A long two-run home run from Josh Sears propelled the Battle Creek Bombers to an 8-5 comeback victory over the Kokomo Jackrabbits on Sunday afternoon.
Battle Creek got on the board first in the top of the second inning. Back-to-back doubles from Jorge Gutierrez and Michael Morrissette put the Bombers up 1-0 off of Jackrabbits starter Ryan Stacy. Battle Creek would add one more in the top of the third inning as Sears doubled home Kelby Weyler to give the Bombers some insurance.
The Jackrabbits offense would hop to life in the third inning, though. Back-to-back walks, an RBI single from Austin Elder, a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded, and wild pitch gave Kokomo a 3-2 lead off of Battle Creek starting pitcher Jordan Rhodes.
An inside-the-park home run from Ben Livorsi in the bottom of the fifth inning then extended the Jackrabbits lead. Battle Creek centerfielder Kolby Johnson dove for a fly ball but couldn’t knock it down, as the ball rolled all the way to the wall and Livorsi scored.
By the sixth inning, both teams were into their bullpens, but it was the seventh inning that saw the Battle Creek comeback. A double from pinch-hitter Josh Sheck started off the frame, and an RBI single from Weyler and double from Caleb Balgaard cut the deficit to 5-4. Sears then stepped to the plate and delivered the go-ahead two-run home run.
Battle Creek would add two more runs in the top of the eight inning as four walks brought home one run, and Weyler delivered a sacrifice fly to give the Bombers an 8-5 lead.
Battle Creek then turned to Beaux Bonvillain for the eighth inning, who navigated through a scoreless frame. Mitchell Lee was called on to work the bottom of the ninth, and initially ran into trouble, allowing the first two batters to reach base. With the tying run at the plate, Lee then retired the next three batters in order to give the Bombers the win in the final matchup with Kokomo this season. Battle Creek will return home on Monday, as they host the Kenosha Kingfish at C.O. Brown Stadium.
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.
