Spitters Eliminated from Playoff Contention
Battle Creek, MI – August 9, 2024 – The Traverse City Pit Spitters lose game one of the two-game series against the Battle Creek Battle Jacks, 5-3.
Entering the ballgame, the Pit Spitters had no room for error, it was win and hope that Kokomo beat Kalamazoo to stay alive or get eliminated. The Pit Spitters offense was off to a great start in the top of the third inning. Brandon Chang led off with a single to left field. Trent Reed grounded into a fielder’s choice that forced Chang off the bases and still kept one runner on. Camden Traficante hit a triple down the right field line scoring Reed to give the Pit Spitters a 1-0 lead. The Pit Spitters offense kept it rolling in the top of the fourth inning with a one out double hit by Ethan Belk. Chang walked which setup a scoring opportunity for Jt Sokolove. Sokolove hit a single to center field that cleared the bases to extend the Pit Spitters lead to 3-0.
Pit Spitters starting pitcher Parker Wakeman was on cruise control as he entered the bottom of the sixth inning with a shutout intact and nine strikeouts. Wakeman was able to get the first out quickly, and then things went downhill as the Battle Jacks offense came alive. Garrett Smith singled to left followed by back-to-back walks from Cody Hultink and Troy Stukenberg to load the bases. Wakeman was pulled from the game for closer Mason Hill. Sam Griffith walked to score the first run of the night for the Battle Jacks to cut down the Pit Spitters lead to 3-1. Henry Henkel hit a single to left field that scored Hultink and Stukenberg to tie the game at 3-3. Garrett Swan hit a single to right field that scored Griffith to give the Battle Jacks a 4-3 lead. It was more of the same for the Battle Jacks in the top of the seventh as a single from Estrada and a walk from Smith put two runners on base. Hultink drove in Estrada to extend the Battle Jacks lead to 5-3.
The Pit Spitters drop to 21-15 in the second half of the season and to 38-33 overall, while the Battle Jacks improve to 13-22 in the second half and to 32-39 overall. The Pit Spitters starting pitcher Parker Wakeman threw five and a third innings of three run ball where he allowed three hits and four walks while striking out nine. Mason Hill threw two and a two thirds inning where he allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two.
The Pit Spitters play their final game of the 2024 season tomorrow against the Battle Jacks. First pitch is 6:35 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.
