The Collegiate Baseball Newspaper has announced their Pre-season All-American Teams for the 2011 season. The Central Region Pre-season All-American team consists of players from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC). The 15 player list consisted of 10 current or former Northwoods League Players.

The Northwoods League Foundation hosted a Celebrity Poker Tournament at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN on Monday night.

Baseball America, a leader in baseball analysis and statistics, recently named Jordan Smith of St. Cloud State as the Baseball America 2011 NCAA Division-II pre-season Player of the Year. The Willmar native and former Willmar Stinger had an outstanding 2010 at both the NCAA and Northwoods League levels.

The Brainerd Lakes Area Lunkers of the Northwoods League announced today that Kyle Teague of Valdosta State, Charlie Henderson of Regis University and Matt Florer of Loyola-Marymount have signed contracts to play for the Lunkers this summer according to general manager Dustin Anaas. All three played for the Lunkers during the 2010 season.

The Northwoods League Foundation has announced the priceless celebrity experiences that will be won at the Northwoods League Foundation Celebrity Poker Tournament on Monday night, January 31 at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN. One great experience has been added to the first place prize in the poker tournament while the others will be up for bid on the silent auction.

It may be January in Wisconsin, but baseball will most certainly be on the forefront of fans’ minds this Thursday, January 27 when the La Crosse Loggers 9th Annual Winter Baseball BBQ makes its way to the La Crosse Center South Hall (La Crosse, Wisc.).

The Willmar Stingers announced today that pitching coach Tyler Shepple will return for another season with the club. The Stingers also have signed four more players bringing the total to 11 players committed for the 2011 roster.

The Northwoods League Foundation has announced the prize pool for the Northwoods League Foundation Celebrity Poker Tournament on Monday night, January 31 at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN. A total of $5,000 cash and some exciting sports prizes will be awarded to the top five finishers in the poker tournament.

The Waterloo Bucks have announced the hiring of Rudy Darrow as their Pitching Coach for the 2011 season. Currently, Darrow is a Volunteer Assistant Coach at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

Radio host and poker entrepreneur Phil Mackey, hockey and horse racing analyst Kevin Gorg, and public address announcer Dick Jonckowski have all agreed to be part of the Foundation’s first event.