Locked In; Bullfrogs Ready for Loggers
August 6, 2015 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Green Bay Rockers News Release
Logan Taylor of the Green Bay Bullfrogs
(Green Bay Rockers)
Green Bay, WI- No other team comes into a series with a feat similar to what the Green Bay Bullfrogs (40-28) just accomplished. Clean off a road sweep of the Kenosha Kingfish, the Bullfrogs come back to historic Joannes Stadium for a pair against the La Crosse Loggers (38-29).
This series is of pivotal importance for the South Division playoff race. The Bullfrogs are just 1.5 games ahead of La Crosse in the overall standings with just four games left on the regular season schedule.
Ted "the Million Dollar Man" DiBiase will be in the house tonight for an appearance. DiBiase is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame. First pitch is slated for 7:05PM.
Kingfish Lose Their Crowns
Kenosha will win both halves, is just five games behind the marker for most wins in a single season in league history, and was 9-1 entering the series with the Bullfrogs Monday. But it was Green Bay who came out on top in both games, again.
Last night's 7-4 victory became the first time any team in the league had swept Kenosha twice. The Bullfrogs also accomplished the feat on June 21-22. And Skip Handelsman's team owns a league best 6-2 against the Kingfish.
Identical to game one, the Bullfrogs got out on top in the first inning Wednesday evening. The bases were loaded when Kingfish catcher, Jason Scholl (Eastern Illinois), could not stop a Jake Perkins (LHP/Chicago State) pitch scoring Robb Paller (Columbia).
The Kingfish answered in the first with a two-out RBI single to center field from Jeremy Vasquez (Florida) after Bullfrogs' starter Sam Brunner (RHP/Dayton) began the inning with back-to-back free passes.
Green Bay regained the lead for good when they tallied two runs in the second inning. Logan Taylor ripped an RBI single and then a Brian Celsi (California) ground ball went to first but Vasquez had no play when Perkins did not cover the bag, and Taylor came around to score.
Perkins was pulled after two innings as the Bullfrogs kept the pressure on new pitcher Trevor Haas (RHP/Valparaiso) in the fourth inning. Ray Greco (UW-Stevens Point) led off the inning with a double,
Taylor singled, and with Robb Paller at bat, Haas whipped a wild pitch to the backstop to score Greco, as Taylor was plated on a drag bunt to first by Brian Celsi.
Leading comfortably, 5-2, after six frames, Logan Taylor stayed on fire with a two-out, two RBI base hit to give the Bullfrogs much needed insurance.
John Broadner (Wright State) put up an RBI single in the eighth as Zach Weigel (Seton Hall) also was credited with an RBI when he walked with the bases loaded.
When in doubt the Bullfrogs went to Jake Stolley (LHP/Northwestern) who logged 1 1/3IP scoreless to earn his fourth save a day after striking out two in a shutout inning in the Major League Dreams Showcase.
Sam Brunner was also effective as he lasted six innings or more for the third time in four starts. This time he picked up his team-leading sixth victory going 6 1/3IP/7H/2R(2ER)/2K-4BB. Jake Perkins was saddled with the loss.
Bullfrogs Storm Forward With Chance To Host Playoff Game
The opportunity for the Bullfrogs to host a playoff game is still very much alive with their recent three game win streak. They are a game behind the Madison Mallards (39-26) who play five games to end their schedule including an upcoming series against the Battle Creek Bombers at Warner Park.
The Bullfrogs do not control their own destiny for the second playoff host slot, but certainly can increase their chances with another sterling series, this time against the La Crosse Loggers.
Starting tonight for Green Bay is Luke Lind (RHP/North Dakota State). After departures in the rotation, Lind has been plucked from the bullpen to rejoin a thinner starting staff.
Lind, like many of the starters this past week, was great in his last start. He pitched for a slash line of 5 1/3IP/2R(2ER)/3H/5K-2BB in a July 29 win against the Wisconsin Woodchucks.
This time he will face one of the most formidable lineups in the league. This is only the second time Lind will have pitched against a club with a cumulative record of .500 or better.
Lind will throw strikes. He has no more than two walks in any of his outings, and rarely gets behind in counts. The challenge issued to Lind will be his ability to keep the ball down against a Loggers group that posted 16 total runs against Green Bay on July 25-26 at the Lumberyard.
Although the starting pitching has been filled with vacancies and question marks, a start from closer Jeremy Graf (RHP/Flagler) for 5IP/0ER and an impressive showing from the Bullfrogs' veteran, Sam Brunner, have allowed the Bullfrogs to dictate their starting rotation for the playoffs.
Without their starting core of Jack Strunc (Washington State) and Ty Blankmeyer (St. John's) up the middle, the Bullfrogs may look a little different defensively for the home fans this evening.
Last night, we saw Brian Celsi play second base for the first time this season. And Ray Greco slid over to third to make his first start at that position. Matt De La Rosa (Lenoir Rhyne) will be asked to play shortstop with this new lineup, with Danny Rosenbaum (Louisville) at first.
The idea is that you keep Celsi's strong bat in the lineup while opening up a designated hitter's spot for either Caleb Ratzman (Illinois State) or Ryan Donovan (Lynn).
Another option is to start Tyler Kozlowski (UW-Oshkosh) another new acquisition for Green Bay at second base or third. Kozlowski was re-signed by the Bullfrogs on Wednesday, joining the team after his exit on June 10th.
The Bullfrogs were swept last time they played the Loggers at the Lumberyard and are 2-4 against La Crosse this summer. The final regular season series is the same as the first, as the last time these teams played each other at Joannes Stadium was the opening pair on May 26-27.
McCoy Goes For The NWL Hits Record
La Crosse's Mason McCoy (Iowa) is on the brink of history as the University of Iowa commit is just two hits away from setting the record for most hits in a single season in league history. The 20-year old record is set by Luis Rivera (Florida Southern) of the Waterloo Bucks.
McCoy already shattered the runs scored record on July 29th. The previous record of 68 set by Willmar's Forrestt Allday (Central Arkansas) now stands at McCoy's total of 77.
He also is the pacesetter in the league for batting average (.366), games played (67), total bases (157), and at bats (290).
Do not be fooled, he is not the lone slugger for these Loggers. Adorned with power hitters up and down their 1-9, Brock Lundquist (Long Beach State) is second in the Northwoods with 19 two-baggers. Lundquist has also has added 41 RBI in just 46 games played.
His RBI total is tied with Will Savage (Columbia) for second the club, with Jordan Zimmerman (Michigan State) first with 48 driven in. Zimmerman, a second baseman and corner outfielder, is 6-for-21 with four runs against the Bullfrogs.
The team his hitting .347 (67-for-193) over their last five games with three home runs. Robb Paller's college teammate, Savage, is 11-for his last-22 at the plate.
What the Loggers have not done well throughout the season is pitching. Over their last 45.0IP, La Crosse has allowed 56 hits, and 38 runs over the last five contests.
It is really a microcosm of their entire season in which the bats have carried the load. The Loggers team ERA of 4.88 is ranked 16th of 18 teams in the league.
Even better for the Bullfrogs, La Crosse ace, Kevin Flemer (Oregon State), already pitched yesterday against Kalamazoo.
This is the Bullfrogs last series before they wrap up regular season play at Witter Field on August 8th and 9th against the Rafters.
Single game tickets and playoff tickets are on sale now. Visit www.greenbaybullfrogs.com to purchase tickets. The Bullfrogs are now accepting deposits for seven-game pack, season ticket and group outing for the 2016 season. To place a deposit, please contact Derek McCarty at (920) 497-7225 or derek@greenbaybullfrogs.com. The Bullfrogs' business hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Images from this story
 Logan Taylor of the Green Bay Bullfrogs |
Northwoods League Stories from August 6, 2015
- Offensive Onslaught Thrusts Mallards to Sixth-Straight Win against Bombers - Madison Mallards
- Honkers Hit 3 HRs in Home Finale Loss - Rochester Honkers
- Mallards Score 10 in the First, Thump Bombers - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Kevin Long Saves The Day In Win - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Bullfrogs Win Four in a Row - Green Bay Rockers
- Conclusion of Thursday Night's Game Postponed to Friday - Willmar Stingers
- Mother Nature Sends MoonDogs Home - Mankato MoonDogs
- Thursday's Game Versus Mankato Postponed Due to Unplayable Conditions - St. Cloud Rox
- Bullfrogs to Provide Giveaways for Cellcom Fan Appreciation Night - Green Bay Rockers
- Rafters Try to Tie Wins Mark in Front of Record Crowd - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Locked In; Bullfrogs Ready for Loggers - Green Bay Rockers
- Surging Mallards Host Bombers to Open Final Home Series - Madison Mallards
- Mallards Tickets Now on Sale for Potential Playoff Games - Madison Mallards
- Rox Cruise to 4th Straight Win, Return Home Thursday - St. Cloud Rox
- Border Cats Clip Bucks, 7-4 - Waterloo Bucks
- Stingers Streck Back: Dominant Start, Late Rally Push Willmar Past Mankato - Willmar Stingers
- Kuisel Extinguishes Logger Bats as Kalamazoo Growlers Steal Finale in La Crosse - Kalamazoo Growlers
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