Northwoods Green Bay Rockers

Day-Night Doubleheader Pits Bullfrogs against Woodchucks

Published on July 29, 2015 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Green Bay Rockers News Release


Danny Rosenbaum of the Green Bay Bullfrogs Heads for Home
Danny Rosenbaum of the Green Bay Bullfrogs Heads for Home
(Green Bay Rockers)

Green Bay, WI- Amid a four-game losing streak, the Bullfrogs will play their third double header of the year against the Wisconsin Woodchucks at Joannes Stadium. The first game is slated for 11:35AM and the second game is set for 7:05PM.

After the All-Star Break, the Bullfrogs are 1-5, but have played well against the Woodchucks overall with a record of 5-1. The Woodchucks are managed by former Bullfrogs' skipper, Jordan Bischel, who headed the team from 2009-12.

Johansmeier's Pitching Display Downs Bullfrogs

The Rafters swept the Bullfrogs last night with a 3-1 victory behind starter, Jake Johansmeier (RHP/Eastern Illinois). Johansmeier went 8IP/5H/1ER/5K-0BB. Previously, he had yielded three earned runs or more in five of his last six starts.

Regardless of the Bullfrogs' overall skid, the pitching of Johansmeier was impressive. His curve ball with two variations was very good, as was his ability to move inside-to-outside with every other pitch.

The Rafters scored first marking the first time in over three games the Bullfrogs did not score the opening run(s). With Garrett Harrison (LHP/St. Cloud State) on the slab, Sam Tolleson's (Central Florida) dribbler to third was the first run in the first inning.

Robb Paller doubled in the first inning, his fourth extra base hit in as many games, and Danny Rosenbaum (Louisville) drove in the run with a double of his own scorched down the third base line to tie up the game, 1-1.

As Harrison and Johansmeier traded zeroes, the Rafters' Zack Domingues (Long Beach State) tried to score on a Ernie Clement (Virginia) base hit in the fifth but was gunned down by Paul Jacobson's (South Dakota State) throw to home in which catcher Mason George (UTSA) simultaneously received the ball and swiped the tag.

Clement would get the job done in the inning anyway. He stole third and was plated on a Beau Jordan (LSU) sacrifice fly.

And in the sixth, Harrison surrendered his third earned run of the affair when Beau's brother, Bryce Jordan (LSU), singled home Jake Sandlin (Southern Mississippi) to make it 3-1 Rafters.

Harrison left after 5 2/3IP, the first time he had allowed more than 2ER all season (eight starts) and received just his second loss of the summer. Johansmeier (6-1) tallied the win, and Chris Falwell (Cisco C.C.) with his first save.

Bullfrogs March Forward With More Home Games

Although the Bullfrogs are not playing their best baseball, they could get two victories against the Woodchucks in one day. This is not out of the realm of what's probable, as they have done it before.

Back on June 15th, the Bullfrogs defeated the Woodchucks, 3-0 and 5-0. And then in a double header on June 30th, in need of two wins to stay in contention for the first half crown, they won 4-0 and 6-5.

The likely starter in game one will be Sam Brunner (RHP/Dayton). With the playoffs looming, Brunner has experience pitching in a variety of situations and has adjusted well as a starter after being a full-time bullpen pitcher for the Flyers.

Brunner has a 4-3/3.18ERA/14G(7GS)/48.0IP/51K-14BB slash line. In his last start he went 5IP/6ER against Lakeshore, but his start on 07/16 was masterful. He tossed 7IP/0ER/2H/8K-0BB baseball en route to a 1-0 win against St. Cloud.

When the Bullfrogs have hit well lately it is usually because of Robb Paller (Columbia). He is on a four-game hit streak (6-for-15) with five RBI during the period. He was the only player with at least a hit in both games of the series against the Rafters.

And against the Woodchucks Paller is 4-for-9 with three runs scored and two RBI.

Logan Taylor (Louisville) has also had a great amount of success against the Woodchucks. He is 9-for-21, in five games against Wisconsin, with five runs scored and nine total bases.

It is not since June 12th that the Bullfrogs have lost to the Woodchucks, a perfect 4-0 in the timeframe since their last lost to Jordan Bischel's club.

Kingfish Wash Away Woodchucks

No one wants to play the Kenosha Kingfish, but especially right now. Duffy Dyer's club has won 9 of 10 including a two-game sweep of the Woodchucks in the last series.

After getting doubled up, 10-5, the night prior, the Woodchucks lost 6-8 to the Kingfish yesterday at Simmons Field.

It did not go without some offensive fireworks. Owen Taylor (Kansas) was 3-for-5 with four RBI. Yusuke Akitoshi (Cal State Northridge) added his third home run of the season with two RBI.

Last night, the batter with the highest batting average in the lineup was Ty Black (Ohio) at .267. Other players have struggled mightily including Tanner Gragg who went 0-for-4 yesterday with two strikeouts lowering his season batting average to .088.

But they have shown flashes of offensive fire power. They put up a 20 spot in a win over the Kalamazoo Growlers on July 24th. That total is the second most runs scored by a team in a league game this season.

Wisconsin has added a collection of new players to the roster since the Bullfrogs last played them. Alex Cordova (UW-La Crosse) joins Troy Traxler (Minnesota) as bats trying to help the Wisconsin lineup.

After the doubleheader with the Woodchucks today, the Bullfrogs welcome the Madison Mallards for two games on Thursday and Friday night, both games at 7:05PM.

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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Images from this story

Danny Rosenbaum of the Green Bay Bullfrogs Heads for Home
Danny Rosenbaum of the Green Bay Bullfrogs Heads for Home
   



Northwoods League Stories from July 29, 2015


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