by Peter Geppert
Madison, WI- June 29, 2012. Nine runs in the second inning and a great all around performance by Mallards right fielder Tyler Marincov that included a Northwoods League leading seventh home run and a spectacular home run robbing catch in right field allowed the Madison Mallards (13-18) to run away with an 18-4 win over the La Crosse Loggers (22-8). The win evens up the three game series between the two teams and sets up a rubber match in the series finale.
The Loggers got the scoring started in the second inning on RBI hits from catcher Tyler Servais (Princeton) and designated hitter Bailey Austin (San Diego). With third baseman Kevin Kramer (UCLA) on third, Servais was able to drive a ball off of Mallards starter Kurt Giller (Oral Roberts) to score Kramer. The Loggers added two more runs when Austin drove a Giller fastball back up the middle to score right fielder Bobby Juan (Minnesota) and center fielder Boomer Collins (Dallas Baptist) and give the Loggers a 3-0 advantage.
The Mallards responded in the bottom half with an offensive explosion, scoring nine runs all with two outs. The Mallards began their run with an RBI ground rule double by catcher Mike Reuvekamp (California) to score left fielder Derek Fisher (Virginia) and would score their eighth and ninth runs on a two RBI single by Reuvekamp later in the inning.
Other RBI hits that inning came off the bats of Marincov, second baseman Luis Munoz (Coffeyville CC),
and third baseman Nicholas Howard (Virginia). In total the Mallards got six hits and four walks off of Loggers starter Bo Henning (Sacramento CC) and reliever Steven Pallares (San Diego State), allowing every Mallards hitter to reach base at least once at some point.
The Mallards put two more runs on the score board in the fifth inning when an error by Kramer allowed Reuvekamp and center fielder John Welborn (Texas-San Antonio) to score, making the score 11-3.
After scoring another run via an error the Mallards got three more runs in the sixth inning on Marincov’s seventh home run of the season.
Giller (2-0) was able to get win after laboring through 5.0 innings of work, in which he became the first Mallards pitcher to throw more than 100 pitches at home this season. On the night Giller gave up three runs on four hits and also fanned four hitters.
Henning (3-1) had his worst outing of the season on his way to receiving his first loss as a Logger. Through 1.2 the right-hander was tagged for seven runs on six hits and also walked four. Prior to this start Henning had only given up two runs in five appearances, but was unable to stop the Mallards once they got the offense rolling in the second inning.
The nine runs scored by the Mallards in the second inning tied the franchise record for most runs in an inning. Reuvekamp was perfect at the plate, finishing 4-4 with five RBIs and a walk.
The Mallards finish their series off with the Loggers at the “Duck Pond” tomorrow Saturday, June 30th. That night will be Rhythm and Booms Fireworks Night at the ballpark, and will also feature the Diamond Center Diamond Dig after game in addition to a Hy-Vee Post-Fireworks movie on the Pepsi Max video board.
The 2012 season is upon us! Single-game tickets are on-sale for all Mallards home games!
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 League in North America.
