After three weeks of play in the Northwoods League, the Mallards (9-6) are already lining up for their final game of the season against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (8-6), as seven of Madison’s 15 games have been played against the Rafters. The series has been neck-and-neck all year, with the Rafters taking a 4-3 series lead with their 9-6 win over Madison a night ago.
Looking to get a quality start tonight, the Mallards will throw Heath Renz (UW-Whitewater), who has been very solid for Madison in 2016. Though he has yet to record a decision, Renz has only allowed three hits in seven innings of work while posting a 2.57 ERA.
Gareth Stroh (Coffeyville CC) will toe the rubber for Wisconsin Rapids, and he has been one of the best pitchers in the Northwoods League this year. Stroh has gone seven complete innings in each of his previous two starts, allowing only six hits and one walk in that span. He is 1-0 with 15 strikeouts and a 0.64 ERA.
The Mallards hope to continue their strong offensive showing on the road, as the team is hitting .317 with 50 RBIs. 12 of their 15 team-home runs have also come away from Warner Park this season.
Sam Armstrong (Jacksonville) continued his reign of terror last night, hitting his third long ball of the season. Armstrong has now reached base safely in every game he’s played in 2016, including an eight-game hitting streak.
The Mallards will return to the Duck Pond on Thursday, June 16th against the Battle Creek Bombers at 7:05 pm. The game will feature a State Capitol Maynard bobblehead giveaway, brought to you by Zimbrick Honda. There will also be a UW Health Sports Medicine fastball pitching mechanics baseball clinic. Tickets are available for purchase by visiting MallardsBaseball.com, calling the Mallards ticket office at 608-246-4277, or stopping in the ticket office at 2920 N Sherman Ave.
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The Madison Mallards are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2016, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 150 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.MallardsBaseball.com
