THUNDERBOLTS GO TO GAITHERSBURG FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE PLAYOFF SHOWDOWN

By Patrick Moran

SS-T Thunderbolts

SILVER-SPRING, JUNE 9- Times may be tough for the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (1-4) sitting at the bottom of the North Division in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, but they hope to remember good times as they head to Criswell Automotive Field to take on the Gaithersburg Giants (4-1). 

Fans may remember when the T-Bolts and Giants squared off in a win or go home matchup last season, which allowed the Bolts to stay alive in the quest for a title that was ultimately cut off in Olney against the Cropdusters. T-Bolt nation made it a worthwhile game in Gaithersburg, as the Bolts had their own cheering section and came through with a stellar 8-4 performance. 

At the time of that game, these teams were evenly matched. The same can’t be said for them at the outset of the 2026 season. They sit on opposite ends of the standings and their records are inverted. 

Both of these teams boast a similar offensive slashline right now as Gaithersburg ranks second in the league in batting average at .297 and the T-Bolts aren’t far behind in fourth place at .286. They are excellent at getting on base, as the Giants have the best team on base percentage (OBP) at .455 and the Bolts rock a .438 OBP, which is third in the league.

Gaithersburg may shine in the small ball department, but the T-Bolts are second in the league with a .404 slugging percentage (SLG) while the Giants have a .360 SLG, which sits at fifth on the team leaderboards. All of the offensive stats result in these two squads being three and four in the runs scored category, as the Giants have plated 50 runs compared to the Bolts’ 46. 

It goes without saying what the T-Bolts have done on the mound, and they can only go up from here. Gaithersburg can pitch well though, as they’ve allowed the fewest number of runs so far. They also have the least amount of walks as a staff, a huge key to success in this league. 

A standout catalyst on offense for the Giants is their shortstop Cole McKenna (undecided) who earned player of the week honors for the first week of the season. He hit .524, the second best average in the league, and has done a little bit of everything, from slapping the ball around the yard in a near cycle and drawing walks to driving in runs. 

McKenna is even a threat to run on the basepaths, as his four stolen bases is tied for second in the league. He sits alongside T-Bolt standout Caleb Sturtevant (Millersville) on the home run leaderboard with one longball of his own. 

On the T-Bolts side, Caleb Sturtevant has stayed hot after a well-rounded performance on opening day in Bethesda. Sturtevant also has a top five batting average in the league so far at .462.  

Slated to get the start on the mound is Brady Grimes (Millersville), who kicked off the season against the Big Train, who tossed 2.1 innings of three hit, three run (two earned run) ball with two walks and one strikeout. For someone who was a reliever this past spring for the Marauders, head coach Brock Hunter said on opening day he’s in the process of building up his pitch count and innings totals. 

This game isn’t too far from Blair Baseball Stadium, so get out to see the action in person if you can! If not, go to the Thunderbolts Baseball YouTube channel to stream it from the comfort of your own home.

THUNDERBOLTS FALL 27-13 TO BIG TRAIN IN A ROLLER COASTER RIDE AT BLAIR 

By Sam Bergstrom
SS-Tbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 7—Last night, the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (1-4) engaged in a hectic Sunday evening see-saw battle with the Bethesda Big Train (2-3). The TBolts and Big Train scored a combined 40 runs, and both teams took advantage of lackluster pitching. 

Anticipation piled on at Blair Stadium, as first pitch was delayed due to the late arrival of the umpires. Songs of “Right Here Waiting” by Richard Marx and “The Waiting” By Tom Petty echoed at the stadium during the pre-game suspense. Much to the delight of the antsy TBolt fans, the game finally got underway at 6:45. On the Thunderbolts’ scout night celebration, boy scouts from Troop 209 in Silver Spring patriotically held the American flag during the National Anthem.

Here were the chaotic plays that occurred between the Baltimore Ravens and Washington Commanders—I mean, the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts and Bethesda Big Train last night. 

Due to the 45 minute delay, TBolts starter Branden Brown (Sr., Frostburg St.) seemed to rely on his breaking ball to loosen up his right arm. After falling down by one, Brown got a big play from his defense to escape trouble in the first inning. With a runner on second, the second baseman Aydin Prell (So., Dickinson) snagged a 98 mph lineout and flipped to the shortstop Matthew Kim (Sr., Hampden-Sydney) for the 4-6 double play.

Will Heyse (So., Stevenson) hit the mound in the second for his first appearance of 2026. Much like Brown, Heyse brought a barrage of breaking balls, and struck out the Big Train looking to end the inning. Bethesda jumped on TBolt pitching in the third with two RBI doubles, a sacrifice fly, and an run-scoring wild pitch. They scored six runs in the third inning, and extended their lead to 7-0. 

The Thunderbolts turned up the throttle in the third, and added four runs to keep it close. Joey King (So., St. Olaf) and Caleb Sturtevant (Jr., Millersville) each lofted RBI singles to center field. Gabriel Pegues (So., Lynchburg) plated one more with a fielder’s choice, and Nolan Kutney (Gr., UMBC) came through with an RBI groundout. 

Big Train brought in four runs in the fifth to go up 11-4, but not before a prompt response by the TBolts batters. Silver Spring-Takoma capitalized off the Big Train defensive discombobulations, and scored nine runs in the fifth inning. This is the most runs they have scored in an inning all season. 

Trent Lopez (So., Cornell) cracked open the fifth inning with an RBI that was hit 101 mph off the glove of the left fielder. After a run came in off the E7, Sam Camacho Jr. (So., Clarion) lifted a ball to left that dunked in after Bethesda lost it in the lights. Kim, King, and Prell all worked RBI walks, and Sturtevant sent a sac fly to shallow right field to trim the lead to 11-10. Pegues put the cherry on top with an RBI double to right field, tying the game at 11-11. Two wild pitches plated Prell and Pegues, and the TBolts propelled to a 13-11 lead. 

After all of this chaos, Matthew Calabrese (So., Frederick CC) pitched a clean 1-2-3 sixth inning for the TBolts. This included a backwards K off a breaking ball, a grounder he fired to first, and a flyout made courtesy of a diving catch by Lopez in right. In the top of the seventh, Kim and Kutney connected for a beautiful 6-3 putout, where Kutney made a nice scoop out of the dirt. 

After the TBolts recorded two outs in the seventh, the Big Train ran over them in an emphatic 12-run inning. Center fielder Will Haacke (So., James Madison) hammered a 3 RBI triple off the top of the left center-field wall; Haacke then scored off an E6 on the throw back in. Bethesda bruised the TBolts with eight more runs on three walks, two wild pitches, and a 2 RBI single. After trailing two, Big Train flipped the script to take a 23-13 lead. 

Bethesda added four more runs in the eighth before the game was suspended at 10:40 due to Blair Stadium’s curfew. Big Train’s 27 runs is the most runs scored in a game by a Ripken League team this season. They surpassed the Gaithersburg Giants, who scored 25 against the Thunderbolts on June 4. In their 27-13 win, Bethesda belted 13 hits, worked 22 walks, and struck out 8 batters. The TBolts tallied seven hits, 11 walks, seven strikeouts, and committed five errors. 

The Thunderbolts will have an off day today, but will head to Gaithersburg tomorrow to face the Giants for the second time this season.

THUNDERBOLTS WILL BATTLE BETHESDA FOR SECOND TIME TONIGHT; LOOK TO AVENGE LOSS FROM LAST WEEK 

By Sam Bergstrom 

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 7—The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (1-3) will hold a Sunday evening showdown with the Bethesda Big Train (1-3) for the second time this season. On June 2, the Thunderbolts took a tough 12-11 walk-off loss against Bethesda on the road. 

In their last outing at Shirley Povich Field, Trent Lopez (So., Cornell) went 2-5 with an RBI double and a highlight catch against the wall in left-center. Caleb Sturtevant (Jr., Millersville) went 3-6, knocked in two runs, and hit the TBolts’ first home run of the season. 

Silver-Spring Takoma recently soared to their first win of the summer over the DC Grays on Friday. In this 13-5 masterclass, four players had multi-hit games, and four pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts. Notably, Nolan Kutney (Gr., UMBC) went 3-5 with two RBI’s. The infield defense also dominated, and the TBolts let up zero errors. 

After their opening night win, Bethesda has since dropped three straight games; they have lost to the Cropdusters, Giants, and Senators, respectively. Last night, Bethesda’s game against Olney was delayed for an hour due to severe weather. After going up 6-5 in the seventh, the game was suspended due to a late-night curfew at Shirley Povich Field. 

Head Coach Brock Hunter will send Branden Brown (Sr., Frostburg St.) to the bump to battle the Big Train. Brown’s lone appearance so far this summer came against Bethesda last week. In 2.2 innings pitched, Brown gave up two hits, allowed three runs, and picked up a strikeout. Last spring with Frostburg St., Brown struck out 16 batters in 16.1 innings pitched. 

First pitch is set for 6 P.M. tonight at Blair Baseball Stadium. As always, tune into the Thunderbolts’ YouTube channel for full play-by-play coverage. 

STELLAR PITCHING PROPELS TBOLTS TO FIRST WIN OF 2026; DEFEAT GRAYS 13-5 UNDER FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

By Sam Bergstrom
SS-Tbolts

WASHINGTON, D.C., JUNE 5—Last night was Dray day in D.C., and the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts celebrated with a 13-5 win at Robert J. Talbot Field. The TBolts’ prayers for their first victory were finally answered on the grounds of Catholic University, as they dominated against the DC Grays. Four pitchers combined for 11 strikeouts, and the TBolts got consistent production at the plate all night. 

Here were the key plays that brought the Thunderbolts their first win of 2026. 

The bottom of the first featured a silky smooth 6-4-3 double play between Jona Acosta (So., North Florida), Aydin Prell (So., Dickinson), and Connor Frickey (Sr., Babson). After this double play, Christian Dray (So., Richmond) drained the Grays with three innings of scoreless baseball. The righty rifled three strikeouts, and had a fiery fastball working for him in his first appearance of the season. In the second inning, Dray connected with Frickey at first for a perfect pickoff.

“It felt awesome. It'd been a while since I've thrown in a game. So it was just great to get out there, especially on this surface,” Dray told me after yesterday’s game. ”Being able to trust everybody, and trust the guys behind me, it was a great outing. It was a lot of fun.”

Leading 1-0 in the third, the Bolts loaded the bases and brought in two more runs. Sam Camacho Jr. (So., Clarion) took a tough pitch to the thigh, and Prell worked an RBI walk. To end the inning, catcher Mason Kelleher (So., Frostburg St.) lasered a killer strike to Prell at second to squander a DC stolen base attempt. 

In the fourth, the TBolts were able to capitalize off of the Grays’ breaking balls. After a leadoff double, Acosta plated Prell on a single to right, and Kutney cranked a right-field single of his own to score Acosta. These singles gave Silver Spring-Takoma a thunderous 5-0 lead. 

Following Dray’s terrific day, Mike Preske (Jr., Cecil CC) twirled a scoreless two innings for the TBolts. Preske punched out three Grays with his breaking ball, and—much to the delight of the TBolt dugout—grunted graciously while doing so. 

Three walks loaded the bases for the TBolts, and they sprang together a trio of runs in the fifth; Acosta, Kutney and Kelleher all came through with RBIs. The Thunderbolts also executed a beautiful double steal play, where Frickey came home to score and Acosta swiped second. Acosta rocked another RBI single up the middle in the sixth, and the Thunderbolts lead ballooned to 10-0. 

Aidan Watts (Jr., Rochester) joined the strikeout party by sitting down two Grays in 1.2 innings pitched. Watts’ first K came when the bases were loaded in the sixth, and he froze the batter with his fastball. After the Grays put four on the board, Gabriel Pegues (So., Lynchburg) ripped a 2 RBI single to left-center to add more insurance in the eighth. 

Interestingly enough, EJ Youngling (Jr., Moravian) was inserted for Watts in the middle of an at bat during a 2-0 count. Nonetheless, Youngling lit it up on the mound, and fired three forceful strikeouts. He showed great emotion in his 2.1 innings pitched, and was pumped up after multiple putouts. “I felt great with every spot I was hitting, and it just felt good to throw the ball again and hit some spots,” Youngling said after the game.  

Youngling finished out the game for the TBolts, who improved their record to 1-3 on the season. DC dropped to the same record of 1-3, and have now lost three consecutive games. Acosta went 2-4 with a walk and three RBIs, while Kutney went 3-5 with two RBIs. Along with their 11 strikeouts, the TBolt defense turned two double plays, sent down two runners down on base, and committed zero errors. 

“Everybody in the infield made a few plays,” said Head Coach Brock Hunter after the game.
”First base, shortstop, third, second. That's all of them, man. Yeah.
I mean, everybody made plays. All those guys”’

The Thunderbolts have an off day today, and will recharge for their second outing against the Bethesda Big Train tomorrow night at Blair Stadium.

THUNDERBOLTS LOOK TO DELIVER THEIR FIRST WIN IN D.C. AGAINST THE GRAYS

By Sam Bergstrom 
SS-Tbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 5—The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (0-3) will do battle with the DC Grays (1-2) tonight at 7 P.M. The newly relocated Grays will host this matchup at Robert J. Talbot Field on the grounds of Catholic University in Washington, D.C. 

Both teams are currently riding losing streaks, and are desperately starving for a victory tonight. The Thunderbolts still remain winless, and are coming off a 25-1 home loss against Olney. DC has recently suffered 16-4 and 9-4 losses against the Aces and Braves, respectively. Both of these teams met in a pre-season game at Blair Stadium on May 31, where DC won 9-8. 

Christian Dray (So., Richmond) will look to drum the Thunderbolts to victory today on the mound. While this is his first official outing, Dray made a third inning appearance in the TBolts’ pre-season game against DC. In it, the righty walked two batters, allowed one hit, and picked up a strikeout looking.

Before the season, General Manager Dick O’Connor said that Dray was one of the most exciting additions that was made to the Silver Spring-Takoma squad this past summer. In his freshman season at Richmond, Dray struck out 10 batters in 9.2 innings pitched. 

In their first three games, the Thunderbolts’ kryptonite have been conceding walks and errors. They have committed six errors in each of their first three games—18 in total—and have walked 26 batters in 2026. 

“They’re combined with each other. If you walk guys, you’re gonna feel you’re going to make errors. You make errors, we’re gonna stress more and walk more guys,” said Head Coach Brock Hunter. “The simplest thing is someone’s gotta make a really good play at some point when that happens. Or—give up less walks, and less routine errors.” 

The defense will certainly have to make big plays tonight if the Thunderbolts look to end this three-game skid. For those who can’t make the trek to D.C., be sure to tune in on the Thunderbolts YouTube channel at 7 p.m. 

PEGUES MAKES HIGHLIGHT PLAYS, BUT CROPDUSTERS DEAL TBOLTS CRUSHING 25-1 LOSS 

By Sam Bergstrom 
SS-Tbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 4—Last night, the Olney Cropdusters (2-1) put on an offensive clinic against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (0-3). They scored the most runs by a team thus far in the Ripken league with 25, and dusted the TBolts with poised pitching. Here is a recap of the bludgeoning that occurred at Blair. 

Braden Fetherolf (Jr., Clarion) got the start for the TBolts, and pitched a scoreless first inning. However, Cade Walter (Fr., Jacksonville) cranked a grand slam to right field in the second. In the blink of an eye, Olney led 4-0. 

In the third, Olney scored three more runs courtesy of a fielder’s choice and sacrifice fly. The sac fly could have been more damaging, but Gabriel Pegues (So., Lynchburg) showed his gold glove pedigree in center field by making a diving catch dashing to his left. After an RBI walk to Olney, the lead ballooned to 7-0. To the TBolts’ demise, the scoring would only skyrocket from there. 

Continuing their dominance, the Cropdusters recorded a 14-run fourth inning—no, that is not a typo. Two Cropduster players came around to bat three times in this prolonged inning, and the TBolts used three pitchers to get out of trouble. Cropduster players were hit by a pitch five times in the fourth, with two of them converting runs scored. The Cropdusters also piled on three RBI singles, two RBI doubles, two RBI walks, and a run-scoring error. Olney’s 14 runs in the fourth was more than they scored in their previous game against Bethesda (13). 

After this nightmare inning, Pegues gave TBolt fans something to cheer for. On a 2-0 count, Pegues powered a pitch to left center field for a solo home run. This was the first home run hit at Montgomery Blair Baseball Stadium this season. 

Although usually at first base, Nolan Kutney (Gr., UMBC) came in to pitch the fifth inning. Kutney came through with a much-needed scoreless fifth, but Olney would add four more runs in the sixth. Logan Barrata (So., Jacksonville) belted a three-run homer to right for the second Cropduster dinger of the game. The lead now stood at 25-1.

In the top of the seventh, Matthew Kim (Sr., Hampden-Sydney)—another position player—toed the mound for the TBolts. After giving up a leadoff triple, Kim stayed composed and pitched a scoreless seventh. 

The game came to an end after seven innings, with the Ripken League mercy rule being enforced. In this 25-1 slugfest, the Cropdusters dialed in for 13 hits, drew 10 walks, and were hit by a pitch eight times. Silver Spring-Takoma had little answer for Olney’s pitching, who tallied eight strikeouts against the TBolts. The Thunderbolts had five hits the entire game, with one of them being the Pegues home run. 

The Thunderbolts will take a detour and head to the nation’s capital tonight for an away game against the DC Grays (1-2). Stay tuned for the preview, which will be given later this afternoon. 

STURTEVANT LOOKS TO STAY HOT AS TBOLTS TAKE ON CROPDUSTERS TONIGHT AT HOME

By Sam Bergstrom
SS-Tbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 4—The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (0-2) will take on the Olney Cropdusters (1-1) tonight for their second straight home game at Montgomery Blair Baseball Stadium. 

The Thunderbolts will send Braden Fetherolf (Jr., Clarion) to the mound for his first start of the summer. Last spring, the right-hander recorded 15 strikeouts in 17.2 innings pitched. The Golden Eagle will look to shine in Silver Spring tonight, as the TBolts are still searching for their first win of the season. 

Olney picked up their first win last night after a 13-7 victory over the Bethesda Big Train. In this game, the Cropdusters delivered 13 hits, drew 10 walks, and struck out seven Big Train batters. Notably, Andrew Duncan (Sr., Wright State) went 2-4 with a home run. 

The TBolts will try to recover from a 20-8 loss against the Gaithersburg Giants last night. While the defense is struggling with errors and walks, the offense has been clicking on all cylinders to start the season. Across their first two games, the TBolts have scored 20 runs, etched 11 extra-base hits and worked 15 walks. 

Outfielder Caleb Sturtevant (Jr., Millersville) has been a key contributor to the TBolt offensive outburst. Sturtevant has started his summer 5-8 with four RBI’s, two walks, two doubles, a triple, and a home run. He is one of six players in the Ripken League to go yard so far in 2026. 

“When he doesn't try to do too much, he's as good as anybody,” Head Coach Brock Hunter shared before Wednesday’s home opener. “He gets in trouble when he tries to drive the ball with those home runs. But when he just tries to square up the ball, he's good. If he keeps doing that, he could have a really good year.” 

After going 2-2 with two walks against Gaithersburg, Sturtevant explained how he is trying to develop a diligent mindset at the dish. “First couple of ABs I was overswinging, so I kind of had to adjust my thought process. I chased a pitch here and there, so kind of just had to simplify and take it easy.” 

Sturtevant and the TBolts will look to take it easy tonight, and hope to deliver fans their first win of 2026. Fetherolf will fire the first pitch at 7 P.M., and the game will be broadcasted on the Thunderbolts YouTube channel.

BOLTS FALL BEHIND 20-8 IN SUSPENDED HOME OPENER AGAINST GAITHERSBURG

By Sam Bergstrom 

SILVER SPRING–JUNE 3, Fans from all over Montgomery County convened at Blair Stadium for the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts’ 2026 home opener. Despite the pomp and circumstance of their home opener, the TBolts took a tough 20-8 loss to the Gaithersburg Giants. Much like their game against Big Train, the TBolts led by as many as five halfway through the contest. However, Gaithersburg capitalized on a seven-run sixth inning, and never looked back. Ultimately, the game was called off in the top of the ninth due to a mandatory late-night curfew at Blair Stadium. 

Here are some highlights from yesterday’s Wednesday evening whirlwind. 

Left-handed pitcher Jacob Seek jousted with the Giants in his first start of the summer. In three innings pitched, Seek struck out four batters; two of his K’s came from his fastball, and two were bent by his breaking ball. 

A couple of wild throws by Gaithersburg got the TBolts on the board 2-0 in the first inning. In the second, Jona Acosta (So., North Florida) sent a sac fly to right field, and Caleb Sturtevant (Sr., Millersville) tattooed an RBI double to left. 

In the bottom half of the fourth inning, the Bolts were beneficiaries of another run, this time off a wild pitch. Afterward, Nolan Kutney (Gr., UMBC) cranked a 2 RBI single to right. It was then that Silver Spring-Takoma sprang out to a 7-2 advantage, which was their largest of the game. 

However, the TBolts experienced severe turbulence in the top of the sixth inning. Gaithersburg got seven runs off two walks, two infield singles, two errors, a hit-by-pitch, and sacrifice fly. After trailing by five, the Giants turned the tide to take an 11-7 lead. 

Although a Sturtevant RBI triple in the gave the TBolts a band-aid, the wounds would keep growing wider. Gaithersburg garnered three runs in the seventh, three additional in the eighth, and three more in the ninth. By the time it was over, the Giants became the first team in the Ripken League this season to rake in 20 runs.

Overall, four new pitchers made relief appearances for the TBolts, including Aidan Watts (Jr., Rochester), Josh Erd (Sr., East Stroudsburg), Franco Pistella (So., Oberlin), and Wade Hartrick (So., University of Chicago). These pitchers supplied a combined seven strikeouts. 

On the night, the Thunderbolts had three hits compared to Gaithersburg's 12. Walks were an issue for both teams, with Gaithersburg giving up 10 and Silver Spring-Takoma surrendering 13. The TBolts committed six errors on the diamond, and both teams struck out 11. 

After nearly four hours of baseball at Blair, TBolts General Manager Dick O’Connor had to halt the action in the ninth inning due to a mandatory curfew. Details surrounding whether this game will be finished out are still to be determined. 

Despite the late-game bludgeoning, many fans are excited for the Thunderbolts’ season to get underway. TBolts fanatics Teddy and Rich were grateful to get to the game last night, and shared that they have a special brotherly bond over the team.

“It’s a great way to get engaged with the community, and for us as brothers to spend some time together. We usually get up here at least once or twice a week when the season’s going on,” Teddy told me.

Rich added, “It’s also great to see all the organizations from the community like Takoma Torch—small-town businesses that are supporting this cause.” 

We hope that this sincere support reigns true for many in Montgomery County. The TBolts will look to clear the forecast tonight against the Cropdusters at home. The official game preview will be on your way shortly. 

BOLTS LOOK TO BOUNCE BACK AGAINST GIANTS IN HOME OPENER

By Sam Bergstrom 
SS-Tbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 3—The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (0-1) will make their much anticipated home opener tonight against the Gaithersburg Giants (1-0). 

Last summer, Silver Spring-Takoma went 3-3 against Gaithersburg. The last time the two teams squared off was during a sudden death play-in game on July 22, 2025. The TBolts came out on top 8-4, and the win propelled them into the playoffs. 

The Giants started on a high note by defeating the Olney Cropdusters 8-6 last night in Gaithersburg. Three Giants had multi-hit nights, including Dominic Trolio (So., Seton Hall), who went 3-4 with 2 RBI’s. 

The Thunderbolts are coming off a heart-wrenching 12-11 walk-off loss against the Bethesda Big Train last night. Mason Kelleher (Fr., Frostburg St.), Trent Lopez (So., Cornell), and Caleb Sturtevant (Sr., Millersville) all had productive days at the plate against Bethesda. In total, the Thunderbolts collected 16 hits; they will look to keep their hot hitting alive tonight in their joust with the Giants. 

Head coach Brock Hunter says that tonight we will likely see players who did not play against Bethesda. Names to look out for are outfielder Griffin Puvel (Sr., Rider), infielder Matthew Kim (Sr., Hampden-Sydney) and catcher Kai Schmelzer (Fr., Gulf Coast State College). 

Jacob Seek (Jr., Chesapeake College) will be tonight’s starting pitcher for the TBolts. The 6’2” left-hander pitched 39 innings last spring, and secured 42 strikeouts for the Chesapeake Skipjacks. Jacob seeks a TBolts win tonight after his two-strikeout performance against the DC Grays during pre-season. 

First pitch is set for 7 P.M. at Montgomery Blair Baseball Stadium. For those who can’t attend, the game will be streamed on the Thunderbolts YouTube channel.

THUNDERBOLTS CAN’T HOLD OFF BIG TRAIN; FALL 12-11 IN AN ACTION-PACKED OPENING NIGHT AT POVICH

By Sam Bergstrom 
SS-Tbolts

BETHESDA, JUNE 2—Last night, the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts and the Bethesda Big Train put on a thrilling show at Shirley Povich Field. With the season officially underway, a plethora of Thunderbolts fans travelled 10 miles west to support Silver Spring-Takoma in their summer debut in Bethesda. After the TBolts took an 8-2 lead in the second inning, the Big Train got back on track with a walkoff comeback win to start their season. 

Here’s a breakdown of the big plays from the TBolts’ 12-11 opening night loss. 

In the top of the first inning, the Thunderbolts were bashing and thrashing. Nolan Kutney (Gr., UMBC) and David Vozzo (Jr., Moravian) drove in three runs to start the scoring. This was followed by a Trent Lopez (So., Cornell) double which hit off the top of the wall in right-center. Mason Kelleher (Fr., Frostburg St.) clobbered another RBI through the right side, and the Thunderbolts led 5-0 after one. 

Bethesda brought in two runs during their half of the first inning, and the Big Train looked to keep on chugging. With two outs and a man on first, Bethesda outfielder Logan Ponnett (So., Charlotte) powered a pitch deep to left field. It looked as if the ball might leave the park for a homer, but a back-tracking Lopez leaped high in front of the fence to make a miraculous catch. After Lopez saved an extra base-hit, Ponnett respectfully tipped his cap to the elated TBolt left fielder. 

After RBI’s from Vozzo and Gabriel Pegues (So., Lynchburg) in the 2nd, the Thunderbolts went up 8-2. This was their largest lead of the game. 

Starting pitcher Brady Grimes (Jr., Millersville) pitched 2.1 innings, and struck out the leadoff hitter in his summer debut. While up 8-3 in the third, Branden Brown (Sr., Frostburg State) came in to relieve Grimes. Brown pitched 2.2 innings, and recorded a strikeout of his own in the 4th. 

After the TBolts lead dwindled down to 8-6, Caleb Sturtevant (Sr., Millersville) slaughtered the first home run of the season for Silver Spring-Takoma. Leading off the sixth inning, Sturtevant sent a solo shot over the fence in left-center field. “I honestly just tried not to do too much. Obviously not trying to overswing, trying to hit the ball where it was pitched, and it worked out for me today. It’s great to be back with the Bolts,” Sturtevant told TBolts broadcaster Patrick Moran after the game. 

EJ Youngling (Jr., Moravian) pitched a scoreless sixth inning, and the Greyhound connection was gleaming for the TBolts. With one out and runners on first and third, Bethesda belted a ball into the glove of Youngling’s Moravian teammate Vozzo, who flipped it to first for the double play. 

Afterward, Jona Acosta (So., UNF) sliced a double to left field to plate two TBolts; Silver Spring-Takoma took an 11-6 lead into the 7th inning stretch. In the bottom of the 7th, the wheels began to turn rapidly for Big Train. Bethesda belted three base hits, drew two walks, the TBolts committed two errors, and the Train scored five runs to tie the game at 11-11.  

Both teams were efficient on the mound in the eigth and ninth innings. Fan favorite Mike Preske (Jr., Cecil CC) made his summer debut, and pitched 2.1 innings for the TBolts. Preske became the fourth Thunderbolt to log a strikeout, which occurred in the eighth inning. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Big Train infielder Brennon Wright (Sr., South Alabama) got aboard on a bunt single, and eventually wheeled to third off a wild pitch. With two outs, first baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Sr., Nova Southeastern) became the Tuesday night hero for Bethesda. Gonzalez smacked an RBI single to left, and secured a 12-11 walkoff win. 

There were five TBolts who had multi-hit performances last night. Kelleher went 4-5 with 2 singles, two doubles, and an RBI. Along with his home run, Sturtevant sizzled an infield single and RBI double in his 3-5 day at the plate. Vozzo ripped two early RBI singles, and Acosta came through with a single and RBI double. Lastly, Lopez lit it up with his electric outfield catch and thunderous RBI double to right-center. 

The Thunderbolts offense amassed 16 hits and drew five walks on the night. To add on, each pitcher who appeared for the TBolts recorded one strikeout apiece. Although the game ended in heartbreaking fashion, the TBolts made terrific plays that captivated the crowd in Bethesda all evening. 

The Thunderbolts will hold their home opener tonight against the Gaithersburg Giants (1-0) at Montgomery Blair Baseball Stadium. Stay tuned for the game preview, which will be uploaded later this afternoon.

BOLTS WILL BATTLE BIG TRAIN ON THE ROAD TONIGHT TO START THE SEASON 

By Sam Bergstrom 
SS-Tbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 2—Opening day has officially arrived in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts will travel 10 miles east, and look to derail the Bethesda Big Train on the road in their regular season debut.

Tonight, the Thunderbolts will look to carry their momentum from Sunday’s 9-8 exhibition loss against the DC Grays. Against DC, the TBolts sprayed seven hits, seven strikeouts, eight runs, and played lockdown infield defense. 

Brady Grimes (Jr., Millersville) will toe the rubber tonight for the TBolts. Last season, the 6’7” righty recorded a 2.16 ERA for Silver Spring-Takoma. In his sophomore season at Millersville, Grimes appeared in 11 games, pitched 10 innings, and stockpiled 6 strikeouts. 

In terms of the lineup, Head Coach Brock Hunter will look to experiment in the Thunderbolts’ first few games of the season. “We'll probably early on have two lineups that we're just switching back and forth,” Hunter shared. ”What I'll probably do is eventually figure out what that best lineup is and have, not an A and a B lineup, but, you know, a one and a two lineup. It usually takes halfway through the season to figure all that stuff out.”

Last season, Bethesda brought home their third consecutive League Championship title. Big Train are also the reigning Cal Ripken Regular Season champions. Their roster features players from across the country, and is mostly a mesh of D1 talent. 

In 2025, the TBolts had a 1-4 record against Bethesda, and are looking to start off on the right foot in 2026. “If you start out hot, you get rolling, and you get the guys feeling good,” said Thunderbolts outfielder Caleb Sturtevant. 

First pitch is set for 7 P.M. at Shirley Povich field. The game will be streamed on the TBolts YouTube channel, which can be found in the media tab on the website.

JONA ACOSTA AND SAM CAMACHO JR. LOOK TO BRING FLORIDA FLAIR TO THE THUNDERBOLTS THIS SUMMER 

By Sam Bergstrom
SS-Tbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 1—After the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts finished their exhibition matchup last night against the DC Grays, Head Coach Brock Hunter was asked who made the biggest impression for him in the lineup. 

Out of the 14 hitters who came to bat for the TBolts, Hunter shared, “The standouts were probably the two Miami kids.”

Yes, you read that right. This year, the Thunderbolts have two players who have journeyed from the Sunshine State to play summer baseball in Silver Spring. Before their first game, I had the opportunity to chat with infielders Jona Acosta and Sam Camacho Jr. about this upcoming season. 

This is Jona’s first season playing in a Summer Collegiate Baseball League, and he comes to the TBolts after his freshman season at the University of North Florida. The lefty wasted no time introducing himself by sizzling two singles and working a walk last night against DC. 

Sam is a rising sophomore at Clarion College, and will be playing third base for the TBolts. This is not his first rodeo with summer ball, as he won a South Florida Collegiate Baseball title in 2025. Sadly, a shoulder injury sidelined Sam his entire freshman season. Last night, he showed no rust in his return to baseball; the right-handed hitter scorched two singles to center for the TBolts. 

“After being out for three and a half months, it was pretty good. Pretty happy to get back on the field, you know, and just having fun. I had a really good day at the plate, and I’m super excited to get out here,” Sam shared. 

Funny enough, Jona and Sam actually played high school baseball against each other. Jona spent his time at Miami Killian High School, while Sam was at Miami Springs. Jona described this upcoming summer as a full circle moment for both of them. 

“When we were both on the field [in high school], obviously we're not friends. Like, we're trying to outcompete each other and obviously win. But outside of the field, and now that we're on the same team, it’s kind of like, we're brothers now. It’s a bond for sure.”

Both Miami natives were immersed in Florida’s fervent baseball culture at a young age. Overall, the infielders both believe that the competitive atmosphere from their childhoods allowed them to blossom into the players they have become.

As a Cubs fan, and someone of Puerto Rican and Nicaraguan heritage, Sam grew up modeling his game after Javier Baez. Jona’s favorite player is Francisco Lindor, which is why he wears number 12 for the TBolts. Above all, Jona admires the overwhelming joy Lindor plays with. As he put it, “He's always got a smile on his face, kind of an influence to the younger kids, and that's something I wish to be one day as well.” 

Without question, both players are hoping to develop in dynamic ways this season, and also bring a wave of good vibes for this Thunderbolts squad. 

Jona wishes to work on his consistency, and looks to hold the defensive unit accountable as a vocal leader. Although it’s still early to solidify anything, Hunter believes Jona can be a valuable leadoff man and will see lots of action at shortstop. Sam shared how he wants to get stronger at third base and more comfortable at the plate. He also believes that making the simple plays—bunts, sac flies, and routine ground balls—can go a long way for the TBolts. 

Just as Sonny and Rico cracked down on criminals in Miami Vice, Thunderbolts fans should keep a lookout for Jona and Sam to lock up the left side of the infield this summer. 

BOLTS SHOW SOME FLASH IN 9-8 EXHIBITION LOSS TO DC GRAYS

By Sam Bergstrom 
SS-Tbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 1—Yesterday evening, the Silver-Spring Takoma Thunderbolts opened the flood gates to their 2026 campaign in a pre-season duel with the DC Grays. In this Sunday evening showdown at Blair Baseball Stadium, both teams had more than twenty players receive game-day reps. Through nine action-packed innings, Head Coach Brock Hunter sent eight pitchers to the mound and fourteen hitters to the plate for the TBolts. 

Here are some key plays from the Thunderbolts’ 9-8 exhibition loss. 

Southpaw Jacob Seek (Jr., Chesapeake College) got the start for the TBolts, and pitched a scoreless first inning with a pair of strikeouts. The TBolts took an early 2-0 lead in the 2nd inning with back-to-back bases loaded walks by Trent Lopez (So., Cornell) and Kai Schmelzer (Fr., Gulf Coast State).

The Grays promptly responded with a 3-run third inning to go up 3-2. This inning concluded with a voracious play by David Vozzo (Jr., Moravian). After a ground ball was chopped off the glove of first baseman Nolan Kutney (Gr., UMBC), Vozzo reeled it in off the deflection, and retired the runner just in time for the much-needed final out. 

Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth, Sam Camacho Jr. (So., Clarion) was driven home courtesy of a Trent Lopez triple to right center. A wild pitch by the Grays would then send Lopez home to square things up at 5-5. 

Ryan Buecker (Sr., McDaniel) brought the heat for the TBolts in the 7th, and pieced together a scoreless inning. Buecker got support from catcher Kai Schmelzer, who hit Vozzo at third with a kean assist to gun down the Grays on a stolen base attempt. 

The Grays got going in the eighth with another two-run inning, but not before the TBolts made two magnificent infield plays. With the bases loaded and no outs, Matthew Kim (Sr., Hampden-Sydney) fielded a hopper up the middle, sped over to second, and fired to first for a delicious double play. The inning came to an end when Vozzo—yes, Vozzo again—delivered a diving catch at third to disrupt DC's run. 

In the bottom of the eighth, the TBolts cut the lead down to 9-8 courtesy of RBI singles from Jona Acosta (So., North Florida) and Gabriel Pegues (So., Lynchburg). After taking at-bats in the second and fifth innings as a first baseman, Wade Hartrick (So., University of Chicago) pitched a scoreless ninth inning on the mound, and struck out two Grays while doing so. 

To conclude, DC notched a 1-2-3 ninth inning, and handed the TBolts a 9-8 loss. 

Sam Camacho Jr. led the way for the TBolts offense, going 2-2 with a walk and a run scored. Kutney, Acosta, Lopez, Schmelzer, and Pegues all joined Camacho by hammering a hit apiece. Along with their seven base knocks, the TBolts worked nine walks, struck out seven Grays, and made multiple highlight plays in the infield. 

The TBolts will begin their regular season at Bethesda, where they will take on the Bethesda Big Train at Shirley Povich Field. First pitch is set for 7 pm, and will be streamed on the Thunderbolts YouTube channel. 

MEET THE MEDIA TEAM THAT WILL COVER THUNDERBOLTS BASEBALL ON THE WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA IN 2026

SILVER SPRING, MAY 31—With the season less than three days away, say hello to the members of the Thunderbolts media team that will bring you TBolts baseball on the web and on social media.

Some voices will be familiar but we have new three staffers who will broadcast each Thunderbolt game on the ThunderboltsBaseball YouTube Channel and post here with reports on the team’s efforts on the field. You met one already, Sam Bergstrom, whose article below on the TBolts in 2026, hit the site earlier today.

Click on over to the Media tab, then select Meet the Media team to see who they are and find out a bit about them. You will be reading and hearing from them a lot this summer when you follow TBolts baseball.

See ya at Blair but if you can’t be there, Thunderbolts media is the next best thing.

Play Ball.

THUNDERBOLTS PRIMED TO MAKE ‘26 SEASON DEBUT

By Sam Bergstrom
SS-Tbolts

SILVER SPRING, MAY 31—College is officially out of session, which means summertime baseball is back in the DMV. The Silver-Spring Takoma Thunderbolts are back for their 26th season, and are looking to bring the buzz for fans at Blair Baseball Stadium this summer. 

Head Coach Brock Hunter is entering his sixth season as TBolts skipper. His number one goal this summer—and every summer—is “to get the guys better and to make sure we have fun doing it.” Hunter especially looks to assist players who want to improve specific facets of their game, so they are best prepared for their upcoming collegiate campaigns. 

Despite the team having 30 new players, Hunter believes team chemistry is melding well after just three days of practice. “It’s just cool seeing guys from all different landscapes come together and be friends,” Hunter said. “You can already tell, guys are getting to know each other a lot.”

Along with the numerous newcomers, there are also eight players returning from last season’s roster. This includes Josh Erd (Sr., East Stroudsburg), who is back for his third summer with the TBolts. When asked what makes the Thunderbolts such a special summerball program, Erd said, “The culture and coaches here, all the boys, it’s a family here, man. It's really awesome. It's a good vibe over here all the time.” 

Other returning players include David Vozzo (Jr., Moravian), Griffin Puvel (Sr., Rider), and Brady Grimes (Jr., Millersville). While Grimes had a memorable 2025 season as a two-way player, he has since converted into a full-time pitcher. Grimes will start on the bump against Big Train on Tuesday for their regular season opener at Bethesda. 

Silver Spring-Takoma is sporting 21 pitchers and 17 position players on this year’s roster. The team also features one two-way player, Wade Hartrick (So., University of Chicago). The Boulder, Colorado native is hoping to contribute a healthy amount of hitting, catching, and pitching this season. 

This year’s team is also balanced with a wide array of college competition. Eight players hail from D1 schools, nine play at the D2 level, eleven play D3, and eight come from community college.

Hunter believes this variety can benefit everyone on the team. “I think, especially for the D2 and D3 guys, when they can have success against some of the D1 arms, like, you can hit anybody at the D2, D3 level,” he expressed. 

Above all, General Manager Dick O’Connor believes that the Thunderbolts can strengthen the Silver Spring-Takoma community in a heartfelt way.

“It's a two-way street. We try to encourage the fans to be interactive with the players, and we also encourage the players to be interactive with the fans.” O’Connor shared. “I always say, you never know. That kid who signed your bat, one day might be sitting in Cooperstown.” 

The Thunderbolts will hold a pre-season game this evening at 6 P.M. against the DC Grays at home. Their regular season debut will be against Bethesda Big Train on Tuesday, where they will duke it out against the defending regular season and league champs at Shirley Povich Field. The official home opener is set for Wednesday, June 3, against the Gaithersburg Giants; first pitch will be at 7 p.m. 

The TBolts will play 40 games—twenty at home, and twenty away— into late July. The full schedule can be found on the Thunderbolts website.

The Thunderbolts will broadcast all 40 games—home and away—on YouTube this season. Meet our Media Team on the Media tab. A link to the broadcasts is on Media/Live Games.

We hope to see many excited faces at Blair this season. As always, Go Bolts!

THE ROSTER GOES EVER ON…

SILVER SPRING, MAY 30—If J.R.R. Tolkien was a Thunderbolts fan and Bilbo Baggins had a season pass, they would both recognize that the roster of the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts will go ever on throughout the 2026 season.

It’s a snapshot in time, a living document, and a guide to the latest list of players who will grace Blair Baseball Stadium, as Bilbo sang it, “…through the merry flowers of June.”

So, go ahead and act as The Lord of the Links and click on About and Roster. Some of the information is missing and will be supplied in subsequent versions. But for now, this is what we’ve got.

Summer league baseball is coming and we can, “…look at last at meadows green.”

NEW 2026 THUNDERBOLTS PROGRAM NOW ON WEBSITE; GO TO ABOUT/PRINTED PROGRAM

The new printed program for the Thunderbolts 2026 season is now up on the Thunderbolts website. It has the latest information for the 2026 season, the schedule, streaming info, and biographies of the players.

Just go to the Top Menu, Select About, and choose Printed Program.

Enjoy!

SECIAL NIGHTS COMING UP FOR TBOLTS AT BLAIR

SILVER SPRING, MAY 29—There are two special nights coming up for Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts at Blair Baseball Stadium in June. First is a special night for the Scouts at Blair on Sunday, June 7, at 6 pm vs the Bethesda Big Train.

Second is a special night for Silver Spring-Takoma Park Youth Baseball and Softball Leagues. That game is also a Sunday game against the Olney Cropdusters at Blair.

As always, we’ll see ya at Blair.

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