Woodchucks players shine in Northwoods All-Star Game on home field

WAUSAU - Orsen Josephina has been on the mound for the ninth inning in nearly 20 Northwoods League baseball games this summer. 

Tuesday night was his most memorable pitching appearance so far. 

The Wisconsin Woodchucks reliever got the final two outs — both on a swinging third strike — to close out the South Division's 6-2 win in the Northwoods League All-Star Game at Athletic Park. 

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"It's the most amazing feeling to do this in front of my home fans — to get the save, and as a bonus, strike out two guys," said Josephina, who has 14 saves for the Chucks this summer. "It's just awesome."

Josephina's Chucks teammate,outfielder Stevie Mangrum, played all nine innings and drove in two runs to earn the 'Star of Stars' honor as the top player in the game. Josephina and Mangrum were the lone representatives in the All-Star Game for the Chucks.

The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters had a NWL-high six selections on the South Division squad. Mankato and St. Cloud both had five players on the North Division team.

The North downed the South 9-5 in last season's All-Star game in Kenosha. 

The South's plan going into Tuesday's was for Josephina to pitch the ninth inning for the South as it has been his familiar spot all season with the Chucks. His teammates gave him the chance to close out the win with four runs in the eighth inning to snap a 2-2 tie. 

Kalamazoo pticher Connor Manous got the first out in the top of the ninth and then Josephina entered the game from the South's bullpen in left field.

"I was ready for (the call). The adrenaline was really pumping," said Josephina, who was the 12th pitcher the South Division used in the game.  

Manous, who got the final out in the eighth inning, got the win. 

Lakeshore's Matthew Mika got the South's winning rally started with a leadoff double to right field in the eighth. Madison's Cole Daily followed with an RBI single up the middle to give the South a 3-2 lead, and Mallards' teammate Doran Tuchin drove home Daily. 

Mangrum then had an RBI double, went to third on passed ball and scored on an error for the South's fourth run of the inning. Mangrum, who is in his second year with the Chucks, drove the game's first run in with a two-out single then had a running catch in left center to save a run in the seventh. 

Mangrum is the second straight Chucks player to earn the most valuable award in the NWL All-Star Game. Former Chucks player Steve Passtempo shared the award last year with La Crosse's Mason McCoy. 

"To do it here (at Athletic Park) means a lot,' said Mangrum, who went 2-for-3. "The fans were here and as I was walking to the plate I could hear (their support).It was a good feeling."

Thunder Bay shortstop Andy Weber went 2-for-4 and was the only North Division player to have more than one hit. Both teams had nine hits overall. Mankato's Toby Hanson and Ethan Valdez both had a double for the North. 

Mangrum gave the South the early lead, but the North rebounded with single runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-1 lead. 

Lakeshore's Derek Bangert tied the game with a solo home run in the fifth inning. The Chinooks first baseman, who went 2-for-2, jumped on a curveball and drove it out to left. 

"I felt I made pretty good contact and got some good wood (on the ball)," said Bangert, who homered on his final at-bat of the game. "I just didn't know if it was going to stay fair."

The game then turned into a pitcher's dual over the next few innings until the eighth. 

Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or twjohnson@gannett.com; on Twitter @timmyjo11