LOVES PARK, Ill. – Jack Wassel got a little taste of Northwoods League baseball last year before he headed to the University of Minnesota. This summer, he’ll get a full helping.
The Rockford Rivets announced Tuesday that the freshman infielder will return to the team this season. Wassel hit .244 with a home run and six RBI for the Rivets last year after he finished a two-time All-Upstate Eight Conference career at Geneva High School.
"We had the opportunity to bring Jack in last summer, for the final 12 games, as a high school senior,” Rivets manager Brian Smith said. “We were impressed by his ability to make in-game adjustments just by talking to the coaching staff and his teammates. He held his own pretty well without having any college experience. We are excited to have Jack back after a full year of Big Ten baseball under his belt. Minnesota is one of the most respected baseball schools in the country and we are glad to add a Gopher to our roster."
Last spring, the Golden Gophers won the Big Ten Conference for the second time in seven years and made their fourth NCAA regional appearance of the last decade.
The Rivets’ season begins May 30 at Kalamazoo. The home opener is at 6:35 p.m. June 2 against the Wisconsin Woodchucks. The Rivets are offering a $50 four-game pack that includes a replica Rivets jersey, tickets to four select games and all-you-can-eat food (burgers, brats, hot dogs, grilled chicken, popcorn and fountain soda) for the following dates: Friday, June 2; Saturday, June 24; Friday, July 14; Friday, July 28. The four-pack can be purchased only by calling the Rivets at 815.240.4159 or in person at the Rivets Stadium box office. There are a limited number of jerseys available, so don’t wait to order this four-pack.
The Rockford Rivets are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League, which will play its 24th season of summer collegiate baseball in 2017. The Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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, 160 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals), two-time World Champion Ben Zobrist (Chicago Cubs) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (Chicago White Sox), Jordan Zimmermann (Detroit Tigers), Curtis Granderson (New York Mets) and Lucas Duda (Mets). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website, NorthwoodsLeague.com.
