Rochester, MN – The Northwoods League released its complete schedule Thursday for the 2018 season. The schedule features 20 teams, each playing 72 regular season games, along with a continuation of scheduled doubleheaders.
“The release of the Northwoods League 2018 schedule of games not only provides the blueprint for more fun for more fans throughout our member communities in 2018, it also signals the 25th Anniversary Season of the Northwoods League,” said NWL President Gary Hoover. “The momentum of the Northwoods League strongly continues into its 25th year as is evident by the nationally-recognized renovations to Warner Park in Madison, Wisconsin, new upgrades to Franklin Rogers Field in Mankato, Minnesota, the smashing success of the Bismarck Larks, or the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders which were selected by Sports Illustrated as having the best attention-grabbing ballclub name. Throughout this celebratory 25th Anniversary Season, we look forward to continuing to bring the best possible experience to our players, personnel, and most of all our fans.”
The Northwoods League, the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 teams, will begin summer collegiate baseball’s most extensive schedule on Tuesday, May 29. The entire league will be in action including the defending Northwoods League Summer Collegiate World Series Champion St. Cloud Rox.
“Following the energy of this past season which saw many firsts for our organization and for the league as a whole, it is great to be able to share with our fans exactly when they will be able to join us again for the exciting things we are currently planning for next summer,” said Rox General Manager Mike Johnson.
The League, which plays two halves to determine playoff participants, will end the first half of play on July 3 with the second half beginning the following day. Beginning on August 13 the first and second half divisional champions will have home field advantage on the first day of the one-game elimination divisional playoffs. Their opponents will be determined by the two divisional teams remaining with the best overall records. The winners of those games will play against each other the following day in another one-game elimination division championship. With no off-day in between, the North and South Division Champions will then meet in a best-of-three series for the Summer Collegiate World Series from August 15-17.
The Major League Dreams Showcase will take place at Warner Park, in Madison, for its sixth year on August 7, 2018.
“We are thrilled to continue to host the Major League Dreams Showcase for the sixth consecutive year,” said Mallards General Manager Tyler Isham. “Bringing the top players in the Northwoods League to Madison and allowing them to compete in front of Major League Baseball scouts is always one of the highlights of the year at the Duck Pond. We look forward to partnering with the Northwoods League Foundation on this event again in 2018.”
More information on the Northwoods League’s 25th Anniversary Season and the location of the 2018 Northwoods League All-Star Game will be announced soon.
Full league schedules can be found by clicking view all dates at www.northwoodsleague.com/schedule/ or by going to www.northwoodsleague.com/2018-printable-schedule/ and downloading PDF versions of the North and South Division schedules.
The Rockford Rivets are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Entering its 25th anniversary season, 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, more than 185 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (LAD) and Lucas Duda (TBR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.rockfordrivets.com.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rivets as your favorite team.