Four teams selected of the top prospects in the Northwoods League
Rochester, Minn. — The Northwoods League has announced the rosters for the 2015 Major League Dreams Showcase, which will be hosted by the Madison Mallards at Warner Park on Tuesday, August 4.
The annual Showcase will consist of a double-header featuring the top players from the Northwoods League who were selected by a panel of Major League Baseball Scouts. The players will participate in a day of workouts in front of scouts which will be followed by the double-header.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Northwoods League Foundation. The Northwoods League Foundation utilizes the game of baseball to enrich the quality of life for children and families with an enduring and caring focus on Northwoods League communities.
The first game will start at 4:05 p.m. and will match two teams featuring a mix of North and South Division players. The players on the visiting team in this game will come from St. Cloud, Kalamazoo, Thunder Bay, Willmar and Duluth. The home team will be made up of players from La Crosse, Waterloo, Mankato, Eau Claire and Rochester.
The visiting team in this first game will be led by 2015 Northwoods League All-Stars Greg Weissert (Fordham) and Dan Motl (Minnesota) from the Thunder Bay Border Cats and the Willmar Stingers. Along with Motl, four other members of the first-half North Division Champion Willmar Stingers will be represented in this early game. Current All-Time NWL saves leader Brady Anderson (FGCU) of the Stingers will pitch for the visiting team.
The home team in game one will feature 2015 All-Stars Daulton Varsho (UW-Milwaukee) from Eau Claire, Paul Panaccione (Grand Canyon) from Mankato and current La Crosse All-time single-season hit leader Mason McCoy (Illinois Central). The 2015 All-Star Home Run Challenge winner Joe DeRoche-Duffin (Connecticut) from the Rochester Honkers will anchor the home team offense.
The second game will start at 7:35 p.m. and will be played by two additional teams of North and South players. The visiting team for this game will be made up of players from Alexandria, Battle Creek, Wisconsin Rapids and Green Bay. The home team will have players from Madison, Lakeshore, Kenosha and Wisconsin.
In the night cap the visiting team will include 2015 Northwoods League All-Stars Ryan Donovan (Hofstra) and Garrett Harrison (St. Cloud State) of the Green Bay Bullfrogs. Six members of the Alexandria Blue Anchors will also suit up for this game. They will be led by 2015 All-Star Ricky Sanchez (Notre Dame).
Seven members of the hometown Madison Mallards will compete for the home team in the second game. This impressive group of players will include 2015 Northwoods League All-Stars Jean Ramirez (Illinois State), Anthony Gonsolin (St. Mary’s), Mike Kaelin (Buffalo) and Vince Arobio (Pacific). The defending Northwoods League Champion Lakeshore Chinooks will also have eight players on this team. The contingent from the Chinooks is led by pitcher Lake Bachar (UW-Whitewater).
Tickets for the event can still be purchased and are available at mallardsbaseball.com.
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The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 21
year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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 120 Northwoods League players
have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and
MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda
(NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website.