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It may be a new decade, but we\u2019re not ready to let go of the old one just yet.\u00a0 The MoonDogs have had some amazing players come to Mankato over the last ten years, so we just had to make an All-Decade team.\u00a0 It\u2019s impossible to compile a perfect list (there were so many players!), but here it is!<\/p>\n
Position Players<\/strong><\/p>\n C:\u00a0 <\/strong>Robbie Robinson (2010), Valparaiso<\/em>:\u00a0 As a catcher, Robinson finished in the top three in both hits and at-bats for the MoonDogs, earning himself a spot in the Northwoods League All-Star Game, where he produced a hit in his only at-bat.\u00a0 Robinson\u2019s .293 average was the highest of all MoonDogs players who appeared in more than half of the team\u2019s games.<\/p>\n —Runner-Up:\u00a0 Craig Lepre (2014), Albany<\/em>:\u00a0 Lepre finished with a .309 average for the MoonDogs, appearing in 40 games.\u00a0 In the game that sent the MoonDogs to the NWL Championship, Lepre contributed three hits and two RBIs.<\/p>\n 1B<\/strong>:\u00a0 Kyle MacDonald (2018), Arkansas St<\/em>.:\u00a0 The fearsome slugger made his presence known during the 2018 season, leading the Northwoods League in both home runs (16) and RBIs (75), the latter of which is the second-highest total in Northwoods League history.\u00a0 The NWL all-star now holds the MoonDogs single-season record for RBIs, at-bats (281), and tied Tyler Sullivan for games played (69).<\/p>\n —Runner-Up:\u00a0 John Michael Twichell (2012-13), UT Arlington<\/em>: The first two-year player on this list, Twichell holds the MoonDogs career home run record with 25.\u00a0 Over his two summers in Mankato, he hit .322, drove in 86 runs, and even stole 10 bases.\u00a0 He was an all-star selection in 2012.<\/p>\n 2B<\/strong>:\u00a0 David Metzgar (2015-16), Cal St. Bakersfield<\/em>:\u00a0 Another two-year player, Metzgar holds the MoonDogs record for career batting average (using MLB\u2019s eligibility requirements), hitting .326 during his time in Mankato.\u00a0 In 2016, his .356 average led all MoonDogs, and his runs, hits, and RBI totals were all second to Jake Shepski (who you just might see on this list).<\/p>\n —Runner-Up:\u00a0 Nick Ratajczak (2012), Louisville<\/em>:\u00a0 Ratajczak led all 2012 MoonDogs in runs scored (38).\u00a0 He finished the season with a .329 average, second-highest of all players who appeared in over half the team\u2019s games, and was also second on the team in hits (Twichell led both categories).<\/p>\n 3B<\/strong>:\u00a0 Tanner Rockwell (2014), Arkansas Little Rock<\/em>:\u00a0 On a pretty stacked 2014 team, Rockwell led the MoonDogs in home runs (8) and doubles (16).\u00a0 He also appeared as a pitcher in six games, throwing ten innings during the regular season and only allowing one earned run, for an ERA of 0.90.<\/p>\n Runner-Up:\u00a0 Chase Simpson (2012), Oklahoma<\/em>:\u00a0 Simpson played 44 games for the MoonDogs in 2012, finishing with a .307 average, the third-highest of eligible players.\u00a0 He also led the team in doubles (14).<\/p>\n SS<\/strong>:\u00a0 Peter Maris (2014), UC Santa Barbara<\/em>:\u00a0 Although he didn\u2019t arrive in Mankato until mid-June, Maris started off on a tear, posting an absurd 14 hits in his first five games.\u00a0 He finished the season with a .337 average and 21 games with multiple hits, and was awarded a spot in the NWL All-Star Game.\u00a0 In five playoff games, Maris accumulated seven hits and six runs.\u00a0 His regular season average and 45 RBIs were both second-highest on the team that summer.<\/p>\n —Runner-Up:\u00a0 Nick Novak (2018-19), Angelo St<\/em>.:\u00a0 The defensive wizard made the MoonDogs\u2019 highlight reel plenty of times over the last two summers, and he wasn\u2019t a slouch at the plate either.\u00a0 He averaged .306 over his career, and led the 2019 team in both hits (61) and stolen bases (20).<\/p>\n OF<\/strong>:\u00a0 Shaun Cooper (2011), Utah<\/em>:\u00a0 Cooper had arguably the best Northwoods League season ever.\u00a0 His 20 home runs were a Northwoods League record.\u00a0 His 55 runs and 61 RBIs also led the league.\u00a0 He finished the season leading the MoonDogs in virtually every category:\u00a0 Batting average (.335), runs (55), hits (81), doubles (14), triples (4), home runs (20), RBIs (61), games played (63), at-bats (242).\u00a0 He even stole 15 bases!\u00a0 He was, of course, an All-Star, as well as the 2011 Northwoods League MVP.<\/p>\n Tyler Sullivan (2014), Pacific<\/em>:\u00a0 Sullivan was also at the top of the leaderboard for multiple categories.\u00a0 He led the entire Northwoods League in hits (92), runs (65), and stolen bases (36), while playing in 69 games.\u00a0 These are ALL MoonDogs single-season records.\u00a0 He also led the team with a .352 average.\u00a0 He was awarded with an All-Star Game selection, where (surprise!) he had three hits and stole a base.<\/p>\n Jake Shepski (2016-18), Notre Dame\/Xavier<\/em>:\u00a0 \u00a0Shepski is another player who has rewritten the MoonDogs record book.\u00a0 Playing in Mankato for three summers, he holds nearly all MoonDogs career batting records.\u00a0 They are:\u00a0 Hits (183), runs (123), RBIs (110), doubles (34), triples (7), walks (115), at-bats (624), and games played (174).\u00a0 He was a two-time NWL All-Star (2016, 2018), and was the 2016 Northwoods League MVP, finishing with a .333 average, 11 homers, and 55 RBIs.<\/p>\n —Runners-Up:\u00a0 Cody Ferrell (2011-12), Oklahoma City<\/em>:\u00a0 Ferrell played two seasons in Mankato, leading the team in stolen bases both years.\u00a0 His total of 50 stolen bases is the MoonDogs career record.<\/p>\n Tim Arakawa (2013), Oklahoma St<\/em>.:\u00a0 Arakawa had a stellar 2013 season, leading the MoonDogs in average (.346), runs (56), hits (88), doubles (16), walks (45), stolen bases (30), at-bats (254), and games played (65).\u00a0 He was an easy choice as a 2013 NWL All-Star.<\/p>\n Daniel Amaral (2017), UCLA<\/em>:\u00a0 \u00a0Although he was only in Mankato for half a season, Amaral had quite the impact.\u00a0 He finished his year with a .347 average and led the team in stolen bases (23).\u00a0 While his seven triples are the MoonDogs\u2019 single-season record, he is also tied for the most triples in a MoonDogs CAREER.<\/p>\n DH<\/strong>:\u00a0 Toby Hanson (2017), Minnesota<\/em>:\u00a0 It\u2019s an absolute travesty that Hanson\u2019s season was cut short by injury, because here are some of his accomplishments:\u00a0 He had at least one hit in 27 of his 29 games.\u00a0 He had at least two hits in 19 games.\u00a0 He had three hits in seven games.\u00a0 He had a seven-game streak with multiple hits (including four in a row with THREE hits).\u00a0 He was hitting .442 at the time of his injury, heading home after playing in the 2017 NWL All-Star Game (where he got another hit).\u00a0 He also has an active 21-game hitting streak.<\/p>\n —Runner-Up:\u00a0 Jonathan Rodriguez (2013), Oklahoma City<\/em>:\u00a0 Rodriguez\u2019s season in Mankato was a good one.\u00a0 He finished second on the team in average (.330) and hits (73), and was third in home runs (6), RBIs (40), games played (59), and at-bats (221).\u00a0 He was a 2013 NWL All-Star.<\/p>\n Pitchers<\/strong><\/p>\n SP:\u00a0 <\/strong>Blake Schwartz (2010-11), MSU-Mankato<\/em>:\u00a0 Schwartz, who played his college ball in Mankato, was another two-year MoonDog. \u00a0In both years, he was the team leader in wins, innings pitched, and starts.\u00a0 While he was a solid pitcher for both summers, he was truly unstoppable in his second year.\u00a0 Schwartz was a NWL All-Star, going 6-1 with a 1.71 ERA, striking out 75 while only walking 15.\u00a0 The highlight of his year was a complete-game shutout of the Thunder Bay Border Cats, striking out 14 while allowing just two hits.\u00a0 At the end of the season, Schwartz was named the Northwoods League Pitcher of the Year.<\/p>\n Brett Newberg (2016-19), Austin Peay<\/em>:\u00a0 The first four-year player in MoonDogs history, Newberg was the model of consistency in a league that sees hundreds and hundreds of players every year.\u00a0 For four years, he ate up innings and racked up wins, posting a 2.94 career ERA.\u00a0 He was a two-time team leader in both innings pitched and strikeouts, and now holds the MoonDogs record for total wins (20) and games started (29).\u00a0 His 20 wins are tied for the Northwoods League career record.<\/p>\n Adam Lukas, (2018), Evansville<\/em>:\u00a0 A true fireballer, Lukas was frustrating for Northwoods League hitters.\u00a0 His 6-0 record was aided by his heater, which reached 99 mph at times, and the fact that he never allowed more than five hits in any start.\u00a0 With a 1.10 WHIP, Lukas simply kept hitters off the basepaths.\u00a0 He was a 2018 NWL All-Star.<\/p>\n RP<\/strong>:\u00a0 Patrick Goelz (2011-12), Oklahoma City<\/em>:\u00a0 Goelz is what you think of when you think of the classic, everyday closer, earning a MoonDogs-record 23 saves over two summers.\u00a0 His 2011 season featured nine of those saves, with the addition of a 1.83 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 39.1 innings.\u00a0 Goelz struck out 34 more hitters in 2012, over 32.2 innings, adding 14 saves, including a streak of ten saves in ten consecutive appearances.\u00a0 For his efforts, Goelz was named as a 2012 NWL All-Star.<\/p>\n Tyler Mark (2014), Cal St. Dominguez<\/em>:\u00a0 Mark\u2019s 2014 season was perhaps the most dominant season a relief pitcher can have.\u00a0 To start, he led the team with 45 strikeouts, despite being a closer and only throwing 27.2 innings.\u00a0 Secondly, he only allowed two earned runs all year.\u00a0 If you do the math, that\u2019s a 0.65 ERA (as well as a 0.88 WHIP).\u00a0 Hitters simply could not touch Mark.\u00a0 He accumulated nine saves on his way to earning a spot on the NWL All-Star team.<\/p>\n —Runners-up (all pitchers):\u00a0 Jess Amedee (2013), UT-Arlington:\u00a0 Another solid MoonDogs closer, Amedee was a saves machine as well, with 13.\u00a0 He struck out 48 batters in just 27.2 innings (good for second-highest on the team, as a closer), and finished the season with a 1.95 ERA and 1.41 WHIP.\u00a0 He was a 2013 NWL All-Star.<\/p>\n Andy Fisher (2017), Illinois<\/em>:\u00a0 Fisher quietly had a very solid season for the 2017 MoonDogs, with a 6-1 record over eight starts, leading the team in wins.\u00a0 His 51 strikeouts were second only to Brett Newberg\u2019s 54, and his 1.92 ERA was the best of all MoonDogs starting pitchers.<\/p>\n Zach Hardy (2018), New Mexico St<\/em>.:\u00a0 Hardy was another MoonDogs closer who simply did not let the other team score.\u00a0 He allowed just three earned runs all year, over 23.2 innings for a 1.14 ERA, with 10 saves and 23 strikeouts along the way.\u00a0 On an impressive side note, Hardy made a few appearances at the plate for the MoonDogs, going 5-5 with a triple, home run, four RBIs, and four runs scored.\u00a0 His 1.000 batting average in five at-bats (six plate appearances with his sac fly!) is almost certainly some kind of record (needs verification, but come on).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" It may be a new decade, but we\u2019re not ready to let go of the old one just yet.\u00a0 The 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