Errors Cost Spitters Game Three
Traverse City, MI – The Traverse City Pit Spitters, lose game three of the 131 Rivalry series against the Kalamazoo Growlers, 8-5 in front of 1,793 fans at Turtle Creek Stadium. The Pit Spitters drop to 38-27 on the season and 16-14 in the second half.
Gavin Lewis Jr. led off the game for the Growlers with a walk. Following a Gabe Springer hit by pitch, Will Furniss put a ball into play as he doubled to right field scoring Lewis Jr. after a Banks Tolley double to left field, to score both Springer and Furniss extending the Growlers lead 3-0. The Pit Spitters offense wasted no time on a rebuttal, as Andrew Mannelly led off the bottom of the first with a hit by pitch. Colin Summerhill drove in Mannelly on a double to left field to cut into the Growlers lead 3-1. Evan Orzech then singled, scoring Summerhill to make it 3-2. The third inning started with a Mannelly double to right field; he advanced quickly to third after the flyout hit by Parker Brosius. Mannelly then came into score following a wild pitch thrown by Growlers starting pitcher Jerad Berkenpas to tie the game at 3-3. Luke Mitchell and Myles Beale hit back-to-back singles to start the Growlers offense in the top of the fourth. Lewis Jr. made it three straight singles, scoring Mitchell to make it 4-3 Growlers. Tyler Minnick singled to lead off the bottom of the fourth, and then came around to score after Zach Johnson tripled to right center field to tie it back up at 4-4. The Growlers loaded the bases up after an error made by Pit Spitters shortstop Devin Hukill, and back-to-back walks from Joey Winters and Korbin Griffin. Mitchell was then hit by a pitch, scoring Furniss to make it 5-4 Growlers. With the Pit Spitters back on offense, Summerhill walked, and was followed up with a Prout double to right field to put runners on second and third. Orzech then hit a sacrifice flyout tying the game back up at 5-5. Stephan doubled to left field to keep the top of the sixth inning alive for the Growlers, then came into score on a wild pitch thrown by Quinn Berglin to give the Growlers a 6-5 lead. Tolley then singled and was later brought around to score following a Winters single to center field extending their lead to 7-5. Winters singled to right field in the top of the eighth inning, and then scored on a wild pitch thrown by Holden Wilder, extending the Growlers lead 8-5. The Growlers held on to their three-run lead, taking game three of the series 8-5.
The Pit Spitters drop to 38-27 on the season and 16-14 in the second half, while the Growlers improve to 42-21 overall and 21-8 in the second half. The Pit Spitters Josh Lanham threw three innings, giving up three runs on three hits, striking out four. Mason Hill threw two and two thirds’ innings giving up two runs on four hits, walking two. Quinn Berglin threw an inning and a third, giving up one run and four hits. Holden Wilder threw and inning of scoreless ball giving up one hit. Easton Johnson threw the last inning of the game, striking out just one.
The Pit Spitters will stay at Turtle Creek Stadium for game four of the series against Kalamazoo Growlers. First pitch is 5:05PM. 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.
