The Madison Mallards announced that C.J. Thieleke will return for the 2006 season as Manager of the Mallards. This season will be Thieleke?s second as a Manager and fourth overall with the organization. He led the Mallards to the 2005 Northwoods League South Division Championship and a 46-28 overall record in his first season as Manager.

?C.J. is Madison Baseball,? Mallards General Manager Vern Stenman said. ?Between his work with the Mallards, MATC and his Madison roots we couldn’t be more excited about anyone representing our organization and continuing to raise the bar for baseball in the city.?

Thieleke, a Madison native, became the fourth Manager of the Mallards on Oct. 12, 2004. He served as an assistant coach with the Mallards for two years before being promoted. The 1994 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and University of Iowa graduate serves as an assistant coach at MATC in Madison. The Mallards lost in the final game of a three game series to the Thunder Bay BorderCats for the Northwoods League Championship.

?I couldn?t be more excited to have the opportunity to lead the Mallards again this season,? Thieleke said. ?I love coaching in Madison and working with these players. I look forward to doing our part in making the Duck Pond a fun and exciting place to watch baseball in 2006.?

Please stay tuned to www.mallardsbaseball.com for all of the latest off-season news with the Madison Mallards.