Madison Night Mares
| Madison Night Mares | |
|---|---|
| Information | |
| League | Northwoods League |
| Location | Madison, Wisconsin |
| Ballpark | Warner Park |
| Founded | 2024 |
| League championships | (2) 2025, 2026 |
| Colors | Teal, yellow, brown, dark gray |
| Ownership | Steve Schmitt |
| President | Vern Stenman |
| General manager | Samantha Rubin |
The Madison Night Mares are a fastpitch softball team that plays in the softball branch of the collegiate summer Northwoods League, also known as Northwoods League Softball (NWLS). The Night Mares play their home games at Warner Park in Madison, Wisconsin.
History
[edit source]In May 2023, the Northwoods League announced that they were creating a summer collegiate softball league to begin play in 2024. Explaining the rationale, co-founder Kathy Radatz said “We have seen tremendous growth in interest in women’s softball in recent years, and we are excited to be able to provide a platform for female athletes to continue to hone their skills and compete at a high level during the summer months.”[1]
In January 2024, the ownership group of the Madison Mallards announced that they would be creating a collegiate summer softball team to participate in the first season of the NWLS, with plans to equip Warner Park with an artificial turf infield, a portable pitcher's mound, and a movable outfield fence.[2]
In conjunction with Madison being announced as one of the inaugural NWLS franchises, the team launched a submit-a-name campaign that yielded four finalists: Swamp Angels, Thunder Chickens, Lake Muensters, and Night Mares. Night Mares was chosen as the team identity, with logos depicting a mare and a color schedule centered around black, white, and teal.[3]
In summer 2024, Madison joined with teams in La Crosse, Wisconsin; Mankato, Minnesota; and Minot, North Dakota in the inaugural season of the upstart softball league. Madison finished the season with a 25–17 record, good for second place.[4]
In 2025, NWLS expanded to five teams with the addition of Wausau, Wisconsin, and held the league's first playoff series. In the regular season, Madison posted a record of 35–7, significantly better than the next best team at 21-21. They swept a 3-game playoff series against Minot and won their first NWLS championship.[5]
The 2025 Night Mares had several individual players with excellent seasons, with a league-leading six players named to the post-season all-star team.[6] Hilary Blomberg won NWLS Player of Year after leading the league in home runs (11) and RBI (47), as well as maintaining a .407 batting average on the season. Karlie McKenzie won NWLS Pitcher of the Year after leading the league in wins (10) and tallying 59 strikouts. Lexi Godwin was named NWLS Coach of the Year after leading the team to their excellent regular season record and championship victory.[7]
In 2026, the Night Mares won their first 16 games in a row before finally falling to the Wausau Ignite 13–10 in the first game of June 28 doubleheader.[8] They ultimately set an NWLS record for full season wins, finishing at 36–6.[9]
In June, former pitcher Paytn Monticelli became the first NWLS alum to play professional softball, debuting with the Atlanta Smoke of the Professional Softball League. Monticelli pitched for the Night Mares in 2025, in the summer between her junior year at Oklahoma and senior year at LSU.[10]
The Ignite finished the season with a 21–19 record, earning the right to compete with Madison for the NWLS championship in a best of three series. Game 1 was held in Wausau on 8/3, with the Night Mares winning 3–1. Game 2 was held in Madison on 8/5, with the Night Mares winning 7–1, sweeping the Ignite and winning their second consecutive NWLS championship.[11]
The 2026 Night Mares had several individual players with excellent seasons, with a league-leading eight players selected to the All-Star Game[12] (held at Warner Park) as well as the post-season all-star team.[13] Hilary Blomberg won NWLS Player of Year for the second year in a row, setting a new NWLS home run record with 20.[14] She also led the league in RBI (59) and batting average (.471) among full-season players. Ryan Maddox won the NWLS Pitcher of the Year award, leading the league in ERA (3.37) and tying the lead with 10 wins. Kara Hammock was named NWLS Co-Coach of Year after leading the Night Mares to their record season of success.[15]
Player highlights
[edit source]Full-season All-Stars
[edit source]The following players have been selected as NWLS Post-Season All Stars, honoring their performance over the course of the full softball season.
| Year | Player | Pos. | College |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Carly Oliver | 2B | Cumberlands |
| Tia Durst | SS | Washington | |
| Hilary Blomberg | 3B/UTL | Wisconsin | |
| Addie Blomberg | OF | South Dakota State | |
| Karlie McKenzie | P | Eastern Illinois | |
| 2025 | Emma Kavanagh | 1B/UTL | Arizona |
| Hilary Blomberg | UTL | Wisconsin | |
| Ava Carroll | OF | Washington | |
| Ella Stephenson | OF | Michigan | |
| Paytn Monticelli | P | LSU | |
| Karlie McKenzie | P | Eastern Illinois | |
| 2026 | Hilary Blomberg | C | Wisconsin |
| Tele Jennings | 1B | Arizona | |
| Mickayla Tosch | SS | Wichita State | |
| Ava Carroll | OF | Washington | |
| Danielle Lucey | OF | Wisconsin | |
| Ryan Maddox | P | Washington | |
| Andrea Jaskowiak | P | Colorado State | |
| Kendall Weik | P | NC State |
References
[edit source]- ↑ "Northwoods League announces new women's summer collegiate softball league". BallparkDigest.com. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ↑ Reichard, Kevin. "Mallards add Northwoods League Softball team; league to launch with four teams". BallparkDigest.com. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ↑ Hammond, Mel. "Welcome to our Night Mares". Isthmus. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ↑ "Standings". NorthwoodsLeague.com. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ↑ Peek, Jenny. "Madison Night Mares win Northwoods League Softball championship". WPR.org. Retrieved March 10, 2026.
- ↑ "2025 Northwoods League Softball Postseason All-Stars" (PDF). Northwoods League. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
- ↑ "Northwoods League Softball Announces 2025 Postseason All-Stars". Northwoods League. 2025-08-04. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
- ↑ Northwoods League (2026-06-28). "Wausau Erupts in 13-10 Thriller to Stun Undefeated Madison". Northwoods League. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
- ↑ Northwoods League (2026-08-01). "Madison Night Mares Set League Wins Record in Regular Season Finale". Northwoods League. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
- ↑ Northwoods League (2026-07-06). "Paytn Monticelli is the First Northwoods League Softball Alum to go Pro". Northwoods League. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
- ↑ Northwoods League (2026-08-05). "Madison Claims Back-to-Back Titles with Championship Win Over Ignite". Northwoods League. Retrieved 2026-08-06.
- ↑ "Northwoods League Softball Announces 2026 All-Star Selections". Northwoods League. 2026-07-02. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
- ↑ "Northwoods League Softball Postseason Awards" (PDF). Northwoods League. 2026-08-17. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
- ↑ "Blomberg's Historic 20th Homer Powers Night Mares Rout". Northwoods League. 2026-08-02. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
- ↑ "Northwoods League Softball Announces 2026 Postseason All-Stars". Northwoods League. 2026-08-17. Retrieved 2026-08-17.
- ↑ "2024 NWL Softball Postseason All-Star Team" (PDF). Northwoods League. 2024-08-09. Retrieved 2026-08-26.
