
Patience at the Plate Pays Dividends as Growlers Start Strong
June 2, 2021 - Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Kalamazoo Growlers News Release
The number 16 has been significant for Growlers in this budding season. In last night's opener, it was 16 strikeouts from the Kalamazoo pitching staff. Tonight, it was 16 walks to Growlers batters, leading to 13 runs as K-Zoo (2-0) took down Battle Creek (0-2) 13-1 Wednesday at C.O. Brown Stadium.
Seven of the 16 free passes led to nine runs in the second and third innings. Right fielder Don Goodes (1-3, BB, HBP) and second basemen David Coppedge (1-3) both touched home in the second frame for the first of three times on the night, and center fielder Ian McCutcheon walked for the second of four times. Coppedge and catcher Devin Burkes recorded their first career Northwoods League hits. Bombers starter Carter Smith only lasted two and two-thirds innings, as he issued eight free passes, struggling to find the zone with all three pitches. Smith threw three wild pitches, and Battle Creek had five as a whole. Kalamazoo used those miscues to get aggressive on the basepaths to the tune of seven stolen bases, including three from Goodes.
On the bump for the Growlers was Tanner Knapp, who turned in a solid performance for Kalamazoo. In six innings of work, Knapp fanned seven while only allowing one run. Luke Scoles pitched two scoreless frames, and Grant Jebbia struck out the game to wrap up the contest.
The Growlers welcome the Kenosha Kingfish to Homer Stryker Field tomorrow for their home opener. First pitch is at 6:35.
Northwoods League Stories from June 2, 2021
- Early Pitching Struggles Lead to Another Loss - Battle Creek Battle Jacks
- Booyah Outhit Rafters in Loss - Green Bay Rockers
- Stingers Nail Down Second Straight Win - Willmar Stingers
- Rox Fall in Season Opener, Look to Bounce Back Tomorrow - St. Cloud Rox
- Trammell's Walkoff Home Run Gives Woodchucks 5-3 Win Against Madison - Wausau Woodchucks
- Pit Spitters Rock the Rivets - Traverse City Pit Spitters
- Booyah Look to Get on the Right Track - Green Bay Rockers
- Mallards Take First Road Trip, Open Series with Woodchucks - Madison Mallards
- Dock Spiders Set to Host Lakeshore - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Northwoods League Launches 'NWL Lucky 7' Powered by Chalkline - Northwoods
- Chinooks Offense Heats up to Defeat Madison, 11-3 - Lakeshore Chinooks
- Kingfish Offense Comes Alive in the Home and Home Finale - Kenosha Kingfish
- Honkers Walk off as Winners, Move to 2-0 in 2021 - Rochester Honkers
- Rafters Walk 19 and Give up 16 Runs to Woodchucks in Road Loss - Wisconsin Rapids Rafters
- Fondy Dominates Green Bay on the Road - Fond du Lac Dock Spiders
- Booyah Fall to 0-2 on the Season - Green Bay Rockers
- Express Fall in Extras - Eau Claire Express
- Kingfish Clobber Rivets in Home Opener - Rockford Rivets
- MoonDogs Cut Down Loggers in Double-Digit Win - Mankato MoonDogs
- Patience at the Plate Pays Dividends as Growlers Start Strong - Kalamazoo Growlers
- Woodchuck Bats Catch Fire in Home Opener - Wausau Woodchucks
- Larks Split Series vs Stingers - Bismarck Larks
- Stingers Get Bounce Back Win Behind Watson's Stellar Start - Willmar Stingers
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