LOVES PARK, Ill. – In just over two months, Stateline baseball fans will be able to see a local product pitch again for the Rockford Rivets.
The Northwoods League team announced on Tuesday that former Rockton Hononegah High School and McHenry County College right-hander Jack Granath will return for the summer. The 6-foot, 6-inch junior, who is now at NAIA Davenport (Mich.) University, went undefeated at the junior-college level last year.
“Big Jack pitched for us last summer for a few weeks and we were really impressed with his stuff,” Rivets manager Brian Smith said. “Jack is redshirting this spring at Davenport, so we expect him to come in ready to contribute immediately. Jack is a big righthander who likes to challenge hitters with his fastball. We are excited to have Jack back in our rotation.”
Last season at MCC, Granath was 9-0 in 12 appearances. He struck out 83 in 64 1/3 innings and posted a 3.50 ERA. Granath made two appearances with the Rivets, one as a starter, and was 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA.
Granath wasn’t the only local product to pitch for Rockford last year. The Rivets’ top winner was Machesney Park Harlem High School alumnus Drake Robison, now a senior at the University of Iowa. Robison’s seven wins were one shy of the league lead.
The Rivets’ season begins May 30 at Kalamazoo. The home opener is at 6:35 p.m. June 2 against the Wisconsin Woodchucks. The Rivets are offering a $50 four-game pack that includes a replica Rivets jersey, tickets to four select games and all-you-can-eat food (burgers, brats, hot dogs, grilled chicken, popcorn and fountain soda) for the following dates: Friday, June 2; Saturday, June 24; Friday, July 14; Friday, July 28. The four-pack can be purchased only by calling the Rivets at 815.240.4159 or in person at the Rivets Stadium box office. There are a limited number of jerseys available, so don’t wait to order this four-pack.
The Rockford Rivets are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League, which will play its 24th season of summer collegiate baseball in 2017. The Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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, 160 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals), two-time World Champion Ben Zobrist (Chicago Cubs) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (Boston Red Sox), Jordan Zimmermann (Detroit Tigers), Curtis Granderson (New York Mets) and Lucas Duda (Mets). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website, NorthwoodsLeague.com.