Growlers Dominate on Opening Night at Homer Stryker Field
June 2, 2023 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Kalamazoo Growlers News Release
Kalamazoo, Mich. - The Kalamazoo Growlers put on a show on opening night in front of a sellout crowd at Homer Stryker, taking down the Kokomo Jackrabbits 14-0.
Eamon Horwedel got his tenth start as a Growler in his fourth season with Kalamazoo and showed out. Horwedel gained his 14th K-Zoo win by going seven scoreless innings, giving up just four hits and striking out six.
The Growlers struck first in the bottom half of the second as with runners at the corners Ben Bach stole second while the throw went into center field. Joey Winters came home to score. Kalamazoo slightly stalled offensively for the next three innings before Ben Bach brought home two in the sixth off an RBI ground-rule double to left. Bach would come home to score later in the inning on an error and it was 4-0 Growlers.
Kalamazoo then put up another crooked number in the seventh. After nine runs in the fourth inning on Thursday against Battle Creek, the Growlers put up seven in the bottom of the seventh vs Kokomo. Four walks, a hit-by-pitch, and three runs set up the bases loaded for Luke Mitchell. Mitchell, still looking for his first base hit as a Growler launched one over the Willis Law sign in left for a grand slam, putting the Growlers on top by double digits, 11-0. This is now the fourth straight game where the Growlers have had a four-plus run inning.
Kalamazoo would add on three more in the eighth and Holland Townes shut it down in the final two frames to give K-Zoo their fourth consecutive Willis Law win.
The Growlers and Jackrabbits will battle it out once again on Saturday night at Homer Stryker Field. First pitch is set for 6:35 p.m. and can be watched live on ESPN+.
Northwoods League Stories from June 2, 2023
- Battle Jacks Drop Game One of the Series to Rivets 6-1, Alleva Hits his First Home Run of the Season - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Kingfish Fall to Pit-Spitters in Series Opener - Kenosha Kingfish
- Rafters Unable to Complete the Comeback Against Fond du Lac - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Honkers' Pitching Shines Once Again in 2-1 Win - Rochester Honkers
- Larks Can't Find Offense, Lose Second Straight in Series Opener to Stingers - Bismarck Larks
- Growlers Dominate on Opening Night at Homer Stryker Field - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Express Earn First Home Win of the Season - Eau Claire Express
- Stingers Bounce Back, Win 5-2 Over Larks in Series Opener - Willmar Stingers
- Rox Jump to 13-Run Lead in Home Opener, Look to Repeat at Home Tomorrow - St. Cloud Rox
- Rockers Fall at Home to Woodchucks - Green Bay Rockers
- Late Defense Haunts the Mallards in Loss - Madison Mallards
- Huskies Win Home Opener Behind Strong Start from Dodson - Duluth Huskies
- Pit Spitters Jump Kingfish - Traverse City Pit Spitters
- MoonDogs' Offense Goes Quiet in 2-1 Loss to Rochester - Mankato MoonDogs
- First Win on the Road for the Woodchucks - Wausau Woodchucks
- Chinooks Defeat Mallards in Home Opener - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Rivets Beat Kingfish in Walk-Off Fashion - Rockford Rivets
- Over 200 Northwoods League Players Earn 2023 All-Conference Honors in Division I - Northwoods
- Rockers Return to Green Bay in Search of Fifth Straight Win - Green Bay Rockers
- Slow Start Hinders Stingers, Fall 11-7 to Eau Claire - Willmar Stingers
- Meyer And Guardado Lead Honkers In Win Over Thunder Bay - Rochester Honkers
- Express Have Big Inning, Grab First Win of the Season - Eau Claire Express
- Kingfish Fall 5-4 for Series Split - Kenosha Kingfish
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
