After a four-game losing streak, the Lakeshore Chinooks bounced back on Saturday afternoon. In a seven inning game, they defeated the Kalamazoo Growlers, 7-4.
Right-hander Mike Letkewicz (Augustana College) got the win in five innings. He gave up four runs (three earned) off seven hits. Letkewicz also had four strikeouts.
With two outs, the Chinooks took a 5-0 lead in the first. Designated-hitter Brett Siddall (Canisius) walked and advanced to second on wild pitch. He scored on an RBI single by Brant Valach (Eastern Illinois). First baseman Ryan Krill (Michigan State) doubled to left field.
Valach scored on an error by shortstop Alex Maloney. Michael Morman (Richmond) also had a three-run homer in the inning.
The Growlers responded in the second. Third baseman John Brodner drew a walk by Letkewicz. Vinny Mallaro hit a two-run shot, and Kalamazoo trailed 5-2.
Grant Van Putten and Justin Fletcher hit consecutive singles to star the fifth. Designated-hitter Jesse Puscheck hit a sacrifice fly and Van Putten came home. Fletch also scored on an error by center fielder Luke Meeteer (UW-Milwaukee).
Shortstop Sawyer Polen (Kent State) singled to left to start the bottom of the inning. Jake Noll (Florida Gulf Coast) hit a two-run homer to extend his hitting-streak to 15 games. The Chinooks led 7-4.
UW-Milwaukee product Jake Tuttle struck out the side in the sixth. The southpaw has now thrown 25 scoreless innings this season. Closer Andrew Elliott (Wright State) tossed a shutout ninth and earned his 12th save of the season.
The righty Hall (3-2) took the loss for Kalamazoo. In five innings, he surrendered seven runs (three earned) off seven hits.
Game two between the Chinooks and Growlers will start at 6:35 p.m. They will also play tomorrow, August 3. First pitch is at 5:05 p.m. The Woodchucks will come to Kapco Park to play on Monday, August 4 and Wednesday, August 6.
The Lakeshore Chinooks are a member of the finest developmental league for elite college baseball players, the Northwoods League. Playing its 21st season of summer collegiate baseball, the Northwoods 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, more than 115 Northwoods League players have advanced to Major League Baseball, including Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (DET) and MLB All-Stars Chris Sale (CWS), Jordan Zimmermann (WAS), Curtis Granderson (NYM), Allen Craig (STL) and Ben Zobrist (TB). All league games are viewable live via the Northwoods League YouTube channel<http://northwoodsleague.com/video/>. For more information, visit www.lakeshorechinooks.com.
