Grafton, WI – Julio Cortez (South Florida) and Jackson Gray (Western Kentucky) have been added to the 2021 Chinooks roster. Both players will bring a great amount of experience and a strong bat to Lakeshore this summer.

Julio Cortez (C/Jr.) was born in Venezuela, went to high school near Weston, Florida, and is a third-year player at the University of South Florida. Cortez currently has a .273 batting average in 44 at bats and has added 6 RBI’s. During the shortened 2020 season, he appeared in 10 games and started 7 of them at catcher. As a Freshman in 2019, Cortez was a consistent hitter, ending the season with a .354 batting average and adding 16 RBI’s.

Jackson Gray (OF/So.) is an everyday outfielder for Western Kentucky who brings a powerful bat to the lineup. In 68 at bats this season, he has tallied 24 hits with 6 doubles and a .353 batting average. Prior to the 2021 season, Gray spent the 2020 season at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois where he played in 9 games and hit .577 with 15 hits, 11 runs, and 11 RBI’s. The 2019 season was spent at Washington University in St. Louis, appearing in 41 games, producing a .323 batting average, and adding 27 RBI’s.

The 2021 season is presented by Port Washington State Bank with the home opener set for June 3^rd at 6:35pm against the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders. Season and group tickets are currently on sale with single game tickets available for purchase at the end of April.

The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 27^th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 245 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 World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB All-Star Jordan Zimmermann (MIL). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.