Madison Mallards manager C.J. Thieleke knows a thing or two about hitting.

So when he says outfielder Rob Lyerly understands the strike zone, you might want to take notice. The statistics bear Thieleke out as Lyerly is hitting .351 a little more than halfway through the season.

Lyerly, fresh off his sophomore season at Charlotte, is leading the Mallards in hitting through 35 games. Not bad for a guy who almost wasn't on the roster.

Lyerly was looking to play in the Cape Cod Baseball League and he didn't sign with the Mallards until the end of May.

"I was very late," Lyerly said. "They were full up here, and a kid decided he wasn't going to come, so I was able to sign."

All he's done since then is lead the Mallards to the South Division first-half title by collecting 34 hits -- including eight doubles, a triple and two home runs. He also has 22 RBIs and his slugging percentage of .515 leads the team.

"I've been swinging all right," Lyerly said. "I haven't had many at-bats; the season still has a long way to go. I just try to get better every day."

Thieleke has batted Lyerly third and fourth this season. Which spot does he like Lyerly in?

"Wherever there's guys on base," Thieleke said. "He limits those at-bats where he swings at bad pitches. He's very strong; he works out off the field at it in the weight room."

Lyerly stepped up his performance this week with the division title on the line. He was 4-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs against Mankato Monday, which earned him Northwoods Player of the Night honors. On Thursday, he went 5-for-8 with three RBIs in a doubleheader sweep of Battle Creek that clinched the first-half championship for the Mallards.

Lyerly is one of four players from Charlotte that made the Mallards' roster this season, along with outfielder Aaron Bray and pitchers Joe Yermal and Bryan Hamilton. The 49ers send players to Madison each year because of Charlotte assistant coach Brandon Hall's relationship with Thieleke.

"They try to send a couple kids up here every year, and fortunately this year it was us," Lyerly said. "We're all happy to be up here."

Thieleke knew what to expect out of Lyerly after hearing about him from Hall before the season started.

"We knew we were getting a good ballplayer," Thieleke said.

And Lyerly is thrilled he landed in Madison.

"I'm happy just to be here and help out a little bit," Lyerly said. "It's great winning right now."