By Nicholas Giannone | May 25th, 2026
ROYAL OAK, MI — The Battle Creek Battle Jacks opened the 2026 season with a 1-0 win on Memorial Day against the Royal Oak Leprechauns at Memorial Park.
This matchup proved to be a pitching duel from the very beginning, as Jackson Phelps dominated on the mound, while Drew Tolfree from the Royal Oak Leprechauns looked sharp in the season opener.
The Battle Jacks’ defence continued to steal the show throughout the night, with strong plays in the fourth, a double play to end the fifth, and a tumbling grab from Hunter Morgan to end the sixth proved to be critical.
The seventh inning opened the door offensively, as Jake Stedman drove in Christian Lopez to give the Battle Jacks a 1-0 lead.
Ian Junkin entered in relief for Phelps in the bottom half of the inning, looking to carry forward the momentum from the starter. In the eighth, the Leprechauns mounted pressure by loading the bases, but the threat was erased with a double play to end the inning.
Jacob Janisko came in relief to close out the game for the Battle Jacks in the bottom of the ninth, where he made no mistake, as the Battle Jacks opened the season with a 1-0 win.
The Battle Jacks finished the night with four hits, while committing one error.
The Battle Jacks continue their road trip on Tuesday against Royal Oak with an 11:00 am first pitch at Memorial Park.
About the Battle Jacks & the Northwoods League
The Battle Creek Battle Jacks are a proud member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. Entering its 33rd season, the 26-team Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in history, drawing significantly more fans in a more friendly ballpark experience than any league of its kind.
A valuable training ground for coaches, umpires, and front office staff, over 410 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson; three-time Cy Young Award winner and two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TOR); two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford; World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL); 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (BAL); and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (NYM).
