Growlers Outlast Spitters in Offensive Duel
Kalamazoo, MI – The Traverse City Pit Spitters lose game two of the series against the Kalamazoo Growlers, 11-8. The Pit Spitters record drops to 33-23, and 11-10 in the second half.
The Growlers offense came alive in the bottom of the first inning, as Jeter Ybarra, Henry Godbout, and Anthony Stephan hit three straight singles to load the bases. Gabe Springer walked, bringing in Ybarra to give the Growlers an early 1-0 lead. Casen Taggart and Joey Winters had sacrifice hits scoring Godbout and Stephan to make it a 3-0 game. The Pit Spitters offense continued swinging it well, as Camden Traficante and Tyler Minnick hit back-to-back singles with one out in the top of the second. Zach Johnson hit a ground ball to second, when Ybarra overthrew Godbout, going into left field, Traficante and Minnick scored on the play making it 3-2. Following a Devin Hukill walk, Jack Crighton doubled to right field scoring Johnson and Hukill to give the Pit Spitters a 4-3 lead. Glenn Miller singled, scoring Crighton to make it 5-3. Jimmy Nati led off the bottom of the second inning with a walk. After advancing to second on a Myles Beale groundout, Nati came in to score on a Ybarra single to cut into the Pit Spitters lead 5-4. Johnson led off the top of the fourth inning with a double, he later came in a couple of batters later on Crighton’s single to make it 6-4. Ybarra drew a walk to lead off the bottom fourth and then was quickly brought around to make it 6-5 on a Stephan single. Alec Atkinson joined the hit parade with a double with one out in the top of the sixth. Following Miller’s walk, Andrew Mannelly hit a bases clearing triple to extend the Pit Spitters lead to 8-5. Ybarra drew his second walk of the game to get the offense going for the Growlers in the bottom of the sixth. Stephan reached on a fielder’s choice, and then Gabe Springer hit a three-run home run to tie the game at 8-8. Joey Winters led off the top of the seventh with a single, followed by a Colin Blanchard walk. Ybarra reached base for the fifth time in the game with a single, scoring Winters to give the Growlers a 9-8 lead. After an hour-long weather delay, Godbout hit a double to left field, scoring Blachard and Ybarra to extend the Growlers lead 11-8. The Growers held on and won 11-8.
The Pit Spitters improve to 33-23 on the season and 11-10 in the second half, while the Growlers improve to a 35-18 overall record and 14-5 in the second half. Pit Spitters starting pitcher, Nico Saldias threw three innings, giving up four runs, on five hits and three walks. Holden Wilder threw three innings of relief, giving up four runs on three hits and two walks. Easton Johnson threw a third of an inning, giving up two runs on one hit and a walk. Hayden Brown threw a third of an inning, giving up a hit. Logan Mccleery threw an inning and a third, striking out two with one walk.
Up next
The Pit Spitters will be off the next three days due to the Great Lakes All-Star break but will be back in action Thursday night as they travel to Kenosha for the final time of the season to take on the Kingfish. First pitch is 6:35 PM CT. 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.pitspitters.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Pit Spitters as your favorite team.
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About the Traverse City Pit Spitters: The Traverse City Pit Spitters have been members of the Northwoods League since their inaugural season in 2019. The Pit Spitters have won two Northwoods League Championships and delivered their unique brand of FUN to hundreds of thousands of fans. The Pit Spitters share Managing Partners and principal ownership with the West Michigan Whitecaps, the High A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, based in Comstock Park, Michigan. The team’s home games are played in Traverse City’s favorite multi-purpose outdoor entertainment venue, Turtle Creek Stadium. For more information visit https://northwoodsleague.com/traverse-city-pit-spitters/ or contact Jacqueline Holm at 231-943-0100 Ext. 214/ email JacquelineH@pitspitters.com.
About the Northwoods League: The Traverse City Pit Spitters 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’ 30th season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 24 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 325 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.pitspitters.com or download the new Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play and set the Pit Spitters as your favorite team.
