Woodchucks Setting Records in Playoff Push

The Wisconsin Woodchucks are on top of the Great Lakes West division standings, and the 2021 iteration of the Wausau club also lead in multiple franchise, year-by-year statistics heading into the final week of the regular season.

The Chucks are 21-10 in the second half of the Northwoods League season, leading the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders by a game and a half. The winner of the second half clinches an automatic league playoff berth. But with the Dock Spiders having won the first half in the Great Lakes West, the Woodchucks can also make the postseason with a second place overall record (combined first and second half) if the Fond du Lac wins the second half.

Wisconsin is seeking its first playoff appearance since 2014, which was also the team’s most recent winning season. With a 42-24 overall record as of August 9 (good for first in the Great Lakes West), the 2021 Woodchucks will finish above .500 for the first time since the 2014 season.

The Woodchucks have numerous intangibles to credit for their record–which is best overall in the Great Lakes Division and second in the Northwoods League.

They are 27-8 in Game 2 or later in series against opponents. After losses, the Chucks are 19-6, and haven’t lost consecutive games since July 6-8.

Record Breaking Chucks

The 2021 campaign has proven to be one of multiple single-season franchise records.

Woodchuck pitchers have 26 saves on the year, which surpasses the previous high of 24 in 2014. Tom Kane, Geo Camfield and Colin Millar lead the team with four saves each, with Camfield and Millar each having recorded saves in consecutive games this season.

The Chucks have constantly worked the free pass to their advantage this season. They have surpassed a previous team-high of 319 walks set in 2008, having drawn 327 so far in 2021. Kevin Kilpatrick, Tyler MacGregor and Clayton Mehlbauer share have the team-high in individual walks with 23 each.

The club is closing in on record-highs in total wins and win percentages in a season. They’re one win short of tying and two victories away from surpassing a 43-win total set in 2012. The franchise’s record .651 winning percentage–a mark not seen since 2003–can be reset with five or six wins in the team’s final six contests.

Local Dominance

Wisconsin has dominated teams within a 100 mile radius of Wausau’s Athletic Park.

The Woodchucks registered a perfect record in their season series against the Green Bay Booyah, going 12-0 against the club from Brown County.

Against Wood County’s Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, the Chucks are 7-1, with four matchups left to play in the regular season’s final week.

The Woodchucks also went a combined 8-4 against opposition from the Great Lakes East division in 2021.

Next Up

The Woodchucks have six games remaining in the 2021 regular season. They play a pair of home games against the Rafters on Monday and Tuesday night. The Chucks then visit Fond du Lac for a pair of games Wednesday and Thursday, before their home finale against Wisconsin Rapids Friday and a season finale at the Rafters’ Witter Field Saturday night.

Should the Woodchucks make the 2021 Northwoods League Playoffs, the opening round would be a three-game series against the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders. Further details will be released at a later date.

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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.