Wausau, WIS – The Wisconsin Woodchucks have announced the signing of three players to the 2017 roster. Strong bat Andrew Kendrick from Youngstown State and right-handed pitcher Josh Bottenfield from North Carolina A&T will be joining the ‘Chucks this summer along with returning left-handed pitcher Kevin Bolder from St. Cloud State.
Kendrick, a 6’ 2” junior originally from Springfield, Missouri will bring his bat to the Woodchucks. Kendrick was recently named the Horizon League Batter of the Week after hitting three home runs and batting .455 in Youngstown State’s series against Northern Kentucky. He posted a .571 on-base percentage and a 1.273 slugging percentage that week. It is the third time in the first seven weeks of the season that Kendrick has received the award. Kendrick leads the country in home runs per game with 0.55 and ranks fifth in total home runs in the nation. He is also seventh in the nation in slugging percentage with a .789 and 20th in RBIs per game.
Bottenfield, a 6’ 2” junior originally from Concord, N.C. will contribute on the pitching mound this summer. Bottenfield has a 5.09 ERA in 35.1 IP with 21 strikeouts so far this season with the NCAT Aggies. Before joining the Aggies, Bottenfield pitched from Catawba Valley Community College. He posted a 1.29 ERA and averaged 6.43 strikeouts per game.
Bolder, a 6’1” junior originally from Tomahawk, Wis. will return to the ‘Chucks for a third season. The left-handed pitcher has a 3.60 ERA in 10 IP with 11 strikeouts for St. Cloud State. In the 2016 season with the Woodchucks, Bolder posted a 4.23 ERA with 35 strikeouts. Bolder appeared in 13 games in the 2015 season with the Woodhcucks, recording a 1-3 record with 18 strikeouts and an ERA of 3.5.
The Wisconsin Woodchucks’ home opener is Wednesday, May 31, 2017. All ticket packages and group tickets are now on sale for the upcoming 2017 season. The Woodchucks are also excited to be hosting the 2017 Northwoods League All-Star Game, presented by Ascension. Call the Woodchucks ticket sales department for more information at 715.845.5055 or go online, www.woodchucks.com, to learn more. Single game tickets will go on sale on Friday, April 21, 2017 at 9 a.m.
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The Wisconsin Woodchucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate 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, more than 160 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.woodchucks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Woodchucks as your favorite team.