BATTLE CREEK — After a hot start, the Battle Creek Battle Jacks have cooled off and have not had the kind of season the team was hoping for.
However, one of the good things about the Northwoods League is that the season is split into two halves. And, no matter what happened in the first half of the season, all the teams start fresh with the beginning of the second half.
Battle Creek will finish up the first half of its schedule this week, with the second half beginning Tuesday, June 30.
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“We started the season out hot, led the division early. But then we had a bad stretch and that sets you back,” Battle Cats manager Chris Fletcher said. “We are getting ready for a new season for us.”
Battle Creek opened the final week of the first half of the season at 12-22 heading into Monday night’s games. That puts the Jacks 8½ games behind the top teams in the Great Lakes Division as state-rivals Kalamazoo and Traverse City are fighting for the first-half championship.
The Battle Jacks are hoping to get a good start in the second half of the summer.
“We are gaining some momentum here at the end of the first half as we get ready for the second half,” Fletcher said. “Recently, we have been playing better baseball.”
Hitting The Wall?
Several of the players on Battle Jacks came into the Northwoods League campaign after successful spring seasons on their college teams. While that is a good thing, it can also mean that those same players could be hitting a wall.
“We have guys, from spring ball who have had over 300 appearances combined between now and their college teams,” Fletcher said. “You can see, not so much the physical fatigue, but the mental fatigue. They are trying to fight that, and I give credit to our guys for doing a good job with that.
“But our offense has been a strength. Our position players are solid and here and set for the season. We have only lost one position player from our roster. As for pitching, we are on the hunt for some fresh arms to help us in the second half.”
All-Star Game
The Northwoods League and The Field of Dreams Movie Site will host the 2026 Northwoods League All-Star Game on July 8.
As part of a two-day event, the Field of Dreams ballpark will also host the Northwoods League Home Run Challenge on Tuesday, July 7. The Home Run Challenge will comprise Northwoods League Baseball players from the Great Lakes and Great Plains divisions.
Battle Jacks – Week of June 22-28
The Battle Jacks are 2-7 in their last 10 games, with a five-game losing streak after Sunday’s action, falling to 8½ games behind the top teams in the Great Lakes Division Kalamazoo and Traverse City. Battle Creek is at home at MCCU Field at C.O. Brown Stadium Monday-Wednesday, June 29-July 1 this week. Battle Creek will be on the road July 2-5 heading into the Northwood League All-Star Game break, with the team off from July 6-9.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Battle Jacks hope to turn things around in second half of season
Reporting by Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer / Battle Creek Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Bill Broderick, Battle Creek Enquirer | USA TODAY Network
