The Insider: NWL expands to Rockford

The Northwoods League announced on Tuesday that it has awarded a franchise to the Rockford, Illinois, area for the 2016 season. The franchise will be owned and operated by Rockford Baseball Properties, LLC and will play its home games at a to-be renamed stadium in Loves Park.
The team is owned by Dick Radatz, a co-founder of the Northwoods League. Chad Bauer, the team’s general manager, has successfully launched new Northwoods League teams in Green Bay and Mequon, Wisconsin.
With the addition of Rockford to the South Division, the La Crosse Loggers will move from the South to the North Division for the 2016 season.
Wolves announce agreement with WCCO
The Minnesota Timberwolves and CBS RADIO’s 830 WCCO-AM announced Wednesday they have signed a new multi-year radio partnership beginning with the team’s upcoming 2015-16 season. Under the partnership, WCCO will continue as the team’s flagship radio station, a designation it has held since the 2011-12 NBA season.
As the radio home of Timberwolves basketball, WCCO will broadcast all of the team’s 82 regular season games this season. Alan Horton returns for his ninth season as the Wolves play-by-play announcer and will team up with studio host John Focke to produce the 30-minute pre- and post-game shows that are featured on-air and streamed online at www.wcco.com for every game.
Bulthuis sinks hole-in-one
Dustin Bulthuis hit a hole-in-one on Tuesday night at Valley Golf Course in Willmar.
Bulthuis aced the par four No. 6 hole from 250 yards using a 3-hybrid club.