Nielsen, Kolakowski Set to Join Expansion Franchise in Kenosha
Kenosha, WI — November 21, 2013. The Kenosha Baseball affiliate of the Northwoods League has announced the signing of sophomore left-handed pitcher J.D. Nielsen and redshirt freshman infielder Zack Kolakowski from the University of Illinois.
Nielsen, a 6’6”, 205-pound native of Winterset, Iowa will join the Kenosha Baseball Club after his second season in Champaign. Nielsen did not appear in a game in his freshman season for the Illini, however did spend the summer of 2013 pitching for the Lake Erie Monarchs of the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League.
Nielsen attended Martensdale-St. Mary’s High School where he helped lead the Blue Devils to three straight Class 1A State Championships. His senior season he pitched a no hitter to clinch their third straight title and finish his record at 8-3 on the season. Also as a senior in 2012 Nielsen was named to the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Associated (IHSBCA) All-State Super Team and was a First-Team Pride of Iowa Conference selection. As a junior in 2011 he was 9-0 with a 1.43 ERA and was an IHSBCA All-State Second-Team selection and was named First-Team Pride of Iowa Conference.
Kolakowski, a 5’10”, 175-pound native of Inverness, Illinois will join the Kenosha Baseball Club after his first season on the active roster for the Illini. He was redshirted in 2013. He spent the summer of 2013 with the Hutchinson Monarchs of the Walter Johnson League where he hit .286 with nine doubles and 19 RBIs in 119 at-bats.
Kolakowski was a student-athlete at William Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois. In 2011, he hit .342 with eight doubles, 22 RBIs, and ten stolen bases. He led the Palatine American Legion Team to a second place finish in the state tournament in 2010.
Fans will have their first chance to meet Kenosha Baseball players at the November 23 Launch Party. Nielsen and Kolakowski are traveling from Illinois to be a part of the event.
Kenosha Baseball plans to unveil the team name and logo as well as the newly renovated Historic Simmons Field at the Launch Party event. The Human Cannonball, David “The Bullet” Smith, live music entertainment, kids activities and stadium tours will be featured at the afternoon event. Free food and beverage are also included for all guests in attendance. The team plans to open the new team store following the name and logo unveiling, and fans will have the opportunity to purchase newly branded merchandise for the very first time. Ticket information will also be available and fans can purchase select ticket packages on the day of the event.
An RSVP is NOT required to attend the Launch Party. However, if you do send an RSVP to Jake@KenoshaBaseball.com you register for the chance to win a pair of 2014 season tickets. For more information on the Kenosha Baseball Launch Party or Kenosha Baseball, please contact Jake McGhee at 262-653-0900 or Jake@KenoshaBaseball.com.
The Kenosha Baseball Club is 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 MLB All-Stars Max Scherzer (DET), Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYY), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live and free of charge via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit www.KenoshaBaseball.com.
