The 2013 Northwoods League season was the 20th season of baseball in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball organization. The season concluded in August with the Madison Mallards winning the championship.
Season overview Background In the 2013 season, the Northwoods League (NWL) had sixteen teams, split evenly between a North and South Division. The North contained all teams from Minnesota, Iowa, and Ontario, while the South contained all from Wisconsin and Michigan. The La Crosse Loggers entered the season as defending champions, having defeated the Mankato MoonDogs in the 2012 NWL championship series.
Although there were no expansion teams from 2012 going into 2013, the Alexandria Beetles were sold to a new ownership group. The new group changed the team identity to the Blue Anchors and developed new logos and branding materials.
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. This resulted in four teams qualifying for the playoffs.
The playoff qualifiers for each division were as follows: North Division - Waterloo Bucks, Duluth Huskies South Division - Lakeshore Chinooks, Madison Mallards
In the two best-of-two semifinal playoff games, the Huskies beat the Bucks and the Mallards beat the Chinooks. The championship series was a best-of-three set between the Huskies and the Mallards. The Mallards swept the Huskies and claimed their second NWL title.
Individual highlights Marc Flores of the Willmar Stingers and Keith Curcio were named 2013 NWL Co-Most Valuable Players. Flores appeared in 67 games for the Stingers, maintaining a .352 batting average and 1.006 OPS. Curcio appeared in 68 games for the Huskies, batting .367 (.913 OPS) with 102 hits and 28 stolen bases. Clay Chapman of the Huskies was named 2013 NWL Pitcher of the Year. Across 72.1 innings of work, Chapman held down a 1.99 ERA and struck out 66 batters.
Other batters who turned in impressive seasons include Andrew Stevenson, Joe McCarthy, and Jason Vosler. Other pitchers include Colin Poche, J.P. Feyereisen, Steven Brault, and Sam Clay.
While playing for the Lakeshore Chinooks, future MLB outfielder Harrison Bader lived with Craig Counsell and his family at their home in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin.
In the 2013 Major League Baseball draft, 148 former NWL players were selected by MLB teams. Hunter Dozier was the highest-selected alum, going to the Kansas City Royals with the 8th overall pick. Dozier had played for the Willmar Stingers in 2012. Other first rounders were Jonathan Crawford (Madison, 2011) who was taken by the Detroit Tigers at pick #20 and Phillip Ervin (Green Bay, 2011) who was selected by the Cincinnati Reds at pick #27. Others selected in the draft include Tony Kemp (Rochester, 2011) and Mitch Garver (St. Cloud, 2010-11).
Standings + North Division Pos Team W L Pct. 1x – Waterloo Bucks51192 x – Duluth Huskies 43273Willmar Stingers41294 Mankato MoonDogs38325St. Cloud Rox36346 Rochester Honkers28427 Alexandria Blue Anchors24468 Thunder Bay Border Cats2149
+ South Division Pos Team W L Pct. 1x – Lakeshore Chinooks44262 La Crosse Loggers43273x – Madison Mallards41294Eau Claire Express33375 Wisconsin Rapids Rafters31396 Battle Creek Bombers29417Wisconsin Woodchucks29418Green Bay Bullfrogs2842
x – Qualified for playoffs based on either best record (first or second half of season) or as a wildcard due to overall record.
Statistical leaders
Qualified hitters must have minimum of 71 at-bats per season.
Hitting Stat Player Team Total H Keith Curcio Huskies 102 HR Michael Katz Loggers 18 RBI Drew Weeks Mallards 67 AVG John La Prise Mallards .407 OPS J.M. Twichell MoonDogs 1.082 SB Tim Arakawa MoonDogs 30
Pitching Stat Player Team Total IP Brad Stroik Rafters 84.1 SO Josh Frye Loggers 79 SV Jess Amedee MoonDogs 13
NWL alumni in MLB MLB players who played in the NWL in 2013 The following is a list of players who appeared in the NWL during the 2013 season, en route to a future appearance/career in MLB. Name 2013 NWL team(s)Alex CallEau Claire ExpressBrock StewartMadison MallardsSteven BraultWillmar StingersAndrew StevensonLakeshore ChinooksHarrison BaderLakeshore ChinooksEric StoutWaterloo BucksAlex McRaeSt. Cloud RoxEric HanholdLakeshore ChinooksJosh FuentesMankato MoonDogsColin PocheWillmar StingersSam HaggertyEau Claire ExpressJoe McCarthyMadison MallardsJ.P. FeyereisenWisconsin Rapids RaftersBrooks KriskeLa Crosse LoggersSam ClayMankato MoonDogsJason VoslerThunder Bay Border CatsJay FlaaSt. Cloud RoxDanny YoungWisconsin Woodchucks
Alums with 2013 MLB debuts
The following is a list of NWL alums who made their Major League Baseball debuts in the 2013 MLB season. Name MLB debut Debut team Former NWL team(s) Season(s) in NWLJosh Prince 4/6BrewersBullfrogs2008Hiram Burgos 4/20BrewersBlue Thunder2006Jermaine Curtis4/27CardinalsBeetles2006Evan Reed 5/16TigersBucks2005Brandon Bantz 6/8MarinersBucks2007Tony Sanchez 6/23PiratesBombers2007Sean Halton6/27BrewersMoonDogs2006Jonathan Diaz 6/29Red SoxBorder Cats2005Vic Black 7/25PiratesLoggers2007Cody Asche7/30PhillesHuskies2009-10Roger Kieschnick 7/31GiantsRiver Bats2006Kevin Pillar8/14Blue JaysWoodchucks2010Philip Gosselin8/16BravesMallards2008Jake Petricka 8/22White SoxMoonDogs2009Ryan Goins 8/23Blue JaysBucks2008Brian Flynn9/4MarlinsHonkers2009, 2011Erik Johnson9/4White SoxBeetles2009Marcus Semien9/4White SoxBeetles2009-10Zach Walters9/6NationalsHuskies2009
Awards and highlights
NWL alums selected the 2013 MLB All-Star Game:
Allen Craig (Alexandria Beetles, 2003/2005) Mark Melancon (Duluth Huskies, 2004) Chris Sale (La Crosse Loggers, 2008) Max Scherzer (La Crosse Loggers, 2004) Jordan Zimmermann (Eau Claire Express, 2006) Ben Zobrist (Wisconsin Woodchucks, 2003)
NWL alums who earned a 2013 Cy Young Award: Max Scherzer (La Crosse Loggers, 2004)
See also 2013 Major League Baseball season
References