May 30, 2012- Madison, WI. The Madison Mallards open the 2012 season tonight against the Battle Creek Bombers at Warner Park. Opening night marks the first game of a two game series against the Bombers and three game home stand overall to start the summer for the Mallards.
Both teams finished last season with winning records and were both in the thick of the Northwoods Leauge title hunt all year long. The Mallards finished 2011 at 37-33 and will look to manager Greg Labbe to continue his winning ways with a whole new roster in 2012. Battle Creek finished the season at 42-26, winning their final 13 games en route to claiming the Northwoods League championship.
On the hill for the Mallards tonight is right-handed pitcher Alec Mills (Tennessee-Martin). Mills was outstanding for UT-Martin in 2012, starting 14 games and posting a 3.94 ERA along with 74 strikeouts. His role as a starter made him a work horse in 2012, he led UT-Martin with 89.0 innings on the season.
For Battle Creek, the Bombers will send out to the mound right-handed pitcher Joe Battistelli (Eastern Michigan). Battistelli was Eastern Michigan’s most used reliever in the 2012 season, making 22 appearances for the team and posting a 6.04 ERA in 50.2 innings of work. In Battistelli’s last appearance with Eastern Michigan he took the loss in the Eagle’s final game of the season, a 6-4 Mid-American Conference tournament loss to Miami-Ohio. In 1.1 innings against Miami he recorded one strikeout with three hits and two runs.
Offensively the Mallards will be featuring several big bats that will look to start the season hot and get the offense on the board early. Seth McMullen (Winona State), Phil Sorenson (Tennessee-Martin), and Tyler Marincov (North Florida) will all be in the heart of the lineup tonight.
The Battle Creek lineup will be centered around infielder Dylan Delaney (Michigan) and outfielder Daniel Rockett (Texas-San Antonio). 2012 marks Rockett’s second season with the Bombers. Last season he hit .305 with eight home runs and 53 RBIs. His 53 RBIs broke the Battle Creek franchise record for RBIs in a season, which previously had been at 43.
The Mallards will start the season with a scheduele stacked with some of the most talented college players in the country. The journey to the Northwoods League title won’t be easy but with an entirely new roster this season the Mallards have a renewed sense of confidence heading into the season. The opener will be an opportunity to make a statement tonight against the Bombers and to the rest of the league that they wil be a team to watch out for in 2012.
The 2012 season is upon us! Single-game tickets are on-sale for all Mallards home games!
The Mallards will host their season opener against the Battle Creek Bombers tonight at 7:05 pm at the “Duck Pond.” Fans take advantage of the team’s opening series special tonight and tomorrow, for $20 will receive two field box tickets, two hot dogs, and two sodas. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone at 608-316-DUCK, or in-person at the “Duck Pond” ticket office.
The Madison Mallards are part of the 16-team Northwoods League. The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any other Summer Collegiate Baseball League in North America.
