RIPKEN LEAGUE RESCHEDULING QUIZ, T-BOLT FANS

BETHESDA, JULY 2—It’s the second month of the season for the Cal Ripken Sr Collegiate Baseball League. The monsoon season may be over (hopefully) and all Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolt fans are required to take the following True/False quiz regarding League scheduling vs Bethesda and in the future.

1) Today’s contest is a quickly scheduled doubleheader not a single game.
2) The games will be played at Shirley Povich Field.
3) It’s probably the first of many such DHs this month, likely not at Blair.

If you answered True to all of these, congratulations! You can be a GM for any team in the Ripken League.

Due to League rules that require cancelled games to be made up as quickly as possible on the first available date that the affected teams play, the Bolts will play two vs the Big Train at Shirley. SS-T will be the home team (batting last) in the first seven-inning game starting at 4 pm.

In the second contest, at 7 pm, the T-Bolts will be the away team.

Now that that’s all squared away, the Thunderbolts (12-7) will try to make up some ground on Bethesda (14-6) in the Ripken League’s Northern Division. They currently trail by 1.5 games but have played one less. The T-Bolts have won one of their three games against the Big Train this season; the win came June 21 in the nightcap of…what else, a doubleheader, at Povich. The score was 7-5, with reliever Bryce Greene (Fla Int Univ) getting the win and Nicky Keane (E Michigan) getting the save.

No word on pitchers yet. Andrew Relvas and Patrick Moran will be on the call beginning at 4 pm.

Keep those calendars handy as you will need them down the stretch.

SUMMER CLEANING: WEBSITE UNDERGOING REVISION, OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW

We are cleaning the website of old stories. You will still get the new ones but over the next week, the old stories will disappear. Bear with us; thanks!

TOP DOGS IN THE NORTH: THUNDERBOLTS LOOK TO HOLD OFF A SCRAPPY METRO BRAVES TEAM TONIGHT

By Dylan Schmidt
SS-Thunderbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 13—If there's anything yesterday’s contest proves, it’s that this year’s Thunderbolts squad is accustomed to close games. Of the seven games played in the 2025 Ripken League season, the Thunderbolts have been involved in five games decided by two runs or less.

And the Thunderbolts have found ways to win. They are 3-2 in such games, with two victories over the Gaithersburg Giants and one over the Alexandria Aces. The Thunderbolts have dropped two games this season by a combined margin of three runs.

Against a resilient Gaithersburg squad, the Thunderbolts never backed down. Anytime time the Giants brought the game within a run, the Thunderbolts had an answer. 

After watching Gaithersburg wipe away their two-run lead, the Thunderbolts exploded for three runs in the bottom half. With two outs and the bases loaded, Ryan Cuadros (Marymount) stepped up and delivered a huge blow. He blasted a three-run double into left center, handing the Thunderbolts a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

However, those answers didn’t just come on the offensive end.

T-Bolt Zach Danielczyk will start today’s game. He stands at 6-foot-5 with electric stuff.

Nolan Kutney’s spectacular play at second kept the Thunderbolts ahead in the top of the eighth and halted Gaithersburg’s last threatening chance. Nicky Keane (Eastern Michigan) — who entered the game with one out in the eighth — limited the damage and struck out the side in the ninth.

Now, the Thunderbolts turn their attention to the Metro South County Braves tonight at Blair. Right-hander Zach Danielczyk (Tampa) will take the mound for the Thunderbolts. He pitched five scoreless innings against the Olney Cropdusters, with one hit allowed and one walk. Danielczyk will need another complete outing for the Thunderbolts to keep their momentum.

The Braves are no stranger to close games either. They have played in six games decided by three runs or less, making Metro’s 3-6 record a bit deceptive.

Yesterday, the Braves fell to the DC Grays, 8-6. Metro SoCo scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to get within two but left two runners on base when they were finally retired.

Luke Pietandrea will toe the rubber against the Thunderbolts today.

The Braves will be turning to Luke Pietandrea (Frederick C.C.). The southpaw delivered four innings holding Alexandria’s offense off the board. However, he faced five baserunners in the game — four hits and one walk.

And the Braves’ offense is no slouch either. 

Nich Francuzenko (Towson) has had a pair of four-game hitting streaks. He has reached base in every game this season. Francuzenko is batting an impressive .394, with five walks and five RBIs. Once he gets on, he wreaks havoc on the basepaths, stealing six bases and scoring six runs.

Sam Grube (Mount St. Mary’s) is not your typical leadoff hitter, but is certainly a threat. Grube has drawn 13 walks and knocked nine hits. However, his damage usually comes with runners on base. Grube has driven in 11 runs — second-best mark in the league. He has one bomb and a double, alongside six stolen bases and seven runs scored.

With the Thunderbolts sitting atop the North Division, they will have a target on their backs throughout the season. Metro will be the first obstacle in their path for a deep postseason run.

Tonight’s contest starts at 7 p.m. and takes place at Blair Stadiu. The game will be live-streamed on the ThunderboltsBaseball Channel on YouTube. You can link easily by going to the top of the menu and clicking on Media/Live Games.

Join Pat Moran and Andrew Relvas on the call.

CUADROS GOES CUATRO: FOUR RBIs POWER THUNDERBOLTS PAST GIANTS, 9-8, IN WILD WIN

By Dylan Schmidt
SS-Thunderbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 12—Thursday’s 9-8 contest between the Thunderbolts and Gaithersburg Giants can be described in one word: dogficght. In those games, a moment of brilliance can be the decider. That moment happened in the top of the eighth before the announced crowd of 207.

The Giants, trailing by one, had the bases loaded with two outs and were threatening to take the lead. A sharply hit ground ball up the middle got behind the bag and was headed to center field. Incredibly, second baseman Nolan Kutney (UMBC), got to it, pirouetted to his right, planted his back foot, and launched a heave to first. The throw beat the runner by inches. That incredible play snuffed out a Gaithersburg rally and helped the Thunderbolts prevail, 9-8.

T-Bolt Nolan Kutney made a spectacular defensive play to keep them up one. He also scored three runs on the day, with a walk and single.

Kutney’s heroics at second maintained the Thunderbolts’ one-run lead and gave his team a jolt of energy to close the game out. However, three costly Thunderbolt errors earlier in the night allowed Gaithersburg to hang around.

Offensively, the Thunderbolts were led by a four-RBI performance from center fielder Ryan Cuadros (Marymount), who was making his first appearance of the season.

The start wasn’t initially promising, though.

After hurling three perfect innings his last time out, the Giants tagged southpaw Josh Domaracki (Frostburg St) early on.

Third baseman Danny Orr (UMBC) laced a single to right center and cleanup hitter Collin Hughes (VCU) later drove him home with an RBI single to left. Domaracki retired the final hitter of the first inning, but the Giants’ damage wasn’t done just yet.

In the next inning, second baseman Brady Powell roped a leadoff single, before a productive groundout and passed ball moved him to third. Shortstop Fredy Diaz (Davidson) plated Powell with a sacrifice fly and the Giants led, 2-0.

With the Thunderbolts trailing, they turned to a patient approach at the plate. Gaithersburg lefty Grey Willis (Harford C.C.) struggled with command, and the Thunderbolts took advantage. They spiked Willis’ pitch count up and created a jam out of seemingly nothing.

Five walks in the frame, coupled with a timely RBI hit from Cuadros and a sacrifice fly from right fielder Matthew Walters (Cornell) gifted the Thunderbolts four runs. 

Designated hitter Aidan Driscoll (Maryland), Kutney, first baseman Brady Grimes (Millersville), shortstop Josh Erd (Frederick C.C.) and left fielder Caleb Sturtevant (Millersville) all drew walks. Kutney and Grimes scored on wild pitches.

T-Bolt Josh Domaracki has now gone seven innings without allowing a run after his four-inning performance today.

After gaining run support from his offense, Domaracki settled in and shut down the Giants’ batters. He kept his defense on their toes, generating several lazy flyouts and groundouts. Domaracki pitched four innings, allowed two runs (both unearned) and punched out three batters as well.

Once Domaracki exited the game, though, Gaithersburg showed its resilience against lefty Michael Preske (Cecil C.C.) in the fifth.

Diaz, center fielder Jayden Brown and Orr loaded the bases with singles. Hughes hit an RBI fielder’s choice and right fielder Joey Nicholson (Gaston) plated Brown with the fourth hit of the inning. However, Sturtevant gunned down a runner at third to end the frame and keep the Thunderbolts tied at four.

T-Bolt Ryan Cuadros knocked a bases-clearing double as part of his four RBIs, fueling the win.

Cuadros struck again in the bottom of the fifth. Catcher Vance Bonior (UMass) blooped a single into left and Kutney followed suit with another hit. Third baseman Bryce Curry loaded the bases before Cuadros launched a three-run double. The Thunderbolts took a 7-4 lead into the sixth.

Righty John Doyle dominated in the top of the sixth, retiring the side in order with two strikeouts.

The Thunderbolts added an insurance run in the bottom half. It started with Erd reaching base on an error. Two wild pitches and Sturtevant’s ground out allowed Erd to round the bases and score., and the T-Bolts now led, 8-4.

But the Giants wouldn’t go down without a fight, and Doyle was the victim of some miscues in the seventh.

Two Thunderbolt errors in the inning — one of which was Doyle’s own doing — added fuel to the fire. Brown and Hughes both ripped singles before first baseman Zach White drove a double down the right field line. The Thunderbolts four-run lead quickly vanished to one, 8-7.

The offensive slugfest continued in the bottom of the seventh.

Driscoll drew a walk and Kutney reached on an infield error. Curry plated Driscoll with an RBI single to extend the Thunderbolts’ lead to two. In any other game, that advantage would look safe. However, that wasn’t the case today.

T-Bolt Nicky Keane escaped an eighth-inning jam before closing the ninth.

Righty E.J. Youngling (Moravian) plunked Diaz to start the eighth. Two batters later, Brown lined a single to put runners on the corners. With righty Nicky Keane (Eastern Michigan) entering in relief, Orr drew a walk to load the bases. Keane hunkered down and recorded the second out. Hughes hit an RBI single, but Kutney’s dazzling play limited the damage.

Keane struck out the side in the top of the ninth, extending the Thunderbolts’ win streak to four and moving them to 5-2.

Preske took the win, Cody Sharman (Frostburg St) was dealt the loss and Keane recorded the save.

The Thunderbolts stay at Blair Stadium Friday night against the Metro South County Braves (3-6), starting at 7 p.m. Watch coverage of the game on the ThunderboltsBaseball Channel on YouTube—link on the Media/Live Games menu. Join Andrew Relvas and Pat Moran for the call.

GIANTS WALK INTO A STORM: THUNDERBOLTS READY TO STRIKE AGAINST GAITHERSBURG

By Dylan Schmidt
SS-Thunderbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 12—After collapsing in the season-opener, things looked a a little too familiar for the Thunderbolts. But they have slowly built momentum on the back of some complete performances. Now, a three-game winning streak has the Thunderbolts atop the North division.

The Thunderbolts have been playing their best ball in recent memory, and they have the results to show for it. An 8-4 win over the Olney Cropdusters, followed by a tight 3-2 win over Alexandria Aces, and yesterday’s 8-2 victory over the DC Grays, has cemented the Thunderbolts as a team to watch.

While the Thunderbolts starting pitching has been the talk of the team, the bullpen has quietly stacked solid outings. 

Last night, starter Josh Zuckerman (Emory) allowed the only runs of the game in the first. Once he exited, Liam Bowen (Frostburg St), Liam Miller (Rochester) and Hunter Layhew (Frostburg St) pitched a combined five innings of scoreless ball. Brady Grimes (Millersville), Bryce Greene (Florida International) and Nicky Keane (Eastern Michigan) are other key high-leverage arms. 

And timely hitting has supported those pitchers with run support. Aidan Driscoll (Maryland) has hits in all four games he’s appeared in, with a .385 batting average and six walks. Vance Bonior (UMass) has slashed a team-high .417. David Vozzo (Moravian) and Nolan Kutney (UMBC) are providing offense in the middle infield.

The Thunderbolts will turn to lefty Josh Domaracki (Frostburg St) against the Gaithersburg Giants tonight. Domaracki delivered three perfect innings his last time out against Bethesda Big Train. He struck out three batters and kept Bethesda off the basepaths.

Since that first meeting, Gaithersburg has struggled to produce wins. The Giants sit at 1-6 with the worst record in the division, the lone victory coming against the Big Train. 

Grey Willis (Harford C.C.) is making his second start of the season today. The southpaw tossed three innings of one-run ball against the Thunderbolts. Willis struggled with command after walking three batters.

While the pitching staff has struggled, Gaithersburg’s offense has kept the team in games at times this season. 

Jayden Brown (Ranger College) has the potential to carry his team on his back. The lefty brings a mix of speed and power to the plate, serving as an elite two-way player. Brown leads the league with a .524 batting average, eight RBIs and two stolen bags. He also has two bombs to his name — the second-highest total in the league.

Aaron Babaev (San Mateo) is an unconventional three-hole hitter. He hasn’t showcased any power to leave the ballpark, but instead seems to always find a way onboard. Babaev has five hits, five walks, an impressive .417 batting average and five runs scored. He has no RBIs yet but can start rallies on his own.

Tonight’s contest starts at 7 p.m. and will be live-streamed on the ThunderboltsBaseball Channel on YouTube. You can link easily by going to the top of the menu and clicking on Media/Live Games.

Join Neal Lavon and Andrew Relvas on the call.

NORTHERN DIVISION FIRST PLACE THUNDERBOLTS GIVE GRAYS THE BLUES WITH 8-2 VICTORY ON ROAD

By Dylan Schmidt
SS-Thunderbolts

WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA, JUNE 11—With the game tied at two heading into the top of the eighth, the Thunderbolts needed their offense to come to life. Up stepped right fielder Aidan Driscoll (Maryland). He roped a double over the head of the center fielder, sparking a major rally. The Thunderbolts unleashed six runs in the frame to separate themselves in their 8-2 victory. 

The win moves the Thunderbolts to 4-2 and atop the North Division.

T-Bolt David Vozzo went 2-for-4, with two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk.

The Thunderbolts struck early, and the big blow came off the bat of shortstop David Vozzo (Moravian). The leadoff hitter ripped a triple into the gap and designated hitter Jack Hurda (Clarion) plated Vozzo with a sacrifice fly.

However, the Thunderbolts missed a big opportunity to post a crooked number in the first. 

Grays’ starter Brady Myers (Lock Haven) struggled with his command early on. He walked third baseman Tyson Gill (Clarion), Driscoll and first baseman Brayden Foster (Youngstown St). The Thunderbolts failed to drive any of those runners home, though, leaving the bases loaded in the top half.

And DC certainly made them pay in the bottom of the first with a more opportunistic approach. Right fielder Ryan Soong (Washington University) blooped a single into center and shortstop Noel Rivera (Marist) beat out an infield hit. 

Those two hits, coupled with three stolen bases allowed left fielder Andy Rivera (Holy Family) to hit an RBI groundout. First baseman Ethan Nagy (Lock Haven) singled to right, bringing home Noel Rivera. Suddenly, the Grays were ahead, 2-1.

T-Bolt Josh Zuckerman allowed two runs in his four innings of work, keeping his team in the game.

Both starting pitchers settled down after a shaky start.

Thunderbolts’ starter Josh Zuckerman didn’t have the same dominance he had in his opening appearance. However, the right-hander battled through traffic throughout his outing. Zuckerman’s offspeed pitch forced several swing-and-misses at critical times.

His counterpart, Myers, found the strike zone in a hurry after the first. The righty sent down six straight batters, striking out the side in the third. Myers worked ahead in the count and kept Thunderbolt batters off balance.

But the Bolts broke through in the fourth. Catcher Jack McCarthy (Marymount) singled to center and quickly stole second. Foster drew a six-pitch walk followed by left fielder Vance Bonior (UMass) driving an RBI single up the middle. 

Grays righty Jace Szaflarski (Lock Haven) came into relieve Myers after the run scored and would throw three scoreless innings while only allowing one baserunner.

T-Bolt Tyson Gill played stellar defense at the third, making several key stops at the hot corner.

In the middle frames, the Thunderbolts displayed their improved play in the field. Third baseman Tyson Gill has been playing over at the hot corner this season, among the many positions he’s played in his career. His defensive excellence shined, notably in the bottom of the fifth. With a sharp hit ball down the third-base line, Gill ranged over to his right and snagged the ball before firing it across the diamond to record the out. It was yet another highlight-reel fielding play from Gill.

Righty Liam Bowen (Frostburg St), who relieved Zuckerman in the fifth, was dominant in his two innings of relief work for the Thunderbolts. The righty struck out four batters, walked one, and conceded one hit. That knock came in the bottom of the sixth. Designated hitter Isaac Ahokovi (Nicholls St) laced a double to left, but Bowen hunkered down and rang up the final batter.

In the top of seventh, Vozzo was 90 feet away from putting the Thunderbolts up one. He drew a one-out walk, stole second and advanced to third on a flyout. However, they failed to bring him home against righty Sam Moseman (NYU).

Liam Miller (Rochester) pitched a scoreless inning out of the bullpen in the seventh. With one out and a man on first, McCarthy gunned down the runner trying to steal second. Miller completed the strikeout to end the inning.

T-Bolt Aidan Driscoll started and ended the eighth-inning rally with a lead-off double and a sacrifice fly later.

That led to the big blow in the eighth. 

Driscoll lined a double and McCarthy brought him home with a single. Bonior reached on an error, center fielder Caleb Sturtevant (Millersville) drew a four-pitch walk and Matthew Kim was on the receiving end of a two-bag error. Vozzo smashed a double. Gill and Hurda both produced singles, before Driscoll hit a sacrifice fly. In a flash, the Thunderbolts scored six runs and batted around in the frame.

Righthander Hunter Layhew closed out the final two innings. Bowen earned the win and Moseman was credited with the loss.

With the Cropdusters 9-0 shutout loss at the hands of the Southern Maryland Senators, the Thunderbolts vaulted to first place in the Ripken League’s Northern Division.They lead the Cropdusters by a half game. The Sens have the League’s best record at 6-1.

The Thunderbolts come home to Blair tomorrow, as they face off against the Gaithersburg Giants (1-6) at 7 p.m. 

Watch coverage of the game on the ThunderboltsBaseball Channel on YouTube—link on the Media/Live Games menu. Join Andrew Relvas and Evan Pak for the call.

THUNDERBOLTS LOOK TO CARRY HOMESTAND SUCCESS ON ROAD, TRAVEL TO DC GRAYS TONIGHT

By Dylan Schmidt
SS-Thunderbolts

WOODBRIDGE, VIRGINIA, JUNE 11—The past two seasons for the Thunderbolts have been quite contrasting. Through five games last year, the Thunderbolts record stood at 1-4, a slow start they failed to overcome. That record has drastically improved this season.

The Thunderbolts currently sit a half game out of first place in the Cal Ripken League’s North Division with a 3-2 record — behind the 4-2 Olney Cropdusters. If the Thunderbolts win over the DC Grays today at Woodbridge High School, and Olney loses, the Thunderbolts will move to the top of the Division.

The difference this season has been the Thunderbolts pitching staff. A once glaring weakness has turned into the top group in the league. The Thunderbolts’ team ERA is a paltry 2.11. The next closest team is the Cropdusters at 4.02.

The Thunderbolts have only allowed 11 earned runs in the first five games, which has been overshadowed by some inconsistent fielding. A team fielding percentage of .864 has prevented them from a perfect campaign so far.

T-Bolt Josh Zuckerman starts today against DC Grays.

But the Thunderbolts starting pitchers have been elite this season. They have not allowed a run in 20 innings pitched. 

That starts with righty Josh Zuckerman (Emory). He will take the bump today and look to continue his success from the opening game. Zuckerman pitched four no-hit innings against Alexandria a week ago, striking out six batters and walking two. He exited with a 6-0 lead but the Aces later tied it up, preventing him from earning the win. The Aces won in 12, 8-07, but Zuckerman did not figure in the decision.

Zuckerman will toe the rubber against the DC Grays. 

DC started the season with wins over Bethesda Big Train (12-11) and Metro South County (7-6). A three-game losing streak to Alexandria, the Southern Maryland Senators, and Bethesda was snapped yesterday with a 4-3 victory over Olney.

DC Grays trot out ace Brady Myers tonight.

Righty Brady Myers (Lock Haven) will get the starting nod for the Grays. Myers pitched four innings of one-run ball against Bethesda to start the season. However, he struggled with command, walking five hitters and allowing a hit. If the Thunderbolts can remain patient at the plate, and swing within the zone, they may have some success against Myers.

But the DC pitching staff hasn’t always been rock solid, leaving times when the offense needs to step up.

Ryan Soong (Washington University) is the leader of the pack. He is hitting .389 through five games, with three RBIs, six walks and nine stolen bases. While Soong doesn’t contain the power to spray home runs, he makes up for it with his quick speed on the basepaths and always finds a way to get on base. Soong could cause problems for the Thunderbolts’ infield.

Noel Rivera (Marist) brings those runners home, and he is one of the best in the league at that. Rivera has plated nine runners — tied for second-best in the League. He has the potential for extra-base hits, with two doubles and a long ball. Rivera also has four stolen bases and four runs scored.

Just five games into the season, the Thunderbolts have shown promise of an extended campaign. If they hope to make the playoffs, the Thunderbolts will need to keep pace with the top teams in the league. A win today will keep them on that path.

Tonight’s contest starts at 7 p.m. and will be live-streamed on the ThunderboltsBaseball Channel on YouTube. You can link easily by going to the top of the menu and clicking on Media/Live Games.

Join Andrew Relvas and Pat Moran on the call.

THUNDERBOLTS TAKE THE FIFTH AND GAIN 3-2 VERDICT OVER ALEXANDRIA ACES AT BLAIR

By Dylan Schmidt
SS-Thunderbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 9— Two hours and 16 minutes. That’s how long Monday’s contest between the Thunderbolts and Alexandria Aces lasted. In a game filled with dynamite pitching, runs were at a premium. Those runs all came in the fifth inning. After the Aces plated two runs in the top half, the Thunderbolts outperformed them with three in the bottom. That was all the run support the Thunderbolts needed to hold on for a 3-2 victory.

The Thunderbolts (3-2) played an error-filled game the last time these teams met, and that cost them the win. Less than one week later, the Thunderbolts played clean defense and even made some stellar stops to support the pitching staff.

T-Bolt Gabe Wheeler worked through traffic in his four scoreless innings as the starter.

With strong defense behind them, the pitchers on both sides pounded the strike zone. Some 88 of the 140 pitches thrown by Thunderbolt pitchers were called strikes and the Aces struggled to keep up with those pitches. Alexandria (2-3) only had four hits to show for their offensive output.

Thunderbolt righty Gabe Wheeler (Tampa) stepped onto the mound and kept the Aces’ offense at bay. He faced some traffic in the first three frames but battled through the jams.

Alexandria second baseman Toby Hueber (George Mason) knocked a 1-2 pitch into the outfield grass for a lead-off base hit. However, Wheeler immediately recorded a double-play himself, snagging the ball hit right back at him and catching Hueber off the base.

In the bottom of the first, right fielder Matthew Walters (Cornell) reached first base on an infield error and later moved into scoring position after stealing a bag. The Thunderbolts were unable to drive him home, though. 

Wheeler pitched to contact throughout his outing, recording just one strikeout. The strategy worked to perfection, as he generated three lazy fly outs in the top of the second. Wheeler erased a one-out baserunner.

T-Bolt Nolan Kutney finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, including the hit to start the fifth-inning rally.

The Thunderbolts second baseman, Nolan Kutney (UMBC), produced a two-out knock, but the game remained scoreless. 

In the third, after the first two batters were retired, Alexandria put runners on the corners with shortstop Derek Almeda (Chaffey College) hitting a single, stealing second and third. Designated hitter Gavin Miller drew a walk before Wheeler recorded the final out.

It was a pitcher’s duel between Wheeler and Aces’ starter right-hander AJ Murray (Bucknell). Through four innings, neither side could generate any real threat on the basepaths. Any traffic faced was quickly dispatched.

Wheeler allowed three hits and two walks in his four frames of work. Murray pitched four frames of one-hit ball, walking two batters. 

But the floodgates opened for both sides in the fifth.

T-Bolt righty Aidan Watts (Rochester) struggled with his command in the top of the fifth, walking two hitters and hitting one. First baseman Jovan Gill (Grand Valley St) squibbed a two-run single that landed in center, plating catcher Diego Pena (Western Michigan) and Almeda. Watts retired two of the first three batters but was unable to complete the inning.

Lefty Ayden Alexander (George Washington) didn’t fare any better for Alexandria. Kutney started the rally with a single, center fielder Caleb Sturtevant (Millersville) drew a five-pitch walk and designated hitter Josh Erd (Frederick C.C.) beat out an infield single. 

Then, Walters drove home Kutney and Sturtevant to tie the game at two. Shortstop Tyson Gill (Clarion) reloaded the bases with an infield single, paving the way for third baseman Bryce Curry (Hofstra) to bring home Erd from third on an RBI groundout. Alexander took the loss.

T-Bolt Bryce Greene shut down the Aces’ offense in his 2.1 innings of relief.

That was the last run of the game, and the pitching certainly notched back up.

Thunderbolt Bryce Greene, a right-hander, relieved Watts and was lights out from the get-go. The third-year Thunderbolt pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless ball, allowing one walk and no hits. He threw just six balls in his 23 pitches and earned the win.

The Aces’ bullpen was just as good. Righty Cole Gebben (Western Michigan) retired the side in order in the sixth.

Righty Adan Longoria (South Florida) torched the Thunderbolts once again. After striking out 11 batters in five innings of scoreless relief on Wednesday, he struck out four hitters in his two frames. Catcher Steve Thomas (Catholic) was the only Thunderbolt to get a hit off him.

T-Bolt Nicky Keane blew his pitches past Aces’ hitters with his electric stuff.

In his first appearance of the season, righty Nicky Keane (Eastern Michigan) was electric. He punched out four of the seven batters he faced in the final two frames with only five balls thrown, picking up the save as well.

The Thunderbolts get the day off on Tuesday before traveling to Virginia for a clash with the DC Grays (2-3). Wednesday’s game begins at 7 p.m. and takes place at Woodbridge High School.

Watch coverage of the game on the ThunderboltsBaseball Channel on YouTube—link on the Media/Live Games menu. Join Andrew Relvas and Evan Pak for the call.

THUNDERBOLTS PRINTED PROGRAM NOW UP ON WEBSITE; CLICK ABOUT, THEN PRINTED PROGRAM

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 9—You never know what those clever people at tbolts.org will do next.

You know how we give away a printed program at each home game, along with a roster of both teams?

Well, hard copies aside, both are now living happily in the digital domain on our website.

To get the printed program, with lots of information about the team and the players and all the history (especially on our 25th anniversary!), just go to the About Menu on top, then click, of all things, Printed Program. You will get the whole program at your fingertips.

And the Gameday Roster is also up on the website on the About Menu. Just click on About and navigate down to Gameday Roster.

Both will be in .pdf formats.

Get the best of both worlds by obtaining a digital copy of the program and the roster…and then get them again at the ballpark! What could be easier?

Whether you’re a fan, a paper product, or a bunch of zeroes and ones, we’ll see ya at Blair!

THUNDERBOLTS SEEK TO SHUFFLE THE ACES AND HOLD WINNING HAND AT BLAIR, START TIME 7 PM

By Dylan Schmidt
SS-Thunderbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 9—Thunderbolt fans remember all too well that first game of the season on the road against the Alexandria Aces. After a strong start and opening up a six-run lead, Aces struck back in a hurry, tying the game in the fifth inning. The game went to extras before Alexandria prevailed, 8-7.

The bats went silent in the final five innings, as pitching on both sides ramped up. But in the end, a slew of errors in the 12th made the difference and dampened the hopes of T-Bolt supporters.

But now the Thunderbolts will get a shot to avenge that loss, this time at home. The Thunderbolts host the Aces at Blair Stadium tonight in a battle between two middle of the pack teams in the Ripken League standings.

Both teams enter the game at 2-2 and are in a three-way tie for third place in the League.

Despite the day off yesterday due to rain cancellations, the Thunderbolts enter today’s game fresh off their most complete performance. The offense came to life in the first inning, exploding for seven runs while patiently waiting at the plate for the right pitch. Pitching and an error-free game pushed them to the finish line

T-Bolt Gabe Wheeler earns the starting nod for game five.

Righty Gabe Wheeler (U of Tampa) steps on the mound for the Thunderbolts today, looking to continue the starting rotation’s dominance — no runs allowed through 16 innings. In his five appearances at Tampa, Wheeler pitched 10 innings with a 6.30 ERA. He struck out 11 hitters and walked only three batters, but allowed 11 hits.

Wheeler will face off against an Alexandria offense that has been shut down since the first meeting.

While Wheeler needs to have a good outing, the team’s success also hinges on the defense. The Thunderbolts have committed just one combined error in their two wins. That number spikes to seven in the two defeats.

The Aces lost 7-3 against the Southern Maryland Senators, defeated the DC Grays, 3-2, and dropped a 8-1 blowout game against the Metro South County Braves.

AJ Murray toes the rubber tonight for the Aces.

Alexandria will send out righty AJ Murray (Bucknell). He made two starts in his 13 appearances this past year, finishing with a 10.80 ERA. Through 18 innings, he allowed 30 hits, walked 17, and struck out 15.

While the Aces don’t possess any elite power hitters, they make up for it with a contact approach.  In Alexandria’s six-run inning earlier this season, five batters hit singles and one hit a double.

Shortstop Derek Almeda (Chaffey College) is the table setter and got that rally started. He is hitting .307 through the first four games, including a 4-for-7 performance in the opening game. Almeda slashed an impressive .346 in his freshman season, driving home 40 guys and scoring 50 runs. He puts a lot of pressure on the basepaths as well, stealing 12 bases.

Center fielder EJ Hankerson (Maryland) always finds a way to get on base even if he’s not seeing the ball well. The 16th-ranked player in Maryland in the class of 2023 has been batting .375 and has also drawn four walks. He had four hits this past season in his 17 plate appearances.

Tonight’s contest starts at 7 p.m. and will be live-streamed on the ThunderboltsBaseball Channel on YouTube. You can link easily by going to the top of the menu and clicking on Media/Live Games.

Join Andrew Relvas and Pat Moran on the call.

TONIGHT’S GAME VS THE SOUTHERN MARYLAND SENATORS IS CANCELLED; WILL BE MADE UP LATER

WALDORF, JUNE 9—The Thunderbolts game tonight scheduled for 7 pm against the Southern Maryland Senators at Regency Furniture Stadium has been cancelled.

It will be rescheduled at a later date. The Bolts play Monday at Blair vs the Alexandria Aces, have Tuesday off and then have another long drive on Wednesday, June 11—this one to Woodbridge, Virginia, to take on the DC Grays in their temporary 2025 season home, Woodbridge High School.

The League website says the game starts at 7; our schedule page says 5. The League time is correct. The schedule was from earlier this year. We’ll change it shortly.

Enjoy the night off.

THUNDERBOLTS DUST THE OLNEY CROPDUSTERS EARLY IN 8-4 VICTORY, SECURE FIRST HOME WIN

By Dylan Schmidt
SS-Thunderbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 7—The Thunderbolts entered Saturday’s contest against the Olney Cropdusters with just one first-inning run. A quick start was pivotal if they hoped to snap Olney’s unbeaten streak. That was exactly what happened, as a seven-run opening frame allowed the Thunderbolts to cruise to an 8-4 victory at Blair Stadium.

The Thunderbolts scored just one run against Bethesda in a disappointing offensive showing. Brock Hunter’s squad came out swinging the bat early and often, barreling up several pitches. 

T-Bolt Griffin Puvel contributed a double, walk and three RBIs before exiting the game.

Center fielder Griffin Puvel (Rider) drew a five-pitch leadoff walk, stole second base and advanced to third. It quickly unraveled for Cropdusters’ starter Mike Costello (Millersville) after that. Third baseman Tyson Gill laced a double down the third-base line. Left fielder Jack Hurda (Clarion) and designated hitter Aidan Driscoll (Maryland) earned walks. 

With nobody out, first baseman Brayden Foster (Youngstown St) drove in a two-run single. Catcher Vance Bonior (UMass) ripped a single between third base and shortstop, plating Driscoll. Shortstop David Vozzo (Moravian) singled to left before Puvel smashed a bases-clearing double. In a matter of minutes, the Thunderbolts led 7-0.

Center fielder Gabe Ruiz (UMBC) replaced Puvel after he appeared to be limping from his abrupt stop at second.

After a nine-pitch first frame, righty Zach Danielzcek (Tampa) picked up where he left off, despite the extended break between pitches. While the 6-foot-5 pitcher doesn’t have an elite strikeout arsenal, Danielzcek utilized Olney’s aggressive swings to his advantage, pitching to contact. He induced several groundouts and lazy fly balls to avoid any traffic.

On the other side, Mac Crismond (Charleston) — who entered the game with two outs in the first — settled his team down after a rocky start. He walked Driscoll in the second inning and plunked Bonior two batters later, but the righty retired the final hitter of the frame.

T-Bolt Josh Danielzcek gave his squad a lengthy outing, pitching five innings of scoreless ball.

Danielzcek allowed center fielder Brian Scott (Frostburg St) to single in the third, which broke up his perfect game, but the starter allowed a weak flyout to right to avoid any further damage.

Crismond retired the side in the bottom of the third and the first two outs of the ensuing frame before Driscoll broke the streak with a single. 

After a loud offensive first inning for the Thunderbolts, Danielzcek and Crismond toed the rubber in a pitcher’s duel through the next three frames. 

Following suit of his other starting pitchers, Danielzcek produced five scoreless innings, allowing two baserunners — a walk and single. Ruiz made a spectacular diving catch in center to rob a potential extra-base hit, ending the fifth.

The Thunderbolts’ offense tacked on another run in the bottom of the fifth. Right fielder Matthew Walters (Cornell) advanced to first on an infield error and immediately stole second. Second baseman Matthew Kim (Frederick C.C.) and Ruiz drew walks before Walters scored on an error to extend the Thunderbolts’ advantage to eight.

T-Bolt Nathan Rodriguez faced some traffic in his lone inning of work, but he buckled down and kept the Cropdusters scoreless.

Righty Nathan Rodriguez (Mount St. Mary’s) escaped a jam in the sixth with two men in scoring position and one out, keeping the Cropdusters scoreless.

In the bottom of the sixth, Bonior and Walters reached base on a single and a walk, but lefty Shawn Rosemond (Salisbury) came out without a blemish.

Olney finally plated its first runs in the seventh. Righty Bobby Burk (Babson) walked catcher Tyler Cook (Troy), hit second baseman Zakye Hawkins (Utah) and walked designated hitter Charlie Buckles (Florida St). With the bases loaded and nobody out, Hunter pulled Burk in place of righty Cam Elicier (Moravian).

Elicier allowed all three inherited runners to score, with a wild pitch, an RBI groundout from left fielder Jaden Knight (Notre Dame) and base hit from shortstop Ayden Frey (Delaware). However, Elicier ended the rally with the Thunderbolts still ahead, 8-3.

Swiss army knife Brady Grimes pitched a clean ninth inning for the T-Bolts with three Ks.

In the eighth inning, Elicier allowed an RBI single from Hawkins, which plated third baseman Carter Richey (VCU) after he drew a walk and stole second.

Righty Brady Grimes (Millersville) struck out the side in the ninth to seal the victory. Danielzcek is credited with the win and Costello takes the loss.

After a two-game homestand, the Thunderbolts travel on the road to the 4-1 Southern Maryland Senators Sunday at Regency Furniture Stadium with a 7 p.m. start time.

Watch coverage of the game on the ThunderboltsBaseball Channel on YouTube—link on the Media/Live Games menu. Join Andrew Relvas and Evan Pak for the call.

THUNDERBOLTS HOPE TO HARVEST WIN OVER OLNEY CROPDUSTERS TONIGHT AT BLAIR, GAME TIME, 7 PM

By Dylan Schmidt
SS-Thunderbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 7—Just three games into the season, one team has emerged as a frontrunner: the Olney Cropdusters. The Thunderbolts — who are among the many teams in the chase pack — will look to hand Olney its first loss of the season tonight at Blair Stadium.

But that will be no easy task for an up-and-down squad. The Thunderbolts have had chances to come away with a perfect start as well. 

On Opening Day, a six-run advantage heading into the bottom of the sixth was quickly wiped away in Alexandria against the Aces. Alexandria’s bats came alive with six hits in the frame. Also, the Thunderbolts committed a costly infield error. The Thunderbolts’ offense went silent, scoring just one run over the final eight innings.

Yesterday against Bethesda, those same problems reappeared. As part of Bethesda’s two-run fifth inning, the Thunderbolts made a fielding error, a throwing error and had two passed balls. These miscues allowed two unearned runs to cross the plate. The Thunderbolts also only had two hits after the fourth frame. 

However, just three games have been played, meaning that there is plenty of time for the Thunderbolts to find their groove.

T-Bolt Zach Danielzcek starts the fourth game of the season.

Righty Zach Danielzcek (Tampa) takes the mound for the Thunderbolts. The Oakton, Virginia native made four relief appearances in his freshman season, posting a 5.79 ERA through 4.2 innings. Danielzcek struck out seven batters but conceded four hits and five walks.

He will face off against a red-hot Cropdusters’ squad which is the lone remaining unbeaten team. Olney defeated the Metro South County Braves, 8-6, handed the Bethesda Big Train a 10-4 defeat, and dealt the Gaithersburg Giants a 7-4 loss.

The Cropdusters have yet to announce their game four starter.

Glenn Smith (Richmond ) went three innings of two-run ball on Wednesday, Tore Indomenico (Notre Dame) pitched three scoreless frames on Thursday and Ryan O’Born (Indianapolis) gave up three runs last night. Those three pitchers are unavailable to start today.

Carter Richey has been the Cropdusters spark plug at the plate.

While Olney’s pitching staff has done its job, the hitters have plated an abundance of runs to support those hard throwers. 

Catcher Carter Richey (VCU) has been one of the best players in the league so far, sitting top with a .714 batting average and tied for first with five RBIs. However, he struggled in his senior year, hitting .133 through 30 at-bats.

Infielder Rohne Klein (Utah) has formed a nice one-two punch with Richey. The 6-foot-4 power hitter has driven in three runs during league play on just three singles. Klein only managed three plate appearances in his freshman season and failed to produce a hit.

After finishing second in the North Division with a 17-19 record last season, and falling in the opening round of the League Championship Series, the Cropdusters look poised to cement themselves as a contender.

Today’s contest starts at 7 p.m. and will be live-streamed on the ThunderboltsBaseball Channel on YouTube. You can link easily by going to the top of the menu and clicking on Media/Live Games.

Join Andrew Relvas and Pat Moran on the call.

THUNDERBOLTS SEE ERROR OF THEIR WAYS: FALL TO BIG TRAIN, 3-1, BEFORE 236 AT HOME OPENER

By Dylan Schmidt
SS-Thunderbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 6—Anytime you play the Bethesda Big Train, the finest of margins can be the difference in the outcome. The Thunderbolts committed one error last night against the Gaithersburg Giants in what looked to be an early turning point for their season. Those same miscues from opening day resurfaced Friday night at Blair Stadium. Three errors helped the Big Train to a 3-1 victory.

Righty Liam Miller (Rochester), the second of five Thunderbolt pitchers, took the loss, lefty Adekide Adetuyi (Florida Atlantic) got the win for Bethesda and Owen Stewart (George Mason) secured the save.

T-Bolt Josh Domaracki threw three perfect frames, making it 11 straight scoreless innings from the starters.

After watching his fellow starting pitchers — Josh Zuckerman (Elon) and Braden Fetherolf (Clarion) — work four scoreless innings in their respective outings, southpaw Josh Domaracki (Frostburg St) pounded the strike zone early on. He struck out leadoff hitter Alex Peltier (East Carolina) on three pitches and retired the side with 13 pitches.

Bethesda’s aggressive approach at the plate also played into Domaracki’s hands, allowing him to work around the zone with ease. His fastball-curveball combo left the Big Train’s offense guessing and inducing several swing-and-misses.

While Domaracki cruised through the first three frames without any baserunners, Thunderbolts batters couldn’t back his success. 

Big Train lefty Drew Bellis (Central Florida) faced some traffic in the opening inning after right fielder Aidan Driscoll (Maryland) ripped a single and catcher Jack McCarthy (Marymount) drew a two-out walk, but Bethesda’s starter came out unscathed.

From that point on, Bellis settled into the game. He set down three straight batters via strikeouts and finished his three innings of work with six punch outs. However, Bellis walked Driscoll in the third with Driscoll advancing to second on a wild pitch, but was stranded once again.

Miller entered the game in place of Domaracki, and the right-hander retired the top of the order in the fourth inning.

The Thunderbolts’ offense finally woke up in the bottom of the fourth after Bellis exited. 

With patience at the plate and some shaky command from Adetuyi, second baseman Nolan Kutney (UMBC) and first baseman Brady Grimes (Millersville) picked up walks. Designated hitter Steve Thomas (Catholic) brought Kutney home with a single that squeaked in between first and second base with Grimes going to second.

Shortstop Josh Erd (Frederick CC) singled to left but Grimes was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second on a nifty right field to second base to catcher relay.

Then the Thunderbolts’ self-inflicted mistakes came back to bite them in the fifth frame. Bethesda third baseman Logan Ponnett (North Carolina Charlotte) laced a single into center and left fielder Matthew Westley reached on an infield error. A couple of wild pitches and a throwing error plated both baserunners.

Adetuyi struck out the side in the bottom of the fifth, leaving the Big Train ahead, 2-1.

T-Bolt Jake Treasure pitched two scoreless innings in his relief appearance.

Jake Treasure (Stevenson) — who replaced Miller on the mound — faced some traffic in the sixth inning with singles from catcher Jacob Hauk (Maryland) and shortstop Brennon Wright (Meridian C.C.). However, the lefty buckled down and kept them scoreless.

Strikeouts haunted the Thunderbolts through the first five frames and the sixth inning was no different. Kutney’s punch out was the team’s seventh of the game.

While both offenses went silent in the middle innings, the Big Train’s hitters finally came to life in the eighth. 

E.J. Youngling (Moravian) was quickly greeted by Hauk who ripped a first-pitch single to left. After a long battle with Peltier, Youngling came out victorious but the out allowed Hauk to move into scoring position. Two batters later, Designated Hitter John Martinez (Florida Atlantic) drove Hauk home with a single that just evaded the outstretched glove of shortstop Josh Erd.

T-Bolt Aidan Driscoll accounted for nearly half of his team’s hits, with two singles and a walk.

Driscoll was the bright spot in the Thunderbolts’ batting order Friday, and the Maryland sophomore gave his squad a jolt of energy with his second hit of the day to lead off the bottom of the eighth. After advancing to second base, two hitters came to the plate and both were unable to plate Driscoll.

A scoreless ninth from righty Henry Steene (Washington and Lee) left the Thunderbolts with a chance to overcome a 3-1 deficit.

In the bottom of the ninth, Grimes produced the Thunderbolts’ lone extra-base hit of the game — a one-out double into the left-center field gap. Thomas drew a walk. However, Stewart retired the final two hitters to hand Bethesda its first win of the season.

Two of Bethesda’s three runs were unearned in a loss that showed how closely matched the two teams are. But for the Thunderbolts, it’s another game Saturday at Blair; this time, their opponent is the 3-0 Olney Cropdusters. The Cropdusters lead the Ripken League’s Northern Division followed by the T-Bolts and Big Train tied at 1-2.

Right-handed pitcher Zach Danielcyk (U of Tampa) has been given the nod by T-Bolts Head Coach Brock Hunter. The Cropdusters starter has yet to be named.

Watch coverage of the game on the ThunderboltsBaseball Channel on YouTube—link on the Media/Live Games menu. Join Andrew Relvas and Patrick Moran for the call.

FORMER THUNDERBOLT AMANI JONES JOINS STATEN ISLAND FERRYHAWKS IN INDY ATLANTIC LEAGUE

Amani Jones as a Thunderbolt in 2023

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 6—Infielder Amani Jones, who spent 2023 with the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, signed with the independent Staten island Ferryhawks of the Atlantic League. To date, he has gotten into one game, drawn a walk, and scored a run.

Jones was a volunteer assistant with Millersville University where he started 107 games at shortstop. He earned All-PSAC East Second Team and ABCA All-Atlantic Region Second Team honors as a senior in 2025, hitting .343 with 15 doubles, four homers and 45 RBIs.

Jones played two seasons at Stevenson before transferring to Millersville. He was an All-MAC Commonwealth selection in 2023.

For the Thunderbolts, Jones played 33 games and hit .289 driving in 26 runs, good for fourth highest in the League. He was picked for the Ripken Classic Team which played a two-game series against the Atlantic and Sunbelt Collegiate Leagues.

He appeared in both games going 1-3.

THUNDERBOLTS NOTES FOR INTERNS, HOME OPENER, TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY, CAMPS, AND MORE

TAKOMA PARK, MAY 20—There are just 15 days—just a bit more than two weeks—before the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts open their 2025 season in the Cal Ripken Sr Collegiate Baseball League.

The Bolts open on the road against the Alexandria Aces, Wednesday, June 4, at 6:30 pm at Frank Mann Field. The Bolts remain on the road in Gaithersburg the following night, June 5, when they take on the Gaithersburg Giants at 7 pm at Criswell Automotive Field.

The home opener will be Friday night, 7 pm, vs the Bethesda Big Train at Blair. Hope to see you out there. We’ll have more details on the home opener as we get closer to the date.

Meanwhile…some announcements…

SPORTS INTERN JOBS: We have two immediate openings for our Management Intern program. Interns work from 4-10:30 pm on dates for home games. Ages: 17-24. SSL hours or work study available. The start date is June 1, 2025, from 5-7 pm for training. Send a note of interest to Tboltsbaseball@gmail.com by May 28. Paid stipend for the season: $1,000.

This is a great opportunity for Sports Management majors who want to gain real-world experience working in sports. Or if you just love baseball and want to work behind the scenes and learn what it takes to stage a sporting event.

Not to mention the $1000 stipend. If you love sports and are thinking of it as a career, you can’t pass up this kind of opportunity. If you or someone you know might be interested, don’t wait. Apply today!

HOME OPENER: The home opener is at 7 pm, June 6, vs. the Bethesda Big Train at the friendly confines of Blair Stadium. Check our top menu at Schedule for our complete 2025 schedule.

TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY: There will be lots of events and observations going on this season to note the 25th anniversary of the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts franchise. A complete commemorative booklet is being produced as well as special online reports. Also, please join us for a culinary celebration on Thursday, June 19, at Nando’s Peri Peri, 924 Ellsworth Drive, Silver Spring.

The event will begin at 6:00pm and end at 8:30pm. Nando’s will donate 40% of sales proceeds to trhe Thunderbolts. See you and lots of T-Bolt luminaries on June 19, at Nando’s!

THUNDERBOLT BASEBALL CAMPS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS: Besides college baseball, the Thunderbolts offer five weeks of baseball camps in June and July (ages 7-14) and two specialty camps (two-day camps from 9:30-12:30, stressing pitching and hitting, ages 11-16). The minimum age is a rising fifth grader. Registrations are limited and many of our sessions are almost sold out. Register to make sure you are not shut out. On-line registration is available at Tbolts.org/Camps.

SEASON PASSES: Season passes and individual tickets available online or at the stadium. A family season pass is good for all immediate family members. Cost is $100—that’s $5 per game for all family members. Order now at Tbolts.org/tickets.

PARTIES: Celebrate a birthday, hold a family picnic, or have a company outing at Blair Stadium during a Thunderbolts home game this summer. When you schedule an event at Blair, space will be set up for a pre-game meal. For kids’ birthdays, the birthday boy or girl can celebrate by throwing out the ceremonial first pitch (and get to keep the ball!) The price includes food and drinks, admission to the game, and reserved grandstand seating. Party information at Tbolts.org/Community.


LATEST THUNDERBOLT ROSTER UP ON ROSTER TAB

TAKOMA PARK—The latest Thunderbolt roster for 2025 is now on the Roster tab of the About Menu on the top of the Home Page.

Currently, the roster is at 40 players.

Four players are from Marymount University, four from UMBC, and three from Clarion University, Frostburg State University, Moravian University, and Fredrick Community College.

See more on the Roster tab.

NEW POST ON SUBSTACK AND T-BOLTS FAN ABOUT THUNDERBOLTS IN THE PROS FOR 2025

TAKOMA PARK, March 28—The former Thunderbolts who play baseball professionally are settling on to teams for the 2025 season. The Majors are underway, the Minors begin in two weeks, and the Independent Leagues get going in late May.

And, even though it’s far across the oceans, the Chinese Professional Baseball League in Taiwan will also be graced by several players who wore the Red, White, and Blue.

A post went out on T-Bolts Fan (thanks, Kevin Schweikhardt) and if you are not getting that—and you should—here’s a link for the story:

https://open.substack.com/pub/neallavon/p/t-bolts-banter-770?r=eyjjs&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Enjoy!

MARCH MADNESS THUNDERBOLTS STYLE; 2025 TICKETS AND SEASON PASSES AVAILABLE ONLINE

TAKOMA PARK, March 8With March Madness around the corner, the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts are engaging in a March Madness of their own.

Thanks to T-Bolt Web and Computer Ace Ted Dacy, it’s now possible to order individual game and season tickets on the Thunderbolts website. Just navigate to the Tickets Menu on top of the page and voila! You can click and buy either (or both!)

Individual game tickets had to go up a couple of bucks so now they are $8 for adults and $3 for children under 18. Plus, as always, uniformed youth softball and baseball players and children under the age of five get in absolutely free.

The Season Passes come in a variety of options from full season to half season, family to business, and even a season pass for kids.

All the details are on the Ticket page. So get a jump on the ticket line and get ready for Thunderbolts basball 2025!

SHAMELESS PLUG: To keep up with all things Thunderbolts, subscribe to TBolts Fan on Substack. Lots of information about the team, season updates, etc. There’s a story there about three of our former players from Taiwan who are making a splash in baseball’s international competitions (further details below). Coming soon, a report on the former Thunderbolts who are active in major, minor, and independent league baseball and where they wind up on Opening Day.

Our Kevin Schweickhardt does a great job on managing the site and it’s definitely worth your while to stop by. Keep those views and recipients coming!

REMEMBER OUR PLAYERS FROM TAIWAN? THE WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC AND PREMIER12 DO

TAKOMA PARK, March 5—Adam Lee, who keeps track of our Taiwanese baseball players, emailed me with some great news. One of our former pitchers, Yung-Chen Lu (2018), was a member of the Taiwanese team that earned a berth in next year’s World Baseball Classic.

Former T-Bolt En-Sih Huang Receives Championship Medal at Premier12, November, 2024, Photo Courtesy of Adam Lee

And wait, there’s more! Two of our former Taiwanese pitchers, En-Sih Huang (2015) and Kuan-Wei Chen (2016) were on last year’s Taiwan team that won the Premier12 Championship. The Premier12 takes the 12 best international baseball teams and stages a tournament among them. The Premier12 is considered the third most important baseball tourney after the WBC and the Olympics.

Details on this are on a Substack story that soon hopes to be part of Kevin Schweikhardt’s new TBolt Fan Substack. But for now, it’s living on Neal Lavon’s stack as T-Bolt Banter. Here is the link:

https://neallavon.substack.com/cp/158393257

Hopefully, stories about Thunderbolts past and present will be going out on Kevin’s Substack, TBolt Fan. Until then, enjoy!

TBOLTS 2025: SCHEDULES, CAMPS, AND INTERNS:

SILVER SPRING, February 1—The 25th Anniversary season for the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts begins Wednesday, June 4, against the Alexandria Aces at Frank Mann Field. Game time is 6:30 pm at Blair Baseball Stadium. The entire 2025 schedule is posted on our website (see below).

THUNDERBOLT BASEBALL CAMPS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS: Five weeks of camps June 16-July 18 (Ages 7-14) and two specialty camps. Register early to make sure you are not shut out. Early bird registration features discounted rates before April 1. On-line registration is available at Tbolts.org/Camps. Registration opens February 1.

THUNDERBOLT INTERNS AND BAT BOY/GIRL POSITIONS: Assistant Camp Director - work with the Thunderbolts Camp Director checking in and checking out campers, supervise lunches, coordinate on field schedules of counselors, fill in where needed in training sessions, and assemble all equipment each day. Hours: 8:30- 3:15 pm; dates of work: M-F (5 weeks) June 16-July 18; ages: 19-24 years old; Stipend $2400.

SOCIAL MEDIA LEAD/MUSIC DIRECTOR: Will post game and team information and highlights on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, team website) on a regular basis. Experience in creating social media content on the college level, or its equivalent, is preferred. Candidate must be able to use all major social media platforms. Age: 19-24; nominal stipend.

Music Director– responsible for coordinating game day music. Position requirements: work hours: 6-10:30 p.m.; Dates of work: Twenty (20) selected dates at Blair Baseball in June and July; Age: 17-24 years old; nominal stipend.

MANAGEMENT INTERNS: Three (3) vacancies for June 2-July 24 (20-22 game days) Duties: Interns will be involved in all aspects of team operations and will rotate through assignments such as marketing/publicity; food service and concessions; stadium maintenance; fan liaison services; game-day promotions; fan party management and general fan service. Age 17 -24.Work: 4:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on home game days (20-22 dates). Nominal stipend.

FIELD OPERATIONS INTERN: Work includes lining, dragging infield, preparation of field boxes, watering infield, and setup and take down equipment for batting practice. Intern will work from 4:00 - 7:30 pm on home game days. Age requirements 16-24. Unpaid positions.

BAT BOY/BAT GIRL: We will have four (4) bat boy/bat girl positions this season. Bat boy/bat girls will work in teams of two each game from 6 pm to the end of game.

Positions are open for students age 10-13 years of age. The league season runs from June 2- July 31. Unpaid positions.

Application Process: Please send a short letter of interest, including your contact information, EITHER by email to tboltsbaseball@gmail.com or by regular mail to Intern Position, SS-T Thunderbolts, 7110 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912. Specify which internship or other position you are applying for during the summer. Deadline is April 1, 2025.

TBOLTS SCHEDULE FOR 2025 NOW ON SCHEDULE TAB

SILVER SPRING, December 4—The schedule for the 2025 Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League (CRCBL) is set and is posted on our Schedule tab.

This new season will see 40 games played, an increase of four over last year’s total of 36. The 2025 season opens on Tuesday, June 3, when the Southern Maryland Senators travel to South County Field to take on the Metro SoCo Braves in a 7 pm tilt. The remainder of the teams go into action the following day.

The Thunderbolts open their season on the road on Wednesday, June 4 against the Alexandria Aces at 6:30 pm at Frank Mann Field. OnThursday, June 5, they will play against the Gaithersburg Giants at 7:00 pm at Criswell Automotive Field.

Even though there is no baseball on July 4, the Thunderbolts are in action, marching in the Takoma Park July 4 Parade.

The Thunderbolts home opener at Blair Baseball Stadium is set for Friday, June 6, when they host the 2024 CRCBL League Champion Bethesda Big Train in a 7 pm contest.

The Thunderbolts will play six games—three home and three away—against six of the eight teams in the CRCBL: the Bethesda Big Train, the Alexandria Aces, the DC Grays, the Gaithersburg Giants, the Olney Cropdusters, and the Metro SoCo Braves.

They will face the Southern Maryland Senators only four times in 2025—two away and two at home.

The Bolts and Big Train will once again play in a 10:00 am game at Shirley Povich Field. This on is scheduled for Sunday, June 15.

All home games at Blair Baseball Stadium start at 7:00 PM except for Sunday games which start at 6:00 pm. There are five Sunday home games this year—June 22, June 29, July 6, July 13, and July 20.

The League has designated makeup days for rainouts throughout the season and the League will take off doe the July 4 holiday. The CRCBL All-Star Game is slated for Wednesday, July 9, 7:00 pm, at Shirley Povich Field.

The post-season playoffs begin with the two Play-In Games on Wednesday, July 23, among the 3-6 ranked teams. The best of three League Semi-Final Series starts the next day and runs through July 26. The best of three League Final Series opens on July 27 and runs through July 29.

Two rainout days are available on July 30-July 31. The July 31 date is the end of the CRCBL season.

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