Last week, we counted down the top 10 moments of the 2014 regular season. 2014 was our most memorable year yet and here are the top 10 moments that stood apart from all the rest:
#10: Opening Day 2014
The Chinooks began the 2014 season with a bang! Almost 2,100 fans came out to Kapco Park for Bob Uecker Bobblehead Night and watched Lakeshore defeat the Mankato Moondogs 4-2. The pre-game festivities were kicked off with ceremonial first pitches from Sam Dekker, Josh Gasser, and Zak Showalter of the Wisconsin Badgers 2014 Final Four basketball team!
#9: Hacksaw Makes A Lasting Impression
Pro Wrestling legend Hacksaw Jim Duggan stopped by Kapco Park on June 16th. Fans and players jumped at the opportunity to meet Duggan. Hacksaw's famous "HOOOOO!” call also found its way to the Chinooks' dugout. From that game forward, the Chinooks players would give a “HOOOOO!" every time the team made a great play or scored a run. The team also kept an autographed 2×4 in the dugout and began using Duggan's entrance music each game during their first at bats of the night!
#8: Yount’s Number Retired At Kapco Park
On May 30th, the Chinooks honored minority owner and Milwaukee baseball legend, Robin Yount, by retiring his number 19. The pre-game ceremony included the unveiling of a #19 Yount banner which will always hang in the right field corner at Kapco Park. Yount expressed to the fans that "it was a night that he will always remember"!
#7: Noll Steals A Win
Jake Noll entered the game as a pinch runner after a Brant Valach two RBI single to tie the game. Noll then proceeded to move to second on a wild pitch, stole third, and then scored the game-winning run on a walk-off wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th inning to give Lakeshore their league-leading seventh win a row, a 3-2 victory over Battle Creek.
#6: Brett Siddall’s Bullpen Catch
On July 6th at Kapco Park, Chinooks MVP Brett Siddall made an amazing catch while running and diving over the home team's bullpen fence along the first base line, landing inside the bullpen. The catch would end the inning and helped seal a Lakeshore victory over the Green Bay Bullfrogs!
#5: No Hits, No Problem
Despite not generating a hit off of the Rafters' Domenic Mazza, the Chinooks scored two unearned runs, earning the win and complementing a dominant pitching performance of their own. The Rafters' offense was silenced and held to just one hit by the trio of James Teague, Sterling Koerner, and Andrew Elliott.
#4: Brett Siddall’s Father’s Day Walk-Off
On June 15th, All-Star outfielder Brett Siddall was the first batter up in the bottom of the 9th inning with the game tied at 4. Siddall would drive one deep over the outfield fence for a walk-off solo home run for the win against the Loggers!
#3: All-Star Game Festivities
The Northwoods League All-Star Game had it all: Bud Selig addressing the players at the All-Star Game Banquet, Brett Siddall winning the individual title in the Home Run Challenge, Eddy Morgan and his staff managing the South Division squad, and Brewers legends Robin Yount and Jim Gantner serving as honorary managers for each teams!
#2: Eleven Game Win Streak
Beginning on July 17th and ending on July 29th, the Chinooks went on a impressive 11-game win streak. The streak was the longest of any Northwoods League team in 2014 and was also a new franchise record. At one point during the streak, Lakeshore outscored their opponents 63-20 over the course of four games. Earlier on in the season the Chinooks also went on separate seven- and eight-game win streaks!
#1: Blake Butler’s Walk-Off Clinches Playoff Berth
On the last day of the 2014 season’s first half, the Chinooks and Kenosha Kingfish were tied in the 12th inning. Blake Butler came to the plate and hit a walk-off solo home run to win the game and clinch the South Division First Half title and a playoff berth. Lakeshore would go on to win the second half, the South Division, and finally the Northwoods League Championship!
This week we will be counting down the Top 10 moments of the 2014 Post-Season!
The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit lakeshorechinooks.com.
