We’ve reported on this a few times, and now it’s official: the summer-collegiate Northwoods League will in Fond du Lac, WI, in 2017, as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Low A; Midwest League) will run a team out of Marian University.
“We are very excited to bring Northwoods League baseball to Fond du Lac, a community with a great baseball fan base,” said Rob Zerjav, Timber Rattlers team President. “Along with great baseball, we also plan to bring the fun, family entertainment the Timber Rattlers are so well known for.”
Appleton Baseball Club, Inc. doing business as the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, has formed Fond du Lac Baseball Club, LLC to oversee the new Northwoods League club. Timber Rattlers President and General Manager Rob Zerjav will serve as team president for Fond du Lac Baseball Club, LLC with Ryan Moede assuming the day-to-day responsibilities of running the club as team General Manager. Herr-Baker Field will be the new home for the Northwoods League team and the Fond du Lac Baseball Club, LLC will lease the field from Marian University.
The new Fond du Lac team will join Bismarck as new Northwoods League teams in 2017. It will be the second Northwoods League run by a Midwest League team: the Cedar Rapids Kernels own the Waterloo Bucks.
“We at Marian University are very excited about entering this partnership with the Timber Rattlers organization to bring Northwoods League baseball to Herr-Baker Field,” said Marian University President Andrew Manion. “We look forward to hosting summer baseball of this caliber on our campus each summer and are happy to be entering a long-term relationship with two organizations whose commitment to community is so compatible with our own values here at Marian.”
“We are thrilled to have a high-quality operation like Fond du Lac Baseball Club, LLC join the ranks of the Northwoods League,” said Northwoods League President Gary Hoover. “Their skills combined with our business model should provide a wonderful fan experience for Fond du Lac and its surrounding communities.”
“We can’t wait to get the community involved and be a part of this team,” said Ryan Moede, Fond du Lac Baseball General Manager. “One of our first initiatives is to ask members of the community to submit entries to help name the team.” For information on this and the team in general, go to the team’s website or check things out on Twitter (@FDLBaseball) or Facebook.com/fonddulacbaseball.
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