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Northwoods Green Bay Rockers

Hancock Starter to Commence Final July Home Stretch

July 27, 2015 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Green Bay Rockers News Release


Fun at a Green Bay Bullfrogs Game
Fun at a Green Bay Bullfrogs Game
(Green Bay Rockers)

Green Bay, WI- After a tough 1-3 start to the post all-star break schedule, the Green Bay Bullfrogs (34-24/12-11) battle the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (24-29/9-12) tonight with a 7:05PM first pitch.

This evening is also Gallagher's Pizza Night featuring a thunderstick giveaway at the ballpark.

Walks In Sixth Sink Bullfrogs Chance to Split With Loggers

In yesterday's contest the Bullfrogs scored two runs in the third after a double play groundout by Danny Rosenbaum (Louisville) and a two-out base hit from Brian Celsi (California).

Over the weekend, the Bullfrogs scored the first five runs between both games but ultimately lost both.

Ryan Radue (UConn) was the starter and he looked brilliant through the first four innings, putting up zeroes in each frame with a total of five strikeouts.

Almost on script from the previous game, Radue allowed one run in the fifth, and then was removed from the game in the sixth after walking back-to-back batters with just one out.

Reliever Jake Stolley (Northwestern) entered and also walked two consecutive swingers, leading to the game tying run. The inning continued with more runs on an error at second by Ray Greco (UW-Stevens Point) and a sacrifice fly from the Loggers' Ryan Kirby (San Diego).

Green Bay's lineup would fight back with an RBI double from Robb Paller (Columbia) in the seventh, but failed to scored against Liam Carter (RHP/Missouri) in the eighth, and the league's leading closer, Ty Provencher (RHP/Long Beach State) in the final inning.

Skip Handelsman's team dropped their record against the Loggers to 2-4 on the season, and will play La Crosse next at home from August 6-7, their last regular season pair at Joannes this summer.

Hancock Heralded As A Strike Thrower

When you walk a total of 16 batters in two games, one of which was a one-run loss, something needs to change. And for the Bullfrogs they turn to a new starting pitcher, Austin Hancock to get the job done tonight. He will be the 17th starting pitcher the Bullfrogs have used this season.

In his lone appearance in the Northwoods, Hancock tossed a scoreless inning against the Lakeshore Chinooks.

But that is not the only competitive experience the right-hander has this summer.

After finishing up his lone and final season at Olney Central C.C., Hancock pitched in the Southern Collegiate Summer League and was named to the all-star team.

In 52 innings for the Lake Norman Copperheads, he started 10 games and managed a 3.11 ERA. He also led the league with 48 strikeouts.

But most importantly, in terms of what the Bullfrogs are looking for, Hancock had eight starts in which he lasted five innings or more, and is accustomed to pitching on three days rest.

He will not be pitching on such short notice under pitching coach, Luke Prihoda, but it certainly helps to have another quality arm in the starting rotation.

Offensively, the hottest hitter after the all-star break has been Paul Jacobson (South Dakota State). For most of the season, Jacobson has been last in batting average on the Bullfrogs and recently also had his playing time lessened because of poor performance.

In his last four games, Jacobson is 6-for-12, with four RBI, two runs, and his second home run of the season. He has also re-emerged as an everyday corner outfielder.

In the most recent series against La Crosse, Robb Paller (Columbia) and Logan Taylor (Louisville) had another dynamite showing as the top two hitters. They had five total hits and runs getting on base nine times over the pair.

Rafters Need Miracle To Find Way Into Playoff Discussion

Green Bay wants to forget the last time they played Craig Noto's Rafters. They lost on July 4th by a score of 14-4, the most runs the Bullfrogs have allowed all season.

What the Bulllfrogs did discover in that game is that Matt De La Rosa (Lenoir Rhyne) can pitch. He tossed a scoreless inning in the late innings reaching 91MPH with his fastball.

He might be available out of the bullpen today to go against a Rafters team that was sunk by the Kalamazoo Growlers at Witter Field yesterday. In fact, Wisconsin Rapids has lost three of their last four against Kalamazoo and Thunder Bay, both teams in last place in their respected divisions.

Green Bay will be sure to watch out for one hitter in particular, Ernie Clement (Virginia). Fresh off of winning a national championship, Clement had his debut series against Green Bay from July 3-4 and finished 6-for-9 in the two games.

Former Northwoods League batting champion, Zack Domingues is on a six-game hit streak and has upped his average to .274 by hitting a team best .333 (22-for-66) in the month of July.

Despite an improved hitting focus, the Rafters pitching has still been subpar. Their staff has a 4.37 ERA in July. And tonight's starter Jake Johansmeier (Eastern Illinois) has owned a 7.54ERA/ 14.1IP/ 20H/ 13R(12ER)/ 7K-8BB slash line in the month.

The current standings race has the Rafters seven games behind Kenosha, with the Bullfrogs four games out of the top spot in the second half. In the overall standings, Green Bay now has the third best overall record (34-24), a half game behind the La Crosse Loggers (35-24) and five and half games back from the Kingfish (40-19).

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

Fun at a Green Bay Bullfrogs Game
Fun at a Green Bay Bullfrogs Game
   



Northwoods League Stories from July 27, 2015


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