Kalamazoo, MI – The Kalamazoo Growlers have added two left handed pitchers to their inaugural season roster. Dillon Haviland of Duke University and Luke Bolka of East Carolina University will bring collegiate experience as well as dynamic arms to the Growlers pitching staff.
Dillon Haviland: 6’4”-205lb, LHP, Bats/L, Throws/L, Duke University (Jr.) McDonald, PA.
After redshirting in 2013, Haviland has made 19 appearances for the Blue Devils, totaling 19 innings pitched and racking up 21 strikeouts during his 2014 campaign. In 2013, Haviland was redshirted by the Blue Devils and did not see game action.
Haviland also made 12 appearances for the Blue Devils in 2012, striking out 15 batters in just 21 innings. As a freshman, Haviland made eight starts with 23 strikeouts in 46 innings for the Blue Devils, faring well against Atlantic Coast Conference opponents.
A four year letter-winner at South Fayette High School, Haviland threw three no-hitters and four one-hitters in his dominant high school career, and was picked up in the 2010 Major League Baseball First Year Amateur by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Haviland has also been an ACC Academic Honor Roll selection in every season with the Blue Devils.
The lefty will add a dynamic arm to aid the Growlers pitching staff in the 2014 season.
Luke Bolka: 6’0” – 202lb, LHP, Bats/R, Throws/L, East Carolina University (Fr.) Mechanicsville, VA.
Bolka has made five appearances for the Pirates in the 2014 season, so far.
The Virginia native was drafted in the 2013, MLB Draft by the Cincinnati Reds. At Atlee High School, Bolka was named team captain and earned second team All-State honors.
Bolka’s electric fastball headlines his impressive pitching array which will have an immediate impact for the Growlers this season.
The Growlers have also added temporary players Jeremy Carrell of Wayne State as well as Jacob Waters and Dylan Van Putten of Grand Rapids Community College to aid the Growlers in early season games.
The Growlers begin their inaugural 2014 season on the road as they take on the defending Northwoods League champions, the Madison Mallards on May 27th. The first home game of the year is on Friday, May 30th at Homer Stryker Stadium, when the Battle Creek Bombers come to Kalamazoo in the first of a five game home stand for the Growlers.
The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB).
All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit http://www.growlersbaseball.com.
