The Traverse City Pit Spitters will reopen Turtle Creek Stadium for baseball this summer on July 1, adding two new teams that will play against the Pit Spitters for a round-robin 57-game season played entirely in Traverse City.

Pit Spitters CEO Joe Chamberlin announced the news at a press conference Monday morning. Two new teams comprised of college players recruited from across the country will be launched to play against the Pit Spitters this summer in home games all played at Turtle Creek Stadium from July 1 through early September. The two new teams are named the Great Lakes Resorters and the Northern Michigan Dune Bears. The Resorters are a nod to the Traverse City Resorters - the first professional baseball team that played in the region in the early 1900s - while the Northern Michigan Dune Bears were the second-place vote receiver in the original fan vote to name the Pit Spitters team. Pit Spitters players will stay with host families this summer as usual, while Great Lakes Resorters and Northern Michigan Dune Bears players will stay at Interlochen Center for the Arts. Merchandise will be available for all three teams.

The move is intended to eliminate travel between states among league teams, reducing the risk of coronavirus spread, according to the Pit Spitters. The three teams will constitute the North Division within a "Michigan pod" of the Northwoods League, while three teams will play in southern Michigan - the Kalamazoo Growlers, Battle Creek Bombers, and one new team to be announced - in the South Division. There will be a championship playoff between the two divisions on September 3, 4, and 5, according to General Manager Mickey Graham.

Game attendance will initially be limited to 500 fans in accordance with current state regulations. That number could expand if crowd restrictions are further loosened in Michigan this summer. Suite and season tickets will go on sale Thursday, while individual tickets will be on sale in the coming weeks. Seats will be socially distanced in varying group sizes, and fans will be required to wear masks while moving in high-traffic areas, such as to concessions or restrooms.

"We're going to have to do a few things differently this summer," said Chamberlin, adding that the Pit Spitters worked with Blair Township, Grand Traverse County, the Grand Traverse Health Department, and the Grand Traverse Sheriff's Office on the reopening plan. Chamberlin said the plan will allow the Pit Spitters to "invite folks into the ballpark for fun, but most importantly for safe baseball."

Individual ticket prices will remain the same this year as 2019, while table ticket prices (for four seats) will increase from $80 to $90. Graham says the organization is also working on the possibility of holding other events at the stadium this summer; St. Francis and Buckley high schools will hold their graduation ceremonies at the stadium, and other events could take place later in the season.