{"id":7682,"date":"2015-08-09T16:01:54","date_gmt":"2015-08-09T16:01:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/madison-mallards\/?p=7682"},"modified":"2015-08-09T16:14:27","modified_gmt":"2015-08-09T16:14:27","slug":"mallards-loggers-duel-in-regular-season-finale-at-copeland-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northwoodsleague.com\/madison-mallards\/2015\/08\/09\/mallards-loggers-duel-in-regular-season-finale-at-copeland-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Mallards, Loggers Duel in Regular-Season Finale at Copeland Park"},"content":{"rendered":"

\n\t\"8-9Madison, Wis. (August 9) <\/strong>– The Madison Mallards (22-13, 42-28) have clinched a berth into the Northwoods League’s 2015 South Division Playoffs. Now, all that’s left to be determined is where they’ll play their first-round matchup on Monday. Clarity on that subject will be provided Sunday afternoon when the Mallards duel with the La Crosse Loggers (21-15, 40-30) at Copeland Park, with a 5:05 p.m. CT first-pitch penciled in for Madison’s regular-season finale. Play-by-play coverage of tonight’s contest will be provided by 100.5 FM ESPN Madison beginning at approximately 4:45 p.m. CT.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tWith the Kenosha Kingfish winning both the first and second-half divisional titles in the south, the Mallards will need to maintain the division’s second-best overall record in order to host a playoff game on Monday. Entering Sunday, they’ve accomplished as much, owning a one-game lead over the Green Bay Bullfrogs (19-16, 41-29). A Mallards victory over the Loggers today, by itself, would seal a home playoff game on Monday. If the Mallards lose today, Green Bay would also need to lose to Wisconsin Rapids in order for Madison to clinch a home playoff game. If the Mallards lose and Green Bay wins, the Mallards would travel to Green Bay on Monday. The Bullfrogs own the season tiebreaker.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tFully aware of the implications of Sunday’s season finale, Mallards field manager Donnie Scott has assigned right-handed pitcher Spencer Goebel (Spring Arbor Univ.) as Madison’s starting pitcher tonight against the Loggers. Goebel, a 6-foot-2, 195-pound native of Belmont, Mich., enters this evening’s affair on the heels of an August 3 start in which he allowed five earned runs across 0.1 innings at the Duck Pond. Goebel tabbed an impressive road outing on July 28 in Kalamazoo, however, surrendering no earned runs on two hits – both singles – and two strikeouts across five frames en route to a winning decision. He made his 2015 debut on July 23 against La Crosse, recording one whiff in a perfect inning of relief.\n<\/p>\n

\n\tFirst-year Loggers field manager Bill Sandillo will counter Goebel with Billy Clemens (Gateway CC), who is scheduled to tab his third start of the summer tonight at Copeland Park. Clemens, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-handed pitcher from Mesa, Ariz., brings into tonight’s contest an 0-2 record, 6.60 ERA and 8:7 strikeout-to-walk ratio across five total appearances (15 IP) during his first stint in the country’s top summer collegiate league. The Mallards are no stranger to Clemens’ repertoire, having clubbed seven hits and three runs against him over 5.2 innings in a 9-4 victory over the Loggers on July 13 at Warner Park. Overall, opposing hitters have mustered a .344 average against Clemens.\n<\/p>\n