Bats Stay Hot Against Leprechauns

Traverse City, MI – June 23, 2024 – The Traverse City Pit Spitters win game one of the two game series against the Royal Oak Leprechauns, 6-1, in front of 2,238 fans at Turtle Creek Stadium.

The Pit Spitters offense put up 27 runs in the four-game series against the Leprechauns last week and kept it going again Sunday afternoon. Ethan Guerra kept his hot stretch at the plate going with a leadoff walk in the bottom of the first inning. Jasen Oliver then singled to center field allowing Guerra to move to third. During Vahn Lackey’s at-bat, Guerra scored by stealing home to give the Pit Spitters a 1-0 lead. After Lackey walked, he sacrificed himself during a first and third situation allowing enough time for Oliver to score to extend the Pit Spitters lead to 2-0. The Leprechauns offense started out with a bang in the top of the fourth with a leadoff double from Cam Hollobaugh. Tony Hatzigeorgiou singled to center field scoring Hollobaugh to cut the Pit Spitters lead to 2-1. Grant Bradley’s pitching began to wavier in the bottom of the fourth inning allowing Brett Rozman to reach via a single, and Carter Hain and Brandon Chang to draw back-to-back walks. With bases loaded, Michael Tchavdarov drew a walk against the new pitcher Ryan Kruse to extend the Pit Spitters lead to 3-1. The Pit Spitters continued to swing it well in the bottom of the seventh inning with a single to right field by Alfredo Velazquez. Guerra walked to put two runners on. Three straight wild pitches, during Oliver’s at-bat from Stephen Ruhle that allowed Velazquez to score making it 4-1. Oliver walked, setting up Cole Prout. Prout grounded into a fielder’s choice where Guerra was tagged out trying to score from third. Lackey hit a sacrifice flyout scoring Oliver to make it 5-1. Brett Rozman joined in on the hit parade with a single to left field scoring Prout to give the game its final score of 6-1.

The Pit Spitters improve to 13-13 on the season, while the Leprechauns drop to 13-13. The Pit Spitters starting pitcher Jake Brown threw five innings of one run ball, giving up five hits and five runs, while striking out four. Zak Sullivan threw an inning of scoreless relief. Logan Pikur threw two innings of scoreless relief, where he gave up a hit and struck out one.

The Pit Spitters will stay in Traverse City as they will play game two against the Royal Oak Leprechauns. First pitch is 7:05 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.