Madison, WI – August 12, 2008. Mallards outfielder Rob Lyerly is having quite the week. Lyerly, who already claimed Northwoods League Mid-Season All-Star honors in mid-July, was named to the Postseason All-Star Team Monday night as voted on by coaches and media league-wide. But the awards don’t stop there. Lyerly also takes home the NWL batting title with a .342 average, finishing ahead of Duluth’s Tim Jobe (.338). He fell just short of surpassing Ryan Rogowski’s (Illinois) Mallards franchise-high .345 average.
With the team heading to Wausau tonight for game one in the South Division Championship Series, Lyerly knows that these individual accomplishments will go for naught if the Mallards don’t advance past the first round.
“The personal awards are great, but they won’t mean anything unless we hoist that Northwoods League Championship trophy in the air later this week,” said the sweet-stroking left-hander.
“Even though we haven’t been playing our best baseball lately, I’m confident that we’ll find a way to win and I know my teammates share the same feelings.”
Lyerly was the Mallards lone representative on the Postseason All-Star team. Alexandria, Mankato, Rochester, and St. Cloud, all from the North Division, lead all teams with three players selected. Mankato MoonDog catcher Carlos Ramirez (Chandler-Gilbert CC) was named league MVP while his skipper Jason Nell received Manager of the Year honors.
Lyerly finished second in the league in RBIs (48), hits (78), and doubles (19). Both his RBI and doubles totals are now Mallards franchise records.
