KALAMAZOO, MI – On a night where the Kalamazoo Growlers honored the outdoors, the outdoors welcomed them with a rain delay after only one out was recorded in the first inning at Homer Stryker Field.
After gameplay resumed, after an hour or so, the Wisconsin Woodchucks capitalized on Growlers’ errors to beat Kalamazoo with a 7-1 win.
The bulk of the Woodchucks’ (7-9, 19-32) runs came in the third inning. After Keenan Eaton (Wichita State) led off with a walk, Taylor Kohlwey (UW-Lacrosse) hit a bunt single to put runners on first and second. Ty Black (Ohio) followed that single with another bunt of his own, which resulted in an error by Growlers’ pitcher Aaron Tadian (Kent State) on a throw which soared over the first baseman’s head. Then an error by the shortstop allowed both Eaton and Kohlwey to score to make the game 2-0.
The next run scored when Jared Oliva (Arizona), after he got on base with a single, broke for second on a steal and the throw from catcher Max Schuman (Utah) got into the outfield, which scored Black from third.
A few batters later, with runners on first and second, Albee Weiss (Cal-State Northridge), launched a ball over the Miller Lite Party Deck in left field for his tenth home run of the year.
The lone Kalamazoo (6-14, 14-39) run came in the bottom of the third when Jordan Stading (Houston) was walked with the bases loaded.
Even though the Growlers dropped another game, Bryce Adams (LSU) had a great day at the plate.
In his three at-bats, Adams got two hits, both singles. Until the seventh inning, Adams’ two hits were the only Kalamazoo hits.
Christmas in July hits Kalamazoo as Wisconsin comes to Homer Stryker Field, decked out with wreaths and red ribbons, for a 5:05 p.m. start.
The Northwoods League is the proven leader in the development of elite college baseball players. The 21-year old summer collegiate league is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 18 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, 120 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (WAS) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Lucas Duda (NYM) and Ben Zobrist (OAK). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel. For more information, visit http://www.northwoodsleague.com.