July 24, 2005
Rising junior outfielder Danny Dressman takes his turn at the Notre Dame Summer Baseball Diaries, reporting from his memorable experience as one of the leading hitters for the Madison Mallards in the Northwoods League.
Dressman owns one of the top batting averages in the wood-bat league, hitting at a .324 clip that trails only Illinois outfielder Ryan Rogowski (.338) among the Mallards players (the team avg. is just .240). Dressman also ranks 3rd on the team in stolen bases (4-of-6), 4th in on-base pct. (.380) and 5th in hits (30-for-92) and runs (12), with his other stats including 12 RBI, 7 walks, 15 Ks, a .348 slugging pct., a pair of doubles and a single error in 29 games played.
The Mallards are a big draw in Madison, averaging nearly 5,400 fans per game with crowds often pushing above 7,000.
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The Madison Mallards are the runaway attendance leader in the Northwoods League, averaging nearly 5,400 fans per night and often pushing above 7,000 in attendance. The Mallards (30-17 overall) are assured of a spot in the South Division playoffs (best-of-3, startin Aug. 15) by virtue of winning the first-half title with a 23-11 record. A 10th-inning win over the Mankato Moondogs (1-0) helped Madison edge the Rochester Honkers for the first-half title (the Mallards are just 7-6 so far in the second half). The winners of the north and south division playoff series then will meet in the championship series (best-of-3), starting Aug. 18.
Dressman’s Notre Dame classmate Mike Dury has returned to Madison for a second summer and is one of several Mallards players who keep coming back for more of the unique experiences in this electric baseball atmosphere. Rogowski is one of those veterans and recently became the league’s leader in career stolen bases, with 61.
Here is Dressman’s account of his special summer in Madison:
Notre Dame 2005 Summer Baseball Diaries – Entry #3 (Danny Dressman; Madison Mallards, Northwoods League)
“Hello all,
“This is Danny Dressman checking in from THE one and only Madison, Wisconsin. This summer has been more than I could have expected both on and off the field playing for the Madison Mallards. The summer has flown by! I find it amazing that as I write this to you I already have played 46 games and have mere 20 games to go. The Mallards already have won the first half of the season and are currently in a tie for first in the second half of the season.
The rightfield fans who cheer on the Madison Mallards add to the tremendous gamenight experience.
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“Madison is a great town and full of energy. The amazing aspect of this place is the amount of people that come out to our games nightly. Tonight, we had a season high of 7,213 in attendance. The fans are both wild and knowledgeable about the game of baseball. The Duck Blind behind right field is home to many hecklers for opposing players. Im glad I’m on their team!
“Every night, after the game, I stand outside the locker room with the other players and sign autographs for a half hour. The family atmosphere brings mostly kids to our feet but sometimes you get the crazy adults who NEED your autograph as well. I have signed everything from a Mallards baseball helmet to a bald guy’s head. The things in between I will leave up to your imagination.
“I live about 15 minutes from the field in the town of Sun Prairie. My host family has been awesome, and they are also as passionate about the Mallards as I am. The two boys, Tyler and Conner, wear Mallards jerseys with my #4 and “Dressman” on the back. I always can count on them to be sitting with their parents, Chris and Tom, on the first baseline in the front row so I can wave to them every time I get a hit.
Danny Dressman poses with his two biggest fans – host brothers Tyler and Conner.
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“My days consist of reading (I know, shocking isn’t it?) and fiddling on my computer in the morning. Every now and then, I will venture my way down to the kitchen and wrestle the dogs for anything I can pull out of the refrigerator. Daily, I am in a battle to see who can finish my food first, me or the hounds. Then it is off too the field and prepare for another win with the guys of the Quack Attack!
“There is no such thing as a relaxed atmosphere here in Madison. The Mallards are here for one reason: to win the Northwoods League championship. This must be the only summer team in America to have “veterans.” Players have fallen so deeply in love with this town that many return for a second, or in some cases, THIRD year.
Madison is becoming a popular return destination for college players during the summer months.
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“The “veterans” take it upon themselves to show off their championship rings (yes, you get rings for winning in this league!) from last year, and to give the “rookies” (me) a hard time. In one game, it was my job to warm up the left fielder. After I was done, I would throw the ball into the stands to one of the hundreds of kids begging me for a ball. At the end of the game, one of the veterans came up to me and said it was a $5 fee for every ball thrown in the stands. That’s $45! Right before the first tear popped out, the entire dugout burst into laughter. Right then I knew I would like these guys.
“Intense and superstitious, our pre-game routines consist of listening to the same repetitious CDs at home and watching Arnold’s “Pumping Iron” on the road. Recently, we just finished a grueling 13-game road trip. While the hotels have been nice, I haven’t quite gotten used to sharing a bed. You won’t find the luxuries of ND here, as the common Mallard room consists of two unmade beds, a table for cards, clothes all over the place and a pot designated for wrestling (which I am in no way involved).
The lefthanded-hitting Dressman has delivered on a steady basis with the wood bat this summer, totaling 30 hits and 7 walks for a .380 on-base pct. in 29 games played.
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“Despite this, being on the road has given me a chance to really get to know the guys on my team. I have become good friends with guys from Stanford, Oklahoma State, UNC Charlotte and (gulp) St. John’s. But don’t worry, he’s a California guy so we have to stick together.
“Before I ramble on too long, I would humbly like to tell you of a milestone that I reached this summer. On July 12, 2005, I emphatically beat my good friend, roommate and current ND stud Mike Dury in a game of “HORSE.” As I write this, I can still picture the winning shot going through the net and his facial expression after he missed. Hopefully Matt Bransfield will vouch for my tremendous accomplishment but, for me, it is a feeling I will not soon forget.
The mascot Maynard G. Mallard in action at a recent Madison game.
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“On a serious note, I would thank Mike for driving me about Madison and constantly pushing me while working out. The help of a teammate and friend as loyal as Mike is something I cherish both here in Madison and at Notre Dame.
“Well, it is time to head to the field. Hopefully, I have given you a glimpse of the great things that Madison has to offer. I look forward to once again starting up a new season this fall with my Irish teammates. I know this season will bring about great things if we continue with the attitudes that most of us are already playing with this summer. Good luck to all in a strong and healthy finish to the summer and I will see you guys in the fall.”
The Northwoods League title is the clear goal for the Mallards veterans and newcomers alike.
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Go Irish!