Bullfrogs Back for Showdown against Chinooks
July 23, 2015 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Green Bay Rockers News Release
Joannes Stadium, Home of the Green Bay Bullfrogs
(Green Bay Rockers)
Green Bay, WI- Starting a 10 game stretch with eight of them at Joannes Stadium, the Bullfrogs (33-21/11-8) host the Lakeshore Chinooks (25-30/8-15) at 7:05PM. This evening is also an Aurora BayCare Medical Center Patient Jeremiah bobblehead giveaway.
It was a long, travel-full start to July. In 17 days, the Bullfrogs only had three home games. The road games were not easy either. Five straight were against Duluth and St. Cloud, two of the best teams in the North Division. And there was also a road series at Kenosha who has the best overall record in the Northwoods League.
Now the Bullfrogs play six of their next eight games against opponents with records below .500. Their only two-game series against a team over .500 during the timeframe is this weekend against the La Crosse Loggers.
Chinooks Still Searching For 2014 Form
Although the Lakeshore Chinooks won the Northwoods League Summer Collegiate World Series in 2014, they have been less than stellar in 2015.
Already seven games out of first place this half, a once competitive team through the first 36 games is a mere 8-15 in the second half of play.
Struggles aside, Lakeshore has played well against the Bullfrogs. With a record of 3-3 heading in against Green Bay, the Chinooks have split all three sets with Green Bay.
When they have had success it is due in part to great starting pitching. Lake Bachar (UW-Whitewater) is one of the best starting pitchers in the league, and shut down the Bullfrogs in 6IP/1ER on May 31st.
While some of the Chinooks' front-end guys have turned heads, their back end of the rotation has slowed them down. Starters Kevin Long (Lehigh), Zac Lowther (Xavier), and Ryan Dunne (John Logan) all have ERAs of 5.00+.
Hitting has been the same way. A stark divide separates the top from the bottom, meaning there are still plenty of players 1-9 that have the ability to change the game with one swing of the bat.
Their standout hitter has been Lucas Raley (Lake Erie). And against Green Bay he is 7-for-25 with three runs and a home run. Raley leads the Northwoods League with 11HR and 43RBI.
A roster featuring 10 players that bat left-handed (including Zalweski (Kent State) a switch hitter) the Chinooks Anthony Massicci (Canisius) has been one of the best hitters in the league with a .326AVG/.456OBP in 144 at-bats.
The Bullfrogs will also get their first look at Mark Kolozsvary (Florida) a young catcher expected to make waves in the SEC in future seasons, and Eric Fasnacht (Concordia University- St. Paul) who has started out 8-for-21 with six runs through just five starts as a late roster acquisition.
Another Chinook having massive success is Marshall Kasowski (RHP/Houston). He takes the rubber for the second time against Green Bay tonight. His last appearance against the Bullfrogs (06/23) Kasowski struck out nine batters in five innings of no run baseball.
Well-Rested Bullfrogs Traverse Home Friendly Finish To July
There now remain only 18 games on the regular season schedule, and the playoff picture is becoming clearer. With Kenosha at 13-6 in the second half, the Mallards, Loggers, and Bullfrogs join a nucleus of those most positioned for a playoff war.
Unless a team such as the Woodchucks or Rafters (both four games behind first in second half) makes a dramatic shift upwards, those four aforementioned teams are in the driver's seat for making the post-season, what is to be determined is the order in which they could enter August 10th.
In terms of depth, the Bullfrogs strategy in the future is a little more hectic with the loss of shortstop Mikey Duarte (UC-Irvine). This leads to more time for Jack Strunc (Washington State) a young, but highly athletic middle-infielder who has matured as a hitter too since his May arrival to Green Bay.
Green Bay becomes an even more dangerous club when they have a more thorough set of contributors 1-9. It is not just a top four in the order show anymore. Desi Ammons (Belmont) has raised his season batting average to .250 with five hits in his last two games. Ammons was used as a designated hitter in the Bullfrogs' last game against Kenosha, signaling a more everyday role for the rising senior catcher.
Along with Mason George (UTSA), Ammons should be the recipient of a more rested and assured starting rotation.
After tossing one inning in the Northwoods League All-Star Game start on Tuesday, Garrett Harrison (St. Cloud State) will take back his usual spot in the staff. And this last time through the rotation, Ryan Radue (UConn), Sam Brunner (Dayton), and Alex Martinez (De Anza) all logged solid starts, a sought after development not far removed from a string of starts that had the bullpen entered in the fourth inning or earlier.
The Bullfrogs pitching staff has the lowest ERA in the South Division (3.25) and their .230 opposing average is the lowest in the league.
Brunner will make the start after shutting out the St. Cloud Rox in seven innings on July 16th. Most notably, Brunner did not surrender any walks in the last start with a masterful eight strikeouts. He has not lost a pitching decision since Jun 19th.
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.
Images from this story
 Joannes Stadium, Home of the Green Bay Bullfrogs |
Northwoods League Stories from July 23, 2015
- Kingfish Smash Bombers 13-2 in Battle Creek - Kenosha Kingfish
- Dwyer, Woodchuck Arms Keep Growler Bats at Bay Again - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Ramirez's Walk-Off Single Lifts Mallards to Victory over Loggers - Madison Mallards
- Bullfrogs Fall to Chinooks - Green Bay Rockers
- Bucks Succumb Late to Stingers - Waterloo Bucks
- Bullpen Saves Chinooks In 6-3 Win - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Anchors crush way to rally over MoonDogs - Alexandria Blue Anchors
- Gregory Strikes out Six While Carson Collects Two Hits - St. Cloud Rox
- Rafters Fall in Thunder Bay 5-3 - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Double Decker Pizza Bus Tickets on Sale Now - Kenosha Kingfish
- Honkers Fall to Express in First Game After All-Star - Rochester Honkers
- Club to Closer: Stolley's Perseverance Pays Off - Green Bay Rockers
- Bullfrogs Back for Showdown against Chinooks - Green Bay Rockers
- Mallards Host Loggers to Begin Stretch Run of Season - Madison Mallards
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