Event to feature Royals 3B Coach Mike Jirschele and Unveiling of 2015 Northwoods League All-Star Game Details

Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.- The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters have partnered with the Hotel Mead & Conference Center to hold the 2nd Annual Rafters “Hot Stove” Rendezvous on Monday, January 12th.  The event will feature Clintonville native and current Kansas City Royals third base coach Mike Jirschele, who was a member of the Royals World Series team this past season. Jirschele will be accompanied by his son Justin, who is a former UW-Stevens Point standout and played for the Rafters in 2010 and 2011. Justin became the first Rafters player to reach the Triple-A level when he finished the 2014 season with the Chicago White Sox affiliate, the Charlotte Knights.  

Doors to the banquet will open at 6:00 p.m. for social hour with the hot stove baseball talk beginning at 7 p.m. At the event the Rafters will unveil specific events and ticket details surrounding the 2015 Northwoods League All-Star Game which will be hosted at Witter Field on Tuesday, July 21st. Other topics to be covered by Rafters front office personnel will include new field manager Craig Noto, coaching staff, incoming players, and proposed ballpark improvements for the 2015 season. Coaches from area baseball programs will also be on hand to speak about their upcoming seasons. Following the banquet, all special guests will be available to greet fans and sign autographs.  

Tickets to the event are available now for $15 and include a buffet-style dinner and complimentary punch and water.  A cash bar will also be provided by Hotel Mead. All children 12 and under are FREE to attend. A raffle will also take place at the event for items including a 20 person Rat Trap Party, signed memorabilia, Home Plate Club table for one night, and more. All money raised at this event will be put into ballpark improvements at Witter Field for the 2015 season.

A limited number of tickets are available now to the general public and can be purchased by calling the Rafters office at 715-424-5400 or by stopping into the Rafthouse Team Shop at Witter Field. The Rafters office hours are Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.  

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The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 22nd season of summer collegiate baseball in 2015, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, more than 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (BOS) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League Website. For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com.