KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Growlers are excited to announce that Field Manager Cody Piechocki, will be returning to the role in the 2020 Northwoods League season. 2020 will be Piechocki’s eighth season as a coach in the Northwoods League and fourth year as Field Manager with the Kalamazoo Growlers. Previously from 2014 – 2016, Piechocki served as the Growlers hitting and fielding coach.

On his return to Homer Stryker Field, Coach Piechocki said “It’s great to be returning to the Kalamazoo Growlers for the 2020 season. From the fans to the ushers, the Growlers have become family to us.”

Looking towards the 2020 season, Piechocki stated “I’m excited about the upcoming season and the group of guys we’ve got coming in. As a team, 2020 is about reaching that next milestone. When I took the job the goal was to win, then it was to get to the playoffs and now it’s time to take that next step and win a championship. That’s our mindset for everything we’re doing, to bring a championship to Kalamazoo.”

Brian Colopy, Vice President of the Kalamazoo Growlers said “We’re excited to have Cody back in Kalamazoo. He’s a fantastic role model for our players as well as being a contributor to the community and to our fans.”

Coach Piechocki enters his eighth season as head coach of the Kalamazoo Valley CC baseball program. In 2016 Valley received its first national ranking in program history, getting as high as #19 in the NJCAA poll. Under Piechocki’s guidance, the Cougars also received the program’s first Rawling’s Gold Glove Award and first Marucci Elite Hitter Award in 2014. Valley has been honored by the NJCAA and MCCAA for team academic awards twice during Piechocki’s tenure.

Previously, he spent three seasons as the assistant coach for Bernie Vallier in which time the program set the mark twice for wins in a season with 40 in 2012 and 35 in 2010. Piechocki spent two years, 2008 and 2009, as an assistant coach at Kalamazoo College where he served as the catcher/hitting coach as well as having a large role in the recruiting process. In 2007, Piechocki was a varsity assistant baseball coach at Mattawan High School where he worked primarily with the catchers and hitters.

Piechocki played baseball at Mattawan High School and one season at Glen Oaks Community College before suffering a career-ending injury. He was a three-year varsity letter winner at Mattawan High School, and earned First Team All-SMAC, First Team All-District and Second Team All-Region honors as a catcher/third baseman. Piechocki is a graduate and proud alumni of Western Michigan University.

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The Kalamazoo Growlers are a 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. Having completed 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 230 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC) and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and MLB All-Stars Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (MIA). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League portal. For more information, visit growlersbaseball.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Booyah as your favorite team.