Mequon, WI – The 2016 Northwoods League All-Star Game is just a week away, and the league has recently released the rosters for both the North and South Divisions this past Friday. Among the players who will be playing in the contest are three members of the Lakeshore Chinooks; Tim DalPorto, Marshall Kasowski and Keenan Bartlett.
Tim DalPorto, a native of La Grange, Illinois and a member of the Kent State Golden Flashes, has been a consistent threat in the Lakeshore lineup since his arrival on June 11. Entering play on Saturday, DalPorto has played in 25 of the Chinooks’ 28 games since joining the roster.
A rising star at Kent State, DalPorto has been tearing the cover off the ball this summer with the Chinooks. Trailing only James Bleming in batting average on the team (.287), DalPorto has posted an on-base percentage of .308 with a .406 slugging percentage. Also, DalPorto leads the team in doubles (9), is fourth on the team in hits (29), and is tied for first on the roster in RBI’s (16). DalPorto’s impact in the lineup has extended beyond his numbers this season. With two walk-off hits under his belt (both coming within a span of four games), DalPorto’s ability to produce in key situations has made him stand out as a formidable force in the Chinooks’ lineup.
Apart from his bat, DalPorto has also been getting the job done with his glove. His defensive versatility has been a great asset for Chinooks’ manager Eddy Morgan, with DalPorto making appearances behind the plate at catcher and recently transitioning to play third base for the Chinooks. Over his 22 games and 186 innings played in the field, DalPorto has yet to commit an error, throwing out 12 of 25 runners behind the plate and recording 28 assists and 112 put-outs so far this season.
Hailing from Conroe, Texas, Marshall Kasowski plays his college ball at the University of Houston. After recovering from a serious car accident which resulted in limited innings this spring for the Cougars, Kasowski came into the summer looking to regain the form that had him in the sights of professional scouts.
The big 6’3” right-hander has been a key starter on the mound for Lakeshore, consistently producing quality starts which have cemented his role within the Chinooks’ top-tier pitching staff. In 7 appearances and 4 starts spanning 33.1 innings this season, he has posted a 2-1 record with a 2.16 ERA. Kasowski has over-powered opposing hitters, striking out an impressive 48 batters, good for second in the NWL, while demonstrating his command by issuing just 13 walks and allowing only 19 hits.
Opposing teams are hitting just .160 against Kasowski, which is the lowest mark in the league. He has also had an impressive .96 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched); meaning that, on average, he is allowing less than one base runner per inning.
Another vital starter in the Lakeshore rotation, Keenan Bartlett has carried the success he found this past spring as a member of the Richmond Spiders over to Northwoods League play. Standing six feet tall and weighing 175 pounds, the Phoenix, Arizona local may look deceiving at first, but once the ball leaves his hand there is no denying his talent.
Consistently sitting around 91-92 mph with his fastball, Bartlett has found success in his ability to dominate hitters with both precision pitch location and masterful use of his secondary pitches. In 8 appearances and 5 starts spanning 37.2 innings this year, Bartlett has posted a 1-2 record with a 2.38 ERA. Like Kasowski, Bartlett has been a challenging pitcher for opposing hitters to square up, tallying a total of 39 strikeouts with 15 walks and 24 hits so far this season. Additionally, Bartlett’s flexibility to pitch out of the bullpen for the Chinooks has been an important asset for Eddy Morgan, coming in to pitch late in games to silence the bats of the opposition, picking up three saves in the process for Lakeshore this season.
Opposing teams are hitting just .179 against Bartlett, which is the fourth lowest BAA (batting average against) in the NWL. He has also had a 1.04 WHIP and has only thrown 2 wild pitches to date this season.
With two All Stars in 2015, the Chinooks’ three All-Stars in 2016 go to show the organization’s mission to continue to fill their roster with high quality talent. The Chinooks certainly have plenty of other players who are justifiably worthy of an All-Star bid as well on the 2016 roster. Yet, the team will be well-represented on the South Division squad by DalPorto, Kasowski and Bartlett, who have been among the league’s best players at their respective positions.
All-Star Week kicks off with the Home Run Derby on Monday, July 18th at 6:30 p.m. (CST) at the harbor in downtown Kenosha. Then, the All-Star Game will take place the following night on Tuesday, July 19th in Kenosha at historic Simmons Field starting at 7:05 p.m. (CST).
The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 23rd 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 150 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 (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (CHC). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit http://northwoodsleague.com/lakeshore-chinooks or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store and set the Chinooks as your favorite team.
