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Wikipedia - Northwoods League
The Northwoods League is a collegiate summer baseball wooden bat league. All players in the league must have NCAA eligibility remaining in order to participate. The league is amateur, and players are not paid, so as to maintain their college eligibility. Graduated senior pitchers are also eligible to play in the Northwoods League. Each team may have four of these players at a time.
Teams play 70 games scheduled from Memorial Day to the 2nd Saturday in August, while the playoffs take place the week after, starting on that Sunday and ending usually on Friday. The season itself is broken into two halves, with the winners of each half in each of the four sub-divisions playing against each other to determine a sub-divisional champion in a best-of-three series. The sub-divisional champions then meet in a winner-take-all game to determine a divisional champion. The divisional champions then meet in a winner-take-all game for the league championship.
In 2020, some teams cancelled their season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For those teams that did play, instead of playing within their usual divisions, they played in hub regions, with some creating "temporary teams".
In 2023, the Northwoods League announced plans to create a new softball league. The softball league will initially consist of four teams, based in Madison (Madison Night Mares) and La Crosse, Wisconsin (La Crosse Steam); Mankato, Minnesota (Mankato Habeneros); and Minot, North Dakota (Minot Honeybees).
History
Established in 1994, the Northwoods League was the first for-profit summer collegiate baseball league. It has more teams and plays more games than any other summer collegiate baseball league. The Northwoods League drew over 1.1 Million fans for the fourth consecutive year in 2017. The purpose of the league is to develop players while college baseball teams are not allowed to work out. Many of the teams in the league play in ballparks formerly occupied by professional clubs from the Midwest League, Prairie League, Northern League, and Frontier League. The wooden bat circuit allows communities deemed too small for professional ball to continue to enjoy high-quality, competitive baseball during the summer months. The Northwoods League was the first summer collegiate baseball league to broadcast on the ESPN network, and currently webcasts all of its games.
The teams are located in the Northwoods region of the Upper Midwestern United States and Northwestern Ontario, mostly in the U.S. states of Minnesota (five teams) and Wisconsin (nine teams); also with three teams in Michigan, two in North Dakota, and one team each in Iowa, Illinois, Indiana and Ontario.
Over 200 league alumni have gone on to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) with 91 alumni entering the MLB ranks from 2013 to 2017. Alumnus Max Scherzer, the 2017 National League Cy Young Award winner, and American League runner-up Chris Sale faced each other as the starting pitchers in the 2017 and 2018 Major League Baseball All-Star Games.
The tournament features teams from various states in the Midwest region, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan, and more. These teams consist of college players who are looking to further develop their skills and gain valuable experience during the summer months.
The Northwoods League provides a platform for these young athletes to showcase their abilities in front of scouts and coaches from professional baseball organizations. Many players who have participated in the league have gone on to have successful careers in Major League Baseball.
The tournament follows a rigorous schedule, with games played throughout the summer season. The teams compete against each other in a series of regular-season games, leading up to the playoffs and ultimately the championship game. The level of competition is intense, as players strive to outperform their opponents and make a lasting impression on the baseball community.
In addition to the high-quality baseball action, the Northwoods League also offers a great experience for fans. The games are held in well-maintained stadiums, providing a comfortable and enjoyable atmosphere for spectators. Fans can witness the excitement of the sport up close, cheering on their favorite teams and players.
The Northwoods League is not only about baseball; it also aims to promote community involvement and give back to the local areas where the teams are based. The league organizes various community events and initiatives, fostering a sense of unity and support among players, fans, and the surrounding communities.
Overall, the Northwoods League is a premier baseball tournament that showcases the talent and dedication of collegiate players. It offers an exciting and competitive environment for both players and fans, making it a must-see event for baseball enthusiasts across the United States.