University of Minnesota Athletics
Summer Success Leads Motl to NWL All-Star Game
7/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
2015 Northwoods League All-Star Rosters 
After a successful performance in the first half of the season, Minnesota outfielder Dan Motl was tabbed to the Northwoods League (NWL) All-Star Game. Motl will represent the Willmar Stingers on the North Division's squad in the annual midway game featuring the league's top players, Tuesday, July 21, at Witter Field in Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.
Motl is the lone Gopher to receive the honor of being named an all-star.
"It's going to be a lot of fun and it's huge to represent the Stingers and the Gophers," said Motl. "I've never been a part of something like that, so I'm curious to see how big it is because I know how big it is to the Northwoods League. It's going to be a fun atmosphere.
Motl leads the league with a .462 on-base percentage and holds the third-best batting average at .345. The soon-to-be senior also ranks in the top-10 among Northwoods League competition in a majority of the major hitting categories, sitting in fourth with 36 runs and fifth in doubles with 12.
The Burnsville, Minn. native is also tied for sixth with four triples and is positioned in seventh with a .500 slugging percentage through the first half of the season.
When it comes to the recent success, Motl has made just a minor change in his approach that's paying huge dividends.
"I changed my stance a little bit. I opened up my stance and I didn't do that in school where I was closed off. I'm a lot more open just so I can get to that inside pitch and that helps with my power.
"I've been able to hit a lot of extra-base hits - not necessarily home runs yet - but I've been able to hit more doubles and triples. It's something that I changed on my own with experimenting which kind of helps me get more power in my swing and see the ball better and make better contact, too.
The opening of Motl's stance has already helped the Gopher centerfielder go on prolonged hitting streaks, including a pair of six and five game streaks, and even featured a 10-game hitting streak from June 13-24 that blossomed his average 47 points during that span.
Though Motl has lead the Willmar Stingers on the field, he plans on translating that same role and performance come college baseball season.
"I've taken on a leadership role with my team this summer playing in centerfield. Guys come to me and ask me stuff about baseball. That's definitely going to carry over for me playing with the Gophers this year as a senior leader. We've blended well throughout the past.
As he approaches the second half of the Northwoods League season, Motl has drawn on how previous campaigns have prepared him for this moment in his backyard.
"The quality of baseball [in the NWL], you really can't beat it. The two best summer leagues in the country are the Cape Cod League and the Northwoods League, in my opinion. Northwoods is basically minor league baseball that will prepare for the next step after college baseball if you're lucky enough to play [professionally] in the future. Game after game, having the same schedule, guys from all over the country with a ton of skill, it's just a lot of fun.
"Last year, coming back to school, I felt so much better with my swing and my body because I was able to get on a workout plan in the summer. It's something I wanted to try and I didn't want to go really far, so I think that's a huge part of it.
Motl and the rest of the Northwoods League All-Stars take to the field on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m.
"The atmosphere is going to be awesome. It's a pretty cool event that will be a lot of fun for sure."
