Bombers Beat – Weekend Sweep Ends Hot Streak

After their best week of the 2019 campaign, the Battle Creek Bombers had an opportunity to take the lead in the Northwoods League's Great Lakes East. That would be a tough task with several road games on the docket, with more on the way. Here is how the Bombers fared last week.

Monday, June 17^th - Battle Creek 7, (at) Kenosha 3
The Bombers were able to earn a two-game split with the Kingfish thanks to late game heroics, scoring all seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings. Second baseman Eric Owen (Tyler JC) drove in two runs and scored twice in the late innings. Three players each had two hits and an RBI. Pablo Arevalo (Barry College) earned the win in relief, striking out two of the three batters he faced in the eighth inning.

Tuesday, June 18^th - (at) Rockford 10, Battle Creek 2
The Bombers first road trip to Rockford this season didn't start off as planned. Scoring a run in each of the first two innings, the Bomb Squad would lose the lead in the fourth and allow six runs in the seventh to watch the game go out of reach. Both Bomber runs came off of Rivet pitching miscues, as they managed just five hits and left eight runners on. Walter Talcott (Earlham College) took the loss on the mound, allowing four runs in six innings to fall to 1-1 on the year.

Wednesday, June 19^th - Battle Creek at Rockford - Rain Out
Rain put a damper on another Bombers-Rivets match-up, this time on the road in Illinois. The game will be made as part of a back-to-back doubleheader on Saturday, June 29^th.

Thursday, June 20^th - (at) Battle Creek 4, Traverse City 3
The Bomb Squad held the Pit Spitters to just three hits in their first-ever appearance at C.O. Brown Stadium. The pitching staff also helped to hold off a fifth-inning rally from TC to earn the win. Josh Sears (Freed Hardeman) drove in two runs, with another RBI from Owen. Roy Thurman (Akron) had two hits on the day. Arevalo picked up another win on the mound in relief, fanning four in 2 2/3 innings. Beaux Bonvillain (Central Oklahoma) struck out five of seven batters faced in the final two innings for the save.

Friday, June 21^st - Traverse City 6, (at) Battle Creek 1
The Pit Spitters were able to hold the Bombers on base and earn a split in the series, with the Bombers leaving 12 runners on. Michael Morrissette (Miami, OH) knocked in the lone run for the Bomb Squad, with John Malcom (Vanderbilt) and Jack Merrifield (LSU-Eunice) each providing two hits. Josh Hranicky (Lamar) dropped to 1-3 on the season, allowing four runs in 5 1/3 innings to take the defeat.

Saturday, June 22^nd - (at) Kokomo 2, Battle Creek 1
The Bombers first-ever trip to Indiana didn't go as planned, as the two Jackrabbit runs in the fourth inning would be just enough to give Kokomo the series opener. Kelby Weyler (Lamar) earned the lone RBI in the seventh. Amani Godfrey (Saginaw Valley State) allowed just one hit in 5 2/3 innings, but allowed both runs in the tough luck loss. He is now 1-1 on the year.

Sunday, June 23^rd - (at) Kokomo 6, Battle Creek 3
The up-and-down bullpen for the Bombers took a dip in the series finale, allowing three runs to the hosting Jackrabbits in the eighth to clinch the home sweep. Sears and Merrifield each drove in runs, as the Bomb Squad pounded 11 hits in the defeat. Bonvillain took his first loss on the bump in relief, allowing two runs in his three innings of work to fall to 1-1.

The Northwoods League first half is almost to a close. With several teams still looking to make up games before the July 2^nd deadline, all six teams in the Great Lakes Conference East Division are still within reach of winning the division. Here's a look at the current standings with the league-wide off day taking place Monday (today).

Notes
- Josh Sears had a solid week at the plate, going 6-for-21 (.286) and driving in six runs. His .355 average through 18 contests with Battle Creek has him 10^th in the Northwoods in hitting.

- Kelby Weyler continues to cross the plate for the Bomb Squad, scoring 23 times in 25 games. The mark is good for a sixth place tie in the NL. He's also tied for 10^th in the league in walks with 18.

- Several pitchers have three wins on the season. It also includes reliever Pablo Arevalo, who is 3-0 on the season and it includes a save in 12 appearances (tied for the league lead).

- The Bomber bats continue to improve, but they remain in 20^th in the Northwoods with a .221 average. They are tied for 19^th with the Fond du Lac Dock Spiders in runs scored with 109.

- The Bombers pitching staff continues to impress with the seventh-best ERA in the NL (tied with the Kalamazoo Growlers) at 3.83. The staff has allowed the least amount of hits at 172 and second in the league in strikeouts with 256, just 10 K's behind the Duluth Huskies for the lead.

The Upcoming Week - Home games in Bold
Monday, June 24^th - Off Day
Tuesday, June 25^th - Bombers vs. Rockford (DH) - 4:05pm
Wednesday, June 26^th - Bombers vs. Rockford - 7:05pm
Thursday, June 27^th - Bombers at Traverse City - 7:05pm
Friday, June 28^th - Bombers at Traverse City - 7:05pm
Saturday, June 29^th - Bombers at Rockford (DH) - 6:05pm
Sunday, June 30^th - Bombers at Rockford - 2:05pm