After a brief hiatus, we're back to check in on the Madison Mallards.

The Mallards have won three in a row after a bit of a slow start to the second half of the Northwoods League season. They're 28-17 overall and 6-6 in the second half going into Sunday's game against La Crosse.

That puts the Mallards one-and-a-half games back of the first-place Wisconsin Woodchucks in the South Division, although they've already guaranteed themselves a playoff spot by virtue of their first-half title.

So the Mallards appear to be back on track. Here are two guys that are a big reason why, and they win our fabulous awards:

Hitter of the week: Joe Bonadonna — The State Journal cover boy has gone 8-for-16 with six runs batted in and three runs scored in four games since the All-Star break.

Pitcher of the week: Reed Woytek — In three appearances since the break, he's allowed just one hit in three innings and picked up his team-leading fifth save.