I began writing this while sitting in the front of a bus headed to La Crosse from Madison in Southern Wisconsin. Behind me were sixteen amazing college softball players. The Madison Night Mares.
The Night Mares played in the inaugural season of Northwoods League Softball. The for-profit Northwoods League (NWL) has been thriving since 1994, boasting twenty-six baseball teams. Each roster is comprised of elite college baseball players from around the country hoping to improve their skills over the summer. Over 350 NWL league alumni have played or are currently playing Major League Baseball.
Dick and Kathy Radatz founded the NWL. This past May, they decided to take advantage of college softball’s popularity by forming the fastpitch version of the NWL. The Radatz’s want to duplicate the successful baseball model they implemented thirty years ago.
In addition to the Madison Night Mares, three other cities invested in this new softball venture. The La Crosse Steam, Mankato Habaneros, and Minot Honeybees entertained crowds throughout the Upper Midwest this summer. Due to the wild success of the league, the number of teams is expected to expand quickly. The vision is to offer franchises to current NWL cities and explore new markets.
A Proven Model
Players come from all over the country to participate in both leagues. Some are recruited, and others apply to play. Softball rosters were set at sixteen for this forty-two-game season. I would expect rosters to expand in the future as player demand grows and if more games are added to the schedule.
Host families provide housing and meals for out-of-town players. This is part of the magic that makes the NWL unique and special.
(Host Family Appreciation Night at beautiful Warner Park in Madison)
My Night Mare Story
My wife and I rented an apartment in Madison for our visits from the Chicago area to see our new granddaughter. Our son encouraged us to attend a Mallards game this summer because of the exciting brand of baseball and the cool stadium.
I became aware of NWL Softball as I was looking online for Madison Mallards tickets. When I noticed the announcement of the new league and the Madison Night Mares on the website, I was intrigued.
I quickly contacted Samantha Rubin, the General Manager of the Night Mares, to offer my assistance as a hitting coach. To my surprise and delight, she responded and referred me to Savanna Rainey (Marketing and Operations Manager). After a great meeting with Savanna, I was excited about this new venture and potentially being part of something special.
During our conversation, Savanna mentioned they were looking for a head coach. I immediately thought of my good friend Aaron Moore. I was the hitting coach on Aaron’s staff at Roosevelt University in Chicago. In addition to being a great coach, he also had experience as the general manager for the Chicago Bandits in National Pro Fastpitch. This dual skill set was perfect for the coaching, recruiting, and organizational requirements of the head coaching job. After the front office team met Aaron, they named him the first head coach of the Madison Night Mares. Soon after, he asked me to be part of this new adventure as his hitting coach. I enthusiastically agreed.
Play Ball!
After a few practices in early June and some team bonding, the Night Mares were ready to make history. On June 16, 2024, a huge crowd of Madison softball fans filled Warner Park to welcome a group of college players they would soon adopt.
(Opening Day against the La Crosse Steam)
The Night Mares came from all parts of the country and different levels of college softball. You would think this would create natural conflicts or cliques. Instead, their diversity turned out to be the glue that bonded these young women for a summer they would never forget.
To the delight of the players, NWL Softball turned out to be like summer camp. They ate, hung out, laughed, sang, and cried together. New friendships were established that will last a lifetime. Above all, these fun and talented young women traveled to Madison to play softball together!
(Halloween themed, “It’s a Night Mare on Sherman Avenue” night at the ballpark)
The Organizations
The success of the first NWL Softball season started with great organizations and visionary leaders. I had the honor of meeting two of the four owners.
Steve Schmitt is the owner of the Madison Mallards and Night Mares. He attended every game proudly wearing his Night Mares jersey. Steve was very visible in his usual seat high above home plate cheering on his new team with friends and family. It was obvious that he was proud of the young women who proudly wore teal and black.
Steve’s management and operations teams were also very visible at every home game. They were everywhere adding a distinctive touch to the gameday experience by interacting with fans and providing stellar customer service. I lead Customer Relationship Management workshops for companies throughout the country, so I know what great service looks like.
From the first day I walked into Warner Park, The Night Mares organization felt like family to me.
(The Night Mares, coaches, front office personnel, and staff members)
I also met Dan Kapanke, the owner of the La Crosse Steam. It was Dan who first suggested expanding the NWL to include softball to Dick and Kathy Radatz. He went out of his way to make our players and coaches feel welcome during our visits to his ballpark. From the time we arrived to the time we boarded our bus back to Madison, Dan made sure we had everything we needed.
Dan and I had several conversations about the bright future of NWL Softball. We agreed players will return to their college teams extolling their summer softball experience. Undoubtedly, the pool of players interested in joining the league next summer will be larger and they will be even more talented.
I would also like to recognize Kathryn Reynolds for her efforts on behalf of NWL Softball as the first President and Commissioner of the league. She and her team worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the day-to-day operations of the league ran smoothly. Kathryn will be integral to the expansion of the league into new cities and markets.
I had the chance to speak with Kathryn after the season was over. Here are some of her thoughts:
“The experience at Madison Night Mares games this summer embodied everything the Northwoods League is about. The Night Mares created a community gathering space, bringing people together through sport. The players came from around the country and had the opportunity to play in front of amazing crowds while improving their skills on the field and building lifelong friendships with teammates with a shared love for the game.”
The Ballpark Experience
Each new softball franchise invested in stadium improvements to accommodate the requirements of softball. This included installing artificial turf infields, portable outfield fences, and other protective barriers. The softball field set-up melded seamlessly in each baseball stadium.
I am biased, but there is no ballpark experience like Warner Park aka “The Duck Pond”. This is the home of the Madison Night Mares and Mallards. Something special awaits every fan entering the ballpark. Great food and beverage offerings, games for young fans, fun promotions and giveaways, and unique seating areas make The Duck Pond experience unique. Fans can sit in private suites, grass picnic areas, rooftops, reserved tables, the Goat Pen, and the famous Duck Blind.
(The Duck Pond, home of the Night Mares)
Like Minor League baseball ballparks, fans get the opportunity to be part of the show. At the end of every half inning, fans of all ages sang songs, danced, and played silly games.
My favorite fan activity was when the crowd encouraged a young softball player to hit a home run off a batting tee at home plate. As this little slugger started running around the bases, Night Mare players made entertaining intentional errors. The fans cheered wildly as the hitter was directed around the bases by the Night Mares, ending with a safe collision with our catcher. Miraculously, the runner was always safe when the ball popped out of the catcher’s glove. The smiles on the faces of these home run hitters lit up the stadium.
(The race around the park was another fun mid-inning activity)
One of the highlights of each pregame was the introduction of our leadoff hitter. A zip line extended from high above right field down to home plate. All the Night Mares had a chance to glide past the fans and opposing players with big smiles on their faces.
(Chloe Wamboldt’s zipped to home plate after she was introduced as the leadoff hitter)
A huge shout out to all the stadium employees and interns who worked tirelessly all summer. Special thanks to the folks who set-up the field, the trainers who took great care of the players from both teams, the clubhouse attendants, and the guys who shagged balls hit over the fence during early batting practice. Everyone associated with the Mallards loved the Night Mares.
I also want to thank Erin Pease, the public address announcer who pronounced my name correctly during pregame introductions!
Coaches
As I mentioned, it was fun to coach again with Aaron Moore. His collaborative coaching style was on display again this summer. He empowered pitching coach Arin Oppermann and me to work with the Night Mare players to help them achieve their personal goals for the season. Aaron’s leadership drove the team’s success on the field, and he gave the players space to have fun off the field.
(I was honored to spend the summer working with these two dedicated coaches)
I enjoyed interacting with the other coaches in the league. We were friendly rivals, but NWL Softball coaches were united in a pursuit to develop our respective players in a safe and positive atmosphere.
Jan Protsman, an assistant coach with the La Crosse Steam, is a fitting example of the coaching spirit that permeated each staff. Jan approached me early in the season for a copy of my book Hitting With Torque: For Baseball And Softball Hitters. I gladly gave him a copy and described the hitting keys I teach. Jan and I enjoyed multiple hitting conversations throughout the season. The sole objective of our discussions was to help each other improve the way we serve our hitters.
The Fans
The fans in each city were ready for NWL Softball. Not only were the crowds bigger than most college and professional games but they were also loud and animated. I felt a buzz in the stands every game at Warner Park. Fans of all ages came out to see talented college athletes playing the fast-paced game of elite softball most had only seen on television.
As the buzz about the Night Mares spread across the Madison area, the crowds became larger. Our last home game was the largest crowd of the season.
(Another large crowd cheering on their Night Mares)
The Night Mares and other teams in the league made themselves available to fans before and after games. This personal interaction was fun to watch and thrilling for the young players who were able to meet their local softball heroes. I have no doubt these autograph sessions will change the softball lives of these future NWL Softball stars.
(Postgame autograph sessions often lasted well after the game ended)
Each city did an excellent job inviting youth softball teams to their stadium for instructional clinics. Reaching out to the community was a key strategy that paid off handsomely. The stands in the stadium were always filled with young softball teams screaming, eating fun treats, and chasing foul balls. The popularity of softball in each of the four inaugural cities is sure to increase exponentially due solely to NWL Softball.
(The Night Mares led fun softball clinics throughout the summer and made many public appearances)
The Umpires
The umpires who called our games were outstanding. Most had D1 softball experience and were eager to be part of this new softball venture. Coaching first base afforded me the opportunity to speak with the umpires and get to know them personally. They all thought the NWL Softball model for players, coaches, and fans was unique and would be wildly successful in the future.
The Players
This is the most emotionally difficult section to write, especially after saying goodbye to the Night Mares after our last game. It was one of the privileges of my life to get to know and coach these young women.
One of the primary goals of NWL Softball is to provide an environment where players are free to work on their skills without judgment and play the game in a stress-free environment. Some players merely wanted to stay sharp over the summer, while others had different motives. Junior College players were looking to improve their chances to sign with a four-year school and others were hoping to break into the starting lineup of their college team in the fall. There were even a few players in the league without remaining college eligibility.
When I addressed the Night Mare hitters for the first time, I suggested three ways I could serve them. I could leave them alone to hit and just be a cheerleader, tweak their hitting mechanics, or help them change and transform their swing. I made it clear it would be their call if they wanted my help. It worked out exactly as I hoped.
I made myself available to them and they responded based on what they needed. It was fun to be that cheerleader and rewarding to see the increased power and consistency in the hitters who sought my advice.
I will miss dodging mosquitoes in the batting cage under the stands with the hitters who wanted extra swings. I will miss watching our hitters taking batting practice on the field before games. As the season went on, more and more balls exploded in the gaps and over the fence. I will miss the 2024 Night Mares!
(This is the sweet swing of All-Star Carly Oliver during the NWL Home Run Hitting Contest)
The Night Mares competed every inning of every game. I am proud of what they achieved individually and collectively as a team offense. Their statistics speak for themselves.
- Average: .330 (Highest in the league)
- Hits: 397 (Highest in the league)
- Doubles: 80 (Highest in the league)
- Triples: 13 (Second by 1 triple)
- Home Runs: 23 (Second in the league)
- Runs: 335 (Second by 8 runs)
- Runs/Game: 8!
- On-Base %: .423 (Virtually tied for highest in the league)
- Slugging %: .475 (Virtually tied for highest in the league)
- Walks: 180 (Second in the league)
- Strike Outs: 153 (Lowest in the league)
- Stolen Bases: 108 (Highest in the league)
(Every Night Mare hitter contributed to the offensive success of the team)
I could write about the Night Mare players all day. However, listing their names as Northwoods League Softball pioneers will have to do for now. Here they are:
- Addison Blomberg: South Dakota State University (2024 NWL Softball All-Star)
- Hilary Blomberg: University of Wisconsin-Madison (2024 NWL Softball All-Star)
- Tia Durst: University of Washington (2024 NWL Softball All-Star)
- Andrea Jaskowiak: University of Iowa
- Mia Johnson: University of Wisconsin-Parkside
- Sydney Jones: North Carolina Central University
- Holly Lowenberg: Bryant and Stratton College
- Dani Lucey: University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Karlie McKenzie: Eastern Illinois University (2024 NWL Softball All-Star)
- Carly Oliver: University of the Cumberlands (2024 NWL Softball All-Star)
- Haley Remington: University of Wisconsin-Parkside
- Rylee Rogers: Madison College
- Lexie Shaver: Kennesaw State University
- Brooke Steinhorst: Madison College
- Kayla Thomas: Campbell University
- Chloe Wamboldt: Rock Valley College
- Kendall Weik: Madison College
(Night Mare players with the team mascot “Midnight”)
Beyond The Statistics
Coaching has provided me with countless rewarding experiences. I have been thankful for the successes my hitters and teams have achieved over the years. But the achievements and statistics fade. What remains are the fond memories and lifelong relationships. Even though my summer with the Night Mares lasted only eight weeks, they blessed me in ways they are not aware of. I hope to continue as their long-distance hitting coach or as an advisor as they move into their chosen fields after college.
I also want to mention how much I enjoyed our pitching staff. Night Mare pitchers were tough, focused, and intense competitors. The spotlight shines bright on pitchers who are on an island in that small white circle. I am proud of how they all performed under difficult weather conditions and game situations. It was fun to help them better understand how to analyze the swings of opposing hitters to identify weaknesses. This talented group of pitchers is poised to excel when they return to campus for their fall and spring seasons.
(NWL Softball All-Star Karlie McKenzie)
A Word Of Caution
In addition to my coaching activities, I am also an adjunct college professor. Over the past few years, I have noticed an alarming increase in the anxiety levels of softball hitters and female college students. The causes vary, but one of the common themes is the pressure they feel from their college coaches and other adults in their lives.
As a coaching staff, we tried to be an oasis for the Night Mares. Our goal was not only to work with players to improve their softball skills but to help some of them regain their self-confidence if it was damaged. It was disturbing for me to hear stories about coaches who are needlessly critical and negative. The success the Night Mares enjoyed on the field was due to the positive atmosphere off the field.
I encourage coaches at every level who are reading this to re-evaluate if the messages they are intentionally or unintentionally sending to players are causing unnecessary stress. Playing softball is difficult enough without pressure caused by coaches who fail to recognize the power of positivity.
College softball players have a safe place in NWL Softball. This league will be known as a haven for players to recharge and renew their love for the game.
The Future Is Bright For Northwoods League Softball
It is hard to overstate the impact this new summer league had on the college softball players who participated. By every measure, this new venture surpassed all expectations. Don’t be surprised if NWL Softball comes to a Midwestern city near you.
I am thankful for NWL Softball and look forward to playing a role in the growth and popularity of the league in the future. I encourage players and coaches around the country to get on board.
My summer in Madison was not a nightmare. Rather, it was a dream season that I will always remember.
Maresup!
* Many of the photos courtesy of Aaron Meier
About Paul Petricca
In addition to writing this hitting blog, Paul is a hitting coach and the author of the book Hitting With Torque: For Baseball And Softball Hitters and his new children’s book Going Going Gone!. He is also a public speaker and provides unique customer engagement training through his company Torque Consulting. Paul teaches a Customer Relationship Management class to undergraduates at Wheaton College (IL) and MBA candidates at Loyola University Chicago, and DePaul University.