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Northwoods Green Bay Rockers

Crucial Series against Madison Starts Tonight

July 30, 2015 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Green Bay Rockers News Release


Green Bay Bullfrogs Bench
Green Bay Bullfrogs Bench
(Green Bay Rockers)

Green Bay, WI- A playoff-seeking Bullfrogs (36-26/14-13) start a paramount series against the Madison Mallards (35-25/15-10). Game time tonight is slated for 7:05PM and it is Pagel's Ponderosa Dairy Night.

Bullfrogs' players will be adorning custom uniforms that will be auctioned off throughout the game.

Green Bay swept the Mallards at home on June 13-14, cementing their ascension above them in the first half standings.

Doubleheaders, Woodchucks Equals Wins

Playing their third doubleheader against the Wisconsin Woodchucks yesterday, the Bullfrogs entered amid a season long four-game losing skid.

That quickly changed after the Bullfrogs reeled off two wins, 5-4, and 3-0, shutting out the Woodchucks for the fourth time this summer.

In game one, Green Bay went up 4-0 with RBI base hits from Brian Celsi (California), Ryan Donovan (Lynn), Desi Ammons (Belmont), and Ty Blankmeyer (St. John's).

Starter Luke Lind (RHP/North Dakota State) was taken out in the sixth with one out and runners on first and second. New reliever Jack Mahan (Eckerd) gave up a three-run blast to Albee Weiss (Cal-State Northridge), his 13th home run this season making it 4-3 Bullfrogs.

The bridge man, Jake Stolley (Northwestern) notched a vital two scoreless innings to get to the ninth lowering his season ERA to 1.11.

Paul Jacobson (South Dakota State) came up with a big run of insurance in the eighth inning. He continued his hot hitting with a double, advanced to third, and scored on a Celsi sacrifice fly.

Wielding a 5-3 advantage to the ninth, Matt De La Rosa allowed a run but struck out three batters to earn his second save.

Lind was credited with his third win going 5 1/3IP/3H/2R(2ER)/5K-2BB.

Game two was smoother sailing. Sam Brunner had command of his fastball and curveball totaling 7IP/2H/0R/7K-1BB and picked up his fifth win.

Green Bay's offense was not stellar, but got the job done. And they did so with two outs in the first inning as Brian Celsi singled, stole second, and scored on a Danny Rosenbaum (Louisville) base hit.

And Celsi knocked in his third run of the day with an RBI double for the Bullfrogs' second run. Again, Celsi made his presence known providing the third run as his double-play groundout allowed Paul Jacobson to score.

Following Brunner's second start of 7IP, Chad Dullnig (Ranger) and Jeremy Graf (Flagler) faced six total batters and outed all of them. Graf picked up his 11th save.

Bullfrogs Pitching Focused; Celsi Stays On Point

The most important part of yesterday's victories was the bullpen was not over-taxed. They only threw a combined 5 2/3IP and only five different relievers were used for no more than two innings.

There was no need for a pseudo starter, firing up the bullpen in the first inning, or hoping a pitcher did not surpass 35 pitch limit. Lind and Brunner were great and the Bullfrogs hope to get the same from Alex Martinez (De Anza) and Ryan Radue (UConn) in the next two games.

Tonight's starter, Martinez, has pitched against Madison before, with success, and in a hostile environment at the Duck Pond. On June 4th he went 5IP/1R(0ER)/5H/5K-1BB in a 7-3 win over the Mallards.

Martinez has lost his last two starts including his most recent performance in which he could not escape the fourth inning. In six starts, Martinez has only pitched six or more innings one time.

He has a high velocity fastball and at times can also command a fine slider. Martinez started the year in the bullpen and as a utility player at third base, but will factor in as an integral piece of the Green Bay rotation with the departure of Garrett Harrison (LHP/St. Cloud State) this week.

Offensively, Brian Celsi's opposite field approach is carrying the team. Not only is he "owning the six hole" he is doing so with power and authority. Over his last two games he is 4-for-7 with 3RBI. He has raised his season average to .347 (34-for-98).

Another Pac-12 performer, Jack Strunc (Washington State), is also starting to find his identity at the plate. He was 3-for-4 in the first game while also serving the ball the other way when necessary.

Maybe the best news for Green Bay's lineup is the play of Paul Jacobson (South Dakota State). He has had an impressive post-all star break swing including a total of two hits and three runs yesterday. He was placed in the lead off spot in the back end of the doubleheader.

192 stolen bases (Waterloo 1996) are the most in a single season in Northwoods League history. Presently, the Bullfrogs 161 stolen bases ranks 6th all time. It would take an average of over three swiped bags per game in the last 10 for the Bullfrogs to set the record.

Rested Mallards With Excellent Offense

Madison, fresh off a sweep of the Kalamazoo Growlers, take on the Bullfrogs with playoff aspirations of their own. Making his first start against Green Bay tonight is Dalton DSpain (Texas A&M Corpus Christi). He presents a 5-2/4.15ERA/43 1/3IP/42K-33BB slash line.

DSpain has been hit hard lately. In his last two starts he has only totaled 7IP/7R (7ER)/12H/6K-5BB. Although DSpain's overall numbers appear satisfactory, he has labored to get into the later innings, and has never been into the seventh inning this summer.

While DSpain has been on the roster since the beginning of the season, Madison has added a collection of players since they last came to Green Bay.

Jason Goldstein (Illinois) is hitting .348 (32-for-92) to lead the Mallards. In his last game, he went 4-for-4 with a HR/4RBI.

Others to watch out for at the plate include Logan Regnier (Central Michigan). Though not a power threat, Regnier has been one of the better outfielders in the Northwoods League with a .323 (62-for-192) mark.

Maybe the biggest bat the Mallards have in their impressive lineup is Anthony Gonsolin (St. Mary's). He leads the team with 10HR/35RBI and has amassed a total of 209 at-bats. He is 7-for-18 against the Bullfrogs.

In the overall record department, the Bullfrogs are tied with Madison at six games behind the Kingfish. But the Mallards have a .583 winning percentage, while the Bullfrogs sport a .581 winning percentage. If the season ended today, the Bullfrogs would be playing at the Duck Pond in the first playoff game.

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

Green Bay Bullfrogs Bench
Green Bay Bullfrogs Bench
   



Northwoods League Stories from July 30, 2015


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