The Battle Creek Bombers fell twice to the Traverse City Pit Spitters on Sunday afternoon. Battle Creek lost the first game 5-3, before the Pit Spitters broke open the second matchup for a 10-0 Traverse City win.
The Bombers and Pit Spitters began play on Sunday just before noon, as they resumed Saturday’s suspended game. The contest picked up in the bottom of the sixth inning, with Traverse City leading 5-3. Battle Creek’s Mitchell Lee and Traverse City’s Chase Gearing traded scoreless innings as neither team put up a run through the remainder of the game. Gearing was credited with the save, as the Battle Creek win streak was halted at two.
Game Two was also a nine-inning contest, and Traverse City got out to an early lead that they would hold. Jake Wilson recorded an RBI single in the top of the first inning off of Battle Creek starter James Reilly to put the Pit Spitters on the board. Traverse City would break out in the second inning, sending all nine batters to the plate and scoring five more runs. The inning, which saw two Bombers pitchers on the mound, featured four walks and two singles.
Traverse City would add three more runs in the top half of the third to lead 9-0. The two teams combined for twelve pitchers, as each squad threw six different arms. Nick Klee made his Battle Creek debut, and Trevor Smisek impressed by striking out the side in the fourth inning. The Bombers also pitched three position players, including usual catcher Gabe Sotres, second baseman Michael Lee, and left fielder Trace Peterson. Battle Creek could only muster one hit in Game Two, a bunt single by Jack Merrifield. The Pit Spitters also combined to walk two batters while striking out seven Battle Creek batters.
The Northwoods League season is now put on hold, as all eyes turn to Waterloo, Iowa for the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. Battle Creek’s Josh Sears will participate in both events, representing the Great Lakes division. The Bombers’ next game is Thursday night, as they welcome the Rockford Rivets to 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.
