La Crosse adding team to newly formed Northwoods Softball League, team’s name will happen through contest

The La Crosse Loggers are ready to welcome a “sister” team to Copeland Park.

Loggers owner Dan Kapanke officially announced Tuesday that La Crosse will be part of the new Northwoods Softball League, which was announced a few months ago.

“So just think about right where you’re standing, we’re gonna have some of the best women college athletes in the United States, playin’ ball right here in front of us,” said Kapanke, during a news conference Tuesday at Logger Field. “And they’re gonna experience something that they’ve probably never experienced before: playing in a league, long bus rides, staying in the motels.”

The biggest question for the team, though, is ‘What will it be called?”

And we don’t have that answer, yet, because a public contest will take place to determine what the softball equivalent to the Loggers will be. But a public contest will take place to name the team. Head to LaXsoftball.com for more info on that.

Some of the changes for Loggers Field to be converted from baseball to softball will include a smaller diamond and outfield, as well as going from a pitching mound to softball’s pitching circle.

Kapanke said about 24 to 30 softball teams will be formed, to give college softball players a chance to play summer league and move to professional clubs.

Northwoods League owner Dick Radatz, Jr., was at the ballpark Tuesday, as well. He spoke with WIZM the day they made the announcement to bring on Northwoods League Softball.

“Dan Kapanke was the one who came to me with the idea last summer,” Radatz told WIZM, “and I thought to myself, God, that’s a great idea. And you think, well, somebody must have thought of this, why is nobody doing it?”

Officials from the Loggers and the La Crosse Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department also spoke about planning that has gone into the local project already.