Robert Buchta
Playing here against the Blue Anchors on Aug. 3, Anthony Gonsolin has been strong in recent weeks.
With the Milwaukee Brewers out of the playoff hunt since April, it’s refreshing to see the Madison Mallards making a postseason run.
The Northwoods League expanded its playoff format this season, increasing the number of teams participating in the playoffs from four to eight. First- and second-half divisional champions will have home field advantage on the first day of a one-game-elimination divisional playoff — similar to the way Major League Baseball now opens its postseason, following the addition of a second wild card team from each league.
The two division winners will face the next two teams with the best overall records in their respective divisions.
With the Kenosha Kingfish already winning the South Division’s first half and poised to win the second half, the Mallards currently hold the second-best record in the division and a playoff spot. We’ll know on Sunday, the final day of the league’s regular season, if they host a playoff game.
For now, Madison closes out its home schedule against the Battle Creek (Mich.) Bombers at Warner Park on Thursday and Friday, and then play two games against the La Crosse Loggers on Saturday and Sunday.
The Northwoods League playoffs begin Monday, with the first pitch of the best-of-three Summer Collegiate World Series slated for Thursday, Aug. 13.
A berth in the playoffs seemed entirely probable back in late May and early June, when the Mallards opened the season 7-1. But then the team began playing sub-.500 ball.
Regardless of how the final week of this up-and-down season plays out, the Mallards are assured of at least one major victory: highest season attendance. Through 31 homes games, the Mallards have attracted more than 196,000 fans. That’s an average of 6,333 per game — and almost 103,000 (!) more than the next-closest team, the Loggers.
Last year, the 21-year-old Northwoods League became the first summer-collegiate league to draw more than one million fans in a single season — thanks largely to the Duck Pond. The league broke that barrier again this year.
Earlier this week, seven Mallards — including 2015 Northwoods League All-Stars Jean Ramirez, Anthony Gonsolin, Mike Kaelin and Vince Arobio — were represented at the annual Major League Showcase held at Warner Park. The doubleheader featured top players from the league selected by a panel of Major League Baseball scouts. It’s pretty clear Madison is home to one of the league’s elite franchises.
