Battle Creek fought valiantly against the Jackrabbits but could not complete the eight run comeback as they would fall short to the Jackrabbits 9-7.

Kokomo kicked off the scoring in the second inning after a Chase Keng one-out walk and  stolen base set up Michael Cleary. Cleary singled to score Keng and then stole second to set up Logan Jarvis. Jarvis singled to score Cleary and the Jackrabbits took an early 2-0 lead.

 

Battle Creek found their first run just two innings later as Caleb Balgaard led off with a single. It was two more singles from Josh Sears and Kelby Weyler that would move and eventually score Balgaard.

 

Kokomo then busted the game open in the bottom of the fourth inning with six runs. A lead off walk followed by three singles would score two runs. An intentional walk would load the bases but another walk after that would score another. A Jack Kraus sacrifice fly would score the fourth of the inning for Kokomo and then it was another single followed by a double that would score the fifth and sixth run.

 

Kokomo added to their lead in the fifth with another run. A walk and a stolen base followed by a fly ball would put Brandon Chinea at third where he would score on a passed ball.

 

Battle Creek showed great tenacity as they battled all the way to the ninth inning. In the top of the seventh with two on Balgaard crushed a ball to left field and the three-run homer put battle creek back within five. 

 

The Bombers would add one in the eighth as Michael Morissette was driven in from first base on a Jack Merrifield triple.

 

Trailing 9-5 entering the top of the ninth the Bombers weren’t done just yet. Battle Creek led off with singles from Kolby Johnson, Michael Lee, and Balgaard to score one. With two outs down by three, Morissette singled to score one and keep the Bombers alive but the comeback would fall just short. Battle Creek would lose to the Jackrabbits 9-7.

 

Battle Creek faces off with Kokomo again tomorrow at 1:05. 

The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Currently in its’ 26th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 22 teams, drawing significantly more fans, in a friendly ballpark experience, than any league of its kind. A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires and front office staff, over 200 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (MIA). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.