Pit Spitters Are Walked Off in Extras

Kenosha, WI – June 13, 2024 – The Traverse City Pit Spitters get walked off game one against the Kenosha Kingfish, losing 7-6, in front of 2,280 fans at Historic Simmons Field.

The Pit Spitters offense opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning as Brett Denby singled to right field and Aaron Piasecki was hit by a pitch. Jt Sokolove dropped a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up a base allowing Denby to score on a wild pitch thrown by Eli Cartwright to give the Pit Spitters a 1-0 lead. Vahn Lackey singled to left field scoring Piasecki to make it 2-0. Following Carter Hain reaching first on an error made by first baseman Will Plattner, Ethan Belk unloaded the bases with a three-run home run to extend the Pit Spitters lead to 5-0. Brandon Chang led off the top of the fifth inning by getting hit by a pitch. Sokolove then drove in Chang giving the Pit Spitters a 6-0 lead. The Kingfish offense woke up in the bottom of the sixth inning with a walk drawn by Eli Duncan and a single to right field by Nick Giamarusti. Duncan scored on a passed ball giving the Kingfish their first run of the game. Ghiorso then grounded out, scoring Giamarusti to make it a 6-2 game. In the bottom of the eighth, Duncan singled to left, and Giamarusti walked. An error caused by second baseman Piasecki allowed both Duncan and Giamarusti to score making it a 6-4 ballgame, as well as allowing Tanner Reaves to advance to first. Christopher Schuchart then walked to put two runners on. Karter Wong singled to right field scoring both Reaves and Schuchart to tie the game at 6-6. Due to the extra innings rule, a runner is placed on second. A couple of passed balls by Lackey allowed Ghiorso to work his way around the bases and scoring the winning run. The Kingfish take game one, 7-6.

The Pit Spitters drop to 9-8 on the season, while the Kingfish improve to 9-8. The Pit Spitters starting pitcher Carson Fischer threw six innings giving up two runs on two hits, walking one and striking out two. Santiago Garcia threw an inning and a third of scoreless ball giving up one hit, three walks, and striking out three. Zak Sullivan threw two thirds of an inning giving up a hit and no runs, while striking out two. Mitchell Grannan threw an inning striking out two.

The Pit Spitters will stay in Kenosha for game two of the series. First pitch is tomorrow night is 6:35 p.m. (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/ or by email at 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.