Spitters Score 12 in the Third; Win Game One

Traverse City, MI – July 27, 2024 – The Traverse City Pit Spitters win game one of the two-game series against the Battle Creek Battle Jacks, 14-5, in front of 2,097 fans at Turtle Creek Stadium.

The Battle Jacks offense didn’t waste any time getting going as Mason Hamlin and Caleb Estrada hit back-to-back singles to open the game. Hamlin scored on a wild pitch thrown by Parker Wakeman to give the Battle Jacks a 1-0 lead. Aidan Arbogast reached first on an error committed by third baseman Trent Reed to put runners on the corners. Troy Stukenberg then hit a bases clearing double to extend the Battle Jacks lead to 3-0.

Entering the bottom of the third inning, the Pit Spitters Reed drew a leadoff walk followed by a Carter Hain double to put two runners in scoring position. Brandon Chang put the Pit Spitters in the scoring column with a single that scored Reed cutting the Battle Jacks lead down to 3-1. Following a walk drawn by Jt Sokolove, Ethan Guerra hit a bases clearing triple to give the Pit Spitters their first lead at 4-3. The offense didn’t stop there, as Aaron Piasecki singled to right field scoring Guerra making it 5-3 Spitters. Vahn Lackey hit a sacrifice flyout during his at bat scoring Piasecki to make it 6-3. Reed was productive during his second at bat of the inning, scoring Brett Rozman and Camden Traficante on a single to further extend the pit Spitters lead to 8-3. For the second time in the inning, Guerra had a bases clearing triple giving the Pit Spitters a 11-3 lead. Piasecki capped off the 12-run inning with a single to right field scoring Guerra to make it 12-3.

The Battle Jacks offense found its grove in the middle innings as Estrada singled to center to open up the top of the fifth inning. He later scored on a Sam Griffith single to right field cutting the Pit Spitters lead down to 12-4. Swan drew a walk to start the offense for the Battle Jacks in the top of the second inning and later scored on a Hamlin double to right field to make it 12-5. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Pit Spitters were back at it as Sokolove drove in Chang with a single to right to extend their lead to 13-5. With bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Sokolove drew a walk that scored Traficante to give the game its final score of 14-5.

The Pit Spitters improve to 14-10 in the second half of the season and to 31-28 overall, while the Battle Jacks drop to 8-15 in the second half and to 27-32 overall. The Pit Spitters starting pitcher Parker Wakeman threw five innings giving up three runs on seven hits and striking out five. Reilly Shafer threw an inning of relief giving up a run on a hit and a walk. Josh Klug threw an inning of scoreless relief giving up a walk. Kellen Roberts threw an inning of scoreless relief where he struckout the side. Mason Hill threw an inning of relief giving up a hit and struckout one.

The Pit Spitters stay in Traverse City for the final game of the four-game home stand against the Battle Jacks tomorrow night. First pitch is 5:05 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 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 history 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, 360 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 two-time World Series Champion Max Scherzer (TEX), two-time World Series Champions Ben Zobrist and Brandon Crawford (STL) and World Series Champion Chris Sale (ATL). As well as 2019 Rookie of the Year and 2019/2021 Home Run Derby Champion Pete Alonso (NYM) and 2023 World Series Champion, MLB All-Star, MLB Gold Glove and Silver Slugger winner and two-time All-MLB first team shortstop Marcus Semien (TEX). League games are viewable live on Northwoods League+ (at watch.northwoodsleague.com), ESPN+, and the Northwoods League Network.  Learn more and find complete streaming schedules at watchnwl.com. For more information, visit www.northwoodsleague.com or download the Northwoods League Mobile App on the Apple App Store or on Google Play.