TRAVERSE CITY — Traverse City won its 11th consecutive game over Kalamazoo, capping off an 11-1 campaign against the Growlers with Sunday’s 7-4 victory.
The Pit Spitters (10-5 second half) don’t play Kalamazoo (6-10) again this regular season.
Ethan Guerra set hew new NWL high with his 43rd RBI in 51 games, passing his 2024 mark of 42 in 59 contests.
Sean Martinez finished 3-for-3, completing the two-game set with five hits, three extra-base hits and four RBIs. Zach Kucharczyk reached safely nine times during the series, including a 2-for-4 performance Sunday.
Traverse City improved to 10-5 and moved into a tie with Royal Oak — which swept TC in a Friday doubleheader, 14-0 and 4-3 — atop the Great Lakes East second-half standings with 21 games remaining in the regular season.
Cody Freitas allowed two runs, one earned, over 1.1 innings and earned his first victory of the season in his ninth appearance.
The Pit Spitters have Monday off before a six-game road swing with stops in Battle Creek and Richmond. Traverse City returns home July 26 to face the Rockford Rivets.
Traverse City beat Kalamazoo 11-3 Saturday evening in front of 2,628 fans.
Jacob Kucharczyk and Sean Martinez each had two hits and three RBI, and Zach Kucharczyk drove in four runs on two hits.
Kyle Timko threw eight strong innings, spreading out five hits hits to improve to 5-1 on the season.
Saints sweep Sidney
The Manistee Saints defeated the Sidney Knights in a pair of games Sunday at Reitz Park, winning the opener 6-3 and the nightcap 12-2.
In the first game, the Saints exploded for five runs in the fourth inning to overcome a two-run deficit and go on to a 6-3 win. Big hits in the inning were run-scoring singles by Lucas Weinert, Dylan Bates, and Ethan Edmondson.
Landyn Kequom started on the mound for the Saints and worked four innings, allowing one earned run. Dylan Bates picked up the win with three innings of relief work.
In the second game, the Saints scored eight runs in the bottom of the first inning and cruised to the 12-2 win. Pierce Johnson paced the offense with three hits, while Xavier Allen and Lucas Johnson each had two hits.
Logan Lewis started on the mound for the Saints and worked three scoreless innings, and Matt Bigley and Adam Pierce each worked in relief, with Bigley picking up the win.
The Saints are idle next weekend before resuming league play Aug. 2 at Burton.