The Wisconsin Woodchucks haven’t made the Northwoods League playoffs since 2014. The Chucks currently hold first place in the league’s Great Lakes West Division, with just six games remaining in the first half of the season. Northwoods League rules state that winners of both the first and second half of season in each division make the season-ending tournament, with a chance to play for the league championship.
The road to the first half division championship runs through Wausau. With just one game separating the Chucks from the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders, the two games between the teams Wednesday and Thursday at Athletic Park will be pivotal in determining the half champion.
Beyond just the Great Lakes West, the Chucks’ 20-10 mark as of June 30 is best overall in the greater Great Lakes Division and second in the Northwoods League.
How the Woodchucks Arrived Here
The 2021 Woodchucks have proven themselves to be a force of consistency, both at the plate and on the mound. In numerous categories, the Chucks are at or near the top of the league leaderboard.
Wisconsin has shown a patient approach at the plate, drawing 169 walks, fourth in the league. The Chucks’ 2.98 team earned run average is second in the Northwoods League and tops in the Great Lakes Division. Woodchuck pitchers average just 1.30 walks or hits per innings pitched, tied for second in the 22-team league and also first in the Great Lakes.
After losses, the Woodchucks are 8-2 when trying to return to the win column. They are 17-1 after being ahead or tied after the sixth inning and display a 15-2 record when recording one or no defensive errors. Wisconsin is also 15-1 when scoring at least five runs.
Regional Dominance
The Woodchucks are a combined 11-1 against the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters and Green Bay Booyah. Against this pair of local rivals, the Chucks have not lost away from Marathon County.
Wisconsin is currently riding a two-game winning streak, with both games coming against the Booyah. Having won seven of their past 10 overall, six of those victories have come against the Wood County and Brown County teams.
Playoff Format
The Northwoods League Playoffs are explained here. According to the league, “First and second half sub-divisional winners will be eligible for the playoffs. In the event the second half sub-divisional winner also won the first half, the team in the sub-division with the highest overall winning percentage will also make the playoffs.”
The Woodchucks last made the playoffs in 2014, finishing second overall in the then-Northwoods League South Division.
What’s Next
The two games against Fond du Lac Wednesday and Thursday are vital. But the first half continues until July 5, with a two-game series at the Madison Mallards and a pair of home contests against the Lakeshore Chinooks rounding out the slate.
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The Wisconsin Woodchucks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 27-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 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, over 200 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.woodchucks.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Woodchucks as your favorite team.
