2023 Spring Results

The Thunder scored 9 runs in the first, and one run per inning until the game was called during the bottom of the fifth inning with the T-Men holding a 12-run lead.

Jack Palma picked up his fourth win of the season, as he struck out five, walked one, and allowed one hit over three innings. Joe Ferro tossed the 4th inning, allowing one unearned run, and Sam Cornelius threw a scoreless 5th inning. 

The Thunder offense managed 11 hits over five innings and took advantage of 8 walks and 7 wild pitches. Kody Gardere (RBI), Eric Gormley (2 RBI), and Wisley Correa had two singles each, and Franklin Garcia (2 RBI) singled and doubled. Kelsey Launi drove in a run with a double, Mike DeLeeuw drove in a run with a single, and Guy Bitchatcho singled and picked up an RBI on a ground-out. 

The team battled the Warriors next Sunday morning at the Santaluces Sports Complex. 

THUNDER STARS OF THE GAME - Eric Gormley and Franklin Garcia: two hits and 2 RBI's each. 

Three hours wasn't enough to declare a winner in this one, as time expired after eight innings, leaving a kiss-your-sister kinda feeling, as the Thunder and Bums tied in their morning game at Santaluces. I mean, unless you are into kissing your sister, then you loved the game. Will Mike Bernier read that out loud on our league podcast?!

The stats for both teams were similar - 3 Runs, 2 Earned Runs, 9 Hits, 2 Errors, and 7 men left in scoring position. Needless to say, each team had a chance to put the game out of reach. 

Kody Gardere made his season debut on the mound, as he begins his journey knocking off pitching rust. Gardere tossed two innings, gave up two hits, walked two, and struck out four. Jack Palma handled the last six innings, striking out six while allowing seven hits, two walks, and three runs, two of which were earned. 

Guy Bitchatcho and Greg Nicholson led the team with two singles each, with Bitchatcho picking up an RBI in the 5th inning. Mike DeLeeuw (RBI) and Kelsey Launi ripped doubles, and Cleveland Westbrook, Jr., Wisley Correa, and Eric Gormley each singled. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME - Guy Bitchatcho - two singles, RBI.

The T-Men held a 6-0 lead after four innings, held the Marlins to six hits, and the team cruised to their fifth win of the season. 

Jeff Tomlinson faced 13 hitters through four innings, striking out two, walking none while allowing one hit. Jack Palma picked up his third win by tossing the next four, as he struck out six while allowing two runs, one of which was earned. Joe Ferro then tossed a scoreless 9th inning, keeping his season ERA at 0.00. 

The Thunder worked 18 batters into their lineup, as the typical roster thinning usually witnessed each season hasn't occurred as of yet. Kyle Cole took advantage of an injury to Kody Gardere, as he finished the day with two singles, a double, and 2 RBIs. Rookie outfielder Kelsey Launi singled twice in his debut, Keaton Ijams (RBI) and Greg Nicholson (RBI) singled twice, and Darren Hansen (RBI) singled and doubled. Before getting injured at a play at the plate, Kody Gardere was 1-1 with a double that was clobbered to left-center field. Rookie Garvey Person tripled in his debut, while Guy Bitchatcho, Wisley Correa, and Joe Ferro (2 RBI) each singled. 

The team has off Mother's Day but returns to action on 5/21/2023 in a two-team doubleheader against the Beach Bums and Tribe at Santaluces.

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME - Kyle Cole: 3-4, two singles, double, 2 RBI

The second game of the Thunder's two-team doubleheader went much better. Tied 2-2 heading into the 7th, the Thunder knocked out starting pitcher Zachary Flores and faced two relief pitchers, as the team scored six runs via three walks, an error, a balk, three wild pitches, and four hits. 

Mike DeLeeuw continued his hot-hitting with a single and double, driving in a run, as he went 6-6 on the day. Cleveland Westbrook singled twice, Greg Nicholson doubled, and Wisley Correa, Anthony Auletta, Matt Ziemak, Jack Palma (RBI), and Eric Gormley (2 RBI) each singled.  

The defense committed one physical error, and Ageless Wonder Jeff "JT" Tomlinson earned his first win of the season. JT tossed 7, gave up 5 hits, struck out 4, and allowed two earned runs. Jack Palma threw a scoreless 8th and 9th, striking out four of six batters faced. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME - Jeff Tomlinson (7 IP, 29 BF, 4 K, 5 H, 2 R)

The first game of the Thunder's two-team doubleheader didn't go smoothly for either team, as it was a carousel of duck farts, mental errors, physical errors, and walks. Obviously, neither team stayed at a Holiday Inn Express the night prior.   

The T-Men luckily escaped their 7-error and 5-walk day as time expired after the top of the 8th. Joe Ferro tossed seven innings for the win, as he struck out six, and walked three while allowing seven runs, none of which were earned. Anthony Auletta faced five batters in the 8th, walking two and striking out three. 

The offense banged out 19 hits. Mike DeLeeuw led the charge with four hits - two singles, a double, and a solo home run, driving in three on the day. Franklin Garcia knocked in a run on one of his three singles, and Joe Ferro and Keaton Ijams had two singles each. Darren Hansen walked twice and ripped a double, driving in two, and Cleveland Westbrook, Wisley Correa (3 RBI), Mike Ippolito (2 RBI), Matt Ziemak (RBI), Eric Gormley, Greg Nicholson (RBI), and Kody Gardere each singled. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME - Mike DeLeeuw: 4-4, 3 RBI, double, HR, two singles.

This game was tied 1-1 through six innings, then the Thunder pulled away, scoring three in the 7th and two in the 8th to win their second game of the season. 

On the mound, Anthony Auletta (1 IP), Jeff Tomlinson (3 IP), and Jack Palma (4 IP) combined efforts to 4-hit the Sox, as they struck out four, allowed one walk, and one unearned run. Palma picked up his second win, striking out four and allowing one hit. 

Anthony Auletta also helped at the plate as he collected two singles, two walks, and an RBI. Greg Nicholson followed suit with a hit of his own, he also walked twice and picked up an RBI. Cleveland Westbrook, Jr. and Michael "MJ" Jordan knocked in runs via singles, and Joe Ferro and Victor Henriquez had a base knock each.  

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME - Mike Ippolito: With bases loaded and two outs in the top of the 7th, Ippolito was as cool as the other side of the pillow, stayed within himself, and picked up a walk to push what would end up being the game-winning run across. That walk also extended the inning, allowing the team to score two more times while taking a 3-1 lead. 

Fresh off a MABL Championship, the Thunder got things rolling in the new season with a run-rule win over the Diamondbacks. 

The team took advantage of six walks and six errors by adding 12 hits and ended the game in the 8th inning after gaining a 10-run lead. Cleveland Westbrook, Jr. and Michael "MJ" Jordan sparked the offense with two hits each while combining for five stolen bases, with Jordan knocking in two runs. Mike DeLeeuw and Anthony Auletta drove in runs with doubles, Joe Ferro and Eric Gormley drove in runs via singles, and Wisley Correa, Guy Bitchatcho, Victor Henriquez, and rookie Kyle Cole each singled. 

Pitching was in good hands with second-year starter Jack Palma, as he picked up the win after tossing five while striking out eight, scattering three hits while allowing just one run. Joe Ferro finished the last three innings, as he struck out five without yielding a hit. 

The league is off for Easter next weekend and resumes action on 4/16/23.  

THUNDER STARS OF THE GAME - Cleveland Westbrook, Jr. (2 H, 2 SB, R) and Michael "MJ" Jordan (2 H, 3 SB, 2 R, 2 RBI)