Mequon, WI – June 16, 2014. The Madison Mallards (12-7) look to bounce back after their 5-3 loss yesterday against the Wisconsin Woodchucks (11-7) in a doubleheader this afternoon against the Lakeshore Chinooks (12-7) beginning at 4:05 pm.
On the mound today in game one for the Mallards is Sterling Sharp (Eastern Michigan). The 6’4”, 175-pound righty is 2-1 on the year and second on the team with 16 strikeouts in just 12.1 innings pitched. In his last outing on June 9th against the Battle Creek Bombers (9-11), Sharp tossed 6.0 innings of shutout ball, giving up two hits while striking out nine in a 1-0 victory.
He will face Chinooks starter G.J. Strauss, a 6’5”, 215-pound righty out of Florida Tech. Strauss is 2-0 on the year, and his last win came against the Mallards on June 10th, where he pitched six innings, giving up one run on one hit, walking and striking out four in a 5-1 win.
Game two is slated to start 30 minutes after the completion of game one. Alex Pondick (Montevallo) will go against Chinooks hurler Joe Pavlovich (UW-Oshkosh). Pondick is 2-1 on the year in three starts, highlighted by a shutout of the Kenosha Kingfish in five innings of work on June 4th in a 12-1 win.
Pavlovich, a 6’1”, 185-pound righty out of Denmark, Wisconsin has appeared in four games with the Chinooks and is 0-1 on the year. In 15 innings pitched, he has given up 13 hits and holds a 2.40 ERA with 13 strikeouts and two walks.
Last night, the Mallards lost to the Woodchucks in a heartbreaker after giving up three runs in the top of the 9th with two outs. Pete Alonso (Florida) hit a home run and added two singles to lead the club offensively. Brian Rodemoyer (Illinois State) chipped in with two doubles and an RBI, along with superb defensive play in right field.
The Mallards return home tomorrow to begin a three game home stand against the Chinooks at 7:05 pm. Tuesday night is Superhero Night, and kids 12 and under in costume get a free standing room only ticket. It is also Rayovac Night with a Rayovac Giveaway.
Mallards single game tickets are on-sale now. To purchase tickets, log on to MallardsBaseball.com, call 608-246-4277, or stop by the Mallards ticket office.
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The Madison Mallards are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit MallardsBaseball.com.
