Traverse City Pit Spitters

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.^[9] 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.^[10][11]

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 Hoffmann (Oakland University) (8–0, 1.08 ERA) and Joe Pace (Michigan) (0–1, 6 saves, 0.50 ERA).^[12] Manager Josh Rebrandt was named Northwoods League Manager of the Year.^[13]

In 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the Northwoods League set up regional pod divisions that included temporary teams. The Pit Spitters created the Great Lakes Resorters and Northern Michigan Dune Bears, with the three teams competing against each other in the Michigan North Division, as well as competition with Kalamazoo and Battle Creek in a greater "Michigan Pod."^[14] The Pit Spitters won the division before falling to the temporary Kalamazoo Mac Daddies in the pod championship.^[15] The Resorters and Dune Bears were dissolved after the 2020 season.

The Pit Spitters won their second Northwoods League championship in 2021.^[16] 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.^[17]

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.^[18]

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.^[19] 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.^[16][20]

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]

The following is a list of former Traverse City Northwoods League players to reach Major League Baseball. This list includes Pit Spitters as well as members of 2020 temporary teams.^[22]