TRAVERSE CITY, MI., – Battle Creek traveled to Traverse City for the last time of the season and will want to forget the first game of the series. The Pit Spitters exploded for 23 runs on 17 hits and defeated the Bombers 23-6

Battle Creek actually scored first in the game. In the top of the third, Matt Catalfo singled. He up to second on a wild pitch and then to third on a ground out. When going to third, the throw from Jake Arnold to third was wild and allowed Catalfo to score.

However, Traverse City would bat around in the bottom half of the inning and score seven runs. Two singles, a double, a triple, and three walks gave the Pit Spitters a 7-1 lead. That was not the only big inning for Traverse City though. 17 batters came up in the fourth when they scored 11 runs. Eight walks, a hit by pitch, and five hits as the Traverse City lineup continued to do damage and they led 18-1 after four innings.

That is when the rain was supposed to come through, but the storm stayed too north, and the worst amount of rain was minor drizzle. Sy Snedeker, Catalfo, and new Bomber Javier Vaz, led off the top of the fifth with a single, walk, and single respectively to load the bases. Other new Bomber Isaac Raab pinch hit for Jack Merrifield and got an RBI walk. Aaron Beck drove in Catalfo with an RBI sacrifice fly.

Two more runs for Traverse City in the fifth and three more in the sixth gave them the 20-run lead. One good sign for Battle Creek was new left-handed pitcher Micah Gibson. Gibson pitched two innings and only gave up one hit while striking out three batters. He was the only pitcher to not give up a run for the Bombers.

Battle Creek scored three more in the ninth and that was it. They fall to 3-6 in the second half and get ready for a scheduled double header in Traverse City on Thursday. First pitch of game one at 11:05 AM with game two set for 7:05 PM.

By Josh Baker