Madison, WI – February 18, 2015. The Madison Mallards have announced the signing of two infielders to the 2015 roster. JJ Gould (Jacksonville University) and Charlie Cody (University of Virginia) look to continue the recent success the Mallards have with these two great programs.
Two notable Mallards alums from these programs are Connor Marabell (Jacksonville) and John LaPrise (Virginia). Marabell had a terrific season in 2014, with a team-high .384 batting average, three home runs and 27 RBIs. LaPrise played in Madison in 2013, and finished the year with a .407 batting average, becoming just the third player in Northwoods League history to hit over .400 in a season.
Gould, a 6’0”, 195-pound junior from Sarasota, Florida will add to an already talented Mallards infield. Gould is already off to a solid start this season for the Dolphins. Gould currently has a .333 batting average, with four hits in his first 12 at bats.
Gould is currently in his first season at Jacksonville. In 2014, Gould played at Eastern Florida State College, where he earned second-team all-conference as well as conference defensive player of the year. He finished the season with a .320 batting average and a remarkable .444 on-base percentage.
Gould started his collegiate baseball career in 2013 at Florida State University. He added depth in the Seminoles infield appearing in a total 25 games at shortstop and third base.
Cody, a 6’1″, 185-pound freshman from Chesapeake, Virginia will join his Virginia teammate Pavin Smith in the Mallards infield this summer. Cody is off to a great start coming off the bench for the Cavaliers. He currently has a perfect 1.000 batting average with two singles and a double in his only three at bats.
Prior to Virginia, Cody was a three-time all-state honoree at Great Bridge High School. Cody was named to MaxPreps Underclass All-America Team three times. Additionally, Cody was a four-time all-district and three-time all-region honoree. In 2014, Cody’s senior year, he was awarded second-team all-district despite missing part of the season due to a broken hand.
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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 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, 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 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.MallardsBaseball.com
