Spitters Sweep the Growlers

Kalamazoo, MI – June 28, 2024 – The Traverse City Pit Spitters win game two of the two game series against the Kalamazoo Growlers, 9-4, in front of 3,983 fans at Homer Stryker Field.

The Pit Spitters entered Friday night’s game with a chance to sweep for the first time since June first and their offense got hot early. Brett Rozman and Ethan Guerra hit back-to-back singles with two outs in the top of the third. Cole Prout singled, scoring Rozman to give the Pit Spitters a 1-0 lead. In the top of the sixth, Vahn Lackey singled, Aaron Piasecki walked, and Carter Hain singled to load the bases. Brandon Chang walked to score Piasecki to make it 2-0. Daniel Jackson cleared the bases with a double that hit off the right field fence to extend the Pit Spitters lead to 6-0. Jackson later scored on a wild pitch thrown by Liam O’Brien to cap off a six-run inning, giving the Pit Spitters a 7-0 lead. Evan Rodriguez singled, Ryar Rinehart singled, and Myles Beale was hit by a pitch to open the bottom of the fifth inning for the Growlers. Brodey Acres grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Rodriguez to make it 7-1. The Pit Spitters added one more run in the top of the sixth inning with a solo home run to right field by Cole Prout to extend the lead to 8-1. Lackey was hit by a pitch to lead off the top of the seventh inning. He later scored on a single to right field by Hain to give the Pit Spitters a 9-1 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, Acres walked and then Brock Leitgeb hit a two-run home run to cut into the Pit Spitters lead making it 9-3. Korbin Griffin and Antonio Perrotta drew back-to-back walks to open the bottom of the eighth inning. Rodriguez singled to center field scoring Griffin to give us the final score at 9-4.

The Pit Spitters improve to 15-16 on the season, while the Growlers drop to 16-15. The Pit Spitters starting pitcher Jayden Dentler threw six innings of one run ball, allowing six hits, a walk, and struck out one. Jasen Oliver threw an inning, giving up two runs on one hit, a walk, and striking out one. Kellen Roberts threw an inning giving up a run on a hit and two walks, striking out one. Mason Hill threw a scoreless inning of relief, striking out three.

The Pit Spitters will travel back to Traverse City for the start of a four-game home stand featuring the Rockford Rivets and Battle Creek Battle Jacks. First pitch is tomorrow night at 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.