Bombers Unveil 2013 Promotional Schedule

PRESS RELEASE – The Battle Creek Bombers, members of the prestigious Northwoods League, unveiled their 2013 Promotional Schedule today, and announced that single-game tickets are now on sale for all 35 home games. Tickets may be purchased online at any time, are available by calling the Battle Creek Bombers at (269) 962-0735, or in person at the Bombers offices located at 189 Bridge Street,

Contractor Chosen for Simmons Field Renovations

PRESS RELEASE – Construction bids for the renovation of historic Simmons Field were opened to the public at 2 pm Thursday at Kenosha City Hall. Out of four bidders, Camosy Construction of Kenosha, was awarded the project after submitting the low bid for the City of Kenosha Public Works project.

Former Beetles Unveil New Branding

The summer collegiate Alexandria Blue Anchors (Northwoods League), formerly the Beetles, unveiled their primary, secondary and uniform logos at Fat Daddy’s in Alexandria (MN) last Friday.  The Blue Anchors will unveil their home and away uniforms on May 15th.

Northwoods League to Live Stream Games Via Own YouTube Channel

PRESS RELEASE – The Northwoods League is pleased to announce it is launching a YouTube channel this summer that will provide fans with more than 560 NWL games streamed live during the 2013 regular and post season on the Northwoods League YouTube channel and through a YouTube video player on northwoodsleague.tv. The partnership was announced by Dick Radatz, Jr., Northwoods

Mallards Installing New Video Board This Morning

PRESS RELEASE – The Madison Mallards new Zimbrick Honda Video Board will be installed at 9:30 am tomorrow (Thursday) morning at the “Duck Pond.” All members of the media are invited to watch the crane hoist the video board into place.

‘The Wade’ Gets a Little Love in House Bonding Bill

The Minnesota House of Representatives has proposed $250,000 in bonding for the city of Duluth (MN) to design improvements for historic Wade Stadium, home of the summer collegiate Duluth Huskies (Northwoods League).  The Minnesota Senate has yet to unveil its bonding proposal.  Locals are working toward a multi-million dollar renovation project.

 

Elkhart County (IN) Baseball Stadium Project Back on Track?

A $12 million ballpark project in Elkhart County (IN) for a summer collegiate Northwoods League team was derailed three years ago because of the economy, but a project revival appears to be on track with a land-use permit hearing scheduled before the Elkhart County Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday.  Read more here.  Read 2010 article here.

Woodchucks, City of Wausau Announce $2.7M Stadium Renovation Project

PRESS RELEASE – The Wisconsin Woodchucks and the Macdonald Family, in partnership with the City of Wausau will announce plans today to renovate Athletic Park and develop a Neighborhood Park adjacent to the Stadium.

Rafters Unveil Bobbleheads for 2013 Season, One to Honor 100,000th Fan

PRESS RELEASE – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters have announced the 2013 season will be highlighted with three bobblehead nights; two Rosco P. Rafter bobbleheads and one commemorating the 100,000th fan who entered through the Witter Field gates to enjoy Rafters Baseball.

Express Unveil All-Star Game Logo, Announce Festivities

PRESS RELEASE – The Eau Claire Express and Northwoods League today announced details for the 2013 league All-Star festivities, scheduled for July 22 and 23 in Eau Claire, Wis. The game will feature the Northwoods League’s top performers in the first half of the summer season.

Bismarck (ND) on Deck for Northwoods League

This really isn’t new news, as the summer collegiate Northwoods League has had Bismarck (ND) on its expansion radar for years, but with $1.5 million in renovations approved for Bismarck Municipal Ballpark, things are now heating up.  The catch here will be finding an owner willing to pony up the $1 million franchise fee plus start-up costs.  Municipal Ballpark served as the home of the indy pro

Mallards Announce Addition of Video Board, Unveil First-Ever Community Impact Report

PRESS RELEASE – The Madison Mallards announced two improvements to the “Duck Pond” at their annual First Pitch event today at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center.  The Zimbrick Honda Video Board and the TRICOR/West Bend Club Four-Top Tables will be new additions in 2013.

Baseball Saved in Alexandria, Beetles Become ‘Blue Anchors’

The summer collegiate Alexandria Beetles (Northwoods League) have been sold to a new group of local owners, including Scott Allen, Shaynen Schmidt, Shane Schmidt and Minnesota Baseball Academy owner Adam Barta.  The team will be rebranded as the Blue Anchors.  The league took over the franchise from former owner Shawn Reilly when he ran into financial trouble with the team.  Read more here.

Wall Collapses at ‘The Wade’

Nice timing!  Just as the city and summer collegiate Duluth Huskies (Northwoods League) are making another run at the Minnesota State Legislature for $5.8 million in bonding to renovate historic Wade Stadium, the top 4 to 6 feet of the 20-foot-tall first base brick wall collapses.  The damaged section reportedly stretches 200 feet.  Read more here and here.  View photo here.

Bismarck Moves Forward with Stadium Renovations

The Bismarck (ND) Park Board on Thursday voted to finalize a plan to renovate Bismarck Municipal Ballpark.  The $1.5 million project is expected to begin this summer.  Bismarck has been talked about for years as a target market for the summer collegiate Northwoods League.  The stadium was the home of the indy pro Dakota Rattlers from the defunct but once-promising Prairie League in the mid 90s.  Read more here.

Kenosha Baseball Announces Finalists for Name the Team Contest

PRESS RELEASE – Thursday afternoon at the Rotary Club of Kenosha West, the Northwoods League’s Kenosha Baseball announced the Name Your Team Contest finalists. For the past two months area residents have been encouraged to submit their idea for the name of Kenosha’s newest team at www.kenoshanews.com. More than 750 ideas for names of the team were submitted.

St. Cloud Rox Hire New GM

The summer collegiate St. Cloud Rox (Northwoods League) have hired Michael Johnson to replace Wes Sharp as the team’s new general manager.  Johnson had previously spent time with the Single-A Tri-City Valley Cats (New York-Penn League) and Single-A Hickory Crawdads (South Atlantic League).  Sharp left the team to take a job at North Star Resource Group in Minneapolis.  Read more here.

Bombers Showcase ‘Twinkie Dog’ on Good Morning America

We are not sure if this was luck, great marketing, or whatever, but hats off to the summer collegiate Battle Creek Bombers (Northwoods League) for securing a live appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America early this morning to showcase their new “Twinkie Dog.”  There are all kinds of new and creative food items introduced each year across the minor-league industry, but for some reason this one caught the eye of the right people.  Watch the GMA appearance here.

Battle Creek Bombers Twinkie Dog T-Shirts

Bombers Twinkie Dog to be Featured on Good Morning America, Team Officials Will Travel to NYC

PRESS RELEASE – The Battle Creek Bombers and the Twinkie Dog have officially captured national headlines. To cap off an incredible week in Bombers history, this coming Friday morning the Bombers version of the Twinkie Dog will be featured on ABC’s Good Morning America.

Rafters Unveil Plans for New Elevated Deck

PRESS RELEASE – The Rafters have partnered with Element Mobile to unveil plans for a new deck at historic Witter Field in 2013.  The new deck area will be a steel structure, lofted approximately ten feet above ground level. It will serve as a group hospitality area during Rafters games while also providing cover for the current third base courtyard.  This will provide another great

Playing Politics in Kenosha?

Kenosha (WI) Common Council Aldermen Kevin Mathewson (a newbie) and David Bogdala, who voted against the Simmons Field renovation project and lease agreement that will bring a new summer collegiate Northwoods League team to town, are stirring the pot by bringing into question a $798 motor-coach trip taken last summer by local elected officials and others to Madison (WI) to check out

Bombers Unveil New Signature Food Items

PRESS RELEASE – Beginning with the home opener on May 29^th, the Battle Creek Bombers are pleased to offer fans a variety of new and unique food and beverage items, in addition to classic favorites.

Rafters Add Serwe to Front Office

PRESS RELEASE – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters announced today that Jake Serwe has joined the front office as the team’s Ticket Sales and Box Office Manager. In his new role, Serwe will work with non-profit groups to create fundraising and group outing opportunities and manage the Rafters’ box office on game days.

Mankato Moondogs: New Owner Grows Front Office

PRESS RELEASE – The Mankato MoonDogs Baseball Club, a member of the Northwoods League, is thrilled to announce in addition to a new owner, the expansions of the front office for the 2013 season. Marking the first change in MoonDogs ownership since 2001, Mark Ogren, President of Croix Oil Company, has wasted no time in growing the organization, starting with the front office.

Loggers Negotiating Lease Extension

After 10 successful seasons as one of the top two or three summer collegiate clubs in the country, the  LaCrosse Loggers (Northwoods League) are working to extend their lease at Copeland Park.  The franchise was launched in 2003 after the near downtown field next to the St. Croix River was improved with a new grandstand and other amenities.  Read more here.

League Taking Over Beetles

The summer collegiate Northwoods League is taking over the Alexandria Beetles, as owner Shawn Reilly has been unable to find a buyer for the financially troubled franchise.  Reilly bought the club three years ago for $375,000 but had it on the market for $125,000.  The league hopes to find a new owner.  The Beetles play at Knute Nelson Memorial Park.  Read more here.

Kenosha Baseball Holds ‘First Pitch’ Event, Announces ‘Help Name Your Team Contest’

PRESS RELEASE – Kenosha Baseball, the group bringing a Northwoods League baseball franchise to Kenosha’s historic Simmons Field starting in June 2014, held its “First Pitch” event Thursday evening featuring a live brass band, entertainment from the nationally known Zooperstars and the unveiling of $1 million in stadium renovations. Guests were treated to free Bacon Glazer

Rafters Hire New Radio Voice for 2013 Season

PRESS RELEASE – The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters of the Northwoods League are pleased to announce the recent addition of Aaron Berlin as the new radio voice of the team for the 2013 season.  He will take the place of Nathan Barnett, who was the broadcast voice for the Rafters last summer.

Mallards Add Five to Front Office

PRESS RELEASE – The Madison Mallards are pleased to announce five additions to their full time staff. The organization has brought on Jon Fein, Nick Suydam, Paige Schneider, Kyle Van Camp, and Nick Heyerdahl for the upcoming season. The Mallards now have 16 full-time staff members. “We are excited to add to our full-time staff,” said Mallards General Manager Conor Caloia. “I am

Kenosha Baseball to Unveil Comprehensive Stadium Renovation Plans Jan. 17

PRESS RELEASE – Kenosha Baseball, the group bringing a Northwoods League baseball franchise to Kenosha’s historic Simmons Field starting in June 2014, will be hosting a “First Pitch” event at the Civil War Museum on Thursday, January 17, 2013 at 6:30 p.m.

MoonDogs Announce New Ownership

PRESS RELEASE – The Mankato MoonDogs of the Northwoods League are proud to announce a change in the team’s ownership. Mark Ogren, the President of Croix Oil Company, completed the purchase in late December of 2012. This marked the first change in team ownership since 2001 when Joe Schwei acquired the Mankato Mashers and created the MoonDogs

Northwoods League Sole Bidder for Kalamazoo

As we have discussed in the past, the summer collegiate Northwoods League has been eyeing the Kalamazoo (MI) market to compliment the circuit’s Battle Creek (MI) franchise.  It is now being reported that the city of Kalamazoo issued an RFP (request for proposal) to use Mayor’s Riverfront Park (formerly Homer Stryker Field), and Kalamazoo Baseball LLC representing the Northwoods League was

Bismarck Raising Funds to Renovate Ballpark, Our Reminiscing About the Prairie League

Capital campaign organizers have raised $749,250 of the $1.5 million planned to renovate Bismarck Municipal Ball Park, the former home of the indy pro Dakota Rattlers from the defunct but once-promising Prairie League in the mid 90s.  Read more here.  Over the past few years, there has been talk about bringing a summer collegiate Northwoods League team to Bismarck.  The renovations

Express to Host 2013 Northwoods League All-Star Game

The summer collegiate Eau Claire Express will host the Northwoods League’s 2013 All-Star Game on July 23 at historic Carson Park in Eau Claire (WI).  The franchise also hosted the game  in 2010.  Read more and view news report here.

Three-Way Battle for Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds? Oh, and Wizards Become Rams

We’re not exactly sure what is going on in Watertown (NY), but the owner or potential owner of second team from the summer collegiate Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League is jockeying to play at Alex T. Duffy Fairgrounds where the circuit’s Watertown Wizards play.   It’s also being reported that a “minor league team owner from Green Bay” [could the newspaper be referring to

Lease Deal Approved for New Kenosha Franchise

The Kenosha (WI) Board of Park Commissioners voted 4-1 this week to approve a deal with the owners of the Madison Mallards and Wisconsin Rapids Rafters to lease a renovated Simmons Field for a new summer collegiate Northwoods franchise starting in 2014.  A final decision will be made during the Common Council meeting next week.  Read more here.

Iovieno Hired as Bombers Assistant General Manager

PRESS RELEASE – The Battle Creek Bombers have named Anthony Iovieno as the franchise’s next Assistant General Manager. General Manager Brian Colopy made the announcement on behalf of the Bombers organization.  Colopy added, “Anthony brings a tremendous amount of experience and enthusiasm to our organization. He fits in perfectly to our plans

Beetles Still For Sale, Deadline Looms

The owner of the summer collegiate Alexandria Beetles (Northwoods League) is still working to find a buyer for the team before the end of November.  If a new owner is not found, the league will reportedly take over the franchise.  The Beetles could be sold outright, or an investor could join a developing five-person ownership group.  Read more here.

Premium Seating Installed at Riverfront Stadium

PRESS RELEASE – Premium seating upgrades that began in May at renovated Riverfront Stadium have been completed.  Four rows of new, cast aluminum seats have been installed behind home plate at Riverfront, home of the Northwoods League’s Waterloo Bucks.

Loggers Named 2012 NWL Organization of the Year

PRESS RELEASE – The La Crosse Loggers and their general manager Chris Goodell swept the postseason awards announced at the Northwoods League’s fall meetings that were held recently in Rochester, Minn. Goodell was named as the Northwoods League Executive of the Year for 2012 while the La Crosse Loggers were honored as the 2012 Organization of the Year.