(Rochester, MN) – The Northwoods League Board of Directors unanimously approved on Monday the addition of Brainerd, MN and Eau Claire, WI for entry into the Northwoods League for the 2005 season.

The city of Brainerd had previously hosted a NWL franchise from 1998 to 2002 when it was known as the Mighty Gulls. With the addition of these two new teams for 2005, the Northwoods League grows to 12 teams covering Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Ontario, Canada.

"We are extremely pleased to have Brainerd, MN back in the Northwoods League,” said League President Dick Radatz, Jr. "And after several years of knocking on the door, we’re excited to welcome Eau Claire, WI and their rich baseball heritage. Both cities fit nicely into the Northwoods League footprint,” said Radatz.

The Northwoods League is an SCBA sanctioned summer baseball league comprised of teams of the top college players from the Midwest and across the nation. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. Each team is operated similar to a professional minor league team, providing players an opportunity to play under the same conditions using wooden bats, major league specification baseballs, experiencing overnight road trips, and playing nightly before fans in a stadium