2007 Northwoods League All-Star Game
(Mankato, MN) — The Mankato MoonDogs Baseball Club, a member of the Northwoods League, is proud to announce they will be the host of the 2007 Northwoods League All-Star Game.
The MoonDogs were unanimously chosen to host the 2007 All-Star festivities by the NWL Board of Directors at their most recent meeting in October. When the 2007 season commences, it will be the first time in what will be the ninth year of a Mankato franchise in the NWL that the city has been selected to host the All-Star festivities.
"We’re ecstatic about the opportunity to bring the best of the best in the Northwoods League to Mankato. Fans will have a great chance to not only interact with their favorite MoonDogs, but all of the other great players from around the league as well,” MoonDogs general manager Kyle Mrozek said.
The Mankato club, who became the MoonDogs in 2002 after taking over for the Mashers, have seen a increase in attendance every year since their inception. The 2005 season mark of 34,162 fans, an average of 1,035 per game, was the single highest in franchise history. With more park improvements slated for Franklin Rogers over the next couple of years, the MoonDogs hope this trend will continue.
"Hosting the All-Star Game is a feather in the cap for the entire organization and our fan base. Not only can we show off the wonderful improvements to Franklin Rogers Park, but we can showcase the city of Mankato as a wonderful place to live, work and visit.” MoonDogs owner and president Joe Schwei said. "We wouldn’t be able to host an event of this magnitude if it wasn’t for our great relationship with the city administration of Mankato and the MoonDogs fans of south central Minnesota.”
Last year’s All-Star game, which was hosted in Alexandria, MN, saw the North Division All-Stars defeat the South by a score of 5-2, as Neil Wagner picked up the save. Wagner was just one of the six MoonDogs placed on the 25-man squad last year, which included three pitchers (Bobby Lewton, Tyson Brummett, Neil Wagner) and three everyday players (Shane Buschini, Aaron Grant, Reid Fronk). With six players being selected to the team, the MoonDogs tied with the Rochester Honkers for having the most representatives.
This year the La Crosse Loggers will play host to the two-day event at Copeland Park. Plans which include guest speakers, a home run derby, the All-Star game and more are underway for this year’s event starting on July 12, 2006.
The MoonDogs are anxiously awaiting the start of the 2006 season which you can become a part of today. Season tickets are on sale now as well as a variety of great merchandise for the upcoming holiday season. Check out www.mankatomoondogs.com or call the MoonDogs ticket office at 507-625-7047 for more information.
