Two Woodchuck Pitchers Earn Places in Major League Dreams Showcase

Wausau, Wis. — Woodchucks pitchers Jack Wenninger (Illinois) and Carter Heninger (San Jose State) have been selected to pitch in the Major League Dreams Showcase. They will represent the Wausau Woodchucks and Great Lakes Division in Game Two of the doubleheader beginning at 4:00 p.m. in La Crosse Aug. 2.

Wenninger has thrown more innings (38) than any other Woodchuck this summer. He is 2-2 with a 2.37 ERA and 1.08 WHIP. In all eight of his starts, he has lasted at least four innings and held opponents to three runs or less. On July 12, he struck out a season-high six batters over six scoreless innings in Green Bay. He has tallied 33 strikeouts this summer while issuing only 13 walks.

Heninger has not allowed an earned run over 24.1 innings in 13 appearances this summer. The righty boasts a 0.00 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He is 3-1 with three saves, tallying a team-high 38 strikeouts compared to just ten walks. The freshman has recorded the final out in 11 Woodchuck wins. He was named the Northwoods League Pitcher of the Night on June 4, striking out ten batters over five scoreless innings of relief. On July 11, he recorded a six-out save while striking out four Kalamazoo Growlers.

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Rochester, Minn. (NWL) — The Northwoods League has announced the rosters for the 2022 Major League Dreams Showcase, which will be hosted by the La Crosse Loggers at Copeland Park on Tuesday, August 2.

The annual Showcase will consist of a double-header featuring the top players from the Northwoods League who were selected by a panel of Major League Baseball Scouts.  The players will participate in a day of workouts in front of scouts which will be followed by the double-header.

The first game will start at 4:00 p.m. and will match two teams featuring a mix of players from the Great Plains and Great Lakes Divisions. The players on the visiting team in this game will primarily come from Battle Creek, Duluth, Kalamazoo, Traverse City, Waterloo, and Minnesota. The home team will be made up of players mainly from Fond du Lac, Eau Claire, Green Bay, Rockford, and St. Cloud. Marcus Pointer of the Duluth Huskies will skipper the visiting team while Dale Varsho of the Eau Claire Express will manage the home team.

The visiting team in this first game will be led by Northwoods League All-Stars Kristian Campbell (Georgia Tech) of the Duluth Huskies and Tai Walton (University of Hawaii) of the Waterloo Bucks. Campbell is currently fifth in the league with a .361 average and Walton has three home runs and 11 RBI.

The home team in game one will feature 2022 NWL All-Star Game MVP Charlie Condon (University of Georgia) of the St. Cloud Rox who is currently hitting .277 with seven home runs, six doubles and 49 RBI.  Matthew Deprey (Xavier University) of the Lakeshore Chinooks will also play in this game. Deprey has a .351 average with five home runs, 11 doubles and 29 RBI in 37 games.

The second game will again be played by two teams of Great Lakes and Great Plains players. The visiting team for this game will be made up of players mostly from Willmar, Lakeshore, Kokomo, Kenosha, and Bismarck. The home team will have players from La Crosse, Madison, Mankato, Rochester, Wausau, and Wisconsin Rapids. Freddy Smith of the Willmar Stingers will be the Field Manager for the visiting team. Mallards Field Manager and former MLB catcher Donnie Scott will be in the dugout for the home team.

In the night cap the visiting team will be led by Drey Dirksen (Augustana University) of the Willmar Stingers. Dirksen, a mid-season All-Star is hitting .285 with seven home runs and 32 RBI. The Bismarck Larks have three players on this team. This contingent of Larks is led by Seth Surrett (Long Island University-Brooklyn). Surrett is currently hitting .280 with seven RBI in 11 games. On the mound the Larks will feature RHP Carter Rost (Wichita State University). Rost has a 2.65 ERA in three games and has struck out 12 batters in 17 innings pitched.

Seven members of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters will compete for the home team in the second game. This talented group of players are led by infielder Brendan Bobo (California State University, Fullerton). Bobo is currently hitting .284 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI in 45 games. This team will also feature 2022 Northwoods League All-Star Josh Caron (University of Nebraska) of the Madison Mallards. Caron is currently hitting .292 with seven home runs, nine doubles, one triple and 32 RBI. He has four stolen bases.

Proceeds from the Major League Dreams Showcase will benefit the Northwoods League Foundation.  The Northwoods League Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that serves as a vehicle to transform a shared passion for baseball into positive change and support for communities. Of the many needs the foundation may address through grants, scholarships or donations, one ongoing focus will be to view its member communities and look upon the baseball programs they have in place with a harmonious goal of making them all finer places to live.

More information on the Foundation can be found at northwoodsleague.com/community/foundation/

Full 2022 MLDS Rosters can be found here: 2022 MLDS Rosters

Tickets for the event are still available and can be purchased at loggersbaseball.com.

 

The Woodchucks take on the Madison Mallards at home tonight, first pitch is at 6:35, and gates open at 5:35. Tickets are on sale now at woodchucks.com or by calling 715-845-5055.