Northwoods Green Bay Rockers

Win Happy Bullfrogs Have More Fish to Fry

Published on June 23, 2015 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Green Bay Rockers News Release


Green Bay Bullfrogs Huddle
Green Bay Bullfrogs Huddle
(Green Bay Rockers)

Green Bay, Wis.- After a sweep of the first-place Kenosha Kingfish the Bullfrogs (14-11) take on another South Division opponent above them in the standings, the Lakeshore Chinooks. Lakeshore (15-11) hosted the Bullfrogs from May 30-31 and June 19-20, as the teams split both series.

With Kenosha on a four-game losing skid, the South Division finally has an opportunity to gain ground. Yesterday, the Bullfrogs completed a series sweep of Duffy Dyer's club with an 8-1 victory and over the last three games have made up as many games in the division, now just 3.5 games behind the Kingfish.

Harrison Stays Dominant

Garrett Harrison (LHP/St. Cloud State) has now pitched 13 1/3 consecutive shutout innings after he went 6 1/3IP/3H/0R last night against Kenosha. Peculiarly, he walked five and just had two strikeouts. An odd split for a pitcher that had no more than three walks or less than six strikeouts in any of his previous four outings.

Nonetheless, Harrison worked around runners on base in every inning and gave way to another seamless bullpen transition. In relief of Harrison, Connor Donovan (RHP/Lehigh) tossed 2 2/3 IP/1R/2H/2K-0BB. Donovan's first was hit for a 6-3 double play in the seventh, and kept the game scoreless, as Kenosha's only run was mustered in the ninth inning.

Paller's Pop; Donovan Leads League With Five Home Runs

Over the past two gams, the Bullfrogs have scored 18 runs. Last night's eight run output was partially a product of power, including two home runs in the fifth inning by Robb Paller (OF/Columbia) and Ryan Donovan (1B/Hofstra).

A team with a slugging percentage at just .331, Green Bay almost made up a third of the home runs they had hit all season long with Donovan and Paller's solo shots, the eighth and ninth Bullfrogs' round-trippers in 2015.

Donovan has had a mammoth season at the plate that has put him in an elite group of sluggers in the Northwoods League. His five home runs are a league best tied with Kenosha's Nick Sergakis (Ohio State). Donovan's 26 RBI lead the league and he is third in extra base hits (13) also with the fourth best slugging (.563).

With two stolen bases yesterday, Caleb Ratzman (Illinois State), has upped his season total to 21 (1st NWL). He has only been caught stealing three times, and also leads Bullfrogs hitters (Over 40 At-Bats) with a .292 AVG.

The Bullfrogs lead the Northwoods with 67 stolen bases, second are the La Crosse Loggers with 50. In the spirit of "small ball" Skip Handelsman's run-manufacturing club also has a league high 28 sacrifice hits.

In game one against Lakeshore, Green Bay starts Luke Crabb (RHP/VCU) who has a 1-2/1.72ERA/15.2 IP/ 12K-5BB slash line in three starts. At Madison on June 10th, he took a no-hitter to the seventh inning and has improbably allowed two runs next to one earned run in every one of his appearances.

Chinooks Swing Past Rafters; Kasowski Joins Rotation

Lakeshore is a half game ahead of the Bullfrogs in the South Division after sweeping Wisconsin Rapids in Mequon. In a two-game sweep, Lakeshore scored 28 runs and etched a 16-4 outburst last night.

The division-climbing Chinooks scored seven runs in the third inning in the Monday win. And then Lakeshore plated five more in the fifth. 20 hits were swatted as Anthony Massicci (SS/Canisius) went 4-for-5 with three RBI. Lucas Raley (OF/Lake Erie) finished 3-for-5 with three RBI and Kyle Fiala (2B/Notre Dame) joined the party with a 2-for-4 day with two RBI.

Since joining the team on June 8th, Massicci is 15-for-38 overall with nine runs scored and seven RBI. Fiala, who also first appeared on June 8th, has started 19-for-48 including seven hits in his last three contests. Fiala has also roped six extra-base hits.

Thankfully for the Bullfrogs, they will not see Lakeshore ace, Lake Bachar (UW-Whitewater), this series.

Unthankfully, Green Bay faces Marshall Kasowski (RHP/Houston) who has a 2-0/2.84ERA/6.1 IP/15K-5BB line out of the bullpen.

In just 4 1/3 IP, Kasowski struck out 11 of the 18 batters he faced in an 8-6 win against Wausau. That total is tied for the league high in strikeouts for a pitcher in a league game this season.

Tonight's ballgame begins at 7:05PM and it's Summertime St. Patty's and Go Green Night. For the fifth time the Chinooks and Bullfrogs set the stage for an important divisional contest. The season series is tied 2-2.

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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Green Bay Bullfrogs Huddle
Green Bay Bullfrogs Huddle
   



Northwoods League Stories from June 23, 2015


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