Rochester, Minn. – The Northwoods League announced the 2017 Postseason All-Star Team and award winners on Sunday, August 13. Rochester first baseman Zach Zubia was named the league’s Most Valuable Player and St. Cloud’s Aaron Rozek was named Pitcher of the Year as voted by the League’s coaches and members of the media. Craig Noto from Wisconsin Rapids was named the Manager of the Year and John Halama from Wisconsin Rapids won the Coach of the Year Award for the second straight season.
Rochester Honkers first baseman Zach Zubia (Texas) won the MVP award by being among the league leaders for offense in the Northwoods League. Zubia, a freshman, was also a mid-season All-Star as well as a selection for the Major League Dreams Showcase. Zubia currently has a league record 22 home runs and leads the league with 62 RBI. Zubia is a native of Richmond, Texas.
St. Cloud Rox left-handed pitcher Aaron Rozek (Minnesota State University) was named the Northwoods League Pitcher of the Year. Rozek, a junior, appeared in 10 games and went 6-1 with a 2.39 ERA. He also struck out a league high 78 batters in 64 innings. He was also a mid-season All-Star selection. Rozek hails from Burnsville, Minnesota.
Kalamazoo Growlers infielder Connor Hollis (Houston) was also selected for the team and is currently hitting a league leading .384 for the season.
Zubia, Rozek and Hollis are among the 33 players selected to the NWL’s Postseason All-Star team.
The Wisconsin Rapids Rafters led all teams with six selections while the Madison Mallards had four players selected.
Third year manager Craig Noto of the defending Summer Collegiate World Series Champion Wisconsin Rapids Rafters is the 2017 Manager of the Year. Noto has led the Rafters to four straight half championships dating back to last season. The Rafters currently have the best overall record in the league at 51-20.
John Halama earned the award for 2016 Coach of the Year in the Northwoods League. The former Major League pitcher has guided the Wisconsin Rapids pitching staff now for three seasons. This is the second straight Coach of the Year award for Halama.
Mick Tidrow of the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters, Danny Frey of the Waterloo Bucks and Michael Keeley of the Rochester Honkers were recognized by their peers as Play-by-Play Announcers of the Year.
2017 Postseason All-Star Team
NAME POS TEAM YR COLLEGE
Hunter Feduccia C Rockford Rivets SO LSU
Korey Lee C La Crosse Loggers FR California
Ryan Stekl 1B Wisconsin Rapids Rafters JR Canisius University
Zach Zubia 1B Rochester Honkers FR Texas
Matthew Mika 2B Lakeshore Chinooks SO Central Florida
Chase Strumpf 2B Duluth Huskies FR UCLA
Jacob Richardson 3B Lakeshore Chinooks JR Southern Arkansas
David Villar 3B La Crosse Loggers SO South Florida
Bryson Stott SS Wisconsin Rapids Rafters FR UNLV
Alex Howard INF Battle Creek Bombers JR Arkansas State
Cole Daily INF Madison Mallards SO Notre Dame
Andy Weber SS Thunder Bay Border Cats SO Virginia
Connor Hollis DH Kalamazoo Growlers JR Houston
Zach Gilles DH Eau Claire Express FR Central Michigan
Stevie Mangrum OF Wisconsin Woodchucks SO Virginia Tech
Dustin Woodcock OF Wisconsin Rapids Rafters JR Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Doran Turchin OF Madison Mallards SO Illinois
Marcus Still OF Willmar Stingers JR New Mexico State
Daniel Amaral OF Mankato MoonDogs SO UCLA
Kennie Taylor OF La Crosse Loggers SO Duke
Jack Eagan LHP Wisconsin Rapids Rafters FR Madison College
Simon Rosenblum-Larson RHP Madison Mallards SO Harvard
Tyler Dyson RHP Madison Mallards FR Florida
Jesse Slinger RHP Wisconsin Rapids Rafters SO Lock Haven University
Isaiah Carranza RHP Wisconsin Rapids Rafters SO Oregon
Connor Wollersheim LHP Green Bay Bullfrogs SO Kent State
Aaron Rozek LHP St. Cloud Rox JR Minnesota State University, Mankato
Brent Killam LHP St. Cloud Rox FR Georgetown
Gus Varland RHP Willmar Stingers FR Concordia University
Brett Newberg LHP Mankato MoonDogs SO Austin Peay University
Polo Portela RHP Willmar Stingers SO Sacramento City CC
Andy Fisher LHP Mankato MoonDogs JR Illinois
Ryan Tapani RHP Duluth Huskies JR Creighton
Most Valuable Player
Zach Zubia 1B Rochester Honkers FR Texas
Pitcher of the Year
Aaron Rozek LHP St. Cloud Rox JR Minnesota State University, Mankato
Manager of the Year
Craig Noto Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
Coach of the Year
John Halama Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
Play-by-Play Announcers of the Year
Mick Tidrow Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
Michael Keeley Rochester Honkers
Danny Frey Waterloo Bucks
