While the West Michigan Whitecaps have viewed every series with the same goal, taking a series win over the Guardians’ High-A affiliate, the Lake County Captains is just a little bit sweeter.
As the season has progressed, West Michigan has consistently struggled against Lake County on both sides of the ball, entering this series with a 4-8 record against the Captains.
Well, as opposing Midwest League teams have learned this season, if you give the West Michigan offense an inch, they’ll take a mile, and this series proved that once again. The Whitecaps now stand as the only team in the Midwest League with eight wins and only one loss in the second half, and are also the only Midwest League team with 52 wins on the year, giving them the best record by a lead of seven games over the two divisions overall.
GAME 1 – West Michigan: 3, Lake County: 2
Max Alba got the nod for West Michigan in game one against the Captains. One of the veteran arms of the West Michigan rotation, Alba worked 4 2/3 frames for the ‘Caps, allowing one earned run off four hits, walking a pair and striking out three. John Peck set the tone early for West Michigan at the plate, knocking his seventh home run of the year and adding another run in the fifth inning, by way of an RBI-single.
In typical Max Clark fashion, the 20-year-old added his sixth home run of the season in the sixth inning to give West Michigan a 3-1 lead. In all, the Whitecaps received multi-hit contributions from Peck, Clark, and Luke Gold for six of the seven West Michigan hits on the night. Despite a solo shot from Ralphy Velazquez in the bottom of the ninth for Lake County, the Whitecaps were able to maintain long enough to secure a game one victory.
John Peck gets the scoring early with a lead off home run to center pic.twitter.com/lE6UH2ASGR
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 24, 2025
GAME 2 – West Michigan: 9, Lake County: 6
As has been the case so many times this season, a few offensively strong innings proved to be the recipe for success in game two. After going scoreless in the first two frames, Patrick Lee started the top of the third with an RBI single. A walk and a fielding error plated two more for the ‘Caps, and it was Izaac Pacheco’s 16th double of the season that notched another two runs to cap a five-run third for West Michigan.
Kevin McGonigle added his sixth home run of the year in the fifth and singled in the ninth to book his 12th multi-hit game of the season. A multi-hit game for Patrick Lee and two scoreless frames in relief from CJ Weins locked in the third win of the year for Weins and the second win of the series for West Michigan.
Kevin McGonigle sends a missile toward the kids in the grass to put West Michigan up 6-2. It’s his 6th home run of the year. pic.twitter.com/Pdjpeaac95
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 25, 2025
GAME 3 – Lake County: 10, West Michigan: 6
Thursday proved to be a battle for the West Michigan pitching staff as Lake County dialed in and didn’t let off the gas. Whitecaps’ starter Rayner Castillo was tagged for seven runs, six of which were earned, off seven hits allowed over 3 1/3 innings to begin the night. Carlos Lequerica, who has been all but untouchable for the majority of the year, hit a snag, allowing three earned runs over 1 2/3 frames.
Coming in in relief, Joe Adametz was able to lock out any additional scoring with a trio of scoreless frames to finish out the night for West Michigan. Despite the rocky evening for the pitching staff, the West Michigan offense still put on a show with six runs off 12 hits, including yet another multi-hit night for John Peck, as well as multi-hit campaigns for Austin Murr, Seth Stephenson, and Peyton Graham. The offensive push by Lake County was enough to fend off the ‘Caps, giving the Captains their first series win.
Peyton Graham is on target as he launches a 3-run homer to left. It’s his 5th home run of the season. pic.twitter.com/uEutGsCCce
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 27, 2025
GAME 4 – West Michigan: 8, Lake County: 4
The middle four innings proved to be the sweet spot for the Whitecaps on Friday night. Austin Murr and Peyton Graham each contributed a home run to start the fourth, and at the top of five, it was the seventh home run of the year from Kevin McGonigle to give West Michigan a 4-3 lead.
John Peck added to his offensive tear with another multi-hit night, three runs scored, and his 11th stolen base on the year. 23-year-old righthander Preston Howey dropped his ERA to 1.67 with another pair of scoreless frames to lock in his fifth win this season for West Michigan. Peyton Graham booked his fourth three-hit night of the year, and along with multi-hit games from Josue Briceño and Austin Murr, West Michigan’s mid-game push resulted in their 50th win this season overall.
This catch is pure magic 🪄
Seth Stephenson (@Tigers) denies the Harry Potter-themed Captains a homer for the @wmwhitecaps 🤯 pic.twitter.com/Fq7DeuXBYN
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) June 28, 2025
GAME 5 – West Michigan: 21, Lake County: 4
You remember how we said if you give the West Michigan offense an inch, they’ll take a mile? Well, on Saturday, they took a whole lot more than that.
Starting the night with a nine-run…yes, I said nine-run second inning, West Michigan scored a franchise record-tying 21 runs off 20 hits, marking the highest single-game offensive campaign for the Whitecaps since August 8, 2010. John Peck continued what he had done all series with a four-hit night, while Max Clark and Patrick Lee each booked a three-hit night for West Michigan.
The ‘Caps combined for eight extra-base hits, including a pair of doubles from Josue Briceño, a triple from Seth Stephenson, and home runs from Bennett Lee, Patrick Lee, Peyton Graham, and Luke Gold. The explosive offensive push also marked the second time this season that the Whitecaps scored 20 or more runs in a single game.
Josue Briceño smashes a bases clearing double to center to put the Whitecaps up 15-2 in the 4th inning. Briceño has 4 RBIs today, and 49 this season in 49 games. pic.twitter.com/RAc4pBUAKG
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 29, 2025
GAME 6 – West Michigan: 10, Lake County: 8
Coming off the dominant win from Saturday evening, the Whitecaps’ offense was able to stay locked in, although not quite to the tune of the explosion of the night before. Among the five multi-hit games from the West Michigan lineup, it was Kevin McGonigle who led the pack on Sunday afternoon, finishing with four hits, including his 18th double of the year to mark his fourth game this season with four or more hits in a single game.
Austin Murr added a trio of hits, in addition to a stolen base for Peyton Graham, his 10th, and a pair of stolen bases for Seth Stephenson to bring him to 24 on the year overall. With a seamless inning in relief, lefty Micah Ashman closed the door to secure a series win and his third save of the season.
Max Clark showing off his wheels as he beats out an infield single to first base and extends his hitting streak to seven games. pic.twitter.com/m1ll6l06Nd
— Tigers ML Report (@tigersMLreport) June 29, 2025
Up Next: Tonight, West Michigan returns home to host the first half of a split series with the Great Lakes Loons. West Michigan will host the first three games, then head out to Midland for the Loons to host the back half of the six-game series.
Pitcher of the Week: LHP Micah Ashman
Still just 22 years old, Micah Ashman has been quietly working to remain one of the most dominant arms out of the West Michigan bullpen this season. The 6’7 lefty has not allowed a run over his last five appearances and has only allowed two earned runs in June. Over 33 2/3 innings out of the pen for West Michigan, Ashman has secured a 1.07 ERA and a 0.68 WHIP, striking out 36 and only allowing seven walks on the year.
Player of the Week: INF John Peck
The newly crowned Midwest League Player of the Week simply refuses to be ignored, but you’d never know that by talking to him. One of the most unassuming members of the West Michigan lineup, John Peck plays much louder than he talks, and for anyone who appreciates an old-school style of play, you’re going to grow to enjoy Peck pretty quickly. Boasting an active seven-game hit streak, the 22-year-old has collected 15 hits, 12 runs, two doubles, two home runs, and eight RBI. In June, Peck is slashing .375/.417/.563 with a .980 OPS, 11 extra-base hits, and 23 RBI.
Whitecap to Watch: RHP Preston Howey
The Tigers’ 14th-round pick out of Saint Mary’s in 2024, 23-year-old righthander Preston Howey, is navigating his first campaign in the Midwest League. Standing at 5’10, 175, Howey doesn’t have the benefits of much down-hill motion at his disposal, but he’s proven that the combination of his slingshot delivery and finesse can get the job done against opposing High-A hitters. With only one earned run allowed since June 10, Howey is currently carrying a 1.67 ERA and 0.74 WHIP with six walks and 26 strikeouts over 27 innings of work this season.
Chris Brown 
Rogelio Castillo 
Jerry McKennan