By: Dylan Lee – Public Relations
Madison, WI – August 6, 2014. The Madison Mallards (17-17, 35-32) look to complete a sweep of the Alexandria Blue Anchors (11-22, 20-47) tonight at the “Duck Pond” after Mallards starter Alex Pondick (Montevallo) tossed a gem on Monday against the Blue Anchors, going six complete innings and allowing one run on five hits while striking out a season high six batters in a 6-1 win.
On the mound for the Mallards final home game is Sterling Sharp (Eastern Michigan). Sharp is 3-7 on the year with a 4.38 ERA, and in 51.1 innings of work he has struck out 41. His last start he went 5.1 innings against the Kenosha Kingfish, allowing one earned run on four hits while striking out five in a 4-3 loss.
On Monday, Mallards right fielder Connor Marabell (Jacksonville) went 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI to lead the Mallards offensively over the Blue Anchors.
Also contributing was catcher Matt Thaiss (Virginia), who drove Marabell and first baseman Pete Alonso (Florida) home with a two RBI single in the fifth.
In the playoff race, the Mallards are four games back of the Wisconsin Woodchucks in the Northwoods League South Division overall standings. For the Mallards to make the playoffs, they must finish in sole second place in the overall standings, as long as the Lakeshore Chinooks maintain their 3.5 game second half lead over the Woodchucks.
Yesterday, the Mallards hosted the Northwoods Big League Dreams Showcase at the “Duck Pond.” The Top 100 Players in the league participated in a doubleheader, with the North Division winning game one by a score of 8-5 and the South Division taking game two, 11-6. Six Mallards participated, including Marabell, Alonso, catcher Drew Carlile (Bradley), and pitchers Tim Black (Central Michigan), Devin Over (Connecticut), and Chris Oakley (North Carolina).
The Mallards end their season later this week on a four game road trip beginning tomorrow at 6:05 pm (CT) against the Battle Creek Bombers. They play two in Battle Creek and then travel to Kalamazoo to face the Kalamazoo Growlers on Saturday and Sunday.
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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
