The 2018 Northwoods League season was the 25th season of baseball in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball organization. The season concluded in August with the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders winning the championship.
Season overview Background 2018 was the 25th season for the Northwoods League (NWL). In 2018, the NWL had twenty teams, split evenly between a North and South Division. The St. Cloud Rox entered the season as defending champions, having defeated the Battle Creek Bombers in the 2017 NWL championship series.
Season The regular season began in May, with the season split into two halves. The teams with the best records in the division for each half automatically qualified for a playoff berth, with two additional teams from each division added to the playoffs based on overall season record. This resulted in eight teams qualifying for the playoffs.
The playoff qualifiers for each division were as follows: North Division - Bismarck Larks, Duluth Huskies, Mankato MoonDogs, Willmar Stingers South Division - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders, Kalamazoo Growlers, Kenosha Kingfish, Madison Mallards
In the four single-elimination first round playoff games, the Huskies beat the Larks, the Stingers beat the MoonDogs, the Growlers beat the Kingfish, and the Dock Spiders beat the Mallards. In the single-game divisional championship round, the Dock Spiders defeated the Mallards and the Huskies defeated the Stingers.
The championship series (then known as the "Summer Collegiate World Series") was a best-of-three set between the Dock Spiders and the Huskies. The deciding third game was at historic Wade Stadium in Duluth, Minnesota. In a back and forth game, Fond du Lac defeated Duluth 4-3 and claimed their first NWL title.
Individual achievements Augie Issacson of the Duluth Huskies was named 2018 NWL Most Valuable Player. Issacson led the league in batting average (.365) and stolen bases (39). He also went 3-for-4 at the NWL Major League Dreams showcase held in Madison, WI.
Justin Slaten of the Eau Claire Express was named 2018 NWL Pitcher of the Year. He appeared in 11 games (57 innings) and led the league in wins (7), strikeouts (70), and ERA (1.58).
In the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, 163 former NWL players were selected by MLB teams. Nico Hoerner was the highest-selected alum, going to the Chicago Cubs with the 24th pick. Hoerner had played for the Madison Mallards in 2016.
Standings and playoffs + North Division Pos Team W L Pct. 1x – Willmar Stingers48242 x – Duluth Huskies 47253x – Mankato MoonDogs46264 La Crosse Loggers40325x – Bismarck Larks37346 St. Cloud Rox37357 Rochester Honkers34388 Eau Claire Express28439 Thunder Bay Border Cats225010Waterloo Bucks2052
+ South Division Pos Team W L Pct. 1x – Madison Mallards49232x – Kalamazoo Growlers41313x – Kenosha Kingfish41314x – Fond du Lac Dock Spiders39315 Battle Creek Bombers38346 Wisconsin Rapids Rafters34377Wisconsin Woodchucks30428Lakeshore Chinooks29429 Rockford Rivets284310 Green Bay Bullfrogs2844
x – Qualified for playoffs based on either best record (first or second half of season) or as a wildcard due to overall record.
Playoff bracket
Statistical leaders
Qualified hitters must have minimum of 71 at-bats per season.
Hitting Stat Player Team Total H Augie Issacson Huskies 90 HR Kyle MacDonald MoonDogs 16 RBI Kyle MacDonald MoonDogs 75 AVG Augie Issacson Huskies .364 OPS Tyler Plantier Mallards .950 SB Augie Issacson Huskies 39
Pitching Stat Player Team Total W Justin Slaten Express 7 SO Justin Slaten Express 70 SV Trace Norkus Mallards 14
All-Star selections Mid-season All-Star Game The 2018 NWL mid-season All-Star Game was played on 7/24/18 at Homer Stryker Field in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The following players were selected to participate in the All-Star game.
North Division +Hitters PositionPlayerTeam C Mike Farnell Larks C Chris Gilbody Huskies 1B Kyle MacDonald MoonDogs 2B Augie Isaacson Huskies 2B Scott Ogrin Express 3B Landon Stephens Rox 3B Billy Cook Border Cats SS Nick Sogard Huskies INF Ripken Reyes Larks DH Shane McGuire Loggers OF Tyler Reichenborn Stingers OF Harrison Freed Loggers OF Cristian Montes Larks OF Jake Shepski MoonDogs OF Spencer Myers Express OF Brendan Hueth Bucks
+Pitchers PositionPlayerTeam P Hendry Rodriguez Larks P Justin Slaten Express P Brandon Pfaadt MoonDogs P Phillip Sikes Express P Adam Lukas MoonDogs P Jon Ludwig MoonDogs P Josh Ibarra Honkers P Finn Del Bonta-Smith Rox P Jack Cushing Rox P Alexander Nolan Border Cats P Troy Newell Huskies P Ben Mora Stingers P Chad Tworek Honkers
South Division
+Hitters PositionPlayerTeam C Alec Cargin Bombers C Ty Duvall Rafters 1B Niko Kavadas Growlers 2B Trevor Schwecke Mallards 3B Tyler Plantier Mallards SS Jack Dunn Chinooks INF David Vinsky Mallards DH Jack-Thomas Wold Rafters OF Jake Randa Mallards OF Brody Wofford Rafters OF Zach Daniels Growlers OF Zach Gartner Bombers OF Drew Campbell Mallards
+Pitchers PositionPlayerTeam P Cooper Cain Rivets P Kevin Tibor Chinooks P Mason Shinabery Growlers P Trace Norkus Mallards P Lenny Gwizdala Woodchucks P Mason McReaken Rafters P Dalton Wiggins Mallards P Josh Serio Kingfish P Mike Hope Dock Spiders P Jon Young Dock Spiders P Trent Palmer Kingfish P Carson Ragsdale Mallards P Trayson Kubo Rafters P Leo Perez Bullfrogs P Frank Frate Woodchucks
Full-season All-Stars After the season concluded, the league announced its Post-Season All-Stars for the full regular season. This group included players who performed well over the course of the entire season. Several players were selected to both the mid-season All-Star Game and the Post-Season All-Star team.
South Division +Hitters PositionPlayerTeam C Dallas Beaver Chinooks 1B David Vinsky Mallards 2B Trevor Schwecke Mallards 3B Tyler Plantier Mallards SS Jack Dunn Chinooks OF Jake Randa Mallards OF Zach DeLoach Woodchucks OF Zach Daniels Growlers DH Jack-Thomas Wold Rafters
+Pitchers PositionPlayerTeam P Cooper Cain Rivets P Mason Shinabery Growlers P Trace Norkus Mallards P Lenny Gwizdala Woodchucks P Jon Young Dock Spiders P Trayson Kubo Rafters
Great Plains Division +Hitters PositionPlayerTeam C Chris Gilbody Huskies 1B Kyle MacDonald MoonDogs 2B Augie Isaacson Huskies 3B Billy Cook Border Cats SS Braiden Ward Loggers OF Tyler Reichenborn Stingers OF Harrison Freed Loggers OF Cristian Montes Larks OF Cam Pearcey Border Cats DH Shane McGuire Loggers
+Pitchers PositionPlayerTeam P Hendry Rodriguez Larks P Justin Slaten Express P Brandon Pfaadt MoonDogs P Adam Lukas MoonDogs P Evan Johnson Rox P Nick Mears Stingers P Finn Del Bonta-Smith Rox
NWL alumni in MLB MLB players who played in the NWL in 2018 The following is a list of players who appeared in the NWL during the 2018 season, en route to a future appearance/career in MLB. Name 2018 NWL team MLB debut MLB debut teamNick MearsWillmar Stingers8/8/2020Pittsburgh PiratesBryan LavastidaWisconsin Woodchucks4/10/2022Cleveland GuardiansKorey LeeLa Crosse Loggers7/1/2022Houston AstrosGarrett MitchellMankato MoonDogs8/27/2022Milwaukee BrewersLouis VarlandWillmar Stingers9/7/2022Minnesota TwinsCole WaitesWisconsin Rapids Rafters9/13/2022San Francisco GiantsJeff LindgrenBismarck Larks4/3/2023Miami MarlinsMcKinley MooreGreen Bay Bullfrogs4/10/2023Philadelphia PhilliesBrent HeadrickWisconsin Woodchucks4/19/2023Minnesota TwinsJoey OrtizWillmar Stingers4/27/2023Baltimore OriolesBrandon PfaadtMankato MoonDogs5/3/2023Arizona DiamondbacksMatt MervisKalamazoo Growlers5/5/2023Chicago CubsNick LoftinWisconsin Woodchucks9/1/2023Kansas City RoyalsJoe BoyleKalamazoo Growlers9/17/2023Oakland AthleticsJustin SlatenEau Claire Express3/30/2024Boston Red SoxJoey LoperfidoKalamazoo Growlers4/30/2024Houston AstrosChris RoycroftBismarck Larks5/7/2024St. Louis CardinalsZach DeLoachWisconsin Woodchucks5/22/2024Chicago White SoxHunter BiggeDuluth Huskies7/9/2024Chicago CubsWill WarrenSt. Cloud Rox7/30/2024New York YankeesEric YangWillmar Stingers7/31/2024Cincinnati RedsNick SogardDuluth Huskies8/2/2024Boston Red SoxWill WagnerKenosha Kingfish8/12/2024Toronto Blue JaysNiko KavadasKalamazoo Growlers8/16/2024Los Angeles AngelsBilly CookThunder Bay Border Cats9/8/2024Los Angeles AngelsLogan VanWeyDuluth Huskies4/11/2025Houston AstrosColton GordonKenosha Kingfish5/14/2025Houston AstrosCarson McCuskerKenosha Kingfish5/18/2025Minnesota TwinsBob SeymourSt. Cloud Rox8/15/2025Tampa Bay RaysChristian RoaLa Crosse Loggers9/6/2025Miami MarlinsCarson RagsdaleMadison Mallards9/14/2025Baltimore OriolesIvan JohnsonKalamazoo Growlers6/30/2026Cincinnati Reds
Alums with 2018 MLB debuts
The following is a list of NWL alums who made their Major League Baseball debuts in the 2018 MLB season. Name MLB debut Debut team Former NWL team(s) Season(s) in NWLAdam Cimber3/29PadresBullfrogs2011Mike Gerber 4/20TigersWoodchucks, Mallards2011, 2012Eric Stout 4/25RoyalsBucks2013D.J. Snelten 4/28GiantsHonkers2011-12Tim Peterson 5/30MetsHonkers, Loggers2011Ben Meyer 6/7MarlinsRox2012Jose Trevino 6/15RangersMallards 2012Steve Wilkerson 6/20OriolesLa Crosse Loggers2011Kevin Kaczmarski 6/24MetsBucks2012, 2014Nate Orf 7/2BrewersExpress2010Ray Black 7/8GiantsLunkers2011Drew Gagnon 7/10MetsHonkers2009Alex McRae8/1PiratesRox2013Wes Parsons 8/9BravesBorder Cats 2012Rowan Wick 8/31PadresLoggers2011Eric Hanhold9/4MetsChinooks2013Kevin Kramer 9/5PiratesLoggers2012
Awards and highlights
NWL alums selected the 2018 MLB All-Star Game:
Brandon Crawford (Mankato MoonDogs, 2005) Mitch Haniger (Green Bay Bullfrogs, 2011) Chris Sale (La Crosse Loggers, 2008) Max Scherzer (La Crosse Loggers, 2004)
NWL alums awarded with a 2018 Gold Glove: Matt Chapman (La Crosse Loggers, 2012)
NWL alums who were members of the World Series-winning Boston Red Sox: Chris Sale (La Crosse Loggers, 2008)
See also 2018 Major League Baseball season
References