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Green Bay Rockers

Bullfrogs Post One of Best First Half Showings in Franchise History

July 1, 2015 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Green Bay Rockers News Release


Green Bay Bullfrogs Celebrate
Green Bay Bullfrogs Celebrate
(Green Bay Rockers)

Green Bay, Wis.- Ending the first half with eight straight wins, three consecutive sweeps, and the best team ERA (2.58) in the league is no easy task. The Bullfrogs' 22 wins also is the second most in franchise history (2007- 23-10 & 2012- 22-14).

Despite a late loss added retroactively to the record of the Bullfrogs, they still are neck-and-neck with Kenosha with the best overall record in the South Division heading into play tonight against La Crosse.

The Bullfrogs also hold a 10-6 record against Kenosha, Lakeshore, Madison, and La Crosse in the first half, all teams with records over .500.

More improbably, Green Bay failed to lose any series through their first 35 games. The Bullfrogs won five sets and split the rest excluding a rain suspended two-game bill with St. Cloud on May 28-29.

Their longest losing streak was two games, and the Bullfrogs 10-4 road record is the best in terms of winning percentage (.714) in the Northwoods League.

Importantly, the Bullfrogs did not drop any of the four road series at Madison's Duck Pond or Lakeshore's Kapco Park either as some of the Bullfrogs' stiffest road destinations are all complete with the first half.

The current eight-game win streak, all against South Division opponents, is the tied for the longest win streak in the Northwoods League this season (KEN 06/04-06/12).

Pitching Working At Unbelievable Clip

A 2.58 team ERA (1st NWL) was matched by a league low .211 opposing batting average, 235 hits, and just 87 earned runs allowed from Bullfrogs' hurlers. The 278 strikeouts posted by the Bullfrogs pitching staff is fourth in the league.

No Bullfrogs pitcher ended the first half with more than five innings pitched and an ERA over 4.00. And all starting pitchers with three outings or more had ERAs 3.00 or below. Four regular relief arms had ERAs below 1.00.

Starter Garrett Harrison (LHP/St. Cloud State) finished with a 1.34ERA through 33 2/3IP and 26 hits. His 33 strikeouts was a team high. He also threw a complete game shutout with 11 strikeouts against the Wisconsin Woodchucks (06/15).

Notably, Parker Hamilton (FGCU) finished with a 2.05 ERA in 26 1/3IP (5 starts), Ryan Radue (UConn) managed a 2.05ERA in 22.0IP (5 starts), Sam Brunner (RHP/Dayton) 2.75 ERA in 19.2IP, and Nathan Disch a 3.00 ERA in 21.0IP (4 starts).

What is hard to fathom is the bullpen paralleled the successes of the starting staff, controlling the later innings of tight ball games throughout the month of June. The Bullfrogs tallied nine saves from four different bullpen arms.

Connor Donovan (RHP/Lehigh) led all relievers with 10 innings or more with a 0.47 ERA. He became a consistent late innings threat joining Jeremy Graf (Flagler) who led the 'pen with 19.1IP and limited hitters to just a .149 batting average. Jake Stolley (LHP/Northwestern) had a 0.47ERA in nine appearances as yet another late-innings hurler the Bullfrogs had to offer.

Adding Pieces, Base-Stealing Strategy For Big Wins

The league record for stolen bases in a season is 192 (Waterloo 1996), and the Bullfrogs finished the first half (still only 35 games) with 96 stolen bases. Caleb Ratzman (Illinois State) leads the Northwoods League with 24 swipes. Paul Jacobson (South Dakota State) finished with 14 stolen bases, Ty Blankmeyer (St. John's) with 11, and Logan Taylor (Louisville) 10.

Logan Taylor (Louisville) (NWL Player of the Night on June 28th) and Robb Paller (Columbia) have been a strong outfield duo since joining the Bullfrogs in mid-June. In 29 combined games, they are 36-for-107 (.336) with on-base percentages both over .400 (Paller .471, Taylor .405).

Ryan Donovan (Hofstra) cemented a strong end to his first half by getting on base six times in the double-header on June 30th in Wausau. Donovan leads the Bullfrogs (player w/ 75 ABs or more) with 5HR/31RBI/23BB and also sports a team best slash line of .302/.432/534.

And regardless of a .232 AVG, Ty Blankmeyer (St. John's) has exemplified elite defense at second base working with Jack Strunc (Washington State) and Mikey Duarte (UC-Irvine) up the middle. Blankmeyer also is getting on base at a .398 clip.

In 16 games, the Bullfrogs posted six runs plus, and finished their last 10 games in the first half with a team batting average of .252, nearly 10 points over their season average

The red-hot Bulfrogs play at "The Lumberyard" against the La Crosse Loggers for a 7:05PM start. They are 1-1 against La Crosse on the season.

Single game tickets are on sale now. Visit www.greenbaybullfrogs.com to purchase tickets. The Bullfrogs' business hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.




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Green Bay Bullfrogs Celebrate
Green Bay Bullfrogs Celebrate
   

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