Waterloo, Iowa – A total of 14 Waterloo Bucks were honored by the Northwoods League on Wednesday when the league announced their Top 200 Prospect Report.  The list was compiled by Bradley Smart from Smart on Sports after discussions with all 18 Field Managers in the Northwoods League.

The top ranked player from Waterloo was second baseman Pat MacKenzie, who is entering his senior season at Central Michigan University.  Ranked as the NWL’s 18^th best prospect, MacKenzie was recently named a Summer Collegiate third team All-American by Perfect Game and made the Northwoods League postseason All-Star Team as a designated hitter.  A native of Royal Oak, Michigan, MacKenzie’s name was littered throughout the NWL leaderboards this season.  MacKenzie finished second in batting with a .374 average.  In addition, the second baseman led the NWL in on-base percentage at .504, second in stolen bases with 26, third in walks with 50, and tied for second in runs with 57.  On August 3^rd, he stole the 61^st base of his career, becoming the team’s all-time stolen base record holder.  MacKenzie was named a mid-season NWL All-Star and was invited to participate in the NWL Big League Dreams Showcase.

Right-handed pitcher Adam Bray, now a senior at South Dakota State University, was ranked as the 44^th best prospect in the NWL.  A native of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, Bray finished the season at 4-0 with a 1.94 ERA this season for Waterloo.  Bray appeared in nine games, striking out 44 with one save.  The righty held batters to a .187 average in 46.1 innings pitched and was also named a mid-season NWL All-Star.

University of Evansville outfielder Kevin Kaczmarski was ranked as the 45^th best prospect.  Originally from Cary, Illinois, the now senior hit .313, leading the team in both home runs and RBI with six and 40, respectively.  With eight stolen bases and a .525 slugging percentage, Kaczmarski was named the Bucks’ Roth Jewelers Player of the Year.

The 66^th ranked prospect was Cody Sedlock, who is entering his sophomore season at the University of Illinois.  Sedlock, a right-handed pitcher, finished with the ninth best ERA in the NWL with a 3.27 mark.  In addition, the Sherrard, Illinois native tied for the league lead in starts with 13 and finished the year with a 5-3 record.  Sedlock struck out 53 while walking just 29.

David Kerian, who is entering his senior season at the University of Illinois, was ranked as the 76^th best prospect.  The infielder/outfielder finished the season tied for fourth in the NWL in stolen base percentage, holding down a .917 mark (11-for-12).  At the plate, the Dakota Dunes, South Dakota native hit .292 with five RBI and 35 RBI.  Kerian finished the year with a .424 slugging percentage and led the team in total bases with 100.

Right-handed pitcher Landon Simpson, now a junior at the University of Arkansas, was a mainstay on the mound for Waterloo, leading the team in wins with six, which tied him for the fourth-most in the NWL.  The Magnolia, Arkansas native went 6-1 with a 2.56 ERA and 39 strikeouts in nine appearances.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native Jon McAllister was ranked as the NWL’s 82^nd best prospect.  The outfielder finished second on the team in hitting with a .320 average in 60 games.  McAllister had eight doubles, three triples, and 26 RBI.  The Long Island University product owned a .385 on-base percentage to go along with 16 steals.  McAllister was named a mid-season and post-season NWL All-Star.

Will Sparks, who is entering his senior season at the University of Washington, was ranked as the NWL’s 105^th best prospect.  Sparks finished the season tied for second in the league in hit by pitches with 16.  The outfielder hit .315 with three home runs and 39 RBI.  Originally from Saratoga, California, Sparks stole eight bases and had a .421 slugging percentage.

Shortstop Mikal Hill, now a senior at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, was ranked as the 113^th best prospect in the NWL.  A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Hill ended the ’14 season with a .283 average and four home runs.  Hill drove in 17, stole six bases, and finished with a .428 slugging percentage.

Longwood University right-handed pitcher Aaron Myers was ranked as the 129^th best prospect.  Originally from Newport News, Virginia, Myers appeared in 16 games for the Bucks, finishing with a 3-5 record and 4.50 ERA.  Myers struck out 50 in 50 innings pitched.

The 165^th ranked prospect was Derek Burkamper who is entering his sophomore season at the University of Nebraska.  Burkamper, a right-handed pitcher, finished the year with a 1-1 record and 7.40 ERA.  Originally from Muscatine, Iowa, Burkamper struck out 13 in seven appearances.

Greg Kuhlman, who is entering his senior season at Indiana State University, was ranked as the 166^th best prospect.  The left-handed pitcher finished the year with a 3-0 record and a 3.86 ERA.  The West Des Moines, Iowa native struck out 18 in nine appearances.

Outfielder Connor McClain, now a senior at Indiana State University, finished with the league lead in doubles at 20.  A native of Waterloo, McClain hit .309 with 29 RBI and six stolen bases.  McClain was ranked as the NWL’s 184^th best prospect.

La Crescent, Minnesota native Eric Veglahn was ranked as the NWL’s 185^th best prospect.  The left-handed pitcher appeared in seven games for the Bucks, finishing with a 3-1 record and a 3.72 ERA.  The now junior at the University of St. Thomas struck out 17 while walking just six.

The full 2014 NWL Top 200 Prospects list may be found here:  http://northwoodsleague.com/wp-content/uploads/file/2014%20Northwoods%20League%20Top%20200.pdf

The Bucks 2014 season is complete, with the team finishing the year with the third-best record in the Northwoods League.  The Bucks will be back in action in late-spring of 2015.  The 2015 NWL schedule is expected to be released this fall.  Fans are encouraged to stay in touch with the Bucks in the off-season by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.com.

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The Waterloo Bucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21^st 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 www.waterloobucks.com.