Mistakes Cost Growlers in 7-4 Loss in Royal Oak
July 26, 2025 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Kalamazoo Growlers News Release
ROYAL OAK, Mich. -- The Kalamazoo Growlers (31-28; 14-10) squandered a bevy of opportunities with runners on base, ultimately falling 4-7 to the Royal Oak Leprechauns (27-30; 10-11).
The first few innings were all Growlers, as Jack Crittendon would face the minimum through three, while the offense would have plenty of traffic. In the first, Preston Barr would be chased following just 36 pitches and one run, but would leave the bases loaded following an Isaac Vanderwoude strike out. In the second, it was Braden LaRusso on the bump, who would see one run, two hits, and make an error, before striking out Gabe Springer to leave two runners in scoring position.
The first Royal Oak run would come in the fourth, as Danny Cook would bring in his first run of the day. Crittendon would find another 1-2-3 inning in the fifth, with his offense again failing to capitalize, stranding two runners on.
In the bottom of the sixth, the 2-1 Growler load would be flipped on its head in a three pitcher, six run inning that saw the Leprechauns find just two hits but take a 7-2 lead. Royal Oak took six free passes and 50 pitches across the long inning. With the game suddenly flipped on its head, Kalamazoo would finally begin to capitalize with runners on, but it was too little too late in the 7-4 loss.
Overall, a small positive was the performance of struggling outfielder JD Crisp who, after a home run in one at-bat Friday night, went 4-4 with a two-run double that scored Kalamazoo's final two runs. The bad was the Growlers offense with runners on. Despite sending seven more batters to the plate, finding four more hits, and forcing two errors, Kalamazoo was just unable to bring runners in. Of the 12 runners the Growlers left on base, eight were left in scoring position.
Kalamazoo and Royal Oak will finalize their Kalamazoo legs of the 2025 series with a Sunday matinee, with the game scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET.
Northwoods League Stories from July 26, 2025
- Rivets Beat Battle Jacks in Back-And-Forth Slugfest, Snap Losing Streak - Rockford Rivets
- MoonDogs Fall Short of Nine Straight - Mankato MoonDogs
- Kingfish Shatter Pit Spitters' 13 Game Win Streak in 17-1 Blowout - Kenosha Kingfish
- Stingers Win in Mankato - Willmar Stingers
- Carson Hansen's Late Homer Propels Madison Mallards to Victory - Madison Mallards
- Dock Spiders Fall Short Against The Mallards - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Mistakes Cost Growlers in 7-4 Loss in Royal Oak - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Rox Walk-off Bucks in 7-6 Victory - St. Cloud Rox
- Woodchucks Swept in Doubleheader at Lakeshore - Wausau Woodchucks
- Woodchucks' Seven Game Win Streak Snapped at Lakeshore - Wausau Woodchucks
- Rockers Fall Behind Early, Can't Recover in 11-4 Loss to Wisconsin Rapids - Green Bay Rockers
- Loggers Split DH with Eau Claire - La Crosse Loggers
- Crowley Searches for First Quality Start against Rafters - Green Bay Rockers
- Big Sticks Fall 7-5 to the Honkers Snapping Five Game Win Streak - Badlands Big Sticks
- Kenosha Stagnant Offensively in Blowout Loss to Pit Spitters - 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.
