The second half of the 2011 Northwoods League season is upon us, and the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are on a fast start! Through the first eight games of the second-half, the Rafters have already accumulated over half of the wins that they achieved during the first-half of the year. The Rafters are only a game out of first place, behind the Waterloo Bucks, who are six and two. As of right now, the Rafters have a five and three record. Their next series is in Battle Creek, Michigan, where they will face the Battle Creek Bombers. That’s all for this entry, and let’s hope that the Rafters keep playing some good ball!
-Guest Blogger: Gabe Stoltz, Wisconsin Rapids
Friday, July 15, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Guest Blogger: Gabe Stoltz #2
By Gabe Stoltz
It sounds very uncanny to state that the first half of the 2011 Northwoods League season has concluded, as it seems impossible that we are already this far into the campaign. The first half of the year ended with the Bombers of Battle Creek clinching a playoff spot for the first half of the year. The record of the Bombers was 20-13. The fact they made the playoffs is definitely worth talking about, as they had the dubious worst record in the Northwoods League this past year. Finishing in second were the Eau Claire Express and the Green Bay Bullfrogs. In the North Division, the Mankato MoonDogs took charge and clinched a playoff spot with a commanding 23-10 record, a game and a half in front of the second-place Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers. Sadly, the Rafters finished the first half 8 and 25, which was the worst record in the Northwoods League. Let’s hope that they can turn it around and maybe, just perhaps, bring playoff Northwoods League baseball to Witter Field.
Some quick stats on the Rafters:
Leading the team in hits is Bobby Martin, with 27.
Brandon Hohl is leading the Rafters in batting average with .274.
Kyle Peterson still leads the team in home runs, with 7.
Leading pitching in strikeouts is Jacob Doyle, with 35 k’s on the year.
Joie Dunyon has the best ERA on the team, with an earned run percentage of 0.82.
And leading the Rafters in put outs, is Josh Cyr with 188.
That’s all for this time, and go Rafters.
It sounds very uncanny to state that the first half of the 2011 Northwoods League season has concluded, as it seems impossible that we are already this far into the campaign. The first half of the year ended with the Bombers of Battle Creek clinching a playoff spot for the first half of the year. The record of the Bombers was 20-13. The fact they made the playoffs is definitely worth talking about, as they had the dubious worst record in the Northwoods League this past year. Finishing in second were the Eau Claire Express and the Green Bay Bullfrogs. In the North Division, the Mankato MoonDogs took charge and clinched a playoff spot with a commanding 23-10 record, a game and a half in front of the second-place Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers. Sadly, the Rafters finished the first half 8 and 25, which was the worst record in the Northwoods League. Let’s hope that they can turn it around and maybe, just perhaps, bring playoff Northwoods League baseball to Witter Field.
Some quick stats on the Rafters:
Leading the team in hits is Bobby Martin, with 27.
Brandon Hohl is leading the Rafters in batting average with .274.
Kyle Peterson still leads the team in home runs, with 7.
Leading pitching in strikeouts is Jacob Doyle, with 35 k’s on the year.
Joie Dunyon has the best ERA on the team, with an earned run percentage of 0.82.
And leading the Rafters in put outs, is Josh Cyr with 188.
That’s all for this time, and go Rafters.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Guest Blogger: Gabe Stoltz
As we move throughout the summer of 2011, we'll pass along some different perspectives from our interns and also the great fans of Wisconsin Rapids. A member of one of our host families, Gabe Stoltz, will also be passing along his perspective on the Rafters second season and baseball in general. This is Part One of a series of blogs that Gabe will share with us throughout the summer. Enjoy! -John
Well, it’s hard to believe it, but the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are already twenty-one games into their 2011 season. It seems that just yesterday, the team logo was unveiled at the Hotel Mead. Currently, the Rafters are holding intact a five and sixteen record at the bottom of the South Division. The team has gotten wins against the Waterloo Bucks, Eau Claire Express, Wisconsin Woodchucks, and Battle Creek Bombers.
The Rafters don’t have the best offense in the Northwoods League, but they do boast a team total of sixteen home runs. Leading the team in batting average is Bobby Martin, a junior from Valparaiso. He also leads the team in games played, stolen bases and is tied for the team lead in hits. Curtis Frisbie and Brandon Hohl are tied up for two-baggers, each with five a piece. Cody Koback has three triples, which leads the team, even despite his late start due to being drafted by the Boston Red Sox. Leading the team in home runs is Kyle Peterson, a catcher from Eastern Michigan. Peterson has six home runs.
Hopefully, the Rafters season will turn around, as I, as many of you will also say, do not want a season like last year’s. Let’s hope that we can turn around and be a contender for the South Division for the first half of the year. I’m sure everybody will be coming out to Witter Field to support Wisconsin Rapids, and go Rafters!!!
-Gabe Stoltz, Wisconsin Rapids
Well, it’s hard to believe it, but the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are already twenty-one games into their 2011 season. It seems that just yesterday, the team logo was unveiled at the Hotel Mead. Currently, the Rafters are holding intact a five and sixteen record at the bottom of the South Division. The team has gotten wins against the Waterloo Bucks, Eau Claire Express, Wisconsin Woodchucks, and Battle Creek Bombers.
The Rafters don’t have the best offense in the Northwoods League, but they do boast a team total of sixteen home runs. Leading the team in batting average is Bobby Martin, a junior from Valparaiso. He also leads the team in games played, stolen bases and is tied for the team lead in hits. Curtis Frisbie and Brandon Hohl are tied up for two-baggers, each with five a piece. Cody Koback has three triples, which leads the team, even despite his late start due to being drafted by the Boston Red Sox. Leading the team in home runs is Kyle Peterson, a catcher from Eastern Michigan. Peterson has six home runs.
Hopefully, the Rafters season will turn around, as I, as many of you will also say, do not want a season like last year’s. Let’s hope that we can turn around and be a contender for the South Division for the first half of the year. I’m sure everybody will be coming out to Witter Field to support Wisconsin Rapids, and go Rafters!!!
-Gabe Stoltz, Wisconsin Rapids
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
This Week's Rafter Report
I'll pass along the updated stats for the incoming 2011 Rafters. Most of the guys have started off their spring seasons very well. Keep in mind that some of the incoming Rafters players are highly recruited freshmen who will not see a lot of action this spring. They will get to hone their skills this summer with hopes of contributing to their respective teams the following spring and throughout the remainder of their collegiate career.
Another Note: Tommy Organ, who fanned 11 Wisconsin Woodchucks in a start that spanned 6.1 innings last summer, made his first start for North Florida on Tuesday, March 8th. In 5.0 hitless innings, Organ struck out 8 batters, while walking 4. His eight strikeouts were the most by a North Florida pitcher in a game this season. Here is the link to the complete article of Tommy's performance.
http://www.unfospreys.com/news/2011/3/8/BB_0308115139.aspx
PLAYER POS. SCHOOL
Jordy Snikeris C LSU .267 Batting Average (4-for-15), Has appeared in 8 games while starting 4, scored 3 runs, 1 RBI
Bart Steponovich C UC Riverside .412 Batting Average (7-for-17), Has started five games, scored 5 runs, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Justin Jirschele IF UW-Stevens Point *Season has not started yet*
Bill Charvat IF Illinois Has appeared in one game and had two at bats (0-for-2)
Brandon Hohl IF Illinois .355 Batting average (11-for-31) leads Illinois, Has appeared in 9 games while starting 8, scored 4 runs, 1 2B, 5 RBI
DJ Peterson IF New Mexico .289 Batting average (13-for-45), has started all 12 games he has appeared in, scored 10 runs, 5 2B, 6 RBI
Bobby Martin IF Valparaiso .214 Batting average (9-for-42), has started all 12 games he has appeared in for Valpo, scored 4 runs, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4RBI
AJ Beckley OF UC Riverside .154 (2-for-13) Batting average in limited action, has appeared in 8 games while starting 4, 1 2B, 2RBI
Curtis Frisbie OF Neveda-Reno .000 (0-for-4) Batting average in limited action, has appeared in 6 games as a true freshman, 1 RBI
Jesse Arreola LHP Cal Baptist - 4.09 ERA, 3-0 Record, Appeared in 8 games making 2 starts, 2 saves, 22.0 Innings Pitched, 22 Strikeouts
Brad Douthit LHP USC - 10.12 ERA, 7 appearances all in relief, 2.2 Innings Pitched, 2 Strikeouts
Tommy Organ LHP North Florida - 1.08 ERA, 1-0 Record, Has appeared in 4 games making 1 start, 8.1 Innings Pitched, 11 Strikeouts
Michael Russo RHP Kean University -0.00 ERA as he has not allowed a single run in both of his starts thus far, 1-0 Record, 10.0 Innings Pitched while only allowing 2 hits and recording 15 strikeouts
Scott Laverty MGR Redlands - 10-4 Record on the season
The countdown continues to Opening Day.....
-John
Another Note: Tommy Organ, who fanned 11 Wisconsin Woodchucks in a start that spanned 6.1 innings last summer, made his first start for North Florida on Tuesday, March 8th. In 5.0 hitless innings, Organ struck out 8 batters, while walking 4. His eight strikeouts were the most by a North Florida pitcher in a game this season. Here is the link to the complete article of Tommy's performance.
http://www.unfospreys.com/news/2011/3/8/BB_0308115139.aspx
PLAYER POS. SCHOOL
Jordy Snikeris C LSU .267 Batting Average (4-for-15), Has appeared in 8 games while starting 4, scored 3 runs, 1 RBI
Bart Steponovich C UC Riverside .412 Batting Average (7-for-17), Has started five games, scored 5 runs, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Justin Jirschele IF UW-Stevens Point *Season has not started yet*
Bill Charvat IF Illinois Has appeared in one game and had two at bats (0-for-2)
Brandon Hohl IF Illinois .355 Batting average (11-for-31) leads Illinois, Has appeared in 9 games while starting 8, scored 4 runs, 1 2B, 5 RBI
DJ Peterson IF New Mexico .289 Batting average (13-for-45), has started all 12 games he has appeared in, scored 10 runs, 5 2B, 6 RBI
Bobby Martin IF Valparaiso .214 Batting average (9-for-42), has started all 12 games he has appeared in for Valpo, scored 4 runs, 1 2B, 1 HR, 4RBI
AJ Beckley OF UC Riverside .154 (2-for-13) Batting average in limited action, has appeared in 8 games while starting 4, 1 2B, 2RBI
Curtis Frisbie OF Neveda-Reno .000 (0-for-4) Batting average in limited action, has appeared in 6 games as a true freshman, 1 RBI
Jesse Arreola LHP Cal Baptist - 4.09 ERA, 3-0 Record, Appeared in 8 games making 2 starts, 2 saves, 22.0 Innings Pitched, 22 Strikeouts
Brad Douthit LHP USC - 10.12 ERA, 7 appearances all in relief, 2.2 Innings Pitched, 2 Strikeouts
Tommy Organ LHP North Florida - 1.08 ERA, 1-0 Record, Has appeared in 4 games making 1 start, 8.1 Innings Pitched, 11 Strikeouts
Michael Russo RHP Kean University -0.00 ERA as he has not allowed a single run in both of his starts thus far, 1-0 Record, 10.0 Innings Pitched while only allowing 2 hits and recording 15 strikeouts
Scott Laverty MGR Redlands - 10-4 Record on the season
The countdown continues to Opening Day.....
-John
Sunday, February 20, 2011
College Baseball Opening Weekend Recap
The pop of the mitt, the crack of the bat…….it’s back! While the snow continues to fly in Wisconsin, baseball has begun for many college teams across the country. This weekend marked the official start of America’s favorite pastime in the college ranks. I will try to provide weekly updates in the blog on the incoming Rafters players as the spring progresses. Not all incoming players saw action this weekend, as many colleges have yet to begin their schedules. However, a couple of incoming and former Rafters enjoyed some early season success.
Even though the Cal Baptist University got their season underway prior to the official “Opening Weekend”, sophomore LHP Jesse Arreola has picked up right where he left off for the Rafters last summer. In 6 games, 2 starts, for Cal Baptist, Arreola has posted a 2-0 record to go along with a very nice 3.38 ERA. In 18.2 innings of work for the Lancers, he has stuck out 18 batters while also managing to record 2 saves out of the bullpen.
Tommy Organ got off to a nice start for the University of North Florida. In two appearances this weekend for the Ospreys, organ tossed 2.1 innings of scoreless baseball while allowing two hits, one walk, and recording 2 strikeouts. Fellow North Florida teammate and former Rafter outfielder Michael Smith enjoyed a terrific weekend that saw him bat .385 (5-for-13), with 2 doubles and 3 RBI. Smith also went 2-for-2 in stolen base attempts.
A key cog out of the pen for the Rafters in 2010, Brad Douthit appeared in two games out of the bullpen this weekend for USC, while surrendering 3 runs in 1.2 innings pitched. The Trojans went up against Missouri, Cal Poly, and North Carolina while going 2-1 in the first weekend.
Illinois third baseman Brandon Hohl began his spring season by going 3-for-8 (.375 batting average), while scoring two runs and driving in 3. He appeared in all three of Illinois’’ games, while making two starts.
Valparaiso shortstop Bobby Martin enjoyed some early season success, as he belted his first homer of the spring while also driving in 4 runs in the team’s second game against Austin Peay. He got on base at a .400 clip while going 1-for-2 in stolen base attempts during the opening weekend.
University of New Mexico freshman third baseman DJ Peterson began his college career batting in the #3 spot in the Lobos’ lineup. In 11 at bats he recorded two hits, both which were doubles and drove in 1 run.
Incoming catcher Jordy Snikeris appeared in two games for the LSU Tigers, making one start behind the plate. The Tigers were ranked No. 15 by Collegiate Baseball and No. 22 by Baseball America in the 2011 preseason polls.
University of Nevada-Reno freshman outfielder, Curtis Frisbie, got his first taste of collegiate baseball as he appeared in all three of his teams’ games and recorded his first collegiate RBI.
Former Rafters third baseman Ryan Palermo went 3-for-7 (.429 BA) in UC-Santa Barbara’s first two games against La Salle this weekend. He scored 3 runs and knocked in 2 RBI as Santa Barbara got off to a 2-0 start.
Rafters field manager Scott Laverty’s University of Redlands Bulldogs are off to a 5-3 start to their season. This past weekend, Laverty led the Bulldogs to wins in 2 of their three games against the University of La Verne.
Stay tuned to Diamond Dialogue throughout the spring for all of your updates on current and former Wisconsin Rapids Rafters.
Only 100 days until the home opener!
-John
Thursday, February 3, 2011
What is it like Being a Rafters Intern?
As fun as the summer nights at Witter Field were in 2010, they wouldn't have been possible without the hard work and dedication of all of our interns during our Inaugural Season. They spent tireless hours at the ballpark leading up to the first pitch hurled by starting pitcher Matt Baudino on Opening Day, June 6th, 2010. Over the course of one summer these special people gained a greater understanding of the Northwoods League, helped start a franchise from the ground up, learned how to effectively run a baseball team from a game day standpoint and, most importantly, built relationships that will last a lifetime. With that being said, I will let one of our Marketing Interns in 2010, Mary Friday, be a guest blogger and describe what a typical day for her was like last summer. Mary is currently working as the Director of Group Sales for the Rafters.
A Day in the Life of an Intern...or at Least How I Saw It!
By: Mary Friday, Former Rafters Marketing Intern
Most Rafters fans know me as one of the girls that did the all the between-inning promotions, but there was a lot more that went into being a Rafters Marketing Intern. Countless hours were spent before game time getting ready to put on the production of a Rafters game.
A normal day in “Rafterland” started when we all arrived to Witter Field around 9am (I say “around” because, let’s be honest, we were tired and sometimes is was more like 9:15 by the time we all got there). As we filed in, we were all sent off to begin our various game day tasks. For me, this usually meant gathering up my coffee, computer, and the dirty uniforms and heading for the laundry mat with Ms. Hilary Bauer. (As a side note, our players were great guys… but, man, did they STINK!)
While at the laundry mat, Hilary and I would get the laundry going and then sit down to work on that day’s game script. Game script, you ask? Great question. The game script is written for every game and contains all the advertisements, promotions, meal specials, ect., for each game. It also outlines the order of the game production (i.e. line ups, national anthem, first pitch, between inning promotions, and so forth) for the public address announcer.
When we finished at the laundry mat, usually around 11:30 or so, it was back to the field. After we put the laundry away, it was time to hike up to the press box for more script work. Now, there are a few really great things about the press box. One: It was the ONLY place at the park with air conditioning. Two: It has a GREAT view. And three: JW Cox. JW (or as we all call him, J Dub), is our radio broadcaster, and on game days the press box was his home. If you’re ever feeling stressed on a game day, I recommend taking the (what seems like a billion) steps up to the press box to say hi to J Dub. Without fail, he’ll make you smile.
(Rafters Staff at NWL All-Star Game in Eau Claire--- Back Row L-R:Greg Kennedy, Brian Reuter, Max Daven, John Fanta, Hilary Bauer, Mary Friday. Front Row: Liz Kern, JW Cox, Laura Shepard. Not pictured: Brody Busho.)
Back to the story. This part of the script writing usually took a while, probably because it was usually interrupted. There were a number of interruptions that included John calling to see if we’d come watch the ticket office while he and Max (ticketing intern) ran to lunch, us going to make our own lunch (usually a grilled chicken sandwich), or Liz misplaced her keys. Let me tell you a little about Liz and her keys. She has them on a carabiner so that she can literally hook them to herself, but she still manages to lose them. I’m not talking every once in a while—NO!--she lost them multiple times a day. It’s almost unbelievable, yet hilarious, the places she loses those things. For example, it is not uncommon to find them sitting on a random picnic table or still in a lock somewhere. I could go on, but, I digress…
Once the script was finished, it was time to go help with other random tasks. This could mean helping Brody (official statistician/operations intern) and Greg (field maintenance intern) do whatever random thing they happened to be doing at the time or helping get ready for pre-game picnics. One thing I did a lot was portion potato salad and coleslaw. Not real glamorous, but there is never a dull moment when our Director of Operations, Mr. Brian Reuter, is around… funniest person I’ve ever met, seriously. My least favorite pre-game job had nothing to do with cleaning or heavy lifting. Not even close. It was cotton candy. That machine and I were NOT friends. I might even go as far as to say it was my nemesis. The cotton candy machine we had did not have a nifty little hood like most do, so little tiny pieces of it would fly EVERYWHERE! I would wear my sunglasses as eye protection and--had a thought of it before this very moment--I would have worn a ski mask to prevent from getting it caked on my face and hair. After fighting with that for what seemed like days, all we had were a few bags of cotton candy and an unhappy, sugar-coated, marketing intern. Everyone else found it rather humorous. Me? Not so much.
All this, and we’re still a few hours away from the “Big Show”. After a few more of those random tasks, it was time for the game day staff to start rolling in. This brought on a whole bunch of jobs, people, and laughs that I could go on and on about, but we’ll save that for another time…
A special thanks to Mary for taking the time to share her experiences! There is only one other thing to say before this week is finished and it will probably be the only non-baseball related statement ever posted on this blog.....GO PACKERS!
-John
A Day in the Life of an Intern...or at Least How I Saw It!
By: Mary Friday, Former Rafters Marketing Intern
Most Rafters fans know me as one of the girls that did the all the between-inning promotions, but there was a lot more that went into being a Rafters Marketing Intern. Countless hours were spent before game time getting ready to put on the production of a Rafters game.
A normal day in “Rafterland” started when we all arrived to Witter Field around 9am (I say “around” because, let’s be honest, we were tired and sometimes is was more like 9:15 by the time we all got there). As we filed in, we were all sent off to begin our various game day tasks. For me, this usually meant gathering up my coffee, computer, and the dirty uniforms and heading for the laundry mat with Ms. Hilary Bauer. (As a side note, our players were great guys… but, man, did they STINK!)
While at the laundry mat, Hilary and I would get the laundry going and then sit down to work on that day’s game script. Game script, you ask? Great question. The game script is written for every game and contains all the advertisements, promotions, meal specials, ect., for each game. It also outlines the order of the game production (i.e. line ups, national anthem, first pitch, between inning promotions, and so forth) for the public address announcer.
When we finished at the laundry mat, usually around 11:30 or so, it was back to the field. After we put the laundry away, it was time to hike up to the press box for more script work. Now, there are a few really great things about the press box. One: It was the ONLY place at the park with air conditioning. Two: It has a GREAT view. And three: JW Cox. JW (or as we all call him, J Dub), is our radio broadcaster, and on game days the press box was his home. If you’re ever feeling stressed on a game day, I recommend taking the (what seems like a billion) steps up to the press box to say hi to J Dub. Without fail, he’ll make you smile.
(Rafters Staff at NWL All-Star Game in Eau Claire--- Back Row L-R:Greg Kennedy, Brian Reuter, Max Daven, John Fanta, Hilary Bauer, Mary Friday. Front Row: Liz Kern, JW Cox, Laura Shepard. Not pictured: Brody Busho.)
Back to the story. This part of the script writing usually took a while, probably because it was usually interrupted. There were a number of interruptions that included John calling to see if we’d come watch the ticket office while he and Max (ticketing intern) ran to lunch, us going to make our own lunch (usually a grilled chicken sandwich), or Liz misplaced her keys. Let me tell you a little about Liz and her keys. She has them on a carabiner so that she can literally hook them to herself, but she still manages to lose them. I’m not talking every once in a while—NO!--she lost them multiple times a day. It’s almost unbelievable, yet hilarious, the places she loses those things. For example, it is not uncommon to find them sitting on a random picnic table or still in a lock somewhere. I could go on, but, I digress…
Once the script was finished, it was time to go help with other random tasks. This could mean helping Brody (official statistician/operations intern) and Greg (field maintenance intern) do whatever random thing they happened to be doing at the time or helping get ready for pre-game picnics. One thing I did a lot was portion potato salad and coleslaw. Not real glamorous, but there is never a dull moment when our Director of Operations, Mr. Brian Reuter, is around… funniest person I’ve ever met, seriously. My least favorite pre-game job had nothing to do with cleaning or heavy lifting. Not even close. It was cotton candy. That machine and I were NOT friends. I might even go as far as to say it was my nemesis. The cotton candy machine we had did not have a nifty little hood like most do, so little tiny pieces of it would fly EVERYWHERE! I would wear my sunglasses as eye protection and--had a thought of it before this very moment--I would have worn a ski mask to prevent from getting it caked on my face and hair. After fighting with that for what seemed like days, all we had were a few bags of cotton candy and an unhappy, sugar-coated, marketing intern. Everyone else found it rather humorous. Me? Not so much.
All this, and we’re still a few hours away from the “Big Show”. After a few more of those random tasks, it was time for the game day staff to start rolling in. This brought on a whole bunch of jobs, people, and laughs that I could go on and on about, but we’ll save that for another time…
A special thanks to Mary for taking the time to share her experiences! There is only one other thing to say before this week is finished and it will probably be the only non-baseball related statement ever posted on this blog.....GO PACKERS!
-John
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Behind the Curtain: How a Northwoods League Roster is Constructed
I have been asked multiple times over the past few months how we construct our roster. After scrambling to piece together a team for the inaugural season, we have had the luxury of an entire offseason of recruitment this time around. I thought I would take this opportunity to explain how putting together a summer collegiate roster differs from Major League and Minor League Baseball.
Major League baseball has a first year player draft every June to assign amateur baseball players, from high schools, colleges, and other amateur baseball clubs, to its teams. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with the team possessing the worst record receiving the first pick.
To be drafted a player must fit the following criteria:
• High school players are eligible only after graduation, and if they have not attended college.
• Players at four-year colleges are eligible after completing their junior years, or after their 21st birthdays.
• Junior and community college players are eligible to be drafted at any time.
• Have never signed a major or minor league contract.
After these players are drafted they are placed on minor league clubs for their respective organizations and are assigned to levels (Rookie Level, Low A, A, High A, AA, AAA) by front office officials, based on their performance on the field. Hopefully their journey through the minor leagues takes them to the ultimate level, the Majors.
Contrary to Major League baseball, Northwoods League roster composition is largely based on relationships between universities and front office staff and coaches. To be eligible to play in the Northwoods League, all players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining to participate. Players in the league are not paid so as to maintain this eligibility. This limits the potential candidates to college freshman, sophomores, and juniors only. Because of these limits, there is usually quite a bit of turnover on teams in the NWL every year. The maximum years a player could partake in the league is probably three (with a few exceptions), but a player participating over a two year span is usually more common if the player excels in his first year.
There is also another factor that comes into play: The Major League draft. Players can be drafted after their junior year of college, so NWL teams that sign players currently in their junior year may never see them don their uniform if they are selected in the June draft and sign a professional contract.
Another note: If you notice that players on NWL teams have previously been drafted by MLB teams, it is because they were selected out of high school and chose to not sign a professional contract. Rather, they decided to attend college and increase their draft stock prior to becoming eligible again after their junior year. The NWL affords these players a chance to showcase their skills to MLB scouts, who have the opportunity to monitor progress and discover new talent in a convenient, centralized region of the country. Some players drafted out of high school choose to attend junior colleges, since they are allowed to be drafted at any time and don’t have to wait until after their junior season.
If a coach has a player that desires to play at the next level after college, wants them to improve in certain facets of their game, and that meets the criteria of the Northwoods League, they will explore whether there may be a fit with a team. This is always facilitated even more if a relationship and mutual trust exists between the college coach and the Northwoods League franchise. The coach wants to make sure that his player will be taken care of during the summer so he is healthy for when the college season begins again the following year. Most coaches realize the talent level and the competition in the NWL, as well as the opportunity that exists for their respective player to improve his game; this will most likely translate to benefit the college program the following year too.
The Northwoods League affords the unique opportunity for players to improve their skills during the summer months while gaining an experience in a similar setting to minor league baseball. By taking the elite players from high-end baseball programs across the country, the participating players have the opportunity to compete against talent that will likely follow them to the next level as well.
I hope this sheds some light onto how the Northwoods League rosters are usually constructed. Obviously stats from the previous year, a player’s high school performance and accolades, and video scouting each has its place when considering players. But it usually all starts with building positive relationships and sustaining them in hopes of providing a talent pool to choose from every year.
Only 144 days until Opening Day at Historic Witter Field! Make sure to follow this spring as the roster is unveiled and keep track of all former and “soon-to-be” Rafters during their spring collegiate seasons!
-John
Major League baseball has a first year player draft every June to assign amateur baseball players, from high schools, colleges, and other amateur baseball clubs, to its teams. The draft order is determined based on the previous season's standings, with the team possessing the worst record receiving the first pick.
To be drafted a player must fit the following criteria:
• High school players are eligible only after graduation, and if they have not attended college.
• Players at four-year colleges are eligible after completing their junior years, or after their 21st birthdays.
• Junior and community college players are eligible to be drafted at any time.
• Have never signed a major or minor league contract.
After these players are drafted they are placed on minor league clubs for their respective organizations and are assigned to levels (Rookie Level, Low A, A, High A, AA, AAA) by front office officials, based on their performance on the field. Hopefully their journey through the minor leagues takes them to the ultimate level, the Majors.
Contrary to Major League baseball, Northwoods League roster composition is largely based on relationships between universities and front office staff and coaches. To be eligible to play in the Northwoods League, all players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining to participate. Players in the league are not paid so as to maintain this eligibility. This limits the potential candidates to college freshman, sophomores, and juniors only. Because of these limits, there is usually quite a bit of turnover on teams in the NWL every year. The maximum years a player could partake in the league is probably three (with a few exceptions), but a player participating over a two year span is usually more common if the player excels in his first year.
There is also another factor that comes into play: The Major League draft. Players can be drafted after their junior year of college, so NWL teams that sign players currently in their junior year may never see them don their uniform if they are selected in the June draft and sign a professional contract.
Another note: If you notice that players on NWL teams have previously been drafted by MLB teams, it is because they were selected out of high school and chose to not sign a professional contract. Rather, they decided to attend college and increase their draft stock prior to becoming eligible again after their junior year. The NWL affords these players a chance to showcase their skills to MLB scouts, who have the opportunity to monitor progress and discover new talent in a convenient, centralized region of the country. Some players drafted out of high school choose to attend junior colleges, since they are allowed to be drafted at any time and don’t have to wait until after their junior season.
If a coach has a player that desires to play at the next level after college, wants them to improve in certain facets of their game, and that meets the criteria of the Northwoods League, they will explore whether there may be a fit with a team. This is always facilitated even more if a relationship and mutual trust exists between the college coach and the Northwoods League franchise. The coach wants to make sure that his player will be taken care of during the summer so he is healthy for when the college season begins again the following year. Most coaches realize the talent level and the competition in the NWL, as well as the opportunity that exists for their respective player to improve his game; this will most likely translate to benefit the college program the following year too.
The Northwoods League affords the unique opportunity for players to improve their skills during the summer months while gaining an experience in a similar setting to minor league baseball. By taking the elite players from high-end baseball programs across the country, the participating players have the opportunity to compete against talent that will likely follow them to the next level as well.
I hope this sheds some light onto how the Northwoods League rosters are usually constructed. Obviously stats from the previous year, a player’s high school performance and accolades, and video scouting each has its place when considering players. But it usually all starts with building positive relationships and sustaining them in hopes of providing a talent pool to choose from every year.
Only 144 days until Opening Day at Historic Witter Field! Make sure to follow this spring as the roster is unveiled and keep track of all former and “soon-to-be” Rafters during their spring collegiate seasons!
-John
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