Madison, Wis. – The Madison Mallards (28-8) are set for an Independence Day matchup with the Battle Creek Bombers today at 1:05 PM at Warner Park. Today’s game features an Olympic Gold Medalist Matt Hamilton bobblehead giveaway. Gates open at 11:30 AM so make sure to arrive early to receive your bobblehead.
Today marks the beginning of the Northwoods League second half after the Mallards put together a historic first portion of the season by winning a franchise-best 28 games, clinching a 2018 NWL Playoff spot and the South Division first half title. Currently winners of four straight games, the Mallards are currently on pace for a league record 56 wins as they begin second half play today.
Probable Pitcher
The Mallards plan to start Illinois righty Sean Leland. Leland will be making his fifth start of the season and searching for his third win. Leland owns a 2.20 ERA this summer and has lasted at least 5.0 innings in each of his starts. Leland has struck out 27 over 28.1 innings of work.
Battle Creek is scheduled to start Chase Wheatcroft today. Wheatcroft is 1-0 with a 1.68 ERA through three starts and eight total appearances this summer. Wheatcroft has allowed only four runs this season through 21.1 innings and has struck out 20 while allowing only 15 hits.
Player to Watch
Mallards utility man Jake Randa (NW Florida State) has been a key run producer in the Madison lineup and has dominated at the Duck Pond. Randa is hitting .317 at home this summer and has picked up 18 of his 32 RBI at Warner Park. Randa knocked one in yesterday on an RBI single.
David Vinsky (Northwood) collected two hits last night and now has multiple hits in two straight games. VInsky is batting .306 this summer and has hit five home runs and knocked in 27.
For tickets and more information visit mallardsbaseball.com. Make sure to catch every Mallards game game on The Zone, 1670 AM and 96.7 FM.
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The Madison Mallards are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Now in its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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 190 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.mallardsbaseball.comor download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Mallards as your favorite team.
