Waterloo, Iowa – The Northwoods League has announced that Waterloo Bucks second baseman Pat MacKenzie is the winner of a 2014 Rawlings “Finest in the Field” Award, garnering the award in back-to-back seasons. MacKenzie, who is now a senior at Central Michigan University, finished the season with the NWL’s best fielding percentage for a second baseman. The Royal Oak, Michigan native finished with a .992 field percentage in 257 total chances on the year. With only two errors this season, MacKenzie improved his fielding percentage from .976 in 2013.
The annual award recognizes the top fielders at each position. The winners are selected based on final fielding statistics compiled by league statistician Pointstreak. The 2014 Rawlings ‘Finest in the Field’ Award recipients and their field percentages are below.
|
Position |
Player |
NWL Team |
College |
Fielding Percentage |
|
C |
Ryan Lidge |
Kalamazoo |
Notre Dame |
.985 |
|
1B |
Brendon Hayden |
Wisconsin |
Virginia Tech |
.990 |
|
2B |
Pat MacKenzie |
Waterloo |
C. Michigan |
.992 |
|
3B |
Brant Valach |
Lakeshore |
E. Illinois |
.943 |
|
SS |
Zack Domingues |
Wisconsin Rapids |
Long Beach St. |
.958 |
|
OF |
Jordan Smith |
Rochester |
Minnesota |
1.000 |
|
OF |
Brett Siddall |
Lakeshore |
Canisius |
1.000 |
|
OF |
Cory Kay |
Thunder Bay |
Missouri St. |
.993 |
|
P |
J.D. Nielsen |
Kenosha |
Illinois |
1.000 |
Rawlings has been rewarding the top defenders in the Northwoods League since 2002. The recipients receive a special Rawlings baseball glove mounted on an engraved trophy base. Rawlings is the official equipment provider for the Northwoods League. To qualify for an award a player needs to appear in at least two-thirds of the scheduled games at a specific position, with the exception of catcher which is half. For pitchers, the player that had the highest total defensive chances without committing an error earns the number one spot.
The Bucks 2014 season is complete, with the team finishing the year with the third-best record in the Northwoods League. The Bucks will be back in action in late-spring of 2015. The 2015 NWL schedule is expected to be released this fall. Fans are encouraged to stay in touch with the Bucks in the off-season by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.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 21st season 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.