The Madison Mallards have signed 10 players from the 2005 Northwoods League South Division Championship squad to return for 2006. Highlighting the list of returning players is the first four-year Mallard in franchise history, Mike Rohde, and 2005 Northwoods League All-Star pitcher Adam Mills. The Mallards open the 2006 season in a rematch of the 2005 NWL Championship Series against the Thunder Bay Border Cats on Thursday, June 1 at the Duck Pond. Below is a list of returning players (in alphabetical order) for 2006.
Casey Baron, LHP, Junior, Maryland. Baron appeared in 13 games including 10 starts a year ago. He finished the season with a 4-3 record and 2.97 ERA in 60. 2 innings of work.
Ryan Bond, INF, Junior, Indiana State. Bond led the league with a .455 batting average in the playoffs. He appeared in 55 games mainly at second base and shortstop in 2005.
Jordan Comadena, OF, Sophomore, Purdue. Comadena hit .267 with 15 RBI and 22 runs scored with the Mallards in 2005. He also spurred the Mallards post-season run hitting .300 in the playoffs.
Mike Creevy, RHP, Junior, Xavier. Creevy was stellar out of the bullpen in 2005 with a 5-2 record and a 1.79 ERA in 30 appearances. Creevy looks to be the ace of the staff at Xavier this spring.
Danny Dressman, OF, Junior, Notre Dame. Dressman was the primary center fielder for the Mallards in 2005. He hit .297 in 54 games with 18 runs and 17 RBI.
Dan Melvin, INF, Junior, Maryland. Melvin appeared in 41 games for the Mallards in 2005. At Maryland last season he started 45 games and hit .306.
Adam Mills, RHP, Junior, UNC-Charlotte. Mills was the ace of the ?05 staff going 6-2 with a 1.00 ERA in 11 starts. Mills? 2005 ERA was the second best in league history.
Randy Molina, 1B/3B, Sophomore, Stanford. Molina made a solid debut with the Mallards hitting .279 in 56 games. Molina was second on the team with 10 doubles and third on the team with 26 RBI. He looks to see a lot of time at first base for the Cardinal this Spring.
Kris Rochelle, C/1B, Junior, UNC-Charlotte. Rochelle hit .235 in 56 games in 2005 playing mainly behind the plate and at first base. At UNC-Charlotte last year Rochelle started 50 games behind the plate and hit .285.
Mike Rohde, INF, Junior, Illinois. Rohde holds franchise records for RBI, runs scored, doubles, walks, at-bats and games played. He will be the first player to play for the Mallards for four seasons. He was a 2005 NWL All-Star and hit .312 while leading the team with 34 RBI.
