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.

The Battle Creek Bombers are pleased to announce the hiring of Brandon Higelin as their Pitching Coach for the 2011 season. Higelin has spent time in numerous pitching positions throughout different levels of baseball.

The Waterloo Bucks, a member of the Northwoods League, have announced the rehiring of Travis Kiewiet to be the team's Bench Coach for the 2011 season. Kiewiet (KEY-wit) has held the same position for Waterloo since 2008. Kiewiet joins Manager Jason Nell as part of the coaching staff for the Bucks' 17th season of play in 2011.

The La Crosse Loggers Baseball Club announced the addition of a pair of highly touted freshman from the University of Oregon today with the signings of first baseman Tyler Kuresa and right-handed pitcher Brando Tessar.

The Waterloo Bucks, members of the Northwoods League, have announced the inductees for the Sixth Annual Bucks Baseball Hall of Fame Banquet. The former Bucks that will be enshrined will be Phillip Hawke, Tim Lavery, and Seth Von Behren.

(ROCHESTER, MN) The Northwoods League is excited to announce that the inaugural Northwoods League Foundation charity event is a Celebrity Poker Tournament set for Monday night, January 31, 2011 at Canterbury Park in Shakopee, MN. Former Mankato Masher and current New York Yankees centerfielder Curtis Granderson headlines a growing list of celebrities scheduled to participate.