FOND DU LAC, Wis. (WFRV) – Local 5 News joined the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders for WFRV Night on Wednesday, bringing coverage and conversation to the ballpark during their game against the Lakeshore Chinooks.
Local 5’s Kaitlin Corbett, Storm Team 5’s Ryan Kudish and sports reporter Kyle Malzhan were on hand, discussing the Dock Spiders’ season in the Northwoods League, their commitment to fan engagement, and former players who’ve advanced to the next level.
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While Wednesday’s skies were overcast and brought some light rain earlier in the day, the weather didn’t dampen the experience.
Corbett caught up with longtime public address announcer Paul Lidtke about day-to-day stadium operations and also spoke with interns who help manage promotions and fan activities.
Malzhan, a Fond du Lac native and former Dock Spiders employee during their 2018 championship season, spoke about player host families and shared stories from his time with the team — including a look at the championship ring staff received that year.
Since their founding in 2017, the Dock Spiders have sent a few names to the majors. Milwaukee Brewers infielder Caleb Durbin is among the notable alumni, along with Tampa Bay Rays catcher Nick Fortes and Chicago White Sox first baseman Tim Elko.
This season, Fond du Lac sits just below the .500 mark but still has several games remaining.
Outfielder Jarren Sanderson, who plays college ball at California State Northridge, is hitting .331 with 42 runs batted in. First baseman Matt Hansen from BYU has also stood out, batting .314 with 21 RBIs and a .918 OPS. Slugger TP Wentworth, a freshman at Clemson University, leads the team with six home runs while hitting .260 with 26 RBIs in 38 games. On the mound, Fond du Lac native Ethan Cole — who plays collegiately at Augustana University — has compiled a 4-1 record with 33 strikeouts and a 4.32 ERA across 33.1 innings pitched.
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The Northwoods League, founded in 1994, is the largest organized summer collegiate baseball league in the world with 26 teams. It has helped develop more than 370 players who’ve reached Major League Baseball.
Notable alumni include Curtis Granderson, Max Scherzer, Ben Zobrist, Brandon Crawford, Chris Sale, Pete Alonso, and Marcus Semien. Nearly 2,400 NWL players have been drafted by MLB organizations.
