Tyler White drives in all four Quad Cities runs, but team leaves 12 runners on in second straight loss

LANSING, Mich. (April 9, 2014) - The Quad Cities River Bandits took a 2-0, first-inning lead, but the host Lansing Lugnuts answered with five runs over the first three innings and held on for a 6-4 victory and second straight win over the visitors at Cooley Law School Stadium Wednesday night.

Lugnuts right-hander Alberto Tirado retired the first two batters of the game before River Bandits shortstop Jack Mayfield singled to center field. Designated hitter Conrad Gregor drew a walk, and third baseman Tyler White grounded a double down the third-base line that scored Mayfield and Gregor for a 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first inning, River Bandits right-hander Jandel Gustave (1-1) allowed a leadoff single by second baseman Dickie Joe Thon and hit right fielder Carlos Ramirez with one out. Third baseman Mitch Nay drove a double to right-center field to score two runs and tie the game. After Gustave struck out two batters to end the first, he ran into more trouble with two outs in the second. Lugnuts left fielder Derrick Loveless reached on a bunt single and went to second on a wild pitch. Thon hit a single to right field that gave Lansing a 3-2 lead, and center fielder D.J. Davis doubled to center field to bring in Thon and make it 4-2. In the third inning, Nay hit a leadoff single and scored when catcher Jorge Saez hit an RBI double to right-center field for a 5-2 Lugnuts lead. Gustave departed after 2 2/3 innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.

Lansing (3-3) removed Tirado after the first inning and put in left-hander Griffin Murphy (1-0), who struck out five of the first six batters he faced. Murphy allowed only a one-out single in the fourth inning while tossing three shutout innings.

After Murphy, Lugnuts left-hander Jairo Labourt started the fifth inning and allowed a walk to right fielder Brett Phillips and single by Mayfield. With two outs, White flied a double into right-center field to score two runs and cut the deficit to 5-4. White's pair of two-run doubles accounted for all the runs for Quad Cities (2-4). Labourt worked around two walks in the sixth and a walk and hit batter in the seventh to complete three innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits and four walks while striking out four batters.

The River Bandits used right-hander Zach Morton for 1 1/3 innings, in which he recorded all four outs on strikeouts, before turning to left-hander Kent Emanuel as the second half of the starting tandem. Emanuel started the fifth inning and allowed a one-out double by Lugnuts shortstop Dawel Lugo and RBI single by designated hitter Matt Dean for a 6-4 deficit. Emanuel then retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced to complete four innings, in which he allowed one earned run on three hits with three strikeouts. Quad Cities pitchers struck out 11 batters without walking any.

The U.P. Trappers Association is hosting the 55th Annual National Trappers Association Convention and Outdoor Show July 24 - 27 at the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba, Michigan.

This impressive National Convention has only been in Michigan's Upper Peninsula once before - and that was 41 years ago!

Many family-friendly events are planned to enhance the convention experience.  The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Pocket Park will be open for kids to enjoy supervised activities such as fishing, target practice.  The MDNR will also have a Portable Laser Shooting Range set up with computerized games of skill.

The Award winning Growing U.P. Foresters Exhibit will be open for all to enjoy and learn about paper-making, the forest products industry, and the great outdoors.

Evoking the feel of a by-gone era, U.P. Steam and Gas Engine Village will be open to visitors for an interactive learning experience.  Local artisans will be on hand to demonstrate traditional handicrafts such as glass blowing, knitting, spinning, weaving, quilting, pottery and woodcarving.  Many of these goods are available to purchase.  The Village also features a blacksmith shop, granary, barber shop, general store, cook shack and ice cream parlor.

Other planned activities include two wild-fur fashion shows (with top professional models), a Saturday night dance, a fund-raising auction, trapping and calling demos, trap setting contests, women's skillet toss, and hundreds of vendors selling trapping supplies, gadgets, crafts and antiques. For the ATV enthusiast a huge Polaris ATV display and Michigan's only ATV practical skills track facility will be open for demo use as well as student training. Bus tours to some of the beautiful wonders of the Upper Peninsula such as Fayette State Park, Big Springs, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore as well, as a "wine & dine" tour to a couple of the area's fine wineries, will be available to the general public (for a registration fee).

This huge national show is open to the general public and provides an opportunity for everyone to learn more about the world of trapping and all that the great outdoors has to offer.  Admission is only $10 for all four days with 12 and under admitted free!  Where else can you get so much for so little?  For further information or vendor inquiries contact Tamara Masterson/Convention Coordinator at 248-568-5804, masterson@nationaltrappers.com or for more details visit www.uptrappers.com or www.nationaltrappers.com

$1 Dogs/$1 Beer Friday, Outdoor Pre-Game Party Saturday

Mallards Kick Off Three Games in Four Nights Tomorrow with $2 Tickets, Rally Towel Giveaway

MOLINE, Ill. (April 8, 2014) - The Return of $1 Dog/$1 Beer Friday presented by 97X and an outdoor pre-game party Saturday night highlight a week that will see the Quad City Mallards hit the ice for three playoff games in four nights at the iWireless Center.

The Mallards tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. play their first home postseason game of 2014.  The Mallards will meet the Rapid City Rush in game three of the best-of-seven opening round of the Central Hockey League President's Cup playoffs having split the first two games of the series last weekend in Rapid City.  All tickets to tomorrow night's game other than glass seats are available for just $2.  In addition, the first 3,000 fans through the doors for tomorrow night's game will receive free Mallards playoff rally towels.

Friday evening brings not only game four between the Mallards and Rush but also the return of the Mallards' popular $1 Dog/$1 Dollar Beer Night presented by 97X.  While Friday's contest will face off at 7:05 p.m., iWireless Center doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and $1 beers will be available at arena concession stands from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  $1 hot dogs will be available throughout the game.

The Mallards have also partnered with Metro, which provides earlier service on the Route 59 between Augustana College and downtown Moline during Friday home games.  The Route 59 will make one trip from campus to downtown Moline prior to the game (arriving at 5th Avenue and 15th Street at 6:30 p.m.) and will resume service from downtown to campus every 30 minutes from 10:00 p.m. to 3:00 a.m.  Regular Metro fares are just $1 one-way or $2 round-trip.  As part of Metro's unlimited ride program, Augustana riders can use their Augustana ID as their fare.  Visit www.gogreenmetro.com or www.facebook.com/53and59 for more information.

The Mallards and Rush will meet again for game five Saturday evening, and once more the festivities at the iWireless Center will kick off well before the 7:05 p.m. faceoff.  Fans are invited to join the fun at the outdoor pregame party beginning at 5:00 p.m. Saturday.  Not only will the pregame party feature a beer garden, music and 97X broadcasting live outside the iWireless Center but fans will also have the chance to meet and get autographs from former Mallard greats Kerry Toporowski, Steve Gibson, Carl LeBlanc and Andy Fermoyle.  Tickets for Friday and Saturday night's games are available for $7, $10 and $25.

Mallards playoff tickets can be purchased at the iWireless Center box office, online at ticketmaster.com, at Ticketmaster outlets or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000.

About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are in the midst of their seventeenth season their fourth in the Central Hockey League.  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007 and in the International Hockey League in 2009-10.  The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record.  In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched.  The iWireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club.  For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.net.  Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards.

DAVENPORT, Iowa (April 6, 2014) - Quad Cities River Bandits second baseman Austin "Catfish" Elkins hit a game-tying double and scored the go-ahead run on center fielder Brett Phillips two-run single in a five-run sixth inning that lifted the home team to a 7-3 victory and opening series split against the Kane County Cougars in front of 1,929 at Modern Woodmen Park Sunday afternoon.

Quad Cities (2-2) beat Kane County (2-2) to the scoreboard for the first time in the series. In the first inning, right fielder James Ramsay drew a leadoff walk and stole second base against right-hander Juan Paniagua. Shortstop Jack Mayfield drew a walk, and a wild pitch moved Ramsay and Mayfield to third and second base, respectively. Catcher Brian Holberton lined a two-out single to left-center field that scored both runners for a 2-0 lead. Paniagua kept Quad Cities off the scoreboard for the rest of his four-inning outing.

River Bandits right-hander Adrian Houser struck out four batters three shutout innings before trouble in the top of the fourth. Right fielder Yasiel Balaguert hit a one-out single, and Houser walked first baseman Jacob Rogers and designated hitter Danny Canela to load the bases. Left fielder Trey Martin plated one run with a bloop single to center field. Houser forced in the tying run with his third walk of the inning to third baseman David Bote. Right-hander Patrick Christensen entered to strike out shortstop Carlos Penalver before walking center fielder Jake Hannemann to force in the go-ahead run.

Christensen recovered for 1 2/3 scoreless innings, and right-hander Gonzalo Sanudo (1-0) started the sixth inning as part of the Quad Cities tandem. Sanudo worked around lone singles in the sixth and seventh to post three scoreless innings and two strikeouts.

The Cougars held the 3-2 lead through right-hander James Pugliese's two shutout innings, but right-hander Scott Frazier (0-1) stumbled in the bottom of the seventh inning. River Bandits left fielder Tanner Mathis drew a one-out walk and stole second base, before Elkins ripped a double to right-center field that scored Mathis for the tying run. Frazier then hit Ramsay with a pitch and threw a wild pitch with Phillips at bat to move Elkins and Ramsay to third and second bases, respectively. Phillips then bounced a grounder past Rogers at first base for a two-run single and 5-3 lead. Mayfield walked to force Frazier from the game, and left-hander Nathan Dorris entered. With runners at first and second, first baseman Conrad Gregor tapped a ground ball toward Bote at third base, and Bote's off-balance throw skipped past Rogers to score Phillips and Mayfield, extending the lead to 7-3. All five runs - three earned - were charged to Frazier over one-third of an inning.

After Sanudo's perfect eighth inning, right-hander Zach Morton worked around a single for a scoreless ninth inning. He completed 5 2/3 innings scoreless innings by the bullpen, which did not allow an earned run in its final 15 2/3 innings of the series.

Ramsay stole three bases, Mathis stole two, and Phillips stole one to give the River Bandits six stolen bases in a game for the first time since the June 26, 2008 - also at home against Kane County. On that date, Charles Kingrey stole three bases, and Domnit Bolivar, Oliver Marmol, and Thomas Pham each stole one in a 6-4 victory. Quad Cities is perfect in 16 steal attempts through four games this season.

After taking Monday off, the River Bandits will play their first inter-divisional and road game at 6:05 p.m. Central on Tuesday in Lansing, Mich. River Bandits left-hander Chris Lee is scheduled to face Lugnuts right-hander Tom Robson at Cooley Law School Stadium.

UP NEXT: The second annual River Bandits Race to Home 5K and Kids Fun Run presented by Palmer Chiropractic Clinics is Saturday at 8 a.m. Thursday is the last day to register using the link at www.riverbandits.com. All proceeds benefit the Bandit Scholars Program. To order any of the 2014 ticket plans - with new lower prices - call the River Bandits box office at 563-324-3000. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $40. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

ABOUT THE BANDITS: Having just been named Ballpark Digest's winner of Best Ballpark Improvement in America under $1 million, the River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 110 feet over the playing field, is opening this spring, along with a carousel, a new ride called a "Drop and Twist," an expanded 300-foot long zip line, and many other new games and attractions. In 2013, the team unveiled a new 220-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, and a number of new bounce houses. The team's major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, just saw all six of its affiliates reach the playoffs - the first time in a decade any MLB team can claim such success. The River Bandits were one of three affiliates to reach the championship round and one of two to win their league championship.

*****