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Published On: May 24th, 2014

(Waterloo, Iowa,-Rochester, Minn) – The Rochester Honkers and the Waterloo Bucks announced today that SCHEELS has become the Title Sponsor for the Highway 63 Cup.  Beginning in 2014, the winner of the regular season series between Rochester and Waterloo will win the SCHEELS Highway 63 Cup Series and be awarded the Highway 63 Cup, a traveling trophy.  The Bucks and Honkers play each other eight times in 2014, beginning with the Northwoods League’s Opening Day on May 27 in Rochester.

 

Fans of both teams will have the opportunity to purchase limited edition Highway 63 Cup t-shirts at the Mayo Field souvenir stand, Rochester Honkers office and the Riverfront Stadium souvenir shop.  Fans who purchase these limited edition Highway 63 Cup t-shirts will receive free admission by wearing the shirt into all SCHEELS Highway 63 Cup series games in 2014.  Post season games are not included, should the two teams meet in the North Division Playoffs.

 

The Bucks and Honkers are longtime Northwoods League rivals.  Playing each other for the first time in 1995, the Waterloo/Rochester rivalry is one of the oldest, most famous, and fiercest rivalries in all of summer collegiate baseball.  With the teams’ geographic proximity of only 114 miles, Bucks/Honkers games see numerous visiting fans in either Waterloo’s renovated Riverfront Stadium or Rochester’s Mayo Field.  The Bucks currently hold a close 90-71 record in the heated rivalry.  The teams have a combined seven NWL Championships (Rochester five, Waterloo two) and have played each other in the playoffs in six different years.

The title sponsorship with SCHEELS grants the Fargo, North Dakota-based sporting goods store naming rights over the next three years for all Rochester/Waterloo regular season matchups.  SCHEELS will also receive marketing and media assets from both teams, along with the creation of a co-branded logo and various promotional opportunities with the Bucks and Honkers.  SCHEELS has a store located in Cedar Falls, Iowa and will soon open a store in Rochester, Minn.

"We are proud to have SCHEELS sponsoring this series and are excited about the opportunity to showcase the Bucks/Honkers rivalry,” said Bucks General Manager Dan Corbin.  “We are equally as excited to continue working with SCHEELS as a longtime Bucks partner and look forward to continuing this heated rivalry with our neighbors from up North, the Rochester Honkers.”

“This is a great partnership between all three parties,” said Honkers General Manager Dan Litzinger.  “The history between the two clubs since 1995, along with partnering with SCHEELS, will only enhance the fans experience for this rivalry.  Thank you SCHEELS for stepping up to the plate for the next three years!”

Below are the dates, times, and locations of all 2014 Highway 63 Cup Series games:

 

  • Tuesday, May 27 – 7:05 pm – Waterloo at Rochester – Honkers Home Opener
  • Wednesday, May 28 – 6:35 pm – Rochester at Waterloo – Bucks Home Opener
  • Monday, June 30 – 1:05 pm – Waterloo at Rochester
  • Monday, June 30 – 6:35 pm – Rochester at Waterloo
  • Friday, July 4 – 7:05 pm – Rochester at Waterloo
  • Saturday, July 5 – 7:05 pm – Waterloo at Rochester
  • Wednesday, July 30 – 12:05 pm – Rochester at Waterloo
  • Wednesday, July 30 – 7:05 pm – Waterloo at Rochester

SCHEELS first All Sports Superstore opened in Grand Forks, ND in 1989.  Today, SCHEELS is a 24-store operation with stores in 10 states including North Dakota, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Nevada, and Utah.  Providing SCHEELS’ customers with first-class customer service and the world's largest selection of sports, sportswear and footwear are the priorities throughout the organization.

The Bucks will open the 2014 season on the road versus the Rochester Honkers on May 27, but return to Waterloo for their home opener against the Honkers on Wednesday, May 28.  For more information, call the Bucks’ Ticket Line at (319) 232-5633 or the Rochester Honkers at (507) 289-1170.  In Waterloo, all 72 games may be heard on 1330 AM ESPN (KWLO) and in Rochester on Sports Radio, AM 1520 The Ticket. You can also get all the updated information or purchase tickets by visiting each team’s web site at, www.waterloobucks.com or www.rochesterhonkers.com.

 

 

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The Waterloo Bucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21stseason 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 www.waterloobucks.com.