West Michigan Whitecaps play in Grand Rapids

The Grand Rapids based West Michigan Whitecaps play in the Midwest League in a fan friendly ballpark.   This well kept park sits right next to Highway 131 in Comstock Park north of Grand Rapids.    Being a relatively short drive from the Great Lakes Bay region the followers of the Great Lakes Loons can make the drive down to watch them play the Whitecaps. 

On a recent visit to the ballpark the Whitecaps hosted the Kane County Cougars for the first game of a 9 game home stand.   Each night during the home stand will feature some type of promotion for the fans to take advantage of.  The Whitecaps lost a thriller 7-6 in 15 innings.    The first seven innings of the contest were flying along and done in only 1 hour and 40 minutes.   After the game the fireworks were in store.    However the game slowed down and took 4 hours and 44 minutes lasting  until almost midnight. 

Highly touted Whitecaps starter Kevin Eichhorn pitched 6 and 2/3 innings and settled down to leave the game with only 2 earned runs.   The teams combined to have 35 hits on the evening.  The game drew 5,042 fans to the ballpark which started the game in 94 degree temperature.  The evening also featured a tribute to the Negro Leagues and had several former Negro League players in attendance and also throwing out the first pitches.   One should make the trip to Grand Rapids to visit Fifth Third Field and enjoy a wonderful day at the ballpark.  

Angel Franco from the Kane County Cougars scored from 3rd base on a force out in the top of the 15th inning to give the Cougars the 7-6 victory over the Whitecaps.