MALONE HITS SIX LONG BALLS, SOLIZ MAKES SECOND STRAGHT APPEARANCE IN EVENT

MADISON, WI- The Wausau Woodchucks were well represented in the 2025 Northwoods League Home Run Challenge, as Max Soliz Jr. (Kansas) and Noah Malone (Loyola Marymount) made important contributions to the Great Lakes Division’s 54–32 victory over the Great Plains at Warner Park on Tuesday night.

The Woodchucks were one of four Northwoods League teams with multiple players in the event, along with the Wausau Ignite, the Madison Mallards and the Madison Nightmares. Wausau’s now had 18 participants in the Home Run Challenge over the last 15 years, tied for second-most from any team in the Northwoods League. That includes seven participants in the last three season.

Noah Malone was the second player to hit for the Great Lakes Division and finished with six home runs in his first Northwoods League Home Run Challenge appearance. Malone hit three home runs in the first 45 seconds before taking his timeout, and hit back-to-back home runs, earning him a 30 second bonus round. Malone finished his regular round with five home runs and hit one more in the bonus round to bring him to his final total.

Malone was one of only five baseball players in the event to hit six home runs or more, and one of three for the Great Lakes Division. Malone had the most home runs out of any baseball player in the challenge until the fourth round, when he was knocked out of Home Run Challenge MVP contention.

Max Soliz Jr., meanwhile, joined an elite club by participating in the Home Run Challenge for the second consecutive season. Soliz is only the fourth player in the last 15 years to participate in the Home Run Challenge, joining Brendan Bobo (Wisconsin Rapids), Adam Martin (St. Cloud) and MLB player Daulton Varsho (Eau Claire). Soliz and Malone have teamed up for 18 total home runs in the Northwoods League this season, more than any other duo in the challenge.

The Great Lakes took the lead early in the Home Run Challenge and never relinquished it. Softball MVP Avary Makarewicz (La Crosse) and Baseball MVP Mikey Bell (Madison) represented the Great Lakes Division in the win. It’s the second straight year that the Great Lakes defeated the Great Plains in the Home Run Challenge.

Tomorrow night, Malone and Soliz will be joined by outfielder Christian Smith-Johnson (Texas A&M-CC) and pitcher Reece Clapp (Bradley/Illinois State) as the four represent the Great Lakes Division in the 2025 Northwoods League All-Star game. First pitch from Warner Park is slated for 6:35 p.m., and the game is available to watch on NWL+.

The Woodchucks will be back to action on Friday, July 18, when they host the Lakeshore Chinooks at Athletic Park. Fans can purchase tickets to the remaining Woodchucks home games in the 2025 season by visiting woodchucks.com.