The Comeback Dorks
Traverse City, MI – The Up North Cork Dorks, the Pit Spitters alternate identity, win game two of the 131 Rivalry series against the Kalamazoo Growlers, 4-3 in front of 3,318 fans at Turtle Creek Stadium. The Pit Spitters improve to 38-26 on the season and 16-13 in the second half.
The Traverse City Pit Spitters revived their 2022 Cork Dork’s namesake for tonight’s game at Turtle Creek Stadium and didn’t disappoint bringing home a win. The Cork Dorks offense got started in the top of the third after Colin Summerhill reached base following an error made by third baseman Gabe Springer. Following Cole Prout’s walk with runners now on first and second, Evan Orzech singled to right field, scoring Summerhill to take a 1-0 lead. Korbin Griffin led off the Growlers offense in the top of the fourth with a walk. Anthony Stephan singled to right field to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Will Furniss grounded into a double play, but in the process, Griffin scored, tying the game at 1-1. Cooper Mills started off the bottom of the fourth inning with a single to center. Parker Brosius hit a double down the right field line, scoring Mills to give the Cork Dorks a 2-1 lead. The Growlers offense didn’t back down, as Gabe Springer led off the top of the fifth inning with a solo home run to right field to tie the game back up at 2-2. In the top of the seventh, Banks Tolley hit a solo home run of his own to give the Growlers a 3-2 lead. Tyler Minnick started the offense in the bottom of the eighth with a single up the middle. Alec Atkinson and Parker Brosius drew back-to-back walks to load up the bases. Andrew Mannelly came in to pinch run for Minnick, where he and Atkinson scored on a Michael Tchavdarov single up the middle to take a 4-3 lead. The Cork Dorks held on to win by a score of 4-3.
The Pit Spitters improve to 38-26 on the season and 16-13 in the second half, while the Growlers drop to 41-21 overall and 20-8 in the second half. The Cork Dorks starting pitcher Nico Saldias threw five innings, giving up two runs on two hits, walking two. Sawyer Meeuwes made his Pit Spitters debut throwing two innings, giving up two hits on one run and a walk. Hayden Brown threw the last two innings, giving up just one hit and striking out two and earning the win.
The Pit Spitters will stay at Turtle Creek Stadium for game three of the series against Kalamazoo Growlers. First pitch is 7:05PM. 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.
