Battle Creek, MI – June 30, 2013. The Madison Mallards (18-11) will send Taylore Cherry (UNC) to the mound tonight to make his Northwoods League debut against the Battle Creek Bombers (13-17). First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 pm CT.
Cherry, a 6’8″, 270 pound right-hander from Dayton, Ohio just completed his freshman season at North Carolina. The highlight of his season came on May 26th against Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game. Cherry made his first, and only start of the season and went five innings, giving up five hits, two walks and just one run while earning his first career victory.
The Bombers will send righty Mike Mancuso (Georgia) to the mound to face Cherry. Mancuso has made three appearances for the Bombers, all starts and is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA. He picked up the win in his last start against the LaCrosse Loggers on June 13th. In that contest he pitched 5.1 innings of shutout ball while striking out five.
The Mallards will look to bounce back after a 1-4 loss at the hand of the Bombers last night.
Race to the Finish
The Mallards are just .5 games back of the Lakeshore Chinooks for first place in the South Division standings. The last game of the first half of the Northwoods League season is on July 3rd, meaning there are just four games remaining in the half.
Tar Heel Power
With the addition of Cherry, and last night’s starter Reilly Hovis, the Mallards have bolstered their starting rotation with Tar Heel pitchers. Both players just competed at the College World Series in Omaha, with the Tar Heels losing one game before the championship series.
The Mallards will finish this series with the Bombers with a 6:05 pm CT game Monday night. They will then round out the first half schedule with two games at La Crosse on July 2nd and July 3rd at Copeland Park.
July 3rd is the West Bend Home Talent Classic featuring Paul Molitor at the “Duck Pond.” The Rhythm and Booms Fireworks show will also take place after the game. The American Cancer Society Community Connection Night is also that day.
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. In 2013, the Northwoods League is celebrating its 20th season.
