Sports Realm

The University of Northern Iowa was known to have a baseball team that use to take part in the NCCA Division I. The team was known as Northern Iowa Panthers baseball. The team was based in Cedar Falls, Iowa however that is no longer the case. The University of Northern Iowa has discontinued the program at their university from this year.

Their head coach during the time was Rick Heller who served for the team for a period of ten years. Their home stadium, Waterloo Riverfront Stadium had a capacity of holding up to 4277 fans and spectators. The nick name for the team was panthers. Seeing as baseball at university level no longer exits, we focus our attention towards the minor league teams.

Iowa is known to have four Class A teams in the Midwest league. The teams are Burlington Bees, Cedar Rapids Kernels, Clinton LumberKings and Quad Cities River Bandits. Even though this league is not followed as some of the others, it is one that has not been behind in generating stars that have made it to professional level. We are going to take a look at some of the players that have made it to major league through the minor league teams.

Kenn Anthony Kasperk is one of them who received a draft from Chicago Cubs in the year 2004. Born on 23rd Sept. 1985 in Texas, he was very young when he received the draft and turned it down. In 2007 he received another draft from the Washington Nationals, which once again he turned down.

However, he decided to take up the offer from Seattle Mariners in 2008 and was drafted during the Major League Baseball draft in the 12th round. Kenn has made quite an impression early in his career with the Seattle Mariners.

Many are of the view that Kenn, being young and with many years of playing lying ahead of him, with his prowess in right handed batting and bowling will be a force to reckon with in the future.

Danny Almonte born on the 24th Sept. 1988 in Miami Florida is another player just like Kenn, but even younger. When Danny was drafted into Major Baseball League by the Seattle Mariners while still at school, he managed to put some time on the game while playing for little league.

It wasn’t long till he tried for something more challenging at national level where his talent was noticed. Being a switcher in his batting and a right handed thrower, he has already caught the eye of many other teams. Depending on how he progresses in the future, there is a high chance that other teams may try to sign him on.

Jerry Nyman who initially played for Chicago White Sox was later signed on as the now famous coach of the Midwest League who trained the players for many years.

Freddie Brister is a big fan of College Baseball check out his: BYU Watch