday.
Last night, a pair of Northwoods League Mid-Season All-Stars had a major impact during a 4-3 victory over the Loggers to move Madison within a game of La Crosse with 23 games left in the second half. Starting pitcher Cody Winiarski (MATC) allowed just two hits and one earned run in six innings to pick up his fifth win of the season while second baseman Kurtis Muller (Iowa) added a 4-for-5 performance with 3 clutch RBI to move his batting average to .317 on the year.
Closer Dan Burawa (St. John’s) loaded the bases in the ninth, but was able to hang on to record his third save of the season.
Tonight the Mallards will send right-hander J.R. Graham (Santa Clara) to the hill in easily his most important start of the summer. Graham is 1-2 with a 2.78 ERA over 22.2 innings and 9 appearances. He made his first start of the season in his latest appearance, a July 8th, six-inning scoreless performance to pick up his first win. He also struck out six batters.
Meanwhile the Loggers will counter with right-hander Richie Erath (Florida Gulf Coast) who is 3-1 with a 1.94 ERA through 41.2 innings. Erath was just added to the Mid-Season All-Star Team on Tuesday to replace Wisconsin Woodchuck pitcher Bobby Pritchett (Central Arkansas) who has a minor injury. In his last start, Richie picked up his third win after allowing only one run over seven innings, while striking out four Woodchuck batters. Erath dominated the Mallards offense in his lone start versus Madison on June 13, a one-run, seven inning performance to lower his ERA to 2.14. He received a no-decision for that start.
Home Run Derby participants named:
A tenative list of participants for the 2009 NWL Home Run Derby Contest to be held next Tuesday, July 21 at 3:00 p.m. (CST) at Port Arthur Stadium (Thunder Bay, Ontario) was annouced Tuesday, and include:
North Division
Corey Jones, Rochester
Mike O’Neill, Alexander
Nick Longmire, St. Cloud
Adam Courcha, Thunder Bay
South Division
Harold Riggins, Madison
Ben Long, Wisconsin
Riley Henricks, Green Bay
Aaron Gates, La Crosse
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The Mallards return home Thursday for a 4-game homestand against the Green Bay Bullfrogs and Eau Claire Express. Game times are; Thursday, 7:05 p.m.; Friday, 7:05 p.m.; Saturday, 6:05 p.m.; and Sunday, 5:05 p.m.
Please check the promotional schedule by clicking here to view a complete list of activities & giveaways that will highlight these games.
Plenty of great seats are available for all of the Mallards remaining games (including the Great Dane Duck Blind) and can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling the box office at 608.246.4277 today!
