Northwoods Green Bay Rockers

Hancock Hurls as Road Stand Continues

Published on August 2, 2015 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Green Bay Rockers News Release


Paul Jacobson of the Green Bay Bullfrogs
Paul Jacobson of the Green Bay Bullfrogs
(Green Bay Rockers)

Kalamazoo, MI- After losing in walk-off fashion the night prior, the Bullfrogs (37-28) hope to snap a two-game losing streak against the Kalamazoo Growlers (15-50) at 4:05PMCST from Homer Stryker Field.

Austin Hancock (RHP/Lenoir Rhyne) is the pitcher for Green Bay making his second start this summer. He has not allowed an earned run through 7IP.

Growlers Rally In Ninth Inning For Late Win

Kalamazoo's Growlers got on the board first yesterday against starter Clayton Uselman (LHP/Madison College). John Soteropulos collected an RBI single in the second, Corey Dempster (USC) bashed an RBI double in the third, and Marquise Gill (Eastern Michigan) scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0 Growlers after four innings.

The momentum shifted when the Bullfrogs crept back for three runs.

A Green Bay comeback began in the fifth when Danny Rosenbaum (Louisville) lifted a two out RBI base hit to left center. Paul Jacobson (South Dakota State) plugged a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Robb Paller (Columbia). And then a throwing error by Angelo Armenta (USC) scored Matt De La Rosa (Lenoir Rhyne) in the eighth.

Tied 3-3 heading to the ninth, Parker Hamilton allowed a leadoff single to Bryce Adams (LSU) and was pulled for Jeremy Graf (Flagler). The Bullfrogs closer walked two batters in a row and the final pitch of the game was a wild offering to the backstop to give Kalamazoo just their 15th win this season.

Bullfrogs Closer To Playoff Berth; Five Road Games Remaining

Austin Hancock gets the nod having pitched 6IP/0ER in his last start against Wisconsin Rapids on July 27th. He throws a fastball, changeup, slider, and all with great effectiveness.

Following a strike-throwing start from Uselman, Hancock is another pitcher that will live around the zone. In seven total innings, he has only walked two. In 52IP earlier this summer in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League, he struck out a league high 48 batters.

The Bullfrogs will look to capitalize on strong offensive performances of late from Robb Paller (Columbia) and Brian Celsi (California). Paller had four hits yesterday, raising his season batting average to .351.

Paller has also upped his extra base hit tally. In his last 10 games, Paller has six extra base hits including a double he hit last night.

Celsi is on a five-game hit streak and in four of those contests he has two hits. During this torrid stretch Celsi has rapped six RBI and walked three times increasing his on-base percentage to .418.

Production at the bottom of the lineup will be harder to come by. Ty Blankmeyer (St. John's) did not play last night, and the Bullfrogs only received two hits from 7-9 in the lineup.

In Blankmeyer's absence, Ray Greco (UW-Stevens Point), who picked up his first Northwoods League hit last night, will be one of the new starters primarily at second base. That means that Jack Strunc (Washington State) will be the anchor up the middle defensively with Rosenbaum and De La Rosa the primary corner infielders.

With limited position players, the Bullfrogs lineup that we saw last night will have to produce in the next week plus. Also awaiting the returned production of Ryan Donovan (Lynn), the Bullfrogs turn to their senior leaders in this trying August period.

The Bullfrogs need three wins and/or three Lakeshore Chinooks losses to officially clinch a berth in this year's Northwoods League playoffs for the first time since 2011.

Growlers Roar Limited; Game Away From History

Although the Growlers are just 15-50, three of their wins overall are against the Bullfrogs. Two of those have come at Homer Stryker Field. Both of those victories have been resolved in the ninth inning.

Tim Cerven (Kalamazoo Valley C.C.) entered with an ERA over 8.00 yesterday and spun what was undoubtedly his best start going 6IP/1ER in a no decision.

This is a Growlers team with a staff ERA of 5.72, and a team that had two doubleheaders in as many days prior. They also just recently allowed 20 runs in one game to the Woodchucks.

A handful of players the original Growlers roster are no longer with the team. But those that have stayed include John Soteropulos (California), Justin Fletcher (Northern Illinois), and Corey Dempster (USC). These three players propelled them to victory last night and will factor in again here Sunday.

The Growlers, down to just two outfielders, have added Drew Farmer (Western Michigan) and a collection of relief pitchers on a whittled down, free-swinging roster that has to rely on long starts from their pitchers to stay competitive in August.

Travis Wade's Growlers will not have the worst winning percentage (.241 Dubuque Mud Puppies 1995) in the history of the Northwoods League most likely, but the are just one loss away from setting the record for most losses in a single season.

The 2010 Bombers and Rafters, and the 2014 Blue Anchors all reached the 50 losses plateau but no team has ever had 51. The Bullfrogs could include the Growlers within the annals of history by beating the Growlers for the fifth time this 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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Paul Jacobson of the Green Bay Bullfrogs
Paul Jacobson of the Green Bay Bullfrogs
   



Northwoods League Stories from August 2, 2015


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