Strankman’s Frogs Hop Into Playoffs

GREEN BAY, Wisc. (Aug. 13, 2007) - After capturing a post-season berth by winning the first half with a 23-10 record, Elliott Strankman, Occidental head coach, and his Green Bay Bullfrogs are preparing for the first round of the 2007 Northwoods League Playoffs.

In their inaugural season, the Green Bay team (43-25) will meet the Eau Claire Express (42-26) in the South Division playoff series. The Express posted a 25-9 second-half record, the best half of any of the 14 teams in the league. The Bullfrogs clinched home-field advantage with a better overall record for the best-of-three series beginning Monday, Aug. 13. The winner will move on to represent the South in the Championship series to be held Aug. 16-18.

The North Division playoffs will be played between the St. Cloud River Bats (35-31), who won the first half before struggling in the second with a sub -500 record, and the Duluth Huskies (41-27), winners in the second half. The Huskies were the only 20-game winners among the seven Northern Division teams during the second half of the summer.  

Strankman was named All-Star Manager earlier this summer and received Manager of the Year honors after becoming the first manager in Northwoods League history to lead an expansion team into the playoffs. As he pursues adding a Title to his list of accomplishments, Strankman hopes to prolong his summer one more week before returning to Southern California to prepare for the upcoming 2008 Tigers baseball season.