Welcome to the family: our first Northwoods League Annual Meeting
The Dune Coast QuillBacks recently checked off one of our biggest firsts yet. Owners Tom Rowland and Brian Williams joined GM Blagica Bottigliero in Grand Forks, North Dakota for the Northwoods League Annual Meeting, our first as a member club.
A warm welcome
From the moment we arrived, we felt at home. The welcome was genuine and warm, and it was great to see and be with everyone: owners, general managers and league staff who have built something truly special. We were proud to be introduced alongside the Dyersville Dreamers as the League’s newest teams. Two new clubs, two new communities and one shared goal of delivering summer baseball that families never forget.
A deeper appreciation for the League
One of the highlights of the trip was learning more about where it all started. Hearing the League’s story, going back to its first days in Rochester, gave us an even deeper appreciation for the vision, persistence and community spirit behind the Northwoods League. Getting to meet founder Dick Radatz Jr. in person made it even more meaningful. That history is now part of our story too, and we are honored to help carry it forward.
Thank you
A sincere thank you to the League office and to every club that shared their time and know-how. The meetings were information rich from start to finish, and we came home with notebooks full of ideas, best practices and new friends we can call on as we build toward Opening Day.
Full speed ahead
Now the real work continues, and we are moving full speed ahead on three fronts:
- Host families. We are bringing host families on board to welcome our players into their homes for the summer. If you have a spare room and a love of baseball, we would love to hear from you.
- Group outings. From youth teams and scout troops to family reunions and neighborhood nights out, we are lining up group outings that make a night at the ballpark easy and memorable.
- Corporate partnerships. Corporate interest keeps growing, and we are talking with businesses across the region about partnerships, team outings and hospitality.
Ready to open your home to a QuillBacks player? Learn more and sign up to be a host family.
See you at the ballpark in 2027. Quills up!
About Dune Coast Baseball
Dune Coast Baseball is the home of the QuillBacks, a Northwoods League franchise based in New Buffalo, Michigan. The team represents the Dune Coast region that extends from St. Joseph, Michigan to Valparaiso, Indiana. First pitch begins in the summer of 2027. Learn more at northwoodsleague.com/dune-coast-quillbacks or reach the front office at playball@dunecoastbaseball.com.
About the Northwoods League
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its 33rd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 26 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, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 435 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion and Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (BAL) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (NYM). League games are viewable live on FloSports.tv.
