Minton Tosses 'Caps to Championship Series, 4-0
Published on September 11, 2025 under Midwest League (MWL)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps secured their spot in the 2025 Midwest League Championship series with a 4-0 shutout over the Lake County Captains in front of their biggest crowd in recorded playoff history, 7,631 fans strong, Thursday night at LMCU Ballpark.
WATCH: 'CAPS MARCH TO CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES
The Whitecaps advance to the Midwest League Championship series for the first time since 2015 after collecting a record 94th win in the shutout of Lake County. Whitecaps starter Hayden Minton enjoyed his best outing of the season, tossing six scoreless/hitless innings, while catcher Bennett Lee added the swing of the night, spiking a two-run double off the left field wall to help West Michigan clinch the East Division Title.
Neither team was able to strike in the first three innings before West Michigan finally broke through with four runs in the fourth, featuring an RBI single from Garrett Pennington and a two-run double from Lee, taking the 4-0 advantage. The Whitecaps threatened in the sixth inning, loading the bases with two outs before third baseman Izaac Pacheco popped out to end the frame, keeping the lead at 4-0. Minton was pulled after six scoreless innings when the bullpen picked up where he left off, as relievers Dariel Fregio, Carlos Lequerica, and Moises Rodriguez combined for three scoreless frames with five strikeouts to put the finishing touches on the 4-0 shutout and send West Michigan to the Midwest League Championship series.
The Whitecaps sweep the Lake County Captains, winning the first two games of the series. Minton (1-0) collects the victory for West Michigan while Lake County starting pitcher Caden Favors (0-1) suffers the loss, allowing four runs through 3.1 innings pitched. The Whitecaps are two wins away from collecting their seventh Midwest League Title, and the pitching staff is a huge reason for it, allowing just two runs while adding 19 strikeouts through 18 innings pitched in the two wins over Lake County. Meanwhile, Lequerica collected the first immaculate inning of any Whitecaps pitcher this season, striking out all three hitters he faced in the eighth.
UP NEXT
The 'Caps host Game 1 of the Midwest League Championship Series against a to-be determined opponent on Sunday, September 14, at 2:00 pm in what becomes the final home game of the 2025 season. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Nate Wangler begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 1:45 pm on 106.1 FM 'The Ticket', and 1340 WJRW-AM in Grand Rapids. Individual tickets are on sale at whitecapsbaseball.com.
Midwest League Stories from September 11, 2025
- Captains' 2025 Season Concludes with 4-0 Loss to Whitecaps - Lake County Captains
- Kernels Use Four-Run Fifth to Take Game Two over Sky Carp, 5-3 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Minton Tosses 'Caps to Championship Series, 4-0 - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Kernels Force Decisive Game Three - Beloit Sky Carp
- Minton Tosses 'Caps to Championship Series, 4-0 - West Michigan Whitecaps
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