By: Dylan Lee – Public Relations
Madison, WI – July 26, 2014. Tonight, the Madison Mallards (12-11, 30-26) begin a two game home series at the “Duck Pond” against the Green Bay Bullfrogs (9-11, 26-29). First pitch is slated for 6:05 pm.
Mallards righty Sterling Sharp (Eastern Michigan) is scheduled to face Green Bay hurler Zac Westcott (Nova Southeastern).
Sharp has made nine starts for the Mallards this year, tossing 41 innings with 32 strikeouts and holding batters to a respectable .264 average. His last start, Sharp pitched four innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits in a 7-6 loss to the Willmar Stingers.
He will square off against Westcott, a 6’1”, 180-pound right hander out of Weston, Florida. Westcott has only started once for the Bullfrogs this summer, going seven innings against the Lakeshore Chinooks and giving up one run on five hits while striking out five.
Last night, the Mallards fell in game two of their home-and-home series against the Chinooks by a score of 4-1.
Mallards first baseman Pete Alonso (Florida) hit his 14th home run of the year to tie the game in the fourth and become the Mallards single season leader in home runs. He finished 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI.
The Chinooks responded with two runs in the top of the fifth, and in the sixth, a solo shot from left fielder Connor McKay (Kansas) put the Chinooks up 4-1.
Mallards starter A.J. Bogucki (North Carolina) tossed six complete innings, giving up four runs on seven hits while striking out five in the loss.
The Mallards currently sit 6.5 games back of the Chinooks in the second half South Division standings, and four games back of the second place Wisconsin Woodchucks and Kenosha Kingfish. In the overall standings, the Mallards are 12 games back of the Chinooks and two games behind the second place Woodchucks.
The Mallards can advance to the Northwoods League playoffs by winning the second half, or finishing second in the overall standings if the Chinooks win the second part of the Northwoods League season.
Tomorrow, the Mallards wrap up their three game home stand against the Bullfrogs at 5:05 pm.
Sunday is Endres Manufacturing Law Enforcement Appreciation Night with a Pre-Game Police vs. Fire Softball Game. Sunday is Faith Night, Boy Scout Night and Charter Communications will present in-game entertainment from the ZOOperstars. It is also Petting Zoo Sundays and there is a St. Mary's An Apple A Day Giveaway before the game.
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.
