More than 18 million people across the United States have Diabetes. The cause? Still a mystery. This year, the Madison Mallards and TDS are teaming up to help find the cause and a cure by supporting the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). TDS will donate $25 to JDRF each time a Mallard steals a base during the 2004 season. To date the Mallards have stolen 60 bases in Northwoods League play good for second in the league and a one thousand five hundred dollar donation from TDS. Mallard Ryan Rogowski has stolen 20 bases this summer, good for second in the league and a five hundred dollar donation from TDS. Last summer the Mallards led the League in stolen bases with 155.

Mallards Manager Darrell ?Skip? Handelsman has traditionally coached teams that have been among the league leaders in stolen bases, providing an exciting brand of baseball for fans at the ?Duck Pond.? Handelsman is proud to see the success of his team on the base paths translate into helping kids.

?Anytime we can be a positive part of the community it is exciting for us as a team,? said Handelsman. ?Hopefully we go out & break the league record this summer & help provide something very special for these kids.?

Any time there is an opportunity to help support a great cause like Diabetes research, TDS is always first in line,? said Amanda MacDonald, regional marketing manager for TDS Metrocom. ?We?re hoping that by the end of this season, the Mallards will again top the league with the most bases stolen.?

The Mallards play game three of a six game home stand tonight as the Waterloo Bucks come to Madison. Tickets are available at the Mallards box office at the ?Duck Pond?, by phone at 608-246-4277, & on-line at Mallardsbaseball.com, powered by TDS.