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Kenosha Kingfish
The Kenosha Kingfish are a baseball team that plays in the collegiate summer Northwoods League. Based in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Kingfish play their home games at Simmons Field. HistoryKenosha has been the home of multiple minor league baseball teams (Kenosha Twins, Kenosha Mammoths, Kenosha Kroakers) prior to the establishment of the Kingfish franchise in 2013. Fans submitted suggestions for the team's name, and the winning suggestion of 'Kingfish' was revealed at the team's launch party on November 23, 2013.[2] Season summarys2014 (Inaugural Season)The Kingfish opened the 2014 season on the road, and played their first home series at the newly renovated Simmons Field on the weekend of May 31 and June 1. They finished the 2014 season with a 41–30 record in the Northwoods League South Division, narrowly missing the playoffs by half a game.[3] 2015The Kingfish finished 2015 with a regular season record of 48–24.[4] After beating the La Crosse Loggers 7–2 in Game 1 of the Divisional Playoffs[5] and the Madison Mallards 2–1 in a close Game 2,[6] the Kingfish defeated the St. Cloud Rox, in 2 games, to win their first Northwoods League Summer Collegiate World Series.[7] 2016 (All Star Weekend)The Kingfish sat at the bottom of their division for most of the season, finishing 26–46 and 9th (out of 9) in the South Division.[8][9] The Kingfish also held the 2016 NWL All Star Game with the home run derby being on the Kenosha Harbor, leading to Lake Michigan.[10] 2016 was also the Kingfish's highest attendance in a season. 2017Kenosha started the year as one of the best teams in the Northwoods League South Division accumulating a 28–17 record. But an 8–19 finish to the year had Kenosha with a 36–36 record by the end of the season. They were eliminated from playoff contention following game #71. 2018The Kingfish finished 2018 with a regular season record of 41–31.[11] They made the postseason for the second time in team history, thanks to a 28–10 second half record. However, they were eliminated in Game 1 of the Divisional Playoffs by the Kalamazoo Growlers.[12] 2020 (Battle of Kenosha)Since the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the Northwoods League, the Kingfish played 26 games, all at Simmons Field, against the K-Town Bobbers and won the “Battle of Kenosha” trophy.[13] 2023 (10 Seasons)This season was the Kingfish's 10th season in the Northwoods League and the first year the Northwoods League started using MLB's pitch clock rule, to speed up the pace of the game.[14] Kenosha started the year accumulating a 17–16 record. But a 14–25 finish to the year had Kenosha with a 31–41 record by the end of the season. They were eliminated from playoff contention following game #71. 2024Simmons Field got a massive renovation, adding a turf playing surface, and a new scoreboard.[15] The Kingfish started the first half of the season with a 16–20 record, second to last in the division. But a 15–21 finish to the year had Kenosha with a 31–41 record by the end of the season. They were eliminated from playoff contention. Alternate IdentitiesThe Kingfish have adopted numerous Identities over the years. Here are the ones they used. Kenosha KickersThe Kingfish hosted a Home Alone night, which they rebranded to the Kenosha Kickers, a scene from the movie, that included a jersey auction after the game.[16] Kenosha TwinsThe Kenosha Twins were a Minor League Baseball team that played in Kenosha, from 1984 to 1992. They began playing in the Midwest League in 1984. The team played their home games at Simmons Field. The Twins won two championships, in 1985 and 1987, and were Northern Division champions for the first half of the 1988 season. In 2024, the Kingfish honored the 40th anniversary of the team moving to Kenosha with a jersey auction at the end of the game. Kenosha CometsThe Kenosha Comets were a women's professional baseball team that played from 1943 through 1951 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. They played their home games at Simmons Field. In 2023, they rebranded as the Comets wearing green jerseys with a white K in the middle and in the hats, a white K, for Kenosha. MascotKing Elvis the First, an orange fish, is the mascot of the Kingfish. Before home games, he rides an ATV from the left field foul pole. He used to ride a zipline down the left field foul pole to deliver the ball for the first pitch.[17] In 2022, Green Bay Packers player A. J. Dillon went viral for doing an oklahoma drill, knocking out Elvis’ head.[18] Kingfish in the ProsYearly Attendance
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