Spitters Split Doubleheader

Traverse City, MI – July 10, 2024 – The Traverse City Pit Spitters win game three of the four game series against the Royal Oak Leprechauns, 7-5.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Pit Spitters offense loaded the bases quickly as Jt Sokolove was hit by a pitch and Ethan Guerra and Aaron Piasecki drew back-to-back walks. Brett Denby plated the first run of the game by getting hit by a pitch to give the Pit Spitters a 1-0 lead. The Pit Spitters offense stuck with it in the bottom of the third inning with a leadoff walk by Guerra. He later scored on a triple, hit by Piasecki to extend the Pit Spitters lead to 2-0. Daniel Jackson scored Piasecki on the next batter as he grounded into a fielder’s choice, giving the Pit Spitters a 3-0 lead.

The Leprechauns offense woke up the following inning as Alex Cheeseman led off with a single to left field. Parker Picot grounded into a fielder’s choice leading to Cheeseman and him swapping places on the bases. Oliver Service and Ryan Tyranski followed up with back-to-back singles to load the bases. Jayden Lopez came through by grounding into a fielder’s choice that scored Picot to cut the Pit Spitters lead down to 3-1. Guerra walked and Piasecki singled to setup the offense for success in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jackson doubled to right field scoring Guerra to extend the Pit Spitters lead to 4-1. Vahn Lackey dropped a sacrifice bunt that scored Piasecki to make it 5-1 to end the seventh.

Cheeseman and Picot drew back-to-back walks to lead off the top of the eighth inning for the Leprechauns. Service hit a sacrifice flyout that allowed Cheeseman to tag up and score to make it 5-2. Following a single hit by Ryan Tyranski, Lopez grounded out that scored Picot to shorten the Pit Spitters lead to 5-3. Gavin Balius reached first base following a fielding error committed by Riley Frost where he later scored on a Sokolove single to make it 6-3. Guerra singled to right field and then scored on a wild pitch thrown by Collin Overholt giving the Pit Spitters a 7-3 lead. In the top of the ninth, Frost drew a walk and later scored on a triple hit to center by Ryan Mckay that cut into the Pit Spitters lead 7-4. Cheeseman singled to right field scoring Mckay to give the game its final score of 7-5.

The Pit Spitters improve to 7-3 in the second half and to 24-21 overall, while the Leprechauns improve to 6-4 in the second half and to 24-21 overall. The Pit Spitters starting pitcher Jayden Dentler threw seven innings of one-run ball, allowing six hits and a walk while striking out two. Dominic Mauro threw an inning where he gave up two runs on a hit while walking two batters. Charlie Wolf threw the final inning where he gave up two runs on two hits and a walk while striking out one.

The Pit Spitters stay in Traverse City for game four of a four-game home stand against the Royal Oak Leprechauns tomorrow night. First pitch is tonight at 7:05 p.m. and its 90’s Night! 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.