Waterloo closed out the 2016 season .500 for the first time since 2014

By: Jared Shlensky

WATERLOO, Iowa – Despite missing out on the postseason for the third consecutive season, Waterloo finished the 2016 season .500 (36-36) for the first time since 2014 under first-year manager Scott Douglas. The Bucks set two Northwoods League records, established a franchise record, tied two previous franchise records and finished first in the NWL in multiple categories (both individual and team). Listed below are some fun facts and statistics from this season. To purchase season tickets for the 2017 season, call the Bucks Ticket Line at (319) 232-5633 or visit the Bucks online at waterloobucks.com. 

Bucks Bullet Points

Final Record: 36-36

First Half Record: 22-13 (Fourth in the North Division)

Second Half Record: 14-23 (Seventh in the North Division)

Most Consecutive Wins: Seven

Most Consecutive Losses: Seven

Attendance Numbers

Final Attendance Total: 42,806 (6% increase from 2015)

Per Game Attendance Total: 1,223 (9% increase from 2015)

Largest Home Crowd: 2,724 (7/4 vs. Rochester, 21% increase from 2015’s largest home crowd)

Northwoods League Postseason All-Stars

Derek Hendrixson, Relief Pitcher

Northwoods League All-Stars

Jared Crescentini, Starting Pitcher

Brandon Downey, Relief Pitcher

Derek Hendrixson, Relief Pitcher

Adam McGinnis, Catcher

Northwoods League Major League Dreams Showcase Participants

Robert Neustrom, Outfielder

Trevor Patterson, Relief Pitcher

Northwoods League Player/Pitcher of the Night Selections

June 24: Adam McGinnis was named the Northwoods League Player of the Night after going 3-for-5 with two home runs, six RBI and a double in the Bucks’ 9-5 win over Willmar. McGinnis’ two-out, two-run homer tied the game at 5-5 in the eighth before his grand slam in the 10th put the Bucks up for good.

June 27: Adam McGinnis was named the Northwoods League Player of the Night for the second time in three days after going 3-for-5 with his team-leading sixth home run, five RBI and two runs in the Bucks’ 8-6 win over the La Crosse Loggers.

July 7: Taylor Boyd was named the Northwoods League Player of the Night after going 2-for-3 with three RBI, three runs, two walks and a double in the Bucks’ 9-7 win over the Duluth Huskies.

August 10: Robert Neustrom was named the Northwoods League Player of the Night after going 4-for-5 with three RBI, two runs, a double and a sacrifice fly in the Bucks’ 17-10 win over the Thunder Bay Border Cats.

Bucks Team Leaders

      Batting

Batting Average: .316 (Lane Milligan)

On-Base Percentage: .435 (Travon Benton)

Slugging Percentage: .525 (Adam McGinnis)

OPS (On-Base + Slugging) Percentage: .901 (Adam McGinnis)

At-Bats: 248 (Tyler Curtis)

Games: 68 (Adam McGinnis)

Games Started: 66 (Adam MCGinnis)

Hits: 70 (Adam McGinnis and Robert Neustrom)

Hitting Streak: 13 (Robert Neustrom)

On-Base Streak: 18 (Robert Neustrom)

Doubles: 19 (Adam McGinnis)

Triples: 4 (Lane Milligan)

Home Runs: 12 (Adam McGinnis)

XBH: 31 (Adam McGinnis)

Runs: 42 (Adam McGinnis)

RBI: 62 (Adam McGinnis)

Walks: 29 (Tyler Curtis and Zach Weatherford)

Stolen Bases: 21 (Zach Weatherford)

HBP: 9 (Adam McGinnis)

Multi-Hit Games: 19 (Tyler Curtis, Lane Milligan and Adam McGinnis)

              Pitching

Wins: 7 (Brett Solano)

ERA: 0.93 (Brandon Downey)

Starts: 14 (Brett Solano)

Quality Starts: 7 (Brett Solano Solano)

Complete Games: 1 (Jordan Accetta, Kyle Leahy and Brett Solano)

Games: 31 (Hunter Spencer)

Innings Pitched: 78.2 (Brett Solano)

Strikeouts: 70 (Derek Hendrixson)

WHIP: 0.77 (Derek Hendrixson)

Holds: 8 (Hunter Spencer)

Saves: 10 (Brandon Downey)

Opponents Batting Average: .148 (Trevor Patterson)

Northwoods League All-Time Records

Waterloo became the first team in Northwoods League history to play in two 17-inning games in the same season. On June 15th, The Bucks lost to the Rochester Honkers, 7-6, in 17 innings on a walk-off balk before falling on July 31st to the Mankato Moondogs, 4-3, on Bryce Adams’ walk-off single.

Waterloo became the first team in Northwoods League history to play in both a five hour (7/31 @ Mankato) and six hour (6/15 @ Rochester) game in the same season.

2016 Northwoods League Leaders (Team and Individual)

Most double plays, turned: 79 (Waterloo Bucks)

Most Games: 31 (Hunter Spencer)

Most Games Started: 14 (Brett Solano)

Franchise Records

Longest 9-Inning Game (By Time): 6 hours, 10 minutes (June 15 @ Rochester)

Most RBI in a single-season: 62 (Adam McGinnis)

Most Starts in a single-season (tied): 14 (Brett Solano)

Most Appearances in a single-season (tied): 31 (Hunter Spencer)

Most hits in a game (tied): 22 (August 10 vs. Thunder Bay)

Season Notables

May 31 (Season Opener): Waterloo’s 7-4 win over St. Cloud was the Bucks fifth consecutive season-opening win and their first at home since 2013.  

June 1: Jake Hand’s walk-off fielder’s choice in the bottom of the 10th gave the Bucks their first sweep, extra-innings win, and come-from-behind win of the year.  

June 8: Adam McGinnis hit the first home run at Riverfront Stadium while Jordan Accetta tosses the team’s first complete game (5-Inning) as the Bucks down Duluth, 2-1 (5).

June 9: Waterloo, Iowa native, Zach Fricke completed the Bucks’ 2-1 come-from-behind win over the Duluth Huskies with a two-out, walk-off double to left-center in the bottom of the ninth. Fricke’s walk-off double extended Waterloo’s winning streak to five and increased the Bucks’ record to 6-0 against teams in the North Division.  

June 10: Zach Fricke comes through for the second straight day with a go-ahead solo home run in the top of the eighth pushing the Bucks past the Lakeshore Chinooks, 7-6.

June 11: After overcoming a three-run deficit in the ninth, Matthew Paciello pushed the Bucks past the Lakeshore Chinooks, 7-5, in the series finale on Saturday from Kapco Park with a two-run home run in the top of the 10th.

June 15: After the previous game was suspended in the ninth inning due to the Northwoods League Curfew Rule, the Waterloo Bucks and the Rochester Honkers played a six hour, 10 minute contest that ended in the bottom of the 17th inning, with Waterloo falling to Rochester, 7-6, on a walk-off balk. The six hour, 10 minute game ranks second longest in Northwoods League History (by time) and longest in franchise history.

June 24: Adam McGinnis’ two-out, two-run home run in the eighth tied the game at 5-5 before his go-ahead grand slam in the 10th completed the sweep over the Willmar Stingers. McGinnis also became the first Waterloo hitter to hit multiple home runs in a single game.

July 6: Waterloo opens the second half of the season with a 6-2 win over Duluth. Steven Baker tossed 6

July 31: Waterloo became the first team in Northwoods League history to play in two 17-inning games, as the Bucks fell to the Mankato Moondogs, 4-3, on Bryce Adams’ two-out walk-off single. The game lasted five hours, 41 minutes, sixth longest (by time) in NWL history. Waterloo also became the first team in NWL history to play in both a five hour and six hour game in the same season.

August 5: Waterloo’s overall record drops under .500 for the first time in 2016 after being swept by the Eau Claire Express in a doubleheader. The loss also extended the Bucks’ season-high losing streak to seven games.

August 6: Waterloo ended its season-high seven-game losing streak with a 5-0 win over the Eau Claire Express. Brett Solano tossed six shutout innings in his team high sixth win of the season while Lane Milligan hit his first homer of the year.

August 10: Waterloo matches a franchise record with 22 hits in a game and sets a season-high for most runs in a game as the Bucks down the Thunder Bay Border Cats, 17-10, in the series finale.

August 12: Waterloo is officially eliminated from the postseason after splitting a doubleheader with the Willmar Stingers. The Bucks won game one, 5-3, in nine innings before falling in game two, 7-6. Waterloo needed to win its remaining four games and have Willmar lose its last four in order to qualify for the postseason.

August 13: Adam McGinnis set a franchise record for most RBIs in a single-season with his 61st RBI in the bottom of the eighth of Saturday’s 14-2 win over the St. Cloud Rox. Saturday’s lopsided win also guaranteed the Bucks a .500 season for the first time since 2014.

August 14: Adam McGinnis drove in the final run of the season with a two-out, RBI double in the bottom of the eighth, extending his franchise record for most RBI in a single-season to 62.