McGhee, Kingfish Honored by Northwoods League

Jake McGhee Named NWL Executive of the Year, Kenosha Kingfish Voted Top Organization of 2015

Rochester, Minn. – The Northwoods League has announced that Jake McGhee, GM of the Kenosha Kingfish, has been named the 2015 Northwoods League Executive of the Year. The award, which was decided by a vote of team officials at the League's annual fall meetings last week in Madison, WI, is given annually to the League's outstanding executive. In another vote, the Kenosha Kingfish were awarded the Organization of the Year award.

McGhee recently completed his second year with the Kingfish culminating in a Summer Collegiate World Series Championship. In addition to helping manage the roster, Jake oversees all ticket sales and advertising sales for the team. Prior to coming to Kenosha in 2013, McGhee spent three years with the Madison Mallards of the Northwoods League advancing through the organization. McGhee is a 2010 graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he earned his bachelor degree in Finance and Spanish. He is originally from Hartland, WI.

"I've been blessed to work for such a great organization like Big Top Baseball, and I have a tremendous, hard-working staff that puts me in a position to succeed every day,” said McGhee. “Starting the franchise in Kenosha has been the time of my life, and I could not be more excited about where we are at today."

The Kenosha Kingfish were honored with the Organization of the Year award after another successful summer at Simmons Field. The Kingfish continued to have success at the gates with 82,019 fans through the ballpark resulting in a 2,485 per-game average, and sold out 30 of 33 games. On the field the Kingfish were the first and second half champion in the South Division and went on to win the Northwoods League Summer Collegiate World Series for the first time.

“We would like to thank the Northwoods League for this award and the City of Kenosha for allowing us to provide an enjoyable, family friendly atmosphere at Historic Simmons Field,” the Kingfish ownership group of Steve Schmitt, Vern Stenman and Conor Caloia said in a joint statement. “We are very fortunate to be able to work with such a great group of full-time staff, seasonal employees, coaches, players and host families. Their hard work and dedication is being recognized by this award. Furthermore, this honor acknowledges the amazing support we have received from the greater Kenosha community. This is truly a community award and we are happy to be bringing it to Kenosha.”

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The Kenosha Kingfish are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods 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 115 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 YouTube channel.