HOME, SWEET, HOME: THUNDERBOLTS HOST BETHESDA BIG TRAIN IN HOME OPENER AT BLAIR

By Dylan Schmidt
SS-Thunderbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 6—With the bases loaded and nobody out, the Thunderbolts’ 6-2 lead over the Gaithersburg Giants looked in jeopardy. The tide had shifted in favor of the home side and Thunderbolt fans thought they would see a repeat of Wednesday night, when they blew a six-run advantage.

Head coach Brock Hunter walked out to calm down his pitcher Liam Bowen (Frostburg St), after the righty had hit a batter, allowed a single and walked the next hitter. The result of the mound visit was a dream scenario for Hunter.

Giants’ shortstop Aidan Marino stepped up to the plate and took the first two pitches, both balls. Then, Liam Bowen turned to his fastball, the most dangerous pitch in his arsenal. Bowen powered two pitches past Marino, who made aggressive hacks trying to tie the game with one swing. On the next pitch, Bowen painted the outer corner with his offspeed. One out.

Pinch hitter Jayden Brown (Ranger College) launched the second pitch he saw out to center field, bringing a runner home. Bowen immediately locked back in, striking out second baseman Fredy Diaz (Davidson) on a 3-2 offspeed pitch.

Bowen escaped the jam with one run allowed, handing the ball to Brady Grimes (Millersville) for the save. Grimes allowed two hits — the latter scoring a run — but he recorded the final three outs of the game to give the Thunderbolts (1-1) their first win of the season, 6-4. 

David Vozzo (Moravian) and Matthew Kim (Frederick C.C.) produced three doubles, a single, a walk, 1 RBI and four runs scored. 

Right-handed pitcher Braden Fetherolf (Clarion) gave the Thunderbolts another impressive debut, going four scoreless innings with three strikeouts and five baserunners. Between Fetherolf and Zuckerman, the Thunderbolts have formed a solid one-two punch in their starting rotation.

Lefty Josh Domaracki (Frostburg St) will look to pick up where the other two starters left off in the Thunderbolts’ home-opener Friday night at Blair Stadium. Domaracki made just three appearances in his first season, recording seven outs and allowing two runs (one earned).

But he is up against a daunting challenge in the Bethesda Big Train (0-2), who have won the last five league titles.

However, the Big Train haven’t played like those prior squads this season, losing their first two contests. Head coach Sal Colangelo will have his team ready, though, and playing with a chip on their shoulder.

While Bethesda fell to the DC Grays 12-11 on opening day and 10-4 against the Olney Cropdusters yesterday, the Big Train have always had the Thunderbolts’ number. Bethesda has won 10 of the last 12 meetings.

Drew Bellis (Central Florida) will start Friday’s game against the Thunderbolts. The righthander threw two innings in his four trips out of the bullpen this year, conceding one run and walking three batters.

Despite the Big Train’s pitching staff struggling early in the season — allowing 22 runs in two contests — their hitters have had solid at-bats.

That begins with last season’s Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League second-team honoree, Emilio Gonzalez (Florida Atlantic). Gonzalez hit .245 in his freshman season, but struggled to match those numbers this past year. He produced three home runs, nine RBIs and only batted .200.

However, Matthew Westley has been Bethesda’s top hitter this season, slashing .500 and drawing six walks. But his first two seasons at Virginia Tech were rather disappointing, only earning six plate appearances.

Logan Ponnett (North Carolina Charlotte) is tied for first in the league with four RBIs, all of which came in the Big Train’s first contest. Ponnett drilled a grand slam in the eighth inning to tie the game at 11, before the Grays ultimately won it.

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, Neal Lavon and Pat Moran on the call.

NEW SCORES SECTION ADDED TO T-BOLTS TOP MENU

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 6—We’ve added a new section to the Thunderbolts top menu on the website.

If you want to know the scores of past games, navigate to the appropriately-named Scores tab on the top menu.

You’ll see a simple sentence with a link on the word, “here” that will take you to the Thunderbolts schedule on the website of the Cal Ripken Sr Collegiate Baseball League.

The League schedule for the Thunderbolts lists the scores of past games with links to the box scores and the Game Live stream which has inning by inning details.

Enjoy.

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

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 STORM INTO GAITHERSBURG AND STRIKE DOWN THE GIANTS, 6-4, FOR FIRST VICTORY

By Dylan Schmidt
SS-Thunderbolts

GAITHERSBURG, JUNE 5—Oftentimes, runs score in bunches, and for the Thunderbolts, that was certainly the case Thursday night at Criswell Automotive Field. A three-run sixth inning and two insurance scores in the eighth were all the Thunderbolts needed for a 6-4 victory over the Gaithersburg Giants.

Righthander Braden Fetherolf (Clarion) earned his first win, lefty Grey Willis (Harford C.C.) took the loss for the Giants (0-2) and righty Brady Grimes (Millersville) picked up save number one for the Thunderbolts.

Fetherolf got the starting nod on the mound for the Thunderbolts and the 6-foot-3 righty gave them a quality start. He faced traffic in the first two innings, but evaded without a blemish.

The Thunderbolts (1-1) looked like they would score in the first after centerfielder Griffin Puvel (Rider) drew a leadoff walk. However, Willis — the Giants’ starter — retired the final three hitters.

While Fetherolf was dealing in his first appearance, the Thunderbolts couldn’t provide the run support to match his dominance on the mound.

But they finally broke through in the top of the third.

The Thunderbolts loaded the bases with just one out for the second consecutive frame. This time, they managed to drive home the opening run. DH Vance Bonior (U. of Mass) hit a dribbler over to second base, leaving Giants second baseman Freddy Diaz (Davidson) with just one play: a throw to first. The groundout allowed thirtd baseman Tyson Gill (Clarion) to score from third and push the Thunderbolts ahead, 1-0.

Fetherolf went back to work in the ensuing frame, and he continued to hold the Giants scoreless. Between his curveball that seemingly always painted the outside corner, and an electric fastball, Fetherolf left the Giants’ hitters chasing around the zone.

His outing finished after four innings. He struck out three and stranded five Giants baserunners.

Missed opportunities plagued the Thunderbolts, particularly in the fifth inning. Gill picked up a leadoff walk and leftfielder Jack Hurda (Clarion) immediately responded with a single, sending Gill to third. With two on and nobody out, Gill was tagged out at home trying to score on a wild pitch and the Thunderbolts couldn’t produce anything further.

That drastically changed in the sixth inning, though. Bonior got plunked on the fourth pitch of the inning and moved into scoring position with shortstop David Vozzo (Moravian) at the plate. Vozzo ripped a double down the left field line to score Bonior, making it 2-0.

On the first pitch of the ensuing at-bat, second baseman Matthew Kim (Frederick C.C.) drove Vozzo home. He pounced on the pitch, sneaking the ball in between third base and shortstop. Kim advanced to second on a fielding error. An infield single from Puvel moved Kim to third, before Hurda lined a sacrifice fly out to left field, scoring Kim with the third run.

After the Thunderbolts plated three runs to take a commanding 4-0 lead, the Giants’ offense finally woke up.

Righty Michael Preske (Cecil C.C) — who entered in relief for Fetherolf — gave the Thunderbolts a scoreless fifth inning, but he allowed the Giants to break through in the sixth.

A single, a hit batter, and a stolen base moved two Giants into scoring position. Nate Hawton-Henley (Maryland) showed off his speed, legging out an infield single to Gill at third that scored Danny Orr (UMBC) and Aaron Babaev (San Mateo). The Thunderbolts four-run advantage was cut in half.

Righthander Bobby Burk (Babson) relieved Preske and faced some traffic in the bottom of the seventh, but escaped without a blemish. In large part, that was due to a highlight reel fielding play from third baseman Gill. Gill’s counterpart on the Giants, Ryan Maxey (St Johns River St College), hit a high hopper towards third base that hugged the line.

Gill fielded the ball behind the bag but his momentum took him into foul territory. He planted his feet and launched a Brooks Robinson-type heave that Foster stretched out for to make the catch. The large Thunderbolts contingent among the announced crowd of 253 erupted.

However, the eight and nine-hole hitters in the Thunderbolts’ batting order struck once again in the top of the eighth. Vozzo blooped a double down the right-field line and Kim laced the ball to left field, bringing Vozzo home. Two batters later, Gill rocked a pitch up the middle that shortstop Marino snagged to keep in the infield, but the groundout still plated Kim. The T-Bolts now led, 6-2.

But the Giants went on to load the bases in the bottom of the inning and had the game-tying run up to bat. Rghty Liam Bowen (Frostburg St.) came in steadied the ship and induced two strikeouts on his offspeed pitches to get out of the jam with just one run allowed — a sacrifice fly from Diaz, cutting the lead to 6-3.

The Thunderbolts went quietly in the top of the ninth. Grimes came on and got the first two outs. But he allowed one run on a double and a single, but the hard-throwing righty struck out the next batter, saving the win.

The Bethesda Big Train arrives at Blair Stadium on Friday night for the Thunderbolts’ home-opener, starting at 7 p.m. The Big Train have yet to get in the win-column, despite looking for their sixth straight league title.

The game will be televised on the ThunderboltsBaseball Channel on YouTube. You can watch by going to the Media/Live Game link on the top right of the menu.

Join Andrew Relvas, Neal Lavon and Pat Moran on the call.

GIANT TASK AHEAD: THUNDERBOLTS LOOK TO REBOUND AT GAITHERSBURG TODAY FOR FIRST WIN

By Dylan Schmidt
SS-Thunderbolts

GAITHERSBURG, JUNE 5—If there’s anything the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (0-1) have proven time and time again, it’s that the mantra “anything can happen” reigns supreme. Wednesday’s 8-7 12-inning defeat to the Alexandria Aces was a prime example of that.

Not to mention the old adage, “No lead is safe in the Ripken League.”

The Thunderbolts played five innings of clean baseball and came out unscathed. However, things quickly flipped once starter Josh Zuckerman (Emory) reached his pitch count limit and needed to be pulled.

Zuckerman dissected the Aces’ batting lineup, cruising through four frames of no-hit baseball with six strikeouts and allowing two free passes. Between his fastball and offspeed pitches, it seemed like Zuckerman couldn’t miss the strike zone.

And the Aces couldn’t keep up with the heat that Zuckerman was throwing, invoking several swing-and-misses. He put forth a performance that could cement him as the team’s top arm.

The Thunderbolts’ offense piggybacked off the starter’s excellence, notably in the third inning. The Thunderbolts’ patience at the plate combined with the Aces’ erratic pitcher on the mound allowed their lead to balloon to six.

But even a simple mistake can prove decisive in the end. The Thunderbolts committed an error that prevented them from turning a double play, keeping the Aces’ inning alive. Five hits later, Alexandria finished with six unanswered runs all in the sixth frame. None were earned.

Three more mistakes in the 12th inning allowed the Aces to walk it off in extras.

The good news about the Ripken League is that the Thunderbolts have little time to dwell on the defeat. They will look to rebound later today against the Gaithersburg Giants (0-1) at Criswell Automotive Field.

Head coach Brock Hunter turns to Braden Fetheroff (Clarion) as the game-two starter. The 6-foot-3 right-handed flamethrower produced a promising freshman campaign with a 6.10 ERA in 31 innings pitched, striking out 16 batters.

But he will face a Gaithersburg squad fresh off their best season in team history. The Giants brought home their first division title with a 23-13 record, before falling to the Bethesda Big Train in the semifinals.

That team looked far from the one that stepped onto the field last night.

The Giants' 9-5 defeat against the Southern Maryland Senators yesterday was eerily similar to the Thunderbolts' late-game stumble. After taking a 5-3 lead in the top of the eighth inning, the Giants proceeded to allow six runs in the bottom half of the frame. 

After recording just one error in the first seven innings, two costly mistakes in the eighth frame ultimately led to the Giants’ blown lead.

Grey Willis (Harford C.C.) will step onto the mound for Gaithersburg in the game tonight. The rising sophomore made just two appearances in his first collegiate season, recording two combined outs and allowing four runs to cross the plate. Willis conceded four walks in those relief outings so his command will be something to watch as the night goes along.

As one of seven returners from last year’s squad, Jayden Brown (Ranger College) is one of the Giants’ key hitters. Brown — who plays in the outfield — slashed an impressive .314 batting average last season, with 10 RBIs and 21 runs scored. He brings a mix of speed and power to the plate, hitting a triple last night as one of his two hits.

Brady Powell (Radford) and Ethan McNally (Clarion) are the only other returning batters. Powell drove in one run last night on a groundout to the shortstop and produced a hit. 

Catcher Zach White (Louisiana Monroe) and Brady Ruiz-Weiss (Yale) had impressive debuts, plating two runs and racking up three hits combined.

The bulk of Gaithersburg’s returners come from its pitching staff, with Ayden Gonzalez (UMBC), Nicholas Karls (Towson), Cody Sherman (Frostburg St) and Cole Williams (Salisbury).

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 Evan Pak on the call.

THUNDERBOLTS DROP FIRST TO ACES, 8-7, IN TWELVE-INNING THRILLER AT FRANK MANN FIELD

By Dylan Schmidt
SS-Thunderbolts

ALEXANDRIA, VA, JUNE 4—The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts committed five errors, including two in the bottom of the 12th, that led to their 8-7 loss to the Alexandria Aces at Frank Mann Field. On the night, only one of the Aces eight runs was earned.

The Thunderbolts are 0-1 on the season while Alexandria moves to 1-0.

It was the Thunderbolts seventh consecutive opening day loss and the defeat also continued a four-year winless streak at Frank Mann Field.

The errors, plus five innings of no-run, no-hit, 11-strikeout pitching from Alexandria righthander Adan Longoria (University of South Florida) made the difference on a night when the Thunderbolts had good pitching, particularly from its starter, righty Josh Zuckerman (Emory). In his five innings of work, Longoria set down 17 consecutive Thunderbolts.

Zuckerman started and went four brilliant innings for the Thunderbolts allowing no runs on no hits, walking two, and striking out six. He left with a lead of 6-0.

In the fateful 12th, two consecutive errors and a wild throw allowed the Aces to bring a runner home and walk off the three hour and fifty minute game. Thunderbolt righty Cam Elicier (Moravian) took the loss; he’s 0-1 on the season. Longoria got the win, he’s 1-0.

The T-Bolts showed some promise right out of the gate. They used a patient approach early on, and they found great success with it in the first inning.

Left fielder Caleb Sturtevant (Millersville) was hit bv a pitch, went to second on a stolen base, and got to third on a passed ball. He was driven home by catcher Jack McCarthy (Maryount) on a fielders choice. That gave the T-Bolts a 1-0 lead.

While the Aces’ starting pitcher Tomas Cestero (Seton Hall) struggled with his command, Josh Zuckerman (Emory) gave the Thunderbolts a quality pitching appearance. He mowed down the first five batters that stepped up to the plate, retiring the side in the first inning using only strikeouts.

Zuckerman showed no signs of rust after his junior campaign concluded over two weeks ago. The right-handed pitcher used his electric stuff to make quick work of the Aces’ hitters, finding the zone with both his fastball and off-speed pitches. Zuckerman painted both sides of the plate, leaving Alexandria guessing. 

Despite failing to produce any offense in the second inning, the Thunderbolts remained ahead, 1-0. That narrow lead quickly changed, though.

Cestero’s night only got worse after a clean second frame. He was torched in the ensuing inning, mostly due to shaky pitching. Cestero hit four batters in the frame, allowing the Thunderbolts to plate two runs on just one hit. 

Then, second baseman Nolan Kutney (UMBC) gave the Thunderbolts some breathing room. Kutney hit a two-run RBI single, driving home Bryce Curry (Hofstra) and Gabe Ruiz (UMBC) from third and second base.

Ruiz manufactured the Thunderbolts’ sixth run of the game via an RBI single that scored Brayden Foster (Youngstown St) in the fourth frame.

While the Thunderbolts squandered a chance to plate more offense in the fifth inning, leaving Josh Erd (Frederick C.C.) stranded at third base, their commanding lead remained intact.

Aidan Denham (UMBC) — who came in after Zuckerman reached his 60-pitch limit — kept the Aces off the scoreboard in the fifth. However, the floodgates opened up in the following frame. The Aces’ offense woke up in a big way thanks to a critical error on a potential double play. Even then, the T-Bolts quickly picked up two outs following the error. But after that, the Aces banged out five consecutive two-out hits, which interspersed with a walk and a wild pitch, tied the game at 6-6.

Kutney gave the Thunderbolts a jolt of energy, though. The second basemen stepped up to the plate and launched a deep shot that clunked off the top of the wall in left center. Two batters later, Kutney caught the Aces’ pitcher sleeping and stole third base, resulting in an errant throw from catcher Ernie Echevarria (U of Penn). He rounded third and sprinted home to give the Thunderbolts a 7-6 lead.

Righthander Jack Doyle (Marymount) came in to pitch in the sixth yielding no runs and was succeeded in the seventh by righty Hunter Layhew (Frostburg St).

In the eighth, the Aces took advantage of a wild pickoff attempt to advance a runner to second. An RBI single brought the runner home and allowed Alexandria to tie the game at seven.

Layhew retired the last two batters of the eighth inning and stranded a runner on third.

Righty Vance Bonior entered the game in the ninth following Layhew and wiggled out of a two-on no-out jam. He pitched brilliantly for three innings, going toe to toe with Longoria through the 11th. Elicier came in to pitch the 12th, but ultimately the Aces prevailed with the last run of the game to complete their comeback and secure the win.

The Thunderbolts head up 270 on Thursday night to take on the Gaithersburg Giants at Criswell Automotive Field at 7 pm. The Giants lost to the Southern Maryland Senators at Regency Furniture Stadium, 9-5.

The game will be televised on the ThunderboltsBaseball Channel on YouTube. You can watch by going to the Media/Live Game link on the top right of the menu. Join Andrew Relvas and Evan Pak on the call.

MANN, OH, MANN: THUNDERBOLTS TO OPEN 2025 SEASON TONIGHT IN ALEXANDRIA VS THE ACES

By Dylan Schmidt
SS-Thunderbolts

ALEXANDRIA, VA, JUNE 4—It has been 321 days since the last time Thunderbolt fans saw their team trot onto the field for a Cal Ripken Sr Collegiate Baseball League contest. Supporters have patiently waited for that extended absence to reach its conclusion.

Well, they can finally breathe a sigh of relief because the start of the 2025 campaign is upon us. The Thunderbolts kick off the new season tonight, heading to Frank Mann Field for a clash with the Alexandria Aces.

After finishing last year with a 12-24 record and missing out on a playoff appearance, the Thunderbolts shift their focus on what looks to be an electric season ahead. Striking early and often will be necessary for that to happen.

Righthanded pitcher Josh Zuckerman (Emory) is scheduled to get the starting nod on the bump for today’s contest. The 6-foot starter has been the Eagles’ ace throughout his first three years at Emory University, and last season was no different. Zuckerman finished with a team-leading 4.77 ERA, along with a 5-2 record to guide the Eagles to an NCAA Tournament appearance.

The local product out of Northwest High School figures to be a staple in the Thunderbolts rotation. However, Zuckerman is just one of many pitchers on the roster in what is shaping up to be a deep staff. The Thunderbolts have 22 capable pitchers to choose from.

After throwing a scoreless fifth inning in the Thunderbolts’ 6-1 scrimmage victory against Bradley Baseball Academy on Sunday, southpaw Tyson Gill (Clarion) figures to be a key name throughout the year. The lefty showed early promise, retiring the side with two strikeouts. But Gill also plays in the infield and has shown he can hit the ball well, ending with a .327 batting average at Clarion University.

The Thunderbolts bring back 10 players from the 2024 campaign, led by catcher Jack McCarthy (Marymount). 

McCarthy — who earned an All-Star appearance last season and was named to the Atlantic East first-team All-Conference this past year — will be one of the team’s top hitters. He slashed a .399 batting average at Marymount University in his sophomore campaign.

On the other side, the Aces finished last season on a sour note. After posting the top regular season record of 25-11, Alexandria made it to the Ripken League Semifinal Series. But the Aces were quickly dispatched by the Southern Maryland Senators by scores of 4-3 and 9-0.

The Aces starting rotation is likely the team’s strength, bringing in three arms from Seton Hall University and another from the University of South Florida. Those four pitchers — righties Tomas Cestero, Stephen Curry and Adan Longoria as well as lefty Mason Christopher — bring a healthy balance of strikeout stuff and quality command.

However, Alexandria’s starting pitcher for the season-opener has yet to be announced.

Some notable hitters include infielders Derek Almeda (Chaffey College) and Jovan Gill (Grand Valley State), both of which are versatile offensive weapons. Gavin Degnan (Penn) is the team’s top outfielder.

Today’s contest starts at 6:30 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, Evan Pak and Neal Lavon on the call.

THUNDERBOLTS CLIP EAGLES WINGS WITH 6-1 VICTORY OVER BRADLEY BASEBALL ACADEMY

By Patrick Moran
SS-Thunderbolts

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 1-_The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts kicked off their 2025 season with a 6-1 exhibition win over the Bradley Baseball Academy Eagles on a cool Sunday evening at Blair. The game lasted seven innings.

Thunderbolt pitchers threw for both teams as the Eagles’ pitchers were not available. A total of 14 pitchers threw an inning apiece to get their reps in before the season officially opens on Wednesday.

The T-Bolts offense was powered by an RBI sacrifice fly from right fielder Aidan Driscoll (U of Maryland), a three-run home run to left field in the fifth from first baseman Brady Grimes (Miilersville), along with a two-run single from center fielder Caleb Sturtevant (Millersville) in the sixth.

Lefty Tyson Gill (Clarion) picked up the “win” as he threw a scoreless, three up three down fifth inning with two strikeouts, and righty Jack Doyle (Marymount), was tagged with the “loss.”

The Eagles’ lone run was driven in by second baseman Gavin Weber in the third inning on a fielder's choice, scoring right fielder Jalen Jackson from third base. The Eagles totaled three hits on the day as the Thunderbolts arms attacked the zone for the most part with only one walk allowed across seven different pitchers.

The Eagles didn’t help their cause by committing four errors as opposed to just two for the Thunderbolts.

Overall, this was a very solid game for the team to build some comradery, and hopefully, it will serve as a building block to a great 25th season here in Silver Spring. 

The Thunderbolts have an intrasquad game tonight at Blair at 6 pm. Admission is free but no concession stands open if you’re planning to come.

Season on and see ya at Blair!

THUNDERBOLTS TAKE THE FIELD FOR 6 PM EXHIBITION GAME VS BRADLEY BASEBALL ACADEMY

SILVER SPRING, JUNE 1—The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts—the 2025 edition—take the field tonight vs Bradley Baseball Academy (BBA) at 6 pm in an exhibition game at Blair Baseball Stadium.

This game has become somewhat of a tradition between the BBA Eagles, which play in the Maryland Collegiate Baseball League (MCBL), and the Thunderbolts.

It should be a full nine-inning game at Blair and admission is free. No concession stands open so if you’re going, make sure to bring some food.

We’ll have coverage of the game from Patrick Moran who’ll have all the details at this space.

The MCBL is an eight-team league that plays in the region and whose season is already underway. The MCBL includes the Rockville Express—which used to play in the Ripken League—and the Olney Dusters, a team affiliated with the Olney Cropdusters in the Ripken League.

The Thunderbolts season in the Ripken League begins on Wednesday in Alexandria against the Aces. The game, at Frank Mann Field, starts at 6:30 pm. You can stream live coverage by going to the Media Tab and selecting Live Games.

Most of the crew will be on the call—Andrew Relvas, Patrick Moran, and Neal Lavon. Evan Pak won’t be able to make this game but you can hear him on future broadcasts.

The Thunderbolts play their second game against the Gaithersburg Giants in a 7 pm start at Criswell Automotive Field in Gaithersburg before coming back to Blair for the home opener at 7 pm vs the Bethesda Big Train.

All games this season will be livestreamed on the ThunderboltsBaseball Channel on YouTube.

See ya at Blair or onine at YouTube!

Season on!

THEY’RE BAACK….THUNDERBOLT PLAYERS REPORT TO BLAIR FOR 2025 SEASON; FIVE DAYS TO OPENER

SILVER SPRING, MAY 30—Thirty-six of the forty players on the roster of the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts reported to Blair Baseball Stadium yesterday afternoon.

They were greeted by Head Coach Brock Hunter and Assistant Coaches Max Eckert, Dean Wandell, and new assistant coach Ryan Mariani. Thunderbolts Founder and President Dick O’Connor also addressed the team.

Uniforms and numbers were handed out, greetings exchanged, and a few players engaged in a brief and light workout.

There will be some practices snd intra-squad games over the next few days in preparation for the season opener, Wednesday, June 4, at Frank Mann Field in Alexandria, when the T-Bolts take on th Aces at 6:30 pm.

On Thursday, the Thunderbolts will head up I-270 to take on the Gaithersburg Giants at Criswell Automotive Field at 7 pm.

The Bolts will return to Blair on Friday, June 6, to take on the Bethesda Big Train in a 7 pm game that will serve as the home opener. The Bolts are back at home on Saturday, June 7, to take on the Olney Cropdusters, also at 7 pm.

The other four players who did not make it to Blair on Thursday will arrive over the coming days.

Look at the roster and schedule on the proper tabs on the website and get ready for the Ripken League 2025.

See ya at Blair.

MEET THE NEW 2025 THUNDERBOLTS MEDIA TEAM

SILVER SPRING., May 29—The bios and photos of the 2025 Thunderbolts Media Team are now up on the Media/Meet the Media Team tab on our Home Page.

Say hello to the men and women who will bring you Thunderbolts baseball for the next three months.

Opening Day is fast approaching! First game is Wednesday, June 4, at Frank Mann Field vs the Alexandria Aces in a 6:30 pm start. The home opener is Friday, June 6, vs the Bethesda Big Train at 7 pm at Blair Baseball Stadium. In between, the Bolts head up 270 to take on the Gaithersburg Giants at Criswell Automotive Field in a 7 pm tilt.

We’ll provide further details as the season begins to kick into high gear. Players report on Thursday at Blair for uniforms and other administrative tasks.

See ya at Blair.

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 8—With 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.

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.

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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