Spitters Tame the Zoo

Kalamazoo, MI – June 15, 2024 – The Traverse City Pit Spitters win game one against Kalamazoo Growlers, 7-3, in front of 2,300 fans at Homer Stryker Field.

The Pit Spitters offense heated up early with back-to-back walks from Jt Sokolove and Brett Denby to lead off the top of the first. Carter Hain gave the Pit Spitters their first lead of the night with a sacrifice flyout scoring Sokolove to make it 1-0. In the top of the second inning Cole Prout was hit by a pitch and Brett Rozman walked to put two runners on. Ethan Guerra hit a sacrifice fly scoring Prout extending the Pit Spitters lead to 2-0. The Growlers offense woke up in the bottom of the second inning with a leadoff double by Colin Blanchard. Joey Winters drove in Blanchard with a single to center field making it 2-1. The Pit Spitters offense resumed in the top of the fifth inning after Denby reached first base following an error caused by shortstop Evan Rodriguez. A single by Piasecki and a hit by pitch from Carter Hain loaded the bases. Chang singled to center, scoring Denby giving the Pit Spitters a 3-1 lead. Piasecki scored via a wild pitch thrown by Patric Menk, making it 4-1. Rozman singled to left field scoring Hain and Chang giving the Pit Spitters a 6-1 lead. Colin Blanchard was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the sixth, followed by a single to center by Mike Sprockett. Joey Winters singled to center field scoring Blanchard to cut into the Pit Spitters lead to 6-2. Piascecki singled, and Hain doubled to open the top of the seventh inning. Prout grounded out to shortstop, scoring Piasecki to extend the Pit Spitters lead to 7-2. Rodriguez was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the seventh inning and was followed up with a single to left field by Brodey Acres. Korbin Griffin singled, scoring Rodriguez to make it 7-3. The Pit Spitters took game one of the series against the Growlers by the score of 7-3.

The Pit Spitters improve to 10-9 on the season, while the Growlers drop to 10-8. The Pit Spitters starting pitcher Jagger Neely threw six innings, giving up two runs on nine hits and struck out seven batters. Logan Pikur threw an inning giving up a run on two hits. Josh Klug threw a scoreless inning of relief. Dominic Mauro threw an inning of scoreless relief, giving up a walk.

The Pit Spitters will stay in Kalamazoo for game two of the series. First pitch is tomorrow afternoon at 1:35 p.m. 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.