Woodchucks making late playoff push

WAUSAU - The Woodchucks could go from worst in July to first in August.

The Chucks, who ended the first half of the Northwoods League season in last place in the South Division, have lost two straight but entered Friday just 2 1/2 gamesbehind Wisconsin Rapids in the battle for the second-half title. The teams meet in a pair of late-season games at Witter Field on both Monday and Wednesday

The Rafters lead the South Divsion with a 17-9 record in the second half through Thursday's schedule. The Chucks are tied with Green Bay with a 15-12 record. Madison and Battle Creek are both a half-game ahead, tied for second in a closely contested race headed into the final week of the regular season.

The Chucks host Battle Creek Saturday and Sunday before heading to Rapids Monday.

"We feel really good about (the playoff chase)," Chucks coach Dustin Coffman said Thursday. "No. 1, we have talent. No. 2, we have guys with competitive spirit. No.3, they're tough kids. ... Everyone is losing players and is kind of banged-up at this time of the year. The teams that are tough and want to continue playing baseball are the ones that are going to finish this the right way."

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The Chucks had a 13-game losing streak in the first half of the season, but won eight of 11 games in late July and early August. The turnaround can be credited in part to the team's improved defensive play. A lineup boost at a few crucial positions is a reason for that.

"I think the biggest thing is we've got a lot better (defensively)," Coffman said. "We added (outfielder) Jared Oliva (in the middle of July) and I think he helped our defense get better. That in turn has helped our pitching get better."

"Jared is a true game-changer on defense. He gets to balls he has no business getting to," Coffman said. "He takes doubles and triples away and keeps the momentum on our side. Tony Gudino, our catcher, has been a really huge addition as well. Just getting better at the catching and centerfield position has helped our whole team."

The 72-game NWL regular season ends Aug. 14 and the South and North Division playoffs begin the next day.

Both first- and second-half divisional champions will have the home field advantage in a one-game playoff matchup against the next two division teams with the best overall season records. The winners advance to another one-game playoff for the division championship.

The division champions then meet in a best-of-three series for the league title.

The Rafters clinched a playoff berth by winning the first-half title in the South Division. If Rapids captures the second-half title as well, the next three South Division teams with the best overall season records will advance to the playoffs.

The Chucks (28-34) entered Friday with the seventh-best overall record in the South Division, 2 1/2 games out of fourth place.

'Iron Man' Passatempo earns praise

Steve Passatempo doesn't like taking days off.

The Chucks infielder has appeared in all 62 games for Wisconsin this summer and played in the NWL All-Star Game as well.

"He's one of the toughest, most hard-nosed kids I've been around," Coffman said. "Every day he is deadset he is going to play. He is that intense, that focused and that competitive. That's what makes him special."

Passatempo, who was the co-MVP in the All-Star Game, hit his 10th home run of the season in a loss to Lakeshore Thursday, and he is tied for fourth in the NWL in that category with three other players. Passatempo also has a .331 batting average and is second in the NWL with 53 RBIs.

"In my opinion he has been our most valuable player," Coffman said.

Familiar name added to Chucks roster

Adam Rutz, a 2010 Newman Catholic graduate and junior at Southwest Christian University, made two appearances for the Chucks in the past week.

The 6-foot-4 right-hander pitched a perfect inning in a 6-1 loss to Battle Creek on July 31. He allowed three earned runs against Kalamazoo on Aug. 3, walking two of the four batters he faced in the appearance.

It is the second sting in the NWL this summer for Rutz, a Wausau native. He had two appearances for Mankato Moondogs, including a start in early June.

Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or timothy.johnson@gannettwisconsin.com; on Twitter @timmyjo11.