BASEBALL

Six Rafters, two Woodchucks selected for Northwoods League All-Star Game

Tim Johnson
USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

 

All-Star Game logo

WAUSAU - The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters not only posted the best record in the first half of the Northwoods League season but will also have the highest representation in the All-Star Game this month.

The Rafters set a franchise mark as six players were named to the South Division squad for the All-Star Game, which will be played July 18 at Athletic Park in Wausau. Two members of the Wisconsin Woodchucks also were selected for the South Division as the rosters were released Friday morning.

The rosters were selected in a vote by the by field staff members of the NWL's 20 teams as well as league media contacts. 

 

Jack 
Eagen

 

The Rafters' Craig Noto will manage the South Division team, and St. Cloud’s Augie Rodriguez will head the North Division.

The Rafters are the defending NWL champions and won the first-half South Division title this season. Wisconsin Rapids, which entered Friday with a 29-9 overall record, had four pitchers selected for the All-Star Game — Jack Eagan, Jesse Slinger, Quinn DiPasquale and Cameron Busby.

Eagan, a left-hander, has a 6-0 record and a 1.54 ERA this summer, and Slinger is 5-0 with a 1.34 ERA. Busby, a reliever who is making a second-straight All-Star appearance, has a 0.40 ERA in 22 innings.

RELATED: Wisconsin natives on Rafters' roster among league's best

RELATED: Woodchucks enter season with a more veteran look 

DisPasquale holds a 4-1 record with a 2.97 ERA. 

Woodcock, a third-year Rafters player, is making his first All-Star appearance. He is joined in the outfield by Guenther, who opened the season by reaching base safely in 31 straight games.

Both of the Chucks selections are first-time All-Stars. Outfielder Stevie Mangrum, who is in his second year with Wisconsin, was chosen after being among the league's leaders in a number of offensive categories.

Orsen
Josephina

 

Mangrum holds a .336 batting average with 11 home runs and 29 RBI this summer. He is second in the NWL with a .643 slugging percentage. 

Chucks closer Orsen Josephina has a NWL-high 12 saves this summer. 

The St. Cloud Rox and Mankato MoonDogs lead the North Division rosters as both teams had five selections.

 

Tim Johnson: 715-845-0731, or twjohnson@gannett.com; on Twitter @timmyjo11

 

NORTHWOODS LEAGUE ALL-STAR GAME ROSTERS

SOUTH DIVISION

C-Nick Gatewood, Lakeshore; Nick Zouras, Kenosha; Brad Hamilton, Green Bay. 1B-Derek Bangert, Kenosha; JD Mundy, Battle Creek. 2B-Matthew Mika, Lakeshore. 3B-Jacob Richardson, Lakeshore. SS-Alex Howard, Battle Creek; Cole Daily, Madison. OF-Dustin Woodcock, Wisconsin Rapids; Stevie Mangrum, Wisconsin; John Rave, Rockford; Doran Turchin, Madison; Tom Stoffel, Battle Creek; Jake Guenther, Wisconsin Rapids. RHP-Trent Johnson, Battle Creek; Jon Mierzwa, Fond du Lac; Logan Wiley, Kenosha; Quinn Snarskis, Kenosha; Parker Sanburn, Lakeshore; Simon Rosenblum-Larson, Madison; Cole Bellair, Rockford; Cameron Busby, Wisconsin Rapids; Quinn Dipasquale, Wisconsin Rapids; Jesse Slinger, Wisconsin Rapids; Orson Josephina; Connor Manous, Kalamazoo. LHP-Connor Johnson, Fond du Lac; Jack Eagan, Wisconsin Rapids

 

NORTH DIVISION

C-Jay Schuler, Waterloo; CJ Schaefler, Mankato. 1B-Zach Zubia, Rochester. 2B-Ethan Valdez, Mankato. 3B-David Villar, Mankato; Nolan Bumstead, Willmar. SS-Camryn Williams, Duluth; Andy Weber, Thunder Bay. OF-Marcus Still, Willmar; Drew Avans, St. Cloud; Zach Gilles, Eau Claire; Toby Hanson, Mankato; Shane Selman, St. Cloud; Jake Pries, Duluth. RHP-Polo Portella, Willmar; Kyle Leahy, Waterloo; Kevin Folman, Duluth; Victor Chavez, Eau Claire; Derik Beauprez, La Crosse; Nathan Dewsnap, Mankato; *Jack Cushing, St. Cloud; Brandon Downey, Waterloo; Gus Varland, Willmar. LHP-Aaron Rozek, St. Cloud; Tyler Steele, Bismark; Collin Floyd, Mankato; Brent Killam, St. Croix