Kalamazoo, MI – Following a Northwoods League championship in 2022, the Growlers return the majority of their coaching staff for 2023.

Manager Cody Piechocki returns for his 8th season at the helm of the Growlers. Piechocki has led the Growlers to playoff appearances in 2018, ’19, ’20 and ’22. Steve Bennecke also returns for his fifth season overall with the team and will serve as the assistant coach in 2023. Bennecke is the current head coach at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. Pitching coach Ben Harley is back for his second season. Harley currently serves as the head coach at Centralia College in Centralia, WA.  The only new addition to the Growlers staff is hitting coach Kyle Houts. Houts currently serves as the Associate Head Coach at Lane University in Jackson, Tennessee. Houts is originally from Spring Lake, MI.

###

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. Now in its’ 29th 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, 300 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including three-time All-Star and 2016 Roberto Clemente Award winner Curtis Granderson, three-time Cy Young Award winner and World Series Champion Max Scherzer (NYM), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (SFG) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (BOS). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2021 All-Star, MLB Gold Glove winner and 2019 Second Team All-MLB shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League website. League games are viewable live at watchnwl.com and on ESPN+. 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.