February 19, 2020

By Bryan Graham

Thunder Bay Border Cats

Thunder Bay, Ont. - The Thunder Bay Border Cats are proud to announce that outfielder Jakob Newton will be returning for his second year with the club for the 2020 Northwoods League season.

Newton, a native of Oakville, Ont., led the Border Cats in several offensive categories last season including hits (64), runs scored (33), walks (38), stolen bases (29), and at-bats (219). He also appeared in a team high 61 games and set a franchise record by reaching base safely in 41 consecutive games. Newton was second among regulars with a .292 batting average and also added three home runs, 23 runs batted in while compiling an on-base percentage of .396.

The 6’3”, 185 pound left-handed hitter is in his junior season at Florida Tech University in Melbourne and will be reunited in Thunder Bay with Border Cats manager Mike Steed, who he played under in the Ontario Blue Jays junior baseball program.

The Border Cats currently have 26 players under contract for the 2020 season with more player signings to be announced in the coming weeks.

The Cats open the 2020 regular season at Port Arthur Stadium on Tuesday, May 26, at 7:05 pm against the Eau Claire Express.

The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Having completed its’ 26th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 230 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB All-Stars Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App
on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.