Northwoods League
ROCHESTER, MN (WSAU) — The Northwoods League has officially announced the formation of a summer collegiate softball circuit.
The league made the announcement on Tuesday with Chairman and co-Founder, Dick Radatz, Jr. saying “Thirty years ago, we disrupted the landscape of baseball, and we hope to have a similar effect on softball going forward by offering women a truly unique, memorable and valuable experience in the Northwoods.”
The softball league would be run in the same manner as the baseball side, with college players from across the country being recruited to stay with host families in their respective markets. Games would begin in June after the Women’s College World Series wraps up in Oklahoma City, and would run through mid-August. Teams would play 40 games during that time with transportation, meals, and equipment provided by the team.
Wausau Woodchucks owner Mark MacDonald says he plans to buy into the new league by its second season. That would allow the club to install a field turf infield at Athletic Park which would allow for both baseball and softball to be played there. He also wants to make sure that both teams have their own clubhouse. “We only have one locker room at Athletic Park so we have to figure out what we are going to do there [because] there are different ways we can go about it. They need to have equal facilities.”
The field turf project, which was discussed extensively last winter by the city’s Parks and Rec committee, was briefly held up while the city worked out an agreement for improved parking around Athletic Park. That agreement was reached in April, and MacDonald says plans to install the turf will be finalized later this year.
Tuesday’s announcement from the league did not include a list of initial markets for the 2024 season. Both La Crosse and Wausau have expressed interest in fielding teams, and MacDonald adds that they are talking with potential owners across the league’s current baseball footprint.
MacDonald adds that he’s not aware of how many teams will make up the inaugural season, but does say there is still “work to be done” before a first pitch is thrown in 2024.
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