KALAMAZOO, MI – The Kenosha Kingfish beat the Kalamazoo Growlers 6-0 Sunday at Homer Stryker Field. The loss continues the Growlers’ losing streak and puts the team’s record at 4-15.
The game was largely a pitching duel until the 8th inning. Kalamazoo starting pitcher Blake Therrian went 7.1 innings giving up 3 runs (2 earned) while Kenosha starter Quinn Snarskis went 6 innings giving up no runs and 3 hits.
Kenosha got their first run after designated hitter Derek Bangert reached base after an error by third baseman Ivan Estrella. Bangert then advanced to third after first baseman Max Widmar doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by catcher Cameron Comer.
The Growlers threatened to tie the game at 1 in the bottom of the seventh. Kenosha brought on Seth Rosenberg to pitch and third baseman Ivan Estrella singled off him to start the inning. After two wild pitches, Estrella stood on third with no one out. Left fielder Ryan Mergener had a battle of an at bat end in a strikeout for the first out. Designated hitter Kaleb Murphy was put away quickly after a popout and first baseman Andrew Huff flew out for the last out of the inning.
The game changed course in the eighth, when Kenosha took control scoring 4 runs. Left fielder Chris Botsoe singled and a wild pitch by Therrian advanced him to second. A walk to center fielder Jack Yelowitz ended Therrian’s day, as new Growler Beau Ridgeway entered the game.
Ridgeway got Derek Bangert to hit a soft ground ball to the right of the mound that looked perfect for a double play, but the ball deflected off Ridgeway’s glove leaving no play and all three runners safe.
Third baseman Tim Millard then hit a sacrifice fly to score Botsoe, making the score 2-0. Next, Max Widmar stepped up and singled in a run to make it 3-0. Then, right fielder Mike Madej singled in two more runs to make the score 5-0 to Kenosha.
The Kingfish added another run in the ninth after a Chris Botsoe single off of Chet Joslyn.
The Growlers have an off day Monday and return to action with a home and home doubleheader against Battle Creek.
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The Kalamazoo Growlers are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. The 23-year-old summer collegiate 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, more than 160 former Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including two-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS), two-time World Series Champion Ben Zobrist (CHC) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (BOS), Jordan Zimmermann (DET), Curtis Granderson (NYM) and Lucas Duda (NYM). 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.