Waterloo, Iowa – The Northwoods League has announced the participants for the 2025 All-Star Home Run Challenge which will take place on Tuesday, July 15 at Warner Park in Madison, Wisconsin.  Waterloo Bucks outfielder Jake Bechtel has been chosen to represent the Great Plains Division in the Challenge.

Bechtel, a sophomore outfielder from NC State and originally from Palm Harbor, Florida, currently leads Waterloo in batting average (.360), hits (49), doubles (11), triples (2), home runs (8), RBI (38) and slugging percentage (.647).  Bechtel’s home run mark is tied for the second-best in the NWL and his RBI total is tied for the third-most in the league.

The format for the Home Run Challenge is below:

1. There will be 9 innings with each player having one half inning.
2. Away team (Great Plains) player bats first in the top of the inning, and home team player next (Great Lakes) in the bottom half of the inning.
3. Each player will receive 2 minutes to hit as many home runs as they can during their turn.
4. Each player will be allowed one timeout that they can take at any time during their 2:00, should they choose. Timeouts will be thirty seconds in length.
5. Should any contestant hit back-to-back home runs, they will be granted an additional :30 of time that will be added on after their original 2 minutes has completed. No timeouts will be granted during the bonus time session.
6. The Team that hits the most Home Runs will be declared the NWL HR Challenge Team Champions.
7.      The Individual who hits the most home runs will be declared the NWL HR Challenge Individual Champion.

The 2025 Northwoods League All-Star Game will take place in Madison, Wisconsin, at Warner Park, home of the Madison Mallards and Madison Night Mares on Wednesday, July 16 at 6:35 PM. The game will also air on Northwoods League+.

Bechtel will join Bucks teammate Tyler Glowacki as All-Stars for the Great Plains Division.

The Bucks will start a four-game homestand tonight with a 6:35 pm tilt versus the St. Cloud Rox.  Tickets are available by calling the Bucks Ticket Line at (319) 232-5633 or online at waterloobucks.com.  Bucks team ownership has invested nearly $500,000 in stadium improvements over the last decade including an LED video board, group outing areas, painted bleachers, public Wi-Fi, sound system, kids zone inflatables, wiffle ball field, and concessions equipment.  Fans are encouraged to stay in touch with the Bucks by utilizing their website at www.waterloobucks.com or utilizing the Northwoods League Mobile App.

# # #

The Waterloo Bucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Entering its’ 32^nd season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history with 24 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, nearly 2400 NWL alums have been drafted and over 380 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove, two-time Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network.  Learn more and find complete streaming schedules at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.waterloobucks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Bucks as your favorite team.