In possibly the most dramatic fashion that you could think of, the Kalamazoo Growlers are the 2024 Northwoods Woods League Champions, clinching their second Northwoods League championship in three years. As the Growlers themselves put it, it took two days to win the championship. It was a dramatic comeback, as at one point they were down six to one.

But starting in the sixth inning, they were able to get two runs and then three in the following inning to tie it. It was then that the rain caused a delay in the game that lasted nearly 2 hours from 9:13 to 11:05. The two teams would then go seven straight innings without a run.

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But it was in the bottom of the 14th when Brandon Sanchez had a long flyball deep into left field that was deep enough to allow Gabe Springer to takeoff from third base once the hit was caught, scoring the winning run, as you can see in the video below.

It was a close race to get into the playoffs for the Kalamazoo Growlers, but once they entered the playoff race there was no stopping this team.

It’s got to feel a little bit different this time around, considering the first championship they won was an away game after defeating Duluth 8 to 2. There’s no long bus ride home, there’s no anxious anticipation of being welcome to buy a crowd, as these boys were able to rest their heads at home as champions of the 2024 season.

We look forward to 2025 and the growlers defending the title as they look to make it back-to-back championships.

Retired Michigan College Athletics Mascots

Check out some of the interesting and downright strange mascots these Michigan universities used to be known as.

Gallery Credit: Jacob Harrison

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