KALAMAZOO, MI- The Kalamazoo Growlers were hoping a comeback was in the cards for a second straight night against the Lakeshore Chinooks, but a dominant ninth inning from Lakeshore ended those hopes, as the Chinooks defeated Kalamazoo 12-2 at Homer Stryker Field on Wednesday.
It looked as if Kalamazoo and Lakeshore were heading for another tight finish as Kalamazoo trailed 3-2 heading into the ninth, but Lakeshore distanced themselves from the Growlers with a nine run, six hit ninth inning.
The ninth began positively as Kalamazoo lefty Sam Springer struckout Connor Christman, but then a base hit by Lakeshore’s Alex Stevenson (4 for 5) began the avalanche. The next six hitters reached for Lakeshore on only two hits, with all six of the hitters and Stevenson coming around to score.
An unfortunate ninth spoiled the brilliant debut of Kalamazoo native Adam Wheaton. Wheaton, who attended Kalamazoo Hackett High School, pitched a brilliant 7.1 IP, only surrendering three runs (two earned), on seven hits, striking out four.
The Growlers grabbed an early 2-0 lead, with runs in the second and third. A sacrifice fly from Austin Krzeminiski in the second scoring Jared Miller (2 for 3, 3 SB), and a solo homerun in the third by Donald Ring (1 for 4, HR, RBI) gave Kalamazoo the lead.
Wheaton was pegged with the loss after Lakeshore took a 3-2 lead in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Sebastian Holte-Mancera (2 for 3, RBI), and a passed ball scoring Stevenson, who reached base by bunting for a single.
Nate Odahl was the winning pitcher for the Chinooks, throwing five innings of two run, three hit baseball; walking four and striking out one.
The Growlers fell to 1-1 on the season after the blowout loss, but will begin a crucial early-season series against rival Battle Creek. The Growlers are looking to capture the I-94 cup against the Bombers, with the series beginning Thursday in Battle Creek at 11:05.
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The Kalamazoo Growlers 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.growlersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Growlers as your favorite team.