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Andy Garriola and Nathan Hemmerling win defensive award
Wisconsin Rapids, Wis. – Since 2002, Rawlings has rewarded the top defenders in the Northwoods League each season. These nine players are recognized as the best defensive players throughout the entire Northwoods League. To qualify for the ‘Finest in the Field’ Award, a field player needs to appear in at least half of the scheduled games in a specific position. As for pitchers, the player that has the highest total defensive chances without committing an error earns the award.
This season Andy Garriola (Old Dominion) and Nathan Hemmerling (Lakeland) were crowned as the ‘Finest in the Field’. Both Rafters maintained a fielding percentage of 1.000. Garriola played in 40 of the 46 games on the season, making a majority of his appearances in the outfield. Throughout the 314 innings that he played, Garriola had a successful 103 total chances with 98 putouts. He also tallied 5 assists and 7 double plays with a range factor of 2.952.
Hemmerling was the lone pitcher in the Northwoods League to win the award. He started in 8 games, throwing 21 innings of work. Hemmerling had 10 total chances and one putout. He topped his defense off with 9 assists and one double play. Hemmerling also had a range factor 4.286.
The 2020 Rawlings ‘Finest in the Field’ Award recipients and their respective fielding percentages are below:
| Position | Player | NWL Team | College | Fielding Percentage |
| C | Patrick Arndt | Kalamazoo Mac Daddies | Bellarmine | .990 |
| 1B | Kyle Manzardo | Willmar Stingers | Washington State | .995 |
| 2B | Andrew Meggs | La Crosse Loggers | Creighton | .991 |
| 3B | J.T. Thompson | La Crosse Loggers | Texas State | .988 |
| SS | Connor McGuire | Kalamazoo Mac Daddies | California, Irvine | .972 |
| OF | Kyle Ashworth | Kalamazoo Mac Daddies | Cal Poly | 1.000 |
| OF | Xane Washington | Waterloo Bucks | Nicholls State | 1.000 |
| OF | Andy Garriola | Wisconsin Rapids Rafters | Old Dominion | 1.000 |
| P | Nathan Hemmerling | Wisconsin Rapids Rafters | Lakeland University | 1.000 |
Rafters ticket packages are on sale now! We have packages of four, nine, eighteen, or all thirty-six games with all-you-can-eat ballpark food. Buy now, enjoy later! For questions, call 715-424-5400 or stop by the Rafthouse at 521 Lincoln Street, Monday-Thursday from 9am-4pm.
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The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 27th season, the Northwoods 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 245 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB All-Star Jordan Zimmermann (DET). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.raftersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Rafters as your favorite team.