Northwoods League

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.

Northwoods League
SportBaseball
Founded1994
DivisionsGreat Lakes Division, Great Plains Division
No. of teams26
CountriesUnited States, Canada
ContinentNorth America
Most recent
champion(s)
Green Bay Rockers (2023)
Most titlesRochester Honkers (5)
Level on pyramidSummer Collegiate
Official websitenorthwoodsleague.com

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]

History edit

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 edit

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 edit

Northwoods League
DivisionTeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Great Lakes[4]
EastBattle Creek Battle JacksBattle Creek, MichiganC.O. Brown Stadium2,193
Kalamazoo GrowlersKalamazoo, MichiganHomer Stryker Field4,000
Kenosha KingfishKenosha, WisconsinSimmons Field3,218
Kokomo JackrabbitsKokomo, IndianaKokomo Municipal Stadium4,000
Rockford RivetsLoves Park, IllinoisRivets Stadium3,279
Royal Oak Leprechauns[5]Royal Oak, MichiganMemorial Park600
Traverse City Pit SpittersTraverse City, MichiganTurtle Creek Stadium4,200
WestFond du Lac Dock SpidersFond du Lac, WisconsinHerr-Baker Field2,000
Green Bay RockersAshwaubenon, WisconsinCapital Credit Union Park3,359
Lakeshore ChinooksMequon, WisconsinKapco Park3,000
Madison MallardsMadison, WisconsinWarner Park7,500
Wausau WoodchucksWausau, WisconsinAthletic Park3,850
Wisconsin Rapids RaftersWisconsin Rapids, WisconsinWitter Field1,560
Great Plains[4]
EastDuluth HuskiesDuluth, MinnesotaWade Stadium4,200
Eau Claire ExpressEau Claire, WisconsinCarson Park3,800
La Crosse LoggersLa Crosse, WisconsinCopeland Park3,550
Minnesota Mud PuppiesMinnesotaTraveling team
Rochester HonkersRochester, MinnesotaMayo Field2,570
Thunder Bay Border CatsThunder Bay, OntarioPort Arthur Stadium3,031
Waterloo BucksWaterloo, IowaRiverfront Stadium5,000
WestBadlands Big Sticks[6]Dickinson, North DakotaDakota Community Bank & Trust Ballpark1,200
Bismarck LarksBismarck, North DakotaBismarck Municipal Ballpark1,900
Mankato MoonDogsMankato, MinnesotaISG Field4,000
Minot Hot TotsMinot, North DakotaCorbett Field1,266
St. Cloud RoxSt. Cloud, MinnesotaJoe Faber Field2,000
Willmar StingersWillmar, MinnesotaBill Taunton Stadium1,500

Map of teams edit

Great Lakes Division
100km
62miles
Rafters
13
Woodchucks
12
Rockers
11
Dock Spiders
10
Chinooks
9
Mallards
8
Leprechauns
7
Kingfish
6
Rivets
5
Jackrabbits
4
Pit Spitters
3
Growlers
2
Battle Jacks
1
  Great Lakes East Division
  Great Lakes West Division

1
Battle Creek Battle Jacks
2
Kalamazoo Growlers
3
Traverse City Pit Spitters
4
Kokomo Jackrabbits
5
Rockford Rivets
6
Kenosha Kingfish
7
Royal Oak Leprechauns
8
Madison Mallards
9
Lakeshore Chinooks
10
Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
11
Green Bay Rockers
12
Wausau Woodchucks
13
Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
Great Plains Division
100km
62miles
Mud Puppies
13
Loggers
12
Express
11
Bucks
10
Honkers
9
Huskies
8
Border Cats
7
MoonDogs
6
Stingers
5
Rox
4
Larks
3
Hot Tots
2
Big Sticks
1
  Great Plains East Division
  Great Plains West Division

1
Badlands Big Sticks
2
Minot Hot Tots
3
Bismarck Larks
4
St. Cloud Rox
5
Willmar Stingers
6
Mankato MoonDogs
7
Thunder Bay Border Cats
8
Duluth Huskies
9
Rochester Honkers
10
Waterloo Bucks
11
Eau Claire Express
12
La Crosse Loggers
13
Minnesota Mud Puppies (Not pictured)
Northwoods League Softball
200km
125miles
Madison Night Mares
4
Mankato Habaneros
3
Minot Honeybees
2
La Crosse Steam
1
Key:
1
La Crosse Steam
2
Minot Honeybees
3
Mankato Habaneros
4
Madison Night Mares

Franchise timeline edit

Royal Oak LeprechaunsBadlands Big SticksMinot Hot TotsTraverse City Pit SpittersKokomo JackrabbitsFond du Lac Dock SpidersBismarck LarksRockford RivetsKenosha KingfishKalamazoo GrowlersLakeshore ChinooksWisconsin Rapids RaftersWillmar StingersGreen Bay RockersBattle Creek BombersEau Claire ExpressBrainerd Blue ThunderThunder Bay Border CatsLa Crosse LoggersDuluth HuskiesMadison MallardsAlexandria BeetlesMankato MashersSouthern Minny StarsGrand Forks Channel CatsBrainerd Mighty GullsWaterloo BucksWausau WoodchucksRochester HonkersManitowoc SkunksKenosha KroakersSt. Cloud Rox (collegiate summer baseball)

Franchise timeline edit

Minot HoneybeesMankato HabanberosMadison Night MaresLa Crosse Steam

Champions edit

SeasonChampionRunner-upResult
1994Rochester Honkers------
1995Kenosha KroakersManitowoc Skunks2-0
1996Waterloo BucksRochester Honkers2-0
1997Rochester Honkers (2)Waterloo Bucks2-1
1998St. Cloud River BatsRochester Honkers2-0
1999Rochester Honkers (3)St. Cloud River Bats2-1
2000St. Cloud River Bats (2)Waterloo Bucks2-0
2001Wisconsin WoodchucksSt. Cloud River Bats2-1
2002Waterloo Bucks (2)Brainerd Mighty Gulls2-0
2003Wisconsin Woodchucks (2)St. Cloud River Bats2-1
2004Madison MallardsDuluth Huskies2-0
2005Thunder Bay Border CatsMadison Mallards2-1
2006Rochester Honkers (4)Thunder Bay Border Cats2-0
2007St. Cloud River Bats (3)Eau Claire Express2-0
2008Thunder Bay Border Cats (2)Madison Mallards2-1
2009Rochester Honkers (5)[7]La Crosse Loggers2-1
2010Eau Claire ExpressRochester Honkers2-1
2011Battle Creek BombersMankato MoonDogs2-0
2012La Crosse LoggersMankato MoonDogs2-0
2013Madison Mallards (2)[8]Duluth Huskies2-0
2014Lakeshore Chinooks[9]Mankato MoonDogs2-0
2015Kenosha Kingfish[10]St. Cloud Rox2-0
2016Wisconsin Rapids RaftersEau Claire Express2-0
2017St. Cloud Rox (4)Battle Creek Bombers2-1
2018Fond du Lac Dock SpidersDuluth Huskies2-1
2019Traverse City Pit SpittersEau Claire Express3-2
2020No official league champion as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic
2021Traverse City Pit Spitters (2)St. Cloud Rox9-3
2022Kalamazoo GrowlersDuluth Huskies8-3
2023Green Bay RockersSt. Cloud Rox4-3

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 edit

  • Season starts May 27, 2024
PlaceTeamRecordGBRFRA
Great Plains West
1Willmar Stingers0-0-00
2St Cloud Rox0-0-00
3Mankato Moondogs0-0-00
4Bismarck Larks0-0-00
5Badlands Big Stix0-0-00
6Minot Hot Tots0-0-00
Great Plains East
1Eau Claire Express0-0-00
2La Crosse Loggers0-0-00
3Duluth Huskies0-0-00
4Waterloo Bucks0-0-00
5Rochester Honkers0-0-00
6Thunder Bay Border Cats0-0-00
7Minnesota Mud Puppies0-0-00
Great Lakes West
1Green Bay Rockers0-0-00
2Madison Mallards0-0-00
3Wisconsin Rapids Rafters0-0-00
4Wausau Woodchucks0-0-00
5Fond Du Lac Dock Spiders0-0-00
6Lakeshore Chinooks0-0-00
Great Lakes East
1Kalamazoo Growlers0-0-00
2Rockford Rivets0-0-00
3Traverse City Pit Spitters0-0-00
4Royal Oak Leprechauns0-0-00
5Kenosha Kingfish0-0-00
6Battle Creek Battle Jacks0-0-00
7Kokomo Jackrabbits0-0-00
X-First half championY-Second half championZ-Best record in LeagueW-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 edit

Sub-Division Championship (Best of 3)Division Championship (1 Game)League Championship (1 Game)
         
1Great Plains West 1st Half Champion0
2Great Plains West 2nd Half Champion0
 
 
1Great Plains East 1st Half Champion0
2Great Plains East 2nd Half Champion0
 
 
1Great Lakes West 1st Half Champion0
2Great Lakes West 2nd Half Champion0
 
 
1Great Lakes East 1st Half Champion0
2Great Lakes East 2nd Half Champion0
  • 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 edit

Max Scherzer
Chris Sale
Mike Trout
Pete Alonso

Umpiring edit

The Northwoods League, in addition tobeing a developmental league for playersand 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) edit

TimeMatchupBallparkPitching matchup
1:05P CTGreen Bay Rockers at Wausau WoodchucksAthletic ParkTBD vs. TBD
1:05P CTWisconsin Rapids Rafters at Fond du Lac Dock SpidersHerr-Baker FieldTBD vs. TBD
3:35P CTWillmar Stingers at Waterloo BucksRiverfront StadiumTBD vs. TBD
5:05P CTMadison Mallards at Eau Claire ExpressCarson ParkTBD vs. Gavyn Bowen
6:05P ETLakeshore Chinooks at Kokomo JackrabbitsKokomo Municipal StadiumTBD vs. TBD
6:35P ETKenosha Kingfish at Royal Oak LeprechaunsMemorial ParkTBD vs. TBD
6:35P ETTraverse City Pit Spitters at Battle Creek Battle JacksMCCU FieldTBD vs. TBD
6:35P ETRockford Rivets at Kalamazoo GrowlersHome Stryker FieldTBD vs. TBD
6:35P CTThunder Bay Border Cats at Rochester HonkersMayo FieldTBD vs. TBD
6:35P CTLa Crosse Loggers at Mankato MoondogsISG FieldTBD vs. TBD
7:05P CTSt. Cloud Rox at Bismarck LarksBismarck Municipal BallparkTBD vs. TBD
6:35P MTDuluth Huskies at Badlands Big StixDickinson Baseball FieldTBD vs. TBD

References edit

  1. ^ "Northwoods League Softball Unveils Inaugural Season Schedule". Northwoods League. January 8, 2024. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  2. ^ "Donovans sign to play summer ball". The Pennington School. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved April 16, 2016.
  3. ^ Platt, Adam (June 22, 2018). "How the Northwoods League quietly became the dominant baseball league in the Upper Midwest". MinnPost. Retrieved May 1, 2019.
  4. ^ a b NorthwoodsLeague.com "Teams" menu (no link available, just hover your curser above "Teams")
  5. ^ "Northwoods League Welcomes the Royal Oak Leprechauns for 2024". Northwoods League. October 19, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  6. ^ Bomberg, Matt (October 10, 2023). "Northwoods League Welcomes the Badlands Big Sticks for 2024". Northwoods League. Retrieved October 10, 2023.
  7. ^ Grossfield, Edie (August 17, 2009). "We are the champions". Post-Bulletin. Rochester, Minnesota.
  8. ^ "Mallards Capture First Northwoods League Championship Since 2004". OurSports Central (Press release). Northwoods League. August 16, 2013. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  9. ^ Hunt, Michael (August 21, 2014). "Lakeshore Chinooks named top summer collegiate team". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  10. ^ "Champion Kingfish reel in another honor". Kenosha News. October 19, 2015. Archived from the original on March 25, 2016.

External links edit