As the 2009 Northwoods League All-Stars take the field in Thunder Bay, Ontario Tuesday, they join 20 Northwoods League alumni who were also voted All-Stars in their respective Minor League Baseball systems.

A pair of pitchers and two second basemen have represented the Northwoods League in Double A All-Star Games this summer.  Daniel Descalso (2B, Wisconsin), Brock Bond (2B, Duluth) and Casey Baron (LHP, Madison) all played for the League in 2006, while Casey Coleman (RHP, Alexandria) spent his 2007 summer playing in the Midwest.

Descalso was part of a winning North Division squad in the Texas League where the North beat the South 2-1.  Bond chipped in an RBI in the Eastern League All-Star Game in a losing effort as the Northern Division lost to the Southern Division 5-3.  Baron and Coleman were teammates for the North Division in the Southern League game and pitched matching, scoreless, one-hit innings in route to a North shutout of the South 7-0.  Coleman set himself apart with two strikeouts to Baron’s one.

The effects of the La Crosse Loggers organization were felt throughout the Minor Leagues as a Northwoods League-high four alumni played in mid-summer showcases this season.  The St. Cloud River Bats also made a strong showing with three alumni voted to All-Star teams.  A list of all Northwoods League alumni who played in Minor League All-Star Games is provided below.

2009 Northwoods League Alumni in Minor League All-Star Games

Double A – Eastern League: Northern Division
     Brock Bond, 2B, Connecticut – Duluth, 2006
         AVG:  .342    RBI:  25     SB:  11
Double A – Southern League: North Division
     Casey Baron, LHP, Huntsville – Madison, 2006
         ERA:  2.06    W-L:  4-5    SO:  43
     Casey Coleman, RHP, Tennessee – Alexandria, 2007
         ERA:  2.93    W-L:  9-4    SO:  53
Double A – Texas League: North Division
     Daniel Descalso, 2B, Springfield – Wisconsin, 2006
         AVG:  .323    RBI:  57        H:  108
Double A – Texas League: South Division
     Tommy Everidge*, 1B, Midland – Mankato, 2002
         AVG:  .317    HR:  15        RBI:  76
 Single A (Advanced) – California League
     Roger Kieschnick, OF, San Joes – St. Cloud, 2007
         AVG:  .292    HR:  18        RBI:  70
     Craig Baker, P, Modesto – St. Cloud, 2004
         ERA:  2.36    SV:  25        SO:  50
Single A (Advanced) – Carolina League
     Dale Mollenhauer, 2B, Winston-Salem – Thunder Bay, 2006
         AVG:  .294     RBI:  35        SB:  13
 Single A (Advanced) – Florida State League: North Division
     Eric Thames, OF, Dunedin – La Crosse, 2007
         AVG:  .308    RBI:  30        H:  48
Single A (Advanced) – Florida State League: South Division
     Cody Cipriano, INF, Charlotte – Duluth, 2005
         AVG:  .295    RBI:  39        SLG:  .458
     Samuel Freeman, LHP, Palm Beach – Wisconsin, 2007
         ERA:  2.05    W-L:  2-2    SO:  45
     Brad Holt*, P – La Crosse, 2007
         ERA:  3.99    W-L:  5-4    SO:  80
     Nevin Ashley, C – Eau Claire, 2006
         AVG:  .201    RBI:  28        H:  42
Single A – Midwest League: Eastern Division
     Jaime Pedroza, 2B, Great Lakes – Rochester, 2006
         AVG:  .266    RBI:  56        SB:  24
     Sawyer Carroll, OF, Fort Wayne – La Crosse, 2007
         AVG:  .320    RBI:  61        H:  105
Single A – Midwest League: Western Division
     Charlie Cutler, C, Quad Cities –  St. Cloud, 2006
         AVG:  .349    RBI:  45        H:  95
     Jason Christian, 3B, Kane County – Mankato, 2007
         AVG:  .261    RBI:  46        SB:  28
     Aaron Pribanic, RHP, Clinton – Brainerd, 2006 and 2007
         ERA:  2.72    W-L:  7-5    SO:  51
Single A – South Atlantic Division: Southern Division
     Jordan Pacheco, C, Asheville – La Crosse, 2005
         AVG:  .334    RBI:  59        HR:  11
     Pat Venditte, LHP, Charleston – Wisconsin, 2007
         ERA:  2.02    BB:  2        SO:  48

*Did not play in All-Star Game due to promotion