Pit Spitters Bats Awaken to Split Series

Battle Creek, MI – May 28, 2024 – The Traverse City Pit Spitters win game two of the series against the Battle Creek Battle Jacks, 9-5. The Pit Spitters improve to 1-1 on the season.

The Pit Spitters got the offense rolling in the top of the first as Ethan Guerra singled to left field with one out. Brody Capps then singled to right field to score Guerra to give the Pit Spitters an early 1-0 lead. The Battle Jacks answered right back in the bottom of the first with Alex Fernandes walking to lead off the inning. After an error committed by Mike Long, allowing Fernandes to move up to third, Josh Schleichardt grounded out to short to score Fernandes to tie the game up at 1-1. The Battle Jacks offense picked back up in the bottom of the third as Fernandes singled, Mason Hamlin reached on another error committed by Long, and Schleichardt was hit by a pitch. Aidan Arbogast cleared the bases with a double to left field giving the Battle Jacks a 4-1 lead. The Pit Spitters bats awakened in the top of the fifth as Michael Tchavdarov singled to lead off the inning and then was able to advance to second following a throwing error made by Arbogast. Guerra then grounded out, advancing Tchavdarov to third. Mark Kattula singled to right scoring Tchavdarov making it 4-2. Capps singled to right advancing Kattula to third where he would then score following another single by Corey Berry to make it 4-3, with the Battle Jacks still in the lead. Brandon Chang kept the lineup rolling with a single for himself, scoring Capps to tie the game at 4-4. Following a Trent Reed walk to load the bases, Long singled to right field scoring Berry and Chang to put the Pit Spitters in the lead, 6-4. The Pit Spitters didn’t stop there as Capps led off the top of the seventh with a double to left field, followed by back-to-back walks from Berry and Chang to load the bases. Reed then grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Capps to extend the Pit Spitters lead 7-4. The Pit Spitters offense didn’t stop there, Tchavdarov and Guerra walked to open up the inning, followed by a Kattula single to load the bases. Capps came through once more, singled to right field scoring Tchavdarov and Guerra to make it 9-4.

The Pit Spitters improve to 1-1 on the season, while the Battle Jacks drop to 1-1. The Pit Spitters starting pitcher Dylan Krause threw five innings, giving up four runs on four walks and three hits while striking out three. Zak Sullivan threw an inning of relief giving up one hit and two strikeouts. Mason Hill pitched two innings of scoreless ball, as he struck out four and gave up one hit. Mitchell Grannan finished the game out throwing an inning, giving up a hit, walk, and striking out two.

The Pit Spitters will travel back to Traverse City for the first game of a four game homestand. 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 31st season, the Northwoods League is the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 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, 340 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.