Record crowd sees near-miss by the Whitecaps
July 30, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - A regular season record crowd of 12,171 watched a narrow 4-3 defeat of the Whitecaps by Southwest Michigan at Fifth Third Ballpark. The previous team record for single game attendance was 11,800 set on Sunday, August 27, 2000.
"It's really gratifying in our 12th year that the community supports us in record breaking fashion," said Lew Chamberlin, CEO/Managing Partner of the Whitecaps. "This is a tribute to the success of the ball club, the front office and to the fans as well."
On the field, the outcome was not quite as exciting for the hometown fans. West Michigan seemed poised to pull off late inning heroics, as they had several times in July, but Southwest Michigan's Ryan Bitter struck out Brooks Colvin with Luis Sabino at third to complete the Devil Rays victory. Colvin had an RBI double in the seventh.
Southwest Michigan broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the seventh on a two-run double off the 402-foot sign in centerfield by Shaun Cumberland.
Josh Kauten pitched 6.1 innings as the West Michigan starter and allowed four runs (3 ER) on five hits. Four of those hits were doubles and three of the batters who doubled scored.
Clete Thomas tripled to start the first for West Michigan and scored on a sacrifice fly to the second baseman by Nick McIntyre. Thomas has now hit safely in seven consecutive games.
Brent Dlugach went 2-for-4 with a game-tying triple in the sixth. Chris Robinson also had a pair of hits for the Whitecaps.
Patrick Breen had the only multi-hit performance for the Devil Rays as he went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
Southwest Michigan second baseman Brandon Rousseve was hit by two Kauten pitches.
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