Battle Creek, MI – The Battle Creek Bombers team reports will give you an update on how the 2018 Bombers performing this spring for their collegiate ball clubs. As most of these players near the mid-way point of their season and break into divisional play.
This year’s Bombers roster features 6 players from the Mid-American Conference: 2 players from Eastern Michigan University, 2 players from Ball State University, and 2 players from Ohio University. Right-fielder Will Baker and his Ball State Cardinals have been on a roll, winning 5 of their last 6 games. Baker, in their last three games, has 2 runs and a RBI, to go along with his 1 for 2 batting effort in the Cardinals 13 to 5 win over Valparaiso University. In Athens, Ohio, the Bobcats have struggled lately after losing 5 of their last 7 games. But that is no fault to the Bombers duo of pitchers in Alex Kuster and Brett Manis. Kuster and Manis are both freshman for the Bobcats but are earning playing time. Kuster is a Michigan native from Lake Orion, where he was a Brother Rice Warrior in high school a year ago. Manis, also a Michigan native, played for Port Huron Northern last spring. Manis has seen the most playing time of the pair, most recently in their extra-innings loss to Morehead State.
In the Southeastern Conference, the Wofford Terriers have won an impressive 11 of their last 14 games. The Terriers feature two Bombers in Michael Brown and Alec Cargin. Cargin has been great from his designated hitter role in the last 2 games. He has batted 3 for 7, with 3 runs, 5 RBI’s, and a homerun.
In Murfreesboro, Tenn. the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders have the Bombers right-handed pitcher, Carter Bair. Bair saw his biggest start of the season against Lipscomb where he pitched 5.1 innings, allowing only 2 hits, 0 runs, 5 strikeouts, and 0 walks. Bair went on to earn the win for the outing.
Carter Bair isn’t the only “CB” initialed Bomber excelling during his collegiate season. California native Connor Bailey has been great at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. Bailey has played a huge role in the Bobcats winning 7 of their last 10 games. In that stretch, Bailey has batted 14 for 29, a .483 batting average, earning 10 runs, 13 RBI’s, and smacking 2 homeruns.
And while Connor Bailey has been sound from the plate, Bombers right-handed pitcher Michael McCraith has been solid for the Wheaton College Thunder. McCraith has seen 5 starts this year from the mound, and after he dropped his first game, he has since won 3 of this last 4 starts. McCraith averages just under 7 strikeouts per game, with an impressive 14 strikeout win against Rockford University. Although you never want to allow hits or runs as a pitcher, McCraith has done a good job at limiting the damage when he allows a hit. He has only allowed 2 hits for extra bases so far this season.
The home opener for the Bombers is approaching on May 31st against the Kalamazoo Growlers. Keep following player and team reports to keep up with the latest news on the Battle Creek Bombers.
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The Battle Creek Bombers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Entering its 25th anniversary season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 20 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, 190 former 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 (TOR). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit www.battlecreekbombers.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Bombers as your favorite team.
