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Published On: January 14th, 2019

KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kalamazoo Growlers are thrilled to announce that Field Manager, Cody Piechocki, will be returning to the role in the upcoming 2019 season. 2019 will be Piechocki’s seventh season as a coach in the Northwoods League and third year as Field Manager with the Kalamazoo Growlers. Previously from 2014 – 2016, Piechocki served as the Growlers hitting and fielding coach.

Piechocki is looking forward to returning to Homer Stryker Field, “Honored and truly blessed to be returning for another summer with the Kalamazoo Growlers. This organization from the fans to the ushers to the kids zone operators and the front office have truly become like a family to us.”

Reflecting on last season’s record breaking success, Piechocki stated, “ Last summer we were able to make strides towards the ultimate goal of winning a Northwoods League championship. A season that saw many franchise records broken and most importantly advancing to the NWL South Championship and getting back the Crosstown Cup. We have put together another championship caliber roster as we venture into a new division for the 2019 summer.”

Brian Colopy, Vice President Kalamazoo Growlers said “Having Cody back is exciting for our organization. He is a tremendous leader for our players and a big contributor to the community and our fans”

Coach Piechocki enters his seventh 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 Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 25-year old summer collegiate 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), World Series Champions Ben Zobrist (CHC), Brandon Crawford (SFG) and Chris Sale (BOS). As well as MLB All-Stars Jordan Zimmermann (DET) and Curtis Granderson (MIL). 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.