After an already memorable 2014 season, the Lakeshore Chinooks were honored with two more awards presented by the Northwoods League.

For the first time in team history, the Chinooks were named the 2014 Northwoods League Organization of the Year. The award is presented to a Northwoods League franchise each season that truly excels on and off of the field. It was a busy, yet memorable year in 2014 for the Chinooks as they were crowned the 2014 Northwoods League Champions and hosted the annual All-Star Game and festivities.

“It has been our simple goal as an organization from our inception three years ago to have a positive impact on the community, the league, and with those whose lives we touch. To win the Organization of the Year Award in the Northwoods League is an incredible honor as there are so many well run affiliates within this league. It is the culmination of many people, the ownership group, our staff, the interns, the fans, and certainly the coaches and players working hard to fulfill our mission,” stated Chinooks Vice President/General Manager Dean Rennicke.

Rennicke was also presented with the league’s Executive of the Year Award. Rennicke was one of the key individuals responsible for bringing Chinooks baseball to Concordia University and the lakeshore area.

“I am humbled and blessed to have been given The Executive of the Year Award. This award however is more of a reflection on the many quality individuals that we have within the Chinooks franchise that work tirelessly to make the Lakeshore Chinooks the type of organization that we are. Certainly it is not so much one individual that wins this award but it is an award shared by all those within our organization who care about providing a first class experience for this area,” Dean added.

Dean also serves as the Vice President of Marketing for Kapco Metal Stamping in Grafton. Before joining Jim Kacmarcik’s family of companies, Dean worked for the Journal Broadcast Group and spent 15 years working in the Milwaukee Brewers front office. Dean was also a standout baseball player for Homestead High School in Mequon and for the Wisconsin Badgers. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers and spent seven years in their minor league system as a pitcher and coach.

The Organization and Executive of the Year Awards is voted on by each Northwoods League affiliate. The voting for this year’s awards took place last week at the league’s fall meetings.

The Lakeshore Chinooks 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 (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit lakeshorechinooks.com.