The “Duck Pond” to Host Green Bay Packers Charity Softball Game

Current and former Green Bay Packers will take on firefighters in a charity softball game on Saturday May 12 at Warner Park. Representing the Professional Firefighters of Wisconsin is a team from Eau Claire, WI who won last year’s state qualifying tournament.
General admission tickets cost $15.83 and are on sale now! Tickets can be purchased by calling the Mallards ticket office at 608.246.4277 or by visiting www.mallardsbaseball.com. Tickets for the Great Dane Duck Blind and suites are unavailable for this event. Proceeds go to the Wisconsin State Firefighters Association. The game will begin at 3:00 p.m. with gates opening at 2:00 p.m.
Check back in mid-April when we release the names of Packer players participating in the event!
The Madison Mallards open the 2007 season against the Eau Claire Express on Thursday May 31, 2007. Group and season tickets are on sale now. Single game tickets go on sale Saturday, April 28. For more information please call the Mallards ticket office at 608.246.4277 or log onto www.mallardsbaseball.com.

Illinois' Lars Davis Named Big Ten Player of the Week

Catcher Lars Davis has played for Brainerd and Duluth over the past two summers and is signed to again play with Duluth this summer. Going 12 for 14 with 3 HR and a SB was all it took for Davis to earn his first Big Ten Player of the Week award. Lars is now hitting .429 with 2 triples and 5 HR. He is also getting on base at a .529 clip and has a .810 slugging percentage.

MoonDogs Land Speed and Run Producer

(Mankato,MN)--The Mankato MoonDogs Baseball Club, a member of the Northwoods League, is proud to announce the signing of two new players for 2007. Sophomore infielder/catcher Logan Forest and sophomore outfielder Jaime Armendariz, both from Midland Community College located in Midland, Texas have committed to play for the MoonDogs this summer.
Forest, a 6’4” 205 lb. sophomore, has started all 25 games for the Chaparrals this season. With 24 hits, five doubles, and 18 RBI already, Forest is quickly becoming one of the Chaps biggest offensive threats. His offensive prowess has given his team a legitimate bat in the middle of the line-up and someone who can produce at any given time.
Last year for the Chaps, he made an immediate impact and posted some impressive offensive stats. In 52 games he registered a .348 batting average, with 65 hits, 12 doubles, and drove in 56 RBI. The 65 hits and 56 RBI ranked him second on the team respectively.
This summer, the MoonDogs look for the left-handed hitting Forest to fill a similar role in their line-up. “Logan’s size and stature will help us both offensively and defensively. He is a left-handed bat that we can use in the middle of the lineup and someone who can produce in RBI situations. Defensively, he will give our infielders a nice target and will save a couple errors for them this season,” MoonDogs head coach Jason Nell said.
Amendariz, a 5’9” 160 lb. sophomore, is off to a fast start to the 2007 season. Through the first 25 games, he leads the team in batting average (0.380) and RBI (27) and continues to impress with his overall game. As a potent leadoff hitter who possesses great speed, he is also becoming a threat on the bases. He already surpassed his stolen base total (4) from last year with five swipes in 2007. His great plate coverage combined with speed will give the MoonDogs a great table-setter in 2007.
“In the outfield position you look for someone that has great speed, covers his position well, makes tough catches and has an accurate arm. That’s exactly what we are getting with Jamie. He can play all three outfield positions and is another left-handed bat in our line-up. His tremendous speed and offensive skills will put a lot pressure on teams to keep him off the bases. If they don’t, he will make things happen either by beating out infield hits, stealing, or taking an extra base,” Nell said.
Both Forest and Amendariz come from the same program that produced outfielder Tim Smith who transferred to Arizona State University this season.
The MoonDogs Home Opener is set for June 1, 2007 against the defending Northwoods League champions, Rochester Honkers. Mankato will also be the host of the 13th annual Northwoods League All-Star Game on July 11, 2007. To be part of all the MoonDogs action this summer, season tickets are on sale now as well as group and hospitality tickets. For more information go to www.mankatomoondogs.com or call the MoonDogs Ticket Office at 507-625-7047.

Four new players for Brainerd

• Brainerd has signed LHP William Blackmon of the University of Tennessee-Martin. William has 26 strikeouts in 24.1 innings this spring.

• Another lefty joining the Blue Thunder this year will be Chuck Huggins from UC-Santa Barbara. Chuck is 3-0 with a team leading 2.08 ERA and has held opponents to a .132 batting average this spring.

• Northern Colorado INF Adam Symons has signed with Brainerd. Adam has started every game this spring and his 2 steals and 14 RBI are both second on the team.

• Brainerd has also signed INF Brian Harfst from McCook CC.

Two more headed for Rochester

The Honkers have added OF Jarek West from Delta State. West was named the top prospect in the Mountain Collegiate Baseball League and one of the top 10 Prospects in all of the Summer Leagues by Baseball america last summer. Jarek is hitting .305 with 4 HR and 5 steals this spring.

Rochester has also announced the signing of C Corey Kemp of East Carolina. Corey is hitting .270 with 2 HR this spring. He has thrown out 6 of 13 of theose attempting to steal.

• Cal State Fullerton RHP Michael Morrison pitched two scoreless innings today, striking out three and only giving up one hit to Long Beach State.

• INF Raynor Campbell leads Baylor with a .333 average and has one HR and two steals this spring.

• INF Brett Featherston is getting on base at a .500 clip and leads Northern Iowa with 5 HR and 26 RBI.

• OF Craig Lutes has 2 doubles and 2 HR in 16 at-bats this spring for Illinois.