Mad dogs and American babies

The Massachusetts Mad Dogs (Northeast independent) nearly pulled off an unprecedented roster combination before the stork broke up the double play.

The team, which plays its home games in Lynn, had been set to sign right-hander Mark Voisard, a former Colorado Rockies farmhand who played collegiately at Mount Vernon Nazarene College, and his wife, Kim Braatz-Voisard, an outfielder who had been one of the original Colorado Silver Bullets.

But as negotiations were nearing completion, the couple learned they were going to become a threesome — Braatz-Voisard is expecting a child this winter.

Mad Dogs officials still hope to sign the couple for the 1999 season.