By: Ryan Hill — Public Relations
Madison, WI — July 12, 2013. Three Madison Mallards pitchers and two Mallards position players will play for the 2013 Northwoods League South Division All Star team on July 23rd in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
Luke Staub (George Washington), Sam Forkert (Marian), Hunter May (UNC-Charlotte), Drew Weeks (North Florida) and John LaPrise (Virginia) have been selected by the 16 member teams of the Northwoods League. Ballots were cast by each team’s field staff and media contacts.
The Mallards tied for the most selections in the South Division with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters. The Mankato MoonDogs lead the entire Northwoods League with six selections.
Manager Donnie Scott and his coaching staff will also be in the dugout for the second time in three years.
On Tuesday, July 23rd, a fan fest that will give fans the opportunity to meet the all-stars and get autographs will be held at Carson Park beginning at 4 pm while the annual Home Run Derby is set for a 6 pm start. The game will begin at 7:35 pm.
Staub, a 6’2,” 200-pounder from Peoria, Illinois, is second in the Northwoods League in ERA with a mark of 1.58 over 40 innings of work. He has a record of 3-2, has 38 strikeouts and has issued only six walks in his seven starts.
Only Willmar’s Abe Bobb (San Francisco) has a lower ERA than Staub. He has started five games and has an ERA of 1.12 while recording three complete games.
Forkert’s ERA of 0.80 primarily out of the bullpen was also enough to give him a selection in his second year with the Mallards. He has allowed just three earned runs over 33.2 innings of work and has walked only eight batters. He is 3-0 on the season and has allowed 20 hits while striking out 35 batters.
May, the Northwoods League leader in saves with nine, is the third and final member of the Mallards pitching staff on the squad. He has allowed five earned runs and 16 hits over 20.1 innings this season and has 19 strikeouts. The Mallards record for saves in a season is 12, as May’s college teammate John Hamilton set that record a year ago.
LaPrise has just recently become eligible for the Northwoods League batting average title and is now comfortably in the lead, making his selection a surprise to virtually no one. His .448 batting average is .040 points higher than the second-ranked hitter. Through 26 games this summer, LaPrise has four doubles, a triple and 16 RBIs while boasting a .487 on-base percentage.
Outfielder Drew Weeks (North Florida) rounds out the Mallards in the All Star game. He leads the Northwoods League in RBIs with 41 and has knocked the ball out of the ballpark six times. He also boasts a .333 batting average, which is good for 12th in the league.
Weeks’ selection marks the second-consecutive year that a Mallards player from North Florida makes the mid-season classic. Tyler Marincov was the lone Mallards selection last season.
The Madison Mallards are your Northwoods League South Division First Half Champions! Playoff tickets are on-sale now!
The Madison Mallards are part of the 16-team Northwoods League. The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any other Summer Collegiate Baseball League in North America. In 2013, the Northwoods League is celebrating its 20th season.
