Madison Night Mare Hilary Blomberg is Player of the Year and Ryan Maddox of the Night Mares is Pitcher of the Year
Rochester, Minn. – Northwoods League Softball announced the 2026 Postseason All-Star Team and award winners on Monday, August 17.
Madison Night Mare Hilary Blomberg is named the Northwoods League Softball Player of the Year for the second year in a row after achieving the Triple Crown leading the League in Home Runs (20), RBI (59), and Batting Average (.471). The junior from the University of Wisconsin broke her own Northwoods League Home Run record and was the offensive leader of the NWLS Championship winning team.
Ryan Maddox of the Madison Night Mares is the Northwoods League Softball Pitcher of the Year, posting a League-best 3.37 ERA and 10 wins. The University of Washington redshirt sophomore was second in strikeouts, striking out 82 batters over 78.1 innings pitched.
Brandi Alonzo of the La Crosse Steam and Kara Hammock of the Madison Night Mares have been named the Northwoods League Softball Co-Coaches of the Year. Hammock led the Madison Night Mares to a record-breaking and league best 36-6 record. Hammock recently completed a stint as a student assistant coach at the University of Florida. Alonzo led the Steam to a 20-22 record in her 3rd season with the Steam. Alonzo is the Head Softball Coach at Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI.
Blomberg and Maddox are among the 28 players selected to the NWL Softball Postseason All-Star team.
“The level of play in the Northwoods League improves each summer and this list is made up of incredibly talented players.” said Northwoods League Softball President/Commissioner Kathryn Reynolds. “Hilary (Blomberg) has left her mark in Northwoods League history and I am so grateful for her return for her 3rd season as an asset to the Night Mares and the Madison community. Ryan Maddox put together an extremely impressive resume from the circle over the course of the summer, including getting the NWLS Championship win. Coach Hammock continued the winning tradition in Madison with a League record 36 wins and Coach Alonzo led the Steam to a successful summer on and off the field in La Crosse. Thank you to our All Stars and coaches for another great summer in The ‘Woods!”.
Full 2026 NWLS Postseason Rosters can be found here: 2026 NWL Postseason Award Winners and Rosters
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Leveraging the 33-year success of the Northwoods League, the first for-profit Summer Collegiate Baseball League, Northwoods League Softball (NWLS) is the first for-profit Women’s Summer Collegiate Softball League which began play in the Upper Midwest in the summer of 2024. The purpose of the League will be to develop players for their college, Olympic and future professional play. Teams will be promoted similar to minor league baseball teams, playing games in front of fans in a fun, friendly, family-oriented environment.