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Traverse City Pit Spitters

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Traverse City Pit Spitters
Information
LeagueNorthwoods League (Great Lakes East (2019–)
LocationChums Corner, Michigan
BallparkTurtle Creek Stadium
Founded2018
Nickname(s)The Spitters
League championships2 (2019, 2021)
Division championships2 (2019, 2021)
ColorsCherry Red, Leaf Green, Black, White
       
OwnershipTC Baseball, LLC (Joe Chamberlin, CEO)
ManagerJosh Rebandt
Websitenorthwoodsleague.com/traverse-city-pit-spitters/

The Traverse City Pit Spitters are a baseball team in the Northwoods League, a collegiate summer baseball league, and began play in the 2019 season. Based out of Traverse City, Michigan, the Pit Spitters play their home games at Turtle Creek Stadium in nearby Chums Corner, Michigan. The team began play at Turtle Creek Stadium in 2019 after the park's former tenant, the Traverse City Beach Bums of the Frontier League, ceased operations at the end of the 2018 season.

Traverse City has a baseball history, beginning with the Traverse City Hustlers, a semi-professional team in the 1890s. The city had a minor league team, the Traverse City Resorters of the Class D West Michigan League and Michigan State League between 1910 and 1914.[1] Baseball then returned to Traverse City in 2006 with the Traverse City Beach Bums of the independent Frontier League, but on September 26, 2018, it was announced that Wuerfel Park had been purchased by a new investment group led by the owners of the West Michigan Whitecaps (Class A Midwest League affiliate of MLB's Detroit Tigers), with the park's previous team, the Beach Bums, ceasing operations. The new ownership group announced plans to launch a new franchise in the Northwoods League for the 2019 season.[2]

On October 25, 2018, the team named Josh Rebandt as their first field manager.[3] A name-the-team contest was held until December 14, with six finalists: Black Pearls, Dogmen, Dune Bears, Pit Spitters, Tree Shakers and Sasquatch.[4] On January 29, 2019, the Pit Spitters name and logos were officially announced [5][6] with the name reflecting the amateur sport of cherry pit spitting, which is played during the annual National Cherry Festival in Traverse City.[7]

2019 inaugural season

[edit]

May 28, 2019, served as the opening day for the Pit Spitters as they defeated the Green Bay Booyah 2–1 before 2,274 fans.[8] The Pit Spitters advanced to the playoffs with an overall record of 52–20 (.722), winning both halves of the season. In the playoffs, the Pit Spitters first defeated the Kalamazoo Growlers 2–0 (8–1, 5–4) in a best-of-three series and then the Madison Mallards 3–2 to advance to the Northwoods League championship game.

The championship game was played at Pit Spitters Park in front of 4,636 fans as Traverse City had the better overall record. The Spitters trailed the Eau Claire Express 2–1 heading to the bottom of the ninth, but two Express errors, including a misplayed bunt off the bat of Traverse City's Andrew Morrow (Michigan State) with two outs allowed catcher Adam Proctor (Michigan State) to score and gave Traverse City a 3–2 victory, giving the Pit Spitters the Northwoods League title in their first season.[9][10]

The 2019 Spitters were led by 1B Morrow (.263 BA, 6 HR, 58 RBI), Mario Camilletti (Central Michigan) (.297 BA, 29 RBI), OF Jake Wilson (Bowling Green) (.280 BA, 4 HR, 45 RBI), and pitchers Andrew Hoffman (Oakland University) (8–0, 1.08 ERA) and Joe Pace (Michigan) (0–1, 6 saves, 0.50 ERA).[11] Manager Josh Rebrandt was named Northwoods League Manager of the Year.[12]

Traverse City Pit Spitters home game, June 2019

2020 pod season

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On June 25, 2020, following decreasing regulations for the COVID-19 pandemic, the Northwoods League approved the creation of two temporary teams to play during the 2020 season: the Northern Michigan Dune Bears and the Great Lakes Resorters.[13] The three teams would be the only ones to play in the Michigan North pod at Turtle Creek Stadium for the season until the playoffs in September.[14] On July 5 of the same year, the season was put on pause due a number of players testing positive for the virus.[15] Play was supposed to resume on July 10, but was pushed further back to July 19.[16] Play resumed that day, but the Dune Bears team had been temporarily dissolved (with the possibility of returning later in the season[17]), leaving the rest of the 2020 season to be played between the Pit Spitters and Resorters.[18]

The Pit Spitters finished with a 33-8 (.805) record, largely playing against the Resorters (8-33, .195) as the Dune Bears (1-1, .500) did not return. Traverse City would advance from the Michigan North Pod to the Michigan pod championship game, losing to the Kalamazoo Mac Daddies, another created team for the unique pandemic season, from the Michigan South pod 4–1 at Turtle Creek Stadium.[19] 1B Chris Monroe (Illinois-Springfield) (.348 BA, 2 HR, 28 RBI), Mario Camilletti (Central Michigan) (.348 BA, 17 RBI), and All Northwoods League selections SS Spencer Schwellenbach (Nebraska) (.356 BA, 17 RBI, 12 SB) and pitcher Chad Patrick (Purdue University Northwest) (2–1, 3 IP, 1.03 ERA) led the Pit Spitters during the 2020 season.[20][21] The Resorters briefly featured Gavin Stone (0-1, 8.10 ERA), who made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2023.[22]

2021 season

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The Pit Spitters won their second Northwoods League championship in 2021.[23] The team finished first in the Great Lakes East division in the first half with a record of 21–15 (.583), edging the Kenosha Kingfish by 1 game, guaranteeing a place in the playoffs. Traverse City would finish second in the 2nd half, 21–14 (.600), 3.5 games behind the Kokomo Jackrabbits.[24]

Kokomo had home-field advantage for the opening best-of-three series with the better overall record, but Traverse City took the series 2–1 (9–2, 0–3, 9–6), scoring 3 runs in the 9th inning of the deciding game in Kokomo to take the series, with SS Christian Faust (Grand Valley State) singling in DH Michael Styges (Oakland University) to break the deadlock in the top of the 9th inning, and closer John Beuckelaere (Madonna University) securing the lead in the bottom of the inning for the series win.[25]

Traverse City then defeated the Madison Mallards 6–2 at home in a single-game elimination behind a complete-game pitching performance by Joe Horoszko (Wittenberg University), advancing to the Northwoods League championship game.[26] The Spitters faced the St. Cloud Rox on the road, winning the championship 9–3 with the strong pitching of Northwoods League Pitcher of the Year Cam Schuelke (Florida Gulf Coast University) and a home-run from Mario Camilletti (Central Michigan) making the difference.[23][27]

The team was led on the season by 2B Camilletti (.312 BA, 34 RBI, 14 SB), OF Tito Flores (Michigan) (.295 BA, 41 RBI, 13 SB), and Northwoods League all-stars 1B Chris Monroe (Illinois-Springfield) (.303 BA, 7 HR, 59 RBI) and pitcher Schuelke (4–0, 0.68 ERA).[21]

2022 season

[edit]

Traverse City struggled out of the gate as the two–time defending league champions, with a 5–game losing streak, followed by a 5-game winning streak and then a 7-game losing streak to finish the first half at 18–18 (.500), 4 games behind the Kalamazoo Growlers.[28][29] In a reversed second half, the Pit Spitters posted a stellar 27–9 (.750) record, winning the division in the second half, to advanced the first round of the Northwoods League playoff, facing first-half champions Kalamazoo in a best-of-three series.[30] The opener in Kalamazoo saw Traverse City lose 5–4, as the Growlers came from behind with a 2-run 7th inning on a home-run by Kalamazoo infielder Anthony Stephan (Virginia).[31] The timely hitting by the Growlers continued in game two, a 9–5 Kalamazoo victory, with a 4-run 6th, as the Growlers once again got to the Pit Spitters bullpen, and then escaped a no-out, bases loaded jam in the 7th, for the win and a 2–0 series victory.[32][33] Kalamazoo would then go on to win the Northwoods League championship, defeating the Duluth Huskies 8–2 in the Northwoods League World Series.[34]

Pitcher Aren Gustafson (Olivet Nazarene) (3–3, 3.72 ERA, 55.2 IP) was named to the NWL post-season All-Star team.[35] Gustafson and pitcher Derek Clark (Northwood University) (4–0, 2.38 ERA, 41.2 IP) represented Traverse City at the mid-season All-Star game.[36] The team was led on the season by catcher Colin Summerhill (Northern Illinois) (.311 BA, 4 HR, 51 RBI), outfielder Marshall Toole (Wofford College) (.301 BA, 27 SB), and pitcher Aaron Forrest (Doane University) (4–1, 2.57 ERA, 49 IP).[37]

2023 season

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The Pit Spitters finished the season with an overall record of 42-30 (.583), third in the division, but advanced to the Northwoods League playoffs winning the first-half with a 22-13 (.629) record, edging the Kalamazoo Growlers by a half-game.[38] The two teams would face each other in the first round, and the Pit Spitters advanced with a 2–1 series win, as Ethan Foley (Reinhardt University) threw a stellar six innings in a 6–0 shutout on the road in Kalamazoo in the deciding third game.[39] Traverse City returned home to face the Green Bay Rockers in the league semi-finals (Great Lakes Championship), but a lack of pitching depth caught up to the team in a 15-14 slugfest loss to end the season.[40] Green Bay would go on to win the Northwoods League championship, winning 4–3 over the St. Cloud Rox.[41]

The team was led on the season by mid-season NWL All-Stars 3B Glenn Miller (Eastern Michigan) (.281 BA, 1 HR, 38 RBI), C Tyler Minnick (Georgia Tech) (.248 BA, 2 HR, 19 RBI), C-1B Colin Summerhill (Northern Illinois) (.259 BA, 3 HR, 43 RBI), OF Parker Brosius (Georgia Tech) (.292 BA, 1 HR, 27 RBI, 42 SB) and pitchers Nick Powers (Michigan State) (3-2, 2.13 ERA), Mitch White (Cincinnati) (2-0, 1.27 ERA, 5 saves) and Ethan Foley (2-4, 3.46 ERA). Aren Gustafson (The Master's University) (6-0, 2.14 ERA) was the sole Pit Spitter named to the post-season All-Star team. Traverse City faced an attrition challenge as the season progressed, entering the post-season without the services of All-Stars Miller, Powers and White.[42][43][44]

2024 season

[edit]

The Spitters missed the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, finishing the season with an overall record of 39-33 (.542). The team finished the first-half 17-18 (.486), and while a stronger second half had them chasing Kalamazoo, their 22-15 record (.595) placed them second and out of the playoffs.[45] Traverse City was led by 2B Aaron Piasecki (Central Michigan) (.329 BA, 1, HR, 41 RBI, C Brett Rozman (Central Arizona) (.309 BA, 35 RBI, 15 SB) and Northwoods League All-Star Jayden Dentler (Western Michigan) (5-2, 1.54 ERA).[46]

Manager Josh Rebandt, who began with the team in the inaugural season, announced his departure during the season, leaving with two league titles in his Pit Spitters tenure. [47]

Pit Spitters in the MLB

[edit]

Luke Little became the first Pit Spitter to make his MLB debut when he pitched in relief on September 6, 2023 for the Chicago Cubs.[48]

Traverse City Pit Spitters in MLB Draft
Year Player Position College Drafting Team Round
2019 Chase Wheatcroft Pitcher California State University, Stanislaus Oakland Athletics 37th round
2020 Luke Little Pitcher San Jacinto College Chicago Cubs 4th round
2021 Spencer Schwellenbach Pitcher/Shortstop University of Nebraska–Lincoln Atlanta Braves 2nd round
2021 Chad Patrick Pitcher Purdue University Northwest Arizona Diamondbacks 4th round
2021 Andrew Hoffman Pitcher University of Illinois Atlanta Braves 12th round
2022 Will Mabrey Pitcher University of Tennessee Arizona Diamondbacks 6th round
2022 Jakob Marsee Outfielder Central Michigan University San Diego Padres 6th round
2022 Kyle Jones Pitcher University of Toledo Minnesota Twins 7th round
2022 Mario Camilletti Infielder Central Michigan University Chicago White Sox 8th round
2023 Tommy Troy Shortstop Stanford University Arizona Diamondbacks 1st round
2023 Braxton Bragg Pitcher Dallas Baptist University Baltimore Orioles 8th round
2023 Zach Fruit Pitcher Troy University Baltimore Orioles 9th round

Bold indicates that player has made their MLB debut.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "A "Brief" History of TC Baseball".
  2. ^ Buczek, Joe (2018-09-26). "Whitecaps Group Purchases Wuerfel Park, Plans Northwoods League Franchise". MISportsNow.com. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  3. ^ "Josh Rebandt Named First Manager of Traverse City Baseball". 2018-10-25. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  4. ^ "Team Name Ranking". 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  5. ^ "Introducing the Traverse City Pit Spitters!". PitSpitters.com. 2019-01-29. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  6. ^ Herringa, Karie (2019-01-29). "Traverse City Baseball Announces New Team Name". MISportsNow.com. Retrieved 2019-01-29.
  7. ^ "Adult Cherry Pit Spit Contest". www.cherryfestival.org.
  8. ^ Sommers, Brett A. (28 May 2019). "Strong opening day crowd drives Pit Spitters to franchise's 1st win". Traverse City Record-Eagle. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  9. ^ "Playoffs 2019". Traverse City Pit Spitters. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  10. ^ Sommers, Brett A. (16 August 2019). "Pit Spitters crowned NWL champs". Traverse City Record-Eagle. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  11. ^ "Traverse City Pit Spitters – Northwoods League – team stats". Pointstreak Sports Technologies. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
  12. ^ "Coaching Staff". Traverse City Pit Spitters.
  13. ^ "Traverse City Pit Spitters to begin play July 1". mlive. 2020-06-15. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  14. ^ "Traverse City Schedule 2020" (PDF). Traverse City Pit Spitters. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  15. ^ "Pit Spitters Pause Baseball After Players Test Positive For Coronavirus". The Ticker | Traverse City News & Events. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  16. ^ "Baseball Pause Continues". Traverse City Pit Spitters. 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2020-07-10.
  17. ^ "Baseball is BACK! Season Resumes July 19th". Traverse City Pit Spitters. 2020-07-13. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  18. ^ "Traverse City Schedule 2020 (July 19)" (PDF). Traverse City Pit Spitters.
  19. ^ "Pit Spitters fall to Mac Daddies". Traverse City Pit Spitters. September 6, 2020.
  20. ^ "Northwoods League Announces 2020 Postseason All-Star Team". Northwoods League. September 8, 2020.
  21. ^ a b "Scorebook – Stats". Traverse City Pit Spitters.
  22. ^ "Former Battle Creek Bomber and Great Lakes Resorter Gavin Stone Debuts with the Dodgers". 4 May 2023.
  23. ^ a b Rosenthal, Andrew (21 August 2021). "Schuelke's gem leads Spitters to second NWL crown". Traverse City Record-Eagle.
  24. ^ "Scorebook – Standings". Northwoods League.
  25. ^ "Pit Spitters Win 2021 Northwoods League Championship". 21 August 2021.
  26. ^ Cook, James (19 August 2021). "Just Ducky: Pit Spitters beat Mallards for title game berth". Traverse City Record-Eagle.
  27. ^ "2021 Playoffs". Traverse City Pit Spitters. July 19, 2021.
  28. ^ Quealy, Brendan (5 July 2022). "Pit Spitters' win streak snapped at 3; end first half of season at 18–18". Traverse City Record-Eagle.
  29. ^ "Seven Straight Losses for Spitters". OurSports Central. June 19, 2022.
  30. ^ Puente, Jordan (13 August 2022). "Traverse City Pit Spitters primed for playoffs". Traverse City Record-Eagle.
  31. ^ "Four Teams Rallied Back To Earn Their First Victory In The Playoff Games". Northwoods League. August 15, 2022.
  32. ^ Puente, Jordan (16 August 2022). "Defending champion Pit Spitters lose at home to Kalamazoo; season ends after 9–5 defeat". Traverse City Record-Eagle.
  33. ^ "Growlers Advance to Great Lakes Championship". OurSports Central. August 16, 2022.
  34. ^ "Kalamazoo Growlers win championship game". 19 August 2022.
  35. ^ "Northwoods League Announces 2022 Postseason All-Star Team". Northwoods League. August 12, 2022.
  36. ^ "Northwoods League Announces 2022 All-Star Selections". Northwoods League. July 8, 2022.
  37. ^ "Scorebook – Batting". Northwoods League.
  38. ^ "Standings". Northwoods League.
  39. ^ Beeby, Harrison (August 15, 2023). "Pit Spitters win Divisional Series, advance to Northwoods final four". WPBN.
  40. ^ Jagtiani, Jayden. "Traverse City Pit Spitters fall in Great Lakes Championship Game to Green Bay Rockers". 9&10 News.
  41. ^ "Rockers Win 2023 Northwoods League Championship". 19 August 2023.
  42. ^ "Statistics". Traverse City Pit Spitters.
  43. ^ "Northwoods League Announces 2023 Postseason All-Star Team". Northwoods League. August 11, 2023.
  44. ^ "Northwoods League Announces 2023 Great Lakes All-Star Selections". Northwoods League. July 13, 2023.
  45. ^ "Standings". Traverse City Pit Spitters.
  46. ^ "Stats". Traverse City Pit Spitters.
  47. ^ Jpuente@Record-Eagle.com, Jordan Puente (August 2, 2024). "Traverse City Pit Spitters field manager Josh Rebandt set to leave after 2024 season". Traverse City Record-Eagle.
  48. ^ Bomberg, Matt (2023-09-07). "Former Traverse City Pit Spitter Luke Little Debuts with the Cubs". Northwoods League. Retrieved 2024-05-31.
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