High-Flying Bullfrogs Welcome Scuffling Rafters
July 3, 2015 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Green Bay Rockers News Release
Green Bay Bullfrogs High Five Mascot
(Green Bay Rockers)
Green Bay, Wis.- After a 3-1 finish to the latest road stand, the Green Bay Bullfrogs (23-14/1-1) commence a home-and-away two-game series with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters (15-17/0-2). With a 12-8 record at Joannes Stadium, the Bullfrogs give the ball to Ryan Radue (UConn) (3-0/2.04ERA/5GS/22IP/27K-18BB) before starting a five-game road set from July 4-8.
Early Offense Helps Bullfrogs Defeat Loggers, 8-7
After a one-run loss in game one against La Crosse, with the game-tying run 90 feet from home plate, the Bullfrogs poured on the runs in the first two innings of yesterday's 8-7 victory.
Green Bay put up a seven spot on hurler Matthew Naylor (RHP/North Florida) who was making his first start of the year, and had a 2.10 ERA in 25 2/3IP when he took the mound. Roaring past one of the best pitcher's in the Atlantic Sun Conference, the Bullfrogs scored four runs on four hits in the first inning including an RBI double from Robb Paller (Columbia) and sharp 2-out RBI single from Desi Ammons (Belmont).
Naylor was hit hard again in the 2nd inning as Robb Paller cracked another RBI base hit scoring Caleb Ratzman (Illinois State) and Ryan Donovan (Hofstra) seared a deep double to the warning track in left-center to plate two more runs, knocking Naylor out of the game after just 1 1/3IP of work. And the Bullfrogs led 7-1 just after two innings completed.
La Crosse inched their way back with a two-run fifth, capitalizing on a Bullfrogs' error at short stop, and crossed the plate three more times in the eighth inning with a 2-RBI double from Brock Lundquist (Long Beach State) against the usually impeccable Jake Stolley (Northwestern).
A Green Bay run of insurance in the eighth inning on a right-field error paid dividends as the eighth run would prove vastly important. With errors abound (7 combined in game), the Loggers got within one run of tying the game after Mason McCoy's (Iowa) ground ball to second was mishandled scoring Ryan Kirby (San Diego), but Jordan Zimmerman (Michigan State) grounded out to end the game against Bullfrogs closer, Jeremy Graf (Flagler) (6SV).
Sam Brunner (Dayton) logged a season high seven innings (3R/1ER) to garner his third win this summer, and he struck out five with no walks. The loss went to Naylor, who suffered his first defeat of the season after an 8-0 record with North Florida (65 2/3IP) and with the Loggers (prior record of 2-0/25 2/3IP).
Radue, Frogs Head Home For A Single Game
Green Bay has started their last five games with at least one run in every first inning, 12 total. Logan Taylor (Louisville) and Robb Paller (Columbia) has also compiled an 8-for-10 (2E) mark at the plate in their last five first innings offensively, reaching base every time.
Ryan Donovan continues to rake as a middle-of-the-order bat, and has started the last two games at first. Over his past five games, Donovan is 5-for-15 with two doubles, 4R, and 4RBI. Matt De La Rosa also has found a groove, sporting a four-game hit streak with a recent two-game stretch with 2R, 2 2B, and an RBI.
Last night, Caleb Ratzman (Illnois State) stole his league-leading 26th base and bashed two hits with a run scored in his first start since June 23rd. Ratzman is hitting .306 (22-for-72) on the summer.
Overall, the Bullfrogs have had trouble at the plate with a team average of just .242 (.232 over their last five games), without much power (9HR/Last in NWL), and have relied on 100 stolen bases (1st NWL) to engineer scoring chances.
Although the Bullfrogs have started games well offensively, they have been dormant in the middle-innings. Over the last four games (36 innings), Green Bay has only plated two runs in innings 3-7. With a new starting rotation, the Bullfrogs will have to rely on a more steady offensive output to ensure a strong second half.
A member of the rotation that has provided a strong rock has been Ryan Radue (UConn). In his last start, Radue's slash line was: 5IP/4H/1R(1ER)/8K-2BB, as he received his second consecutive win in the decision against Battle Creek. Radue's control was masterful (two walks was a season low) and he showcases an opposing batting average of .171.
Rafters Start Second Half 0-2; Sandlin In A Slump
After a sweep by the Kingfish of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, Craig Noto's ball club picked up right where they left off to finish the first half. The Rafters have lost four in a row, including two one run losses (3-2, 1-0) to the Kingfish.
Offensively, their .238 AVG and .305 OBP rank in the bottom five of the league. They have scored two runs or less in each of their last five contests, with a combined sum of just 26 hits.
Their only hot hitter is Ryan Cleveland (Georgia Southern) who is in the middle of a three game hit streak (4-for-10) as the team's average over the past five games is just .183.
Wisconsin Rapids' most formidable bat, Jake Sandlin (Georgia College), is in a prolonged slump 1-for-28 from June 22-July 2 with 11 strikeouts. The other best option has been Brock Carpenter (Seattle), who is 17-for-53 this season (.321), but just has contributed three hits amid this four-game losing streak.
With a dismal 1-9 in the batting lineup, former major league hurler and Rafters' Pitching Coach, John Halama, gives the start to Chris Falwell (Cisco College) (0-2/3.86ERA/4GS/14.0IP/9H-15BB). In his last outing (LAC 06/25) he gave up three runs and five walks in just three innings pitched.
The Bullfrogs match up with the Rafters for the first time since June 2nd. Skip Handelsman's team has still failed to lose a series in 17 chances (excluding forfeited game 06/02/STC series on 05/28-29) and their longest losing streak is just two games.
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 High Five Mascot |
Northwoods League Stories from July 3, 2015
- Loggers loose to Kenosha - La Crosse Loggers
- Two-Headed Monster: Garcia, Offense Combine in 9-0 Shutout of Express - Willmar Stingers
- Rafters Fall 8-6 in Green Bay - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Big First Inning Leads to Bullfrogs' Win - Green Bay Rockers
- Rox Score Twice in 9th to Win 3rd Straight - St. Cloud Rox
- Back-To-Back 1st Inning Homeruns Propel Honkers over MoonDogs - Rochester Honkers
- Huskies beat Alexandria - Duluth Huskies
- Bucks Outlast Bombers in 6-4 Victory - Waterloo Bucks
- Chinooks Split Doubleheader Against Kalamazoo - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Depleted bullpen sinks Anchors in Duluth - Alexandria Blue Anchors
- Lakeshore's First Visit To Kalamazoo Results In Split Doubleheader - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Coleman's Clutch Hit Propels Mallards to Walk-Off Win - Madison Mallards
- Bullfrogs Add Two New Players to Roster - Green Bay Rockers
- Rafters Begin Series in Green Bay - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Bucks to Hold Youth Baseball Camp on July 11 - Waterloo Bucks
- Former Honker Jeff Campbell Wins College Home Run Derby - Rochester Honkers
- High-Flying Bullfrogs Welcome Scuffling Rafters - Green Bay Rockers
- Mallards Host Woodchucks to Conclude Home-Stand - Madison Mallards
- Dunlap Delivers Decisive Dinger in Kingfish's Fourth Straight Win - Kenosha Kingfish
- Bullfrogs Finish Road Stand 3-1; Defeat Loggers, 8-7 - Green Bay Rockers
- Rafters Drop Another Close One to Kingfish - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Bucks Stifled in St. Cloud - Waterloo Bucks
- Mallards Pull Away Late as Kalamazoo Growlers Drop Finale - Kalamazoo Growlers
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
