Four teams selected of the top prospects in the Northwoods League
Rochester, Minn. (July 26, 2013) — The Northwoods League has announced the rosters for the 2013 Big League Dreams Showcase, which will be hosted by the Madison Mallards at Warner Park on Monday, July 29.
The Big League Dreams Showcase will consist of a double-header featuring the top players from the Northwoods League who were selected by a panel of Major League Baseball Scouts. The players will participate in a day of workouts in front of scouts which will be followed by the double-header.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Northwoods League Foundation. The Northwoods League Foundation utilizes the game of baseball to enrich the quality of life for children and families with an enduring and caring focus on Northwoods League communities.
The first game will start at 4:05 p.m. and will match a team of players from the visiting North Division against a team of South Division players. The North team will have players from the Rochester Honkers, Thunder Bay Border Cats, Willmar Stingers and Duluth Huskies. The home South Division team will have players from the Battle Creek Bombers, Green Bay Bullfrogs, Eau Claire Express and the Wisconsin Woodchucks.
The North Division in this first game will be led by 2013 Northwoods League All Stars Marc Flores (Hawaii) and Michael Suchy (FGCU) from the Willmar Stingers. 2012 All Star Trey Vavra (Eastern Illinois) along with four other Duluth Huskies will also try to impress the scouts in Madison.
The South Division will also be well represented in game one. Wisconsin Woodchucks will fill the infield as second baseman Jake Jefferies (Cal State Fullerton), shortstop Edgar Figueroa (Wabash Valley College), and third baseman Josh Goossen-Brown (Cal State-Northridge) have all been selected. Cam Gibson (Michigan State), the top vote receiving outfielder for the South in the 2013 Northwoods League All Star game, will also patrol the outfield in Madison on Monday.
The second game will start at 7:05 p.m. and will be played by two additional teams of North and South players. The North team for this game will be made up of players from the Alexandria Blue Anchors, St. Cloud Rox, Mankato MoonDogs and Waterloo Bucks. The South team will have players from the Madison Mallards, Lakeshore Chinooks, Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and the La Crosse Loggers.
In the night cap the North Division will be led by 2013 Northwoods League All Star Game home run derby champion Adam Martin (Western Carolina) of the St. Cloud Rox. Andrew Sohn (Western Michigan) will be one of four players from the Alexandria Blue Anchors to suit up for the North in this game. Six members of the first half North Division Champion Waterloo Bucks are also on the roster.
Nine members of the hometown Madison Mallards will compete for the South in the second game. This impressive group of players will be led by 2013 Northwoods League All Star John LaPrise (Virginia). Four players from the current South Division leading Lakeshore Chinooks will be on the roster for the South. Included in this group is Chinooks closer Mitchell Sewald (LSU).
2013 Northwoods League Big League Dreams Showcase Rosters:
Tickets for the event can still be purchased and are available at mallardsbaseball.com.
The Northwoods League has more teams, plays more games, and draws more fans than any other Summer Collegiate League in North America. The 2013 season marks the 20th season of Northwoods League baseball. 106 former players have gone on to play Major League baseball. Notable alumni of the league include Curtis Granderson (Yankees), Chris Sale (White Sox), Max Scherzer (Tigers), Josh Willingham (Twins) and Jordan Zimmermann (Nationals).