Northwoods League Announces 2013 All Star Selections
Published on July 12, 2013 under Northwoods League (Northwoods) News Release
Rochester, Minn. - The Northwoods League has announced the rosters for the 2013 Northwoods League All-Star Game, which will be played on Tuesday, July 23rd at 7:35 p.m. (CST) at Carson Park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.
In the North Division the Mankato MoonDogs lead the way with six selections. Coming in a close second with five selections are the first half champion Waterloo Bucks. Mankato claims four All Star roster spots from an offense that leads the league with a .419 slugging percentage. Two of the five outfield spots will be filled by MoonDogs Tim Arakawa (Oklahoma State) and Jonathan Rodriguez (Oklahoma City University). Waterloo boasts three pitchers from a staff that leads the league in wins with 32 and is second with a 3.55 ERA. That group is led by T.J. Renda (Alabama State). Renda is 4-0 with a 2.66 ERA.
In the South Division the first half champion Madison Mallards and the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters each have five players on the South roster. Three Mallards pitchers led by Luke Staub (George Washington) and his 1.58 ERA will look to enjoy success in Eau Claire along with Mallards outfielder and current league RBI leader Drew Weeks (North Florida). The Rafters have two of the top three home run hitters in the league on the South roster. Both Donnie Dewees (North Florida) and Jackson Slaid (Montevallo) currently have 9 home runs.
There is only one All Star that is returning for his second straight game. Willmar outfielder Michael Suchy (Florida Gulf Coast University) will be making his second consecutive appearance. Suchy currently has a .320 batting average to go along with 7 home runs and 17 RBI.
For the second time in three years Madison Mallards manager Donnie Scott and his coaching staff will be in the dugout for the game. The Mallards, who won the first half championship in the South Division by a half game, currently have a 27-15 record. Scott won the first and second halves in 2011 with the Battle Creek Bombers and went on to win the Summer Collegiate World Series.
It will be the first opportunity to manage the North All-Stars for Waterloo Bucks manager Travis Kiewiet and his staff. The Bucks won the first-half championship in the North with a 24-10 record. The Bucks are currently 8-0 in the second half and 32-10 overall.
Six different universities will be represented by at least two players in the All-Star Game. Florida Southern and Michigan State each have three players while Arkansas, Texas A & M, North Florida, and Long Beach State each have two.
This year's All-Stars were chosen in a vote by the 16 member teams of the Northwoods League. Ballots were cast by each team's field staff and media contacts.
Eau Claire's second hosting of the Northwoods League's All-Star festivities will kick off on Monday, July 22nd at the Plaza Hotel & Suites with a banquet recognizing top performers from the 16 teams. The banquet is sponsored by Visit Eau Claire and the Plaza Hotel & Suites and will be open to the public for the price of $50 per ticket. The event is set to begin at 6:00 p.m. with a full banquet meal, followed by the program portion of the evening featuring former Minnesota Twins Manager Tom Kelly.
Day two of the Northwoods League's 19th all-star event will be held on Tuesday, July 23rd at historic Carson Park with a variety of activities. The day begins with a fan fest at 4:00 p.m. that gives fans the opportunity to interact with the all-stars and obtain autographs. The annual Home Run Derby will begin at 6:00 p.m. with the game to follow at 7:35 p.m. The two-day event will be capped off with a fireworks display following the completion of the game.
Northwoods League Stories from July 12, 2013
- St. Cloud Rox Win on the Road in Thunder Bay, 4-3 - St. Cloud Rox
- Kravetz Retires 14-Straight as Rafters Race Past Eau Claire, 5-2 - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Mallards Hot Start Too Much for Chinooks - Madison Mallards
- Honkers Snap Losing Streak with Win over Stingers - Rochester Honkers
- Chinooks Fall 5-4 to Mallards in NWL Longest Game: Madison Take 2nd - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Five Mallards Highlight 2013 All Star Game Roster - Madison Mallards
- Loggers rally in ninth inning to defeat the Woodchucks 5-4 - Wausau Woodchucks
- Reuvekamp Ends Longest Game in Northwoods League History - Madison Mallards
- Five Rafters Players Named to 2013 Northwoods League All-Star Game - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Five Bucks Named Northwoods League All-Stars - Waterloo Bucks
- Two Bullfrogs Selected to All-Star Team - Green Bay Rockers
- Northwoods League Announces 2013 All Star Selections - Northwoods
- Mallards Look to Bounce Back From Blowout - Madison Mallards
- Blue Anchors Top MoonDogs, 5-2 - Alexandria Blue Anchors
- Cats fall to Rox - Thunder Bay Border Cats
- Kuhn HR Not Enough in Loss - Willmar Stingers
- Mallards Erase Seven-Run Deficit But Ultimately Fall 16-9 - Madison Mallards
- St. Cloud Rox Take Game Four 7-3 over Thunder Bay - St. Cloud Rox
- Bombers Sweep La Crosse - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
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