Northwoods League: Difference between revisions
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In 2020, some teams cancelled their season due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. For those teams that did play, instead of playing within their usual divisions, they played in hub regions, with some creating "temporary teams". |
In 2020, some teams cancelled their season due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. For those teams that did play, instead of playing within their usual divisions, they played in hub regions, with some creating "temporary teams". |
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In 2023, the Northwoods League announced plans to create a new softball league. The softball league will initially consist of four teams, based in [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]] (Madison Night Mares) and [[La Crosse, Wisconsin]] (La Crosse Steam); [[Mankato, Minnesota]] (Mankato Habeneros); and [[Minot, North Dakota]] (Minot Honeybees).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://northwoodsleague.com/blog/2023/09/20/northwoods-league-unveils-a-fresh-look-for-2024-and-beyond/ |title=Northwoods League Unveils a Fresh Look for 2024 and Beyond |website=[[Northwoods League]] |access-date=March 25, 2024 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref> |
In 2023, the Northwoods League announced plans to create a new softball league. The softball league will initially consist of four teams, based in [[Madison, Wisconsin|Madison]] (Madison Night Mares) and [[La Crosse, Wisconsin]] (La Crosse Steam); [[Mankato, Minnesota]] (Mankato Habeneros); and [[Minot, North Dakota]] (Minot Honeybees).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://northwoodsleague.com/blog/2023/09/20/northwoods-league-unveils-a-fresh-look-for-2024-and-beyond/ |title=Northwoods League Unveils a Fresh Look for 2024 and Beyond |website=[[Northwoods League]] |access-date=March 25, 2024 |date=September 20, 2023}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=May 2024|reason=Doesn't announce the league; doesn't list the cities; doesn't name the teams.}} |
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== History == |
== History == |
Revision as of 04:19, 9 May 2024
![]() | |
Sport | Baseball |
---|---|
Founded | 1994 |
Divisions | Great Lakes Division, Great Plains Division |
No. of teams | 26 |
Countries | United States, Canada |
Continent | North America |
Most recent champion(s) | Green Bay Rockers (2023) |
Most titles | Rochester Honkers (5) |
Level on pyramid | Summer Collegiate |
Official website | northwoodsleague |
The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. The league is amateur, and players are not paid, so as to maintain their college eligibility. Graduated senior pitchers are also eligible to play in the Northwoods League. Each team may have four of these players at a time.
Teams play 70 games scheduled from Memorial Day to the 2nd Saturday in August, while the playoffs take place the week after, starting on that Sunday and ending usually on Friday. The season itself is broken into two halves, with the winners of each half in each of the four sub-divisions playing against each other to determine a sub-divisional champion in a best-of-three series. The sub-divisional champions then meet in a winner-take-all game to determine a divisional champion. The divisional champions then meet in a winner-take-all game for the league championship.
In 2020, some teams cancelled their season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For those teams that did play, instead of playing within their usual divisions, they played in hub regions, with some creating "temporary teams".
In 2023, the Northwoods League announced plans to create a new softball league. The softball league will initially consist of four teams, based in Madison (Madison Night Mares) and La Crosse, Wisconsin (La Crosse Steam); Mankato, Minnesota (Mankato Habeneros); and Minot, North Dakota (Minot Honeybees).[1][failed verification]
History
Established in 1994, the Northwoods League was the first for-profit summer collegiate baseball league. It has more teams and plays more games than any other summer collegiate baseball league.[2] The Northwoods League drew over 1.1 Million fans for the fourth consecutive year in 2017. The purpose of the league is to develop players while college baseball teams are not allowed to work out. Many of the teams in the league play in ballparks formerly occupied by professional clubs from the Midwest League, Prairie League, Northern League, and Frontier League. The wooden bat circuit allows communities deemed too small for professional ball to continue to enjoy high-quality, competitive baseball during the summer months. The Northwoods League was the first summer collegiate baseball league to broadcast on the ESPN network, and currently webcasts all of its games.
The teams are located in the Northwoods region of the Upper Midwestern United States and Northwestern Ontario, mostly in the U.S. states of Minnesota (five teams) and Wisconsin (nine teams); also with three teams in Michigan, two in North Dakota, and one team each in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ontario.
Over 200 league alumni have gone on to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) with 91 alumni entering the MLB ranks from 2013 to 2017. Alumnus Max Scherzer, the 2017 National League Cy Young Award winner, and American League runner-up Chris Sale faced each other as the starting pitchers in the 2017 and 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Games.
Competition
In small cities it may be hard to find the financial stability in a newly-founded baseball league. League leaders realized they needed to gain significant revenue from sponsors in order to succeed. According to league Chairman and co-founder Dick Radatz, Jr, two-thirds of the revenue comes from sponsors and the remainder from ticket sales, concessions, and team merchandise. Radatz also noted the importance of having the sponsor revenue before the beginning of the season.[3]
Teams
Map of teams
![Map](https://maps.wikimedia.org/img/osm,6,43.5,-86.4,750x450.png?lang=en)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Mapscaleline.svg/52px-Mapscaleline.svg.png)
62miles
![Map](https://maps.wikimedia.org/img/osm,6,45.5,-95.555,750x450.png?lang=en)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Mapscaleline.svg/52px-Mapscaleline.svg.png)
62miles
Franchise timeline
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/timeline/mr708as5do9t9u59wylfc8q0z49r2th.png)
Not included are the temporary teams that were created and made for 2020 as teams had to cancel their season or only play locally/regionally.
Champions
Season | Champion | Runner-up | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | Rochester Honkers | --- | --- |
1995 | Kenosha Kroakers | Manitowoc Skunks | 2-0 |
1996 | Waterloo Bucks | Rochester Honkers | 2-0 |
1997 | Rochester Honkers (2) | Waterloo Bucks | 2-1 |
1998 | St. Cloud River Bats | Rochester Honkers | 2-0 |
1999 | Rochester Honkers (3) | St. Cloud River Bats | 2-1 |
2000 | St. Cloud River Bats (2) | Waterloo Bucks | 2-0 |
2001 | Wisconsin Woodchucks | St. Cloud River Bats | 2-1 |
2002 | Waterloo Bucks (2) | Brainerd Mighty Gulls | 2-0 |
2003 | Wisconsin Woodchucks (2) | St. Cloud River Bats | 2-1 |
2004 | Madison Mallards | Duluth Huskies | 2-0 |
2005 | Thunder Bay Border Cats | Madison Mallards | 2-1 |
2006 | Rochester Honkers (4) | Thunder Bay Border Cats | 2-0 |
2007 | St. Cloud River Bats (3) | Eau Claire Express | 2-0 |
2008 | Thunder Bay Border Cats (2) | Madison Mallards | 2-1 |
2009 | Rochester Honkers (5)[7] | La Crosse Loggers | 2-1 |
2010 | Eau Claire Express | Rochester Honkers | 2-1 |
2011 | Battle Creek Bombers | Mankato MoonDogs | 2-0 |
2012 | La Crosse Loggers | Mankato MoonDogs | 2-0 |
2013 | Madison Mallards (2)[8] | Duluth Huskies | 2-0 |
2014 | Lakeshore Chinooks[9] | Mankato MoonDogs | 2-0 |
2015 | Kenosha Kingfish[10] | St. Cloud Rox | 2-0 |
2016 | Wisconsin Rapids Rafters | Eau Claire Express | 2-0 |
2017 | St. Cloud Rox (4) | Battle Creek Bombers | 2-1 |
2018 | Fond du Lac Dock Spiders | Duluth Huskies | 2-1 |
2019 | Traverse City Pit Spitters | Eau Claire Express | 3-2 |
2020 | No official league champion as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic | ||
2021 | Traverse City Pit Spitters (2) | St. Cloud Rox | 9-3 |
2022 | Kalamazoo Growlers | Duluth Huskies | 8-3 |
2023 | Green Bay Rockers | St. Cloud Rox | 4-3 |
From 1995-2018, the league championship series was a best-of-3 between the two division champions. When the league expanded in 2019, the championship became a one-game playoff.
2024 Northwoods League Standings
- Season starts May 27, 2024
Place | Team | Record | GB | RF | RA | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Great Plains West | ||||||||||
1 | Willmar Stingers | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
2 | St Cloud Rox | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
3 | Mankato Moondogs | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
4 | Bismarck Larks | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
5 | Badlands Big Stix | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
6 | Minot Hot Tots | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
Great Plains East | ||||||||||
1 | Eau Claire Express | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
2 | La Crosse Loggers | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
3 | Duluth Huskies | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
4 | Waterloo Bucks | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
5 | Rochester Honkers | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
6 | Thunder Bay Border Cats | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
7 | Minnesota Mud Puppies | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
Great Lakes West | ||||||||||
1 | Green Bay Rockers | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
2 | Madison Mallards | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
3 | Wisconsin Rapids Rafters | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
4 | Wausau Woodchucks | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
5 | Fond Du Lac Dock Spiders | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
6 | Lakeshore Chinooks | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
Great Lakes East | ||||||||||
1 | Kalamazoo Growlers | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
2 | Rockford Rivets | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
3 | Traverse City Pit Spitters | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
4 | Royal Oak Leprechauns | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
5 | Kenosha Kingfish | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
6 | Battle Creek Battle Jacks | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 | |||||
7 | Kokomo Jackrabbits | 0-0 | - | 0 | 0 |
X-First half champion Y-Second half champion Z-Best record in League W-First and 2nd half champion(If that happens) *-2nd seed in Sub-Division(In the event that the same team wins both halves)
2024 Playoffs
Sub-Division Finals | Division Finals | Summer Collegiate Championship | ||||||||||||
1 | Great Plains West 1st Half Champion | 0 | ||||||||||||
2 | Great Plains West 2nd Half Champion | 0 | ||||||||||||
1 | Great Plains East 1st Half Champion | 0 | ||||||||||||
2 | Great Plains East 2nd Half Champion | 0 | ||||||||||||
1 | Great Lakes West 1st Half Champion | 0 | ||||||||||||
2 | Great Lakes West 2nd Half Champion | 0 | ||||||||||||
1 | Great Lakes East 1st Half Champion | 0 | ||||||||||||
2 | Great Lakes East 2nd Half Champion | 0 |
- Note: If the same team wins both halves, the team with the next best record overall(in the sub-division) will take the 2nd spot.
Notable Northwoods League alumni
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Chris_Sale_in_2017_%2837185846582%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/159px-Chris_Sale_in_2017_%2837185846582%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0b/Mike_Trout_2018.jpg/158px-Mike_Trout_2018.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Pete_Alonso_playing_defense%2C_March_25%2C_2023_%281%29_%28cropped%29.jpg/160px-Pete_Alonso_playing_defense%2C_March_25%2C_2023_%281%29_%28cropped%29.jpg)
- Jeremy Accardo, Alexandria Beetles, 2001
- Scott Alexander, La Crosse Loggers, 2008
- Pete Alonso, Madison Mallards, 2014
- Cody Asche, Duluth Huskies, 2009–2010
- Clint Barmes, Kenosha Kroakers, 1998, Waterloo Bucks, 1999
- Joe Bisenius, Duluth Huskies, 2003
- Javier Baez, Wausau Woodchunks, 2010
- T.J. Bohn, Brainerd Mighty Gulls, 2001
- Rob Brantly, La Crosse Loggers, 2009
- Corbin Burnes, Waterloo Bucks, 2014–2015
- Lance Broadway, Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2004
- Trevor Brown, La Crosse Loggers, 2011
- Mike Burns, Brainerd Mighty Gulls, 1998–1999
- Kole Calhoun, Eau Claire Express, 2007–2009
- Matt Cepicky, Waterloo Bucks, 1997
- Matt Chapman, La Crosse Loggers, 2012
- Jermaine Clark, Kenosha Kroakers, 1995
- Willie Collazo, Waterloo Bucks, 1999
- Allen Craig, Alexandria Beetles, 2003, 2005
- Paul DeJong, Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2014
- Chris Demaria, St. Cloud River Bats, 2000–2001
- Thomas Diamond, St. Cloud River Bats, 2002–2003
- Andy Dominique, Kenosha Kroakers, 1995
- Jeff Duncan, Waterloo Bucks, 1998
- Lucas Duda, Alexandria Beetles, 2006
- Andre Ethier, Rochester Honkers, 2002
- Mitch Garver, St. Cloud River Bats, 2010–11
- Dave Gassner, Wausau Woodchucks, 1998
- Zack Gelof, Kalamazoo Growlers, 2019
- Jay Gibbons, Manitowoc Skunks, 1996–1997
- Tom Gorzelanny, St. Cloud River Bats, 2001
- Curtis Granderson, Mankato Mashers, 2001
- Eric Haase, Wausau Woodchunks, 2010
- Mitch Haniger, Green Bay Bullfrogs, 2009
- Jack Hannahan, Mankato Mashers, 1999
- Daniel Ray Herrera, La Crosse Loggers, 2005
- Tyler Hoechlin, Battle Creek Bombers, 2007
- Justin Huisman, St. Cloud River Bats, 1998
- Brett Jackson, La Crosse Loggers, 2007
- Casey Janssen, Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2001
- Jimmy Journell, Waterloo Bucks, 1997, 1999
- Bobby Kielty, Kenosha Kroakers, 1996
- Andrew Knapp, La Crosse Loggers, 2011
- Anton Kuznetsov, Eau Claire Express, 2013–2015
- Jeff Lindgren, Bismarck Larks, 2017–18
- Mark Lowe, Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2002–2003
- Jay Marshall, Rochester Honkers, 2002
- Doug Mathis, Duluth Huskies, 2003
- Mark Melancon, Duluth Huskies, 2004
- Matt Mervis, Kalamazoo Growlers, 2018
- Paul McAnulty, Mankato Mashers, 2001
- Carlos Muñiz, Alexandria Beetles, 2002
- Pat Neshek, Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2000
- Josh Newman, Alexandria Beetles, 2001
- Wes Obermueller, Wausau Woodchucks, 1995, Waterloo Bucks, 1996–1997
- Jordan Pacheco, La Crosse Loggers, 2005
- Val Pascucci, Rochester Honkers, 1998
- Brandon Pfaadt, Mankato MoonDogs, 2018
- Juan Pierre, Manitowoc Skunks, 1996
- Robb Quinlan, Dubuque Mud Puppies, 1996, St. Cloud River Bats, 1998
- Erasmo Ramirez, Kenosha Kroakers, 1995
- Mike Rouse, Brainerd Mighty Gulls, 1999
- Chris Sale, La Crosse Loggers, 2008
- Max Scherzer, La Crosse Loggers, 2004
- Shawn Sedlacek, Dubuque Mud Puppies, 1996
- George Sherrill, Kenosha Kroakers, 1997
- Drew Smyly, Duluth Huskies, 2009
- Ryan Spilborghs, Madison Mallards, 2001
- Eric Thames, La Crosse Loggers, 2007
- Mike Trout, La Crosse Loggers, 2008
- Curtis Thigpen, Waterloo Bucks, 2002
- Louie Varland, Willmar Stingers, 2017–18
- Daulton Varsho, Eau Claire Express, 2015–2016
- Jeff Weaver, Dubuque Mud Puppies, 1995
- Jordan Wicks, Rockford Rivets, 2020
- Josh Willingham, Austin Southern Minny Stars, 1998–1999
- Danny Worth, Alexandria Beetles, 2006
- Ben Zobrist, Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2003
- Jordan Zimmermann, Eau Claire Express, 2006
Umpiring
The Northwoods League, in addition to being a developmental league for players and coaches, is also a developmental league for umpires. The concentrated game schedule, travel, and Minor League-like game conditions give NWL umpires a pre-professional experience. Since the League's inaugural season in 1994, 44 of its former umpires have furthered their careers in affiliated professional baseball.
The League recruits its umpires from the two umpire schools whose curricula have been approved by the Professional Baseball Umpire Corps. (PBUC): The Minor League Umpire training Academy and Harry Wendelstedt School for Umpires. The umpires ultimately chosen are usually among the top school graduates who were then selected to the pre-season, PBUC sponsored Umpire Evaluation Course.
The NWL contracts with eleven three-man crews during the regular season, a six-man crew during the mid-season All-Star game, and six umpires for both the divisional playoffs and championship series.
Opening Day Games (2024)
Time | Matchup | Ballpark | Pitching matchup |
---|---|---|---|
1:05P CT | Green Bay Rockers at Wausau Woodchucks | Athletic Park | TBD vs. TBD |
1:05P CT | Wisconsin Rapids Rafters at Fond du Lac Dock Spiders | Herr-Baker Field | TBD vs. TBD |
3:35P CT | Willmar Stingers at Waterloo Bucks | Riverfront Stadium | TBD vs. TBD |
5:05P CT | Madison Mallards at Eau Claire Express | Carson Park | TBD vs. TBD |
6:05P ET | Lakeshore Chinooks at Kokomo Jackrabbits | Kokomo Municipal Stadium | TBD vs. TBD |
6:35P ET | Kenosha Kingfish at Royal Oak Leprechauns | Memorial Park | TBD vs. TBD |
6:35P ET | Traverse City Pit Spitters at Battle Creek Battle Jacks | MCCU Field | TBD vs. TBD |
6:35P ET | Rockford Rivets at Kalamazoo Growlers | Home Stryker Field | TBD vs. TBD |
6:35P CT | Thunder Bay Border Cats at Rochester Honkers | Mayo Field | TBD vs. TBD |
6:35P CT | La Crosse Loggers at Mankato Moondogs | ISG Field | TBD vs. TBD |
7:05P CT | St. Cloud Rox at Bismarck Larks | Bismarck Municipal Ballpark | TBD vs. TBD |
6:35P MT | Duluth Huskies at Badlands Big Stix | Dickinson Baseball Field | TBD vs. TBD |
References
- ^ "Northwoods League Unveils a Fresh Look for 2024 and Beyond". Northwoods League. September 20, 2023. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ "Donovans sign to play summer ball". The Pennington School. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
- ^ Platt, Adam (June 22, 2018). "How the Northwoods League quietly became the dominant baseball league in the Upper Midwest". MinnPost. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
- ^ a b NorthwoodsLeague.com "Teams" menu (no link available, just hover your curser above "Teams")
- ^ "Northwoods League Welcomes the Royal Oak Leprechauns for 2024". Northwoods League. October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
- ^ Bomberg, Matt (October 10, 2023). "Northwoods League Welcomes the Badlands Big Sticks for 2024". Northwoods League. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
- ^ Grossfield, Edie (August 17, 2009). "We are the champions". Post-Bulletin. Rochester, Minnesota.
- ^ "Mallards Capture First Northwoods League Championship Since 2004". OurSports Central (Press release). Northwoods League. August 16, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
- ^ Hunt, Michael (August 21, 2014). "Lakeshore Chinooks named top summer collegiate team". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- ^ "Champion Kingfish reel in another honor". Kenosha News. October 19, 2015. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016.