2025 Spring: CHAMPIONSHIP

The Thunder squeaked by a talented Marlins team Sunday morning as they won back-to-back championships, and earned their 9th league championship. 

In the first inning, Byron Murray singled, reached second on a single by Joe Ferro, then scored on an RBI single by Ricky Marinez. The Thunder added three more runs in the third after a couple of errors helped to extend the inning. Joe Ferro, Shawn Dougherty, and Alejandro DeArazoza each singled, with Dougherty and DeArazoza picking up RBI's.

With a 4-0 lead, the Marlins mounted their comeback. After back-to-back singles by Tyler Lavery and Miguel Pascal, starter Jack Palma walked Carlos Espinosa to load the bases. AJ Quinones ripped a double to the left field gap, easily scoring Lavery and Pascal. However, Ricky Marinez quickly threw the ball into SS Brendan Brady, who turned and tossed a perfect throw home to throw out Jesus Delgado (running for Espinosa) trying to score from first base. This play would loom large, as Jose Corea would then drive home Quinones, which would have tied the score. 

With a one-run lead, Brady took the mound in the 7th, tossed two scoreless innings, then got two quick outs to begin the 9th. But things got a little interesting as pinch hitters Jason Mitchell reached on an infield error and Jake Norton followed with a single. Fern Canas then pinch hit for Jesus Delgado and ripped a line drive to center field. Mike Deleeuw had taken a few steps in prior to the pitch, and it took all of his outstretched 6'03" frame to make the catch, which off the bat, looked like it had beaten the center fielder. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME:  Brendan Brady - Gunned down a runner at plate and tossed three scoreless innings to finish the game, picking up a rare three-inning save.  

Third time was a charm Sunday morning at the Santaluces Sports Complex. The Beach Bums (17-1-1) beat the Thunder (11-6) twice during the regular season, and held a 3-1 lead heading into the 9th inning, but the T-Men exploded for 8 runs and held on to win 9-4 in a whirlwind finish. 

Dylan "Thunda Killa" Love held the Thunder to four hits over eight innings and took the mound in the top of the 9th in search of a complete game win. Michael "MJ" Jordan led off the inning with a walk then stole second base. Love got Mike DeLeeuw out via a fly ball to left field, Joe Ferro reached on an infield error and with MJ at third and Ferro at second, Sammy Camacho, Jr. singled to CF, driving in MJ which knocked Love out of the game. 

With one out and runners at first and third, veteran Mike Wassong entered the game. Ricky Marinez greeted him by smashing a double to left-center field, which drove in both runners and gave the Thunder a 4-3 lead. Shawn Dougherty followed and ripped a single to right field, which scored Marinez and would end up being the game winning hit. Wassong then walked Byron Murray and was pulled after facing three batters in favor of Javier Baez, who didn't fair much better. Baez faced five batters, gave up RBI singles to Franklin Garcia and Jorge Bravo, then with bases loaded he hit MJ (RBI) and walked Deleeuw (RBI) before being replaced by Rick Schnur. The crafty righty induced a pop out and struck a batter out to end the inning. 

However, the division champs didn't go quietly into the night. Max Charnin retired the first two batters faced but then leadoff man Javier Molina singled for his fourth hit of the day, then Charnin walked the next two batters to load the bases. Sammy Camacho, Jr. relieved Charnin, walked the first batter he faced to give the Bums a run, but then struck out Oscar Valdes to end the threat. 

Jack Palma tossed the first 6 2/3 innings for the Thunder. He faced 28 batters, walked five (one intentionally) struck out two, gave up six hits and three unearned runs. He was relieved by Joe Ferro in the sixth with two outs and runners at first and second. Ferro got out of the jam by striking out Xavier Bruno, then tossed two more scoreless innings, and ended up with the win. 

The Thunder will try to win their 9th league championship against the Marlins (16-2), who squeaked by the Boynton Aces 4-3. The game is scheduled for 9 AM at the Santaluces Sports Complex on 8/24. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME:  Ricky Marinez - two doubles, 3 RBI.

Playing their last regular season game against the Stars, the Thunder jumped ahead late to capture the final spot in the "upper" division playoffs before time expired in a shortened night game at the Santaluces Sports Complex. 

Sammy Camacho, Jr. and Shawn Dougherty (RBI) singled twice to lead the offense. Michael "MJ" Jordan, Kody Gardere, Joe Ferro (2 RBI), and Jorge Bravo had a base knock each, while Guy Bitchatcho doubled home a run, and Alejandro DeArazoza clobbered a two-run home run.  

Jack Palma (3 IP), Jared Terefenko (2 IP), and Isaac Beebe (2 IP) shared duties on the mound, with Terefenko picking up his first win.  

The Thunder will take on the Beach Bums next Sunday at 9 AM. The Bums have beaten the Thunder twice this season and finished the season with only one loss, going 17-1-1.

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME:  None, it was a total team win.

The Thunder jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning, scored two more in the top of the sixth, and held a 4-0 lead going into the bottom of the 7th. Starting pitcher Jack Palma got a quick out, but then a couple of errors and two hits allowed the Heat to cut the lead in half. 

The Thunder pushed another run across in the top of the 8th, and gave the bullpen a 5-2 lead. Max Charnin gave up a single, struck a batter out, gave up another single, then walked the next two batters to walk in a run. Kody Gardere replaced Charnin, walked the first batter he faced, struck out the next batter, and induced an inning ending ground out to secure a 5-4 lead. Joe Ferro retired batters in order in the 9th to earn his second save of the season. 

Sammy Camacho, Jr. led the offense with two hits, a single, double, and two RBI's. Darren Hansen, Mike DeLeeuw (RBI), Joe Ferro, Jorge Bravo, and Isaiah Malek added singles, as the team managed only seven hits on the day. 

The Thunder control their own destiny, as a win in their last game of the season would ensure a fourth place finish, and a ticket to the "upper" division playoffs. The drama unfolds this Saturday night against the Caribe Stars, in a 6:30 PM game at the Santaluces Sports Complex.

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME:  Kody Gardere - Earned the biggest Hold of the season for the Thunder, as he entered the game with bases loaded and one out in the 8th.

The Thunder were in cruise control heading into the 8th inning, then the wheels fell off, but the team held on to beat the Diamondbacks 9-7, keeping their hopes for a final four finish alive.

Jack Palma gave up three hits and one run over seven innings to earn his 5th win of the season. After the bullpen gave up four runs in the top of the 8th, the offense answered with three huge runs in the bottom of the 8th. Those runs were needed, as Joe Ferro gave up two runs in the top of the 9th, but he held on for his first save of the season.

Ferro also made a difference at the plate, as he was a homerun away from hitting the cycle, collecting three hits while knocking in two and scoring two runs himself. Ricky Marinez (single, double, 2 RBI), Alejandro DeArazoza (single, double, RBI), and Eddy Milian two singles) had two hits each, while Michael (MJ) Jordan, Greg Nicholson, Tyler Ziemak (RBI), Isaiah Malek, and Kody Gardere (RBI) picked up singles. 

With two games left, the Thunder need to win out and get some help to make the top four "upper" division playoffs. If help doesn't come, the team will compete in the "lower" division playoffs, something they haven't done since the Fall of 2015.  

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME:  Joe Ferro - 3-4 (single, double, triple, 2 RBI, 2 R) and pitching save.

The Thunder outhit the Marlins 12-6 Sunday; however, poor defense (4 errors) and nine walks canceled any chance of a win, as the Thunder fell to 8-6 on the season. The team hasn't had six losses during the regular season since the fall of 2018, when the won their third league championship.

Michael "MJ" Jordan (two singles), Joe Ferro (two singles), Ricky Marinez (single, double), and Greg Nicholson (two singles, RBI) led the team with two hits each. Alejandro DeArazoza, Tyler Ziemak, and Kelsey Launi singled, and Franklin Garcia ripped a triple to drive in a run. 

Jack Palma started for the Thunder, walked five batters, gave up four hits and five runs, three of which were earned. Richard Breeden walked the bases loaded in the fifth and was replaced, but he re-entered in the 8th inning and retired three batters in order. Kody Gardere kept the team in the game by tossing two shutout innings while striking out two batters. 

Despite a four game losing streak, the last three weeks of the season will determine if the Thunder will hang onto the fourth and final stop of the "upper" division playoff bracket. Stay tuned! 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME:  Kody Gardere - Tossed two shutout innings to keep the team within striking distance.

The Bums came out swinging and banged out eleven hits against starter Luke Kelley, as they jumped out to a quick 5-0 lead and held on to beat the Thunder 7-3 Sunday morning at the Santaluces Sports Complex. 

Kelley started and threw the first five innings, giving up eleven hits, two walks, six runs, while striking out five batters. Max Charnin tossed the sixth inning and gave up a run on two hits. Charnin got two quick outs then a misread in the outfield allowed a triple, followed by a single before a fly out to end the inning. Alex Valverde kept the Thunder in striking distance by tossing three shutout innings as he struck out four of ten batters faced. 

However, the offense managed only six hits on the day and wasted an opportunity with bases loaded in the sixth inning. Alejandro DeArazoza, Mike DeLeeuw, Joe Ferro, and Franklin Garcia each singled, and Kody Gardere (RBI) and Eddy Milian doubled. 

The loss left the Thunder barely hanging on to the fourth and final spot of the upper division playoffs with four games remaining in the regular season.

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME:  Alex Valverde - Three shutout innings to keep the Thunder in the game.

The Thunder pitching staff continued its downward spiral with seven more walks and eleven runs, as the team was run-ruled in the bottom of the 8th. Something that hasn't happened in a very, very, long time. The usually consistent staff has given up 22 runs, 28 hits, and has walked 21 batters over the last two games.  

The team only managed six hits on the day, two of which came from Mike DeLeeuw via a single and double. Joe Ferro and Kelsey Launi singled, Eddy Milian doubled, and Alejandro DeArazoza tripled and scored the lone run via a sac fly by Michael "MJ" Jordan.

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME:  Mike DeLeeuw - 2-3, single, double.

The Thunder pitching staff was atrocious Sunday morning in West Boynton. Five pitchers walked 14 batters, threw two wild pitchers, hit a batter, and allowed eleven hits and eleven runs, as the Aces won 11-8 and dropped the Thunder into 3rd place with an 8-3 record.

On offense, Michael "MJ" Jordan and Joe Ferro led the team with two hits each. MJ doubled, scored twice, and drove in two while Ferro doubled, homered, and drove in four. Jorge Bravo, Mike DeLeeuw (RBI), Eddy Milian, Franklin Garcia, Kelsey Launi, and Keaton Ijams singled. However, it wasn't enough as nine of fourteen walked Aces batters scored. 

With six games left (Barnstormers, Beach Bums, Marlins, D'Backs, Heat, Stars), the team will have to work hard and play clean baseball to maintain a top four position and earn a spot in the "upper" division playoffs. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME:  Joe Ferro - 2-4, double, two-run homerun, 4 RBI.

The Thunder run-ruled the Guardianes Sunday afternoon at the Santaluces Sports Complex, as the team banged out eleven hits in five innings, and came one error away from a combined perfect game. 

Max Charnin (2 IP, 2 K) and Jack Palma (3 IP, 6 K) struck out eight of sixteen batters faced and neither pitcher allowed a walk or hit, as Palma earned his fourth win of the season. 

Franklin Garcia (two singles, double, 2 RBI) and Greg Nicholson (two singles, 2 RBI) had multi-hit games, Michael "MJ" Jordan doubled and drove in two, Isaiah Malek, Mike DeLeeuw, and Guy Bitchatcho each singled to drive in runs, and Tyler Ziemak singled. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME:  Franklin Garcia - 3-3, two singles, double, 2 RBI.

Greg Nicholson collected three hits and Joe Ferro struck out fourteen Aliens, as the team won their seventh game. 

Shorthanded due to the holiday weekend, and local tournament, the Thunder luckily found some help to avoid a forfeit. Rob Wiley, Frank Cruz, James Dono, and Mike Carvatta saved the day and filled in for missing players. Wiley laid down a sac bunt in the 2nd and later drove in a run with a single in the 9th. Frank Cruz drove in two runs with a single in the 2nd, then walked his next three at-bats. Dono walked twice, and Carvatta singled and helped with a sacrifice. 

Regulars Cleveland Westbrook, Jr. picked up an RBI with a sac fly, Joe Ferro singled, Kelsey Launi walked twice, Greg Nicholson singled twice, doubled, and drove in a run, Tyler Ziemak scored after being hit by a pitch and walked late

Joe Ferro tossed a complete game for his second win of the season. Ferro scattered six hits, walked two, struck out fourteen, and allowed one earned run in the 8th. 

Today's game was manager Mike Soulen's 750th league game, who has an overall league record of 469-255-26, with a 64.10 win%.

THUNDER STARS OF THE GAME:  Greg Nicholson - (two singles, double, RBI, two runs scored) and Joe Ferro (14 K, one earned run). 

The team scored late to overcome a deficit to beat the Pounders in their second game of the day, and improved to 6-2 on the season. 

Down 7-3 after five innings, the Thunder pushed across six runs in the 6th and five runs in the 9th. The big hit of the day was a three-run inside the park home run by Cleveland Westbrook, Jr in the 6th that pumped air into a tired team. Isaiah Malek (two singles, 2 RBI's), Franklin Garcia (two singles, RBI), and Matt Ziemak (single, double) had two hits each, and Jorge Bravo, Joe Ferro, Greg Nicholson, Keaton Ijams (2 RBI), Eric Gormley, and Guy Bitchatcho singled. 

Anthony Auletta started for the Thunder but had some control issues, as he walked two, gave up four hits, and allowed four runs. Jack Palma (2 BB, 3 K, 7 H, 5 R, 4 ER) threw the next four and a third innings, and newcomer Gavin Ingram tossed the last three and two thirds innings and picked up the win. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME:  Cleveland Westbrook, Jr - Inside the park home run that drove in three runs, and two runs scored.

The Thunder won their first game of their two-team doubleheader Sunday morning at Santaluces, as the T-Men run rules the Mariners in seven innings. 

Joe Ferro tossed six scoreless innings to earn the win, as he struck out eight  while allowing two hits. Eric Gormley struck out two, walked three, and allowed a hit and a run in the seventh and final inning. 

The offense scored nine runs in the first inning and added runs in the fifth and sixth. Joe Ferro knocked in two runs with two doubles, and Greg Nicholson knocked in three runs via a single and double. Musa Adeoye drove in three with a double, and Isaiah Malek, Keaton Ijams, Matt Ziemak, Franklin Garcia, Mike Deleeuw, and Wisley Correa each singled. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME:  Joe Ferro - 6 innings, no runs, win & two doubles and 2 RBI.

Errors cost the Thunder Sunday morning, as terrible infield play allowed the Stars to score eight unearned runs in the fifth and sixth innings. 

Kody Gardere tossed three scoreless, Jorge Bravo threw a scoreless inning, then Keaton Ijams toed the rubber for the fifth and sixth. In both innings, Ijams induced two quick outs, then his defense let him down each inning with an error to extend the inning, and secondary errors to further the damage. Joe Ferro relieved Ijams in the 6th and met the same fate, as what should have been an inning ending ground ball turned into two runs thanks to an errant infield throw. Ferro tossed a scoreless seventh, and gave up an unearned run in the eighth due to an outfield miscue. Ijams was saddled with the painful loss.

The Thunder offense banged out thirteen hits but left ten men on base, six of which were in scoring position. Cleveland Westbrook, Jr. picked up two singles, an RBI, scored once and stole two bases. Mike DeLeeuw clobbered a double to left field, Tyler Ziemak, Joe Ferro (SB, RBI), Jorge Bravo (SB, RBI), and Matt Ziemak (2 RBI) singled twice, and Keaton Ijams and Kody Gardere each singled. 

The Thunder pushed a run across in the ninth and showed signs of an impossible comeback, but after a single by Tyler Ziemak, the runner at first was a bit too aggressive and was thrown out at third base for the last out, with Mike DeLeeuw coming to the plate as the tying run. 

No games next week due to Mother's Day, then the team comes back for a double-header on 5/18 v the Mariners and Pounders. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME:  Matt Ziemak - two singles, two RBI's.

Jack Palma and Joe Ferro blanked the Heat Sunday morning at the Santaluces Sports Complex. 

Palma threw the first seven innings to earn his third win of the season. He struck out ten, scattered seven hits, and allowed four walks. Ferro tossed the last two innings, striking out three while allowing only one walk.

The Thunder scored two in the bottom of the first thanks to a triple by Mike DeLeeuw, a single by Joe Ferro, a stolen base, and an error. In the fourth, Mike DeLeeuw singled, Joe Ferro walked, and DeLeeuw scored on an RBI single by Jorge Bravo. Kelsey Launi walked to load the bases, then Franklin Garcia picked up an RBI via a walk, which gave the Thunder a 4-0 lead. The T-Men pushed another run across in the seventh, as Joe Ferro scored via a sac fly by Franklin Garcia. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Jack Palma - 10 K's, 7 shutout innings for the win.

The T-Men scored early and often and pushed the game out of reach scoring eight runs in the top of the ninth, as the team improved to 3-1 early in the spring/summer season.

The offense took advantage of six walks, six errors, and two hit batters, as they banged out eighteen hits and eighteen runs, with six of eleven batters having multi-hit games. Leading the way with three hits each were Greg Nicholson (three singles, 3 RBI, 3 R) and Mike DeLeeuw (two singles, double, 2 RBI, 2 R). Following with two hits each were Joe Ferro (2-run home run, single, 3 RBI, 3 R), Tyler Ziemak (single, triple, 3 RBI, 2 R), Matt Ziemak (two singles, 3 RBI, 1 R), and Kody Gardere (two singles). Guy Bitchatcho (RBI single), Kelsey Launi (single, RBI), Franklin Garcia (double), and Jack Palma (single) chipped in with one hit each. 

Jack Palma started on the mound for the Thunder and tossed six innings for the win. He struck out eight and allowed two hits, but walked five early as he gave up three earned runs. Blake Purnell tossed a scoreless inning by striking out three of four batters faced in the seventh inning, and Joe Ferro threw the last two innings, giving up two hits and no runs.

The league has off for Easter and resumes play 4/27.

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Greg Nicholson - three singles, three RBI's, three runs. 

The Thunder scored in the last two innings to sneak a win away from the Marlin in extra innings. 

With a 1-0 lead after their first at-bat, the Thunder gave up three runs in the bottom of the first. Opener Jake Gilbert struck out the side, but also hit two batters, walked a batter, and endured an infield error. Unfortunately for the Marlins, that would be the last time they scored, as Jack Palma and Joey Hennessey would shut them out over the final nine innings. Palma struck out four over four innings while giving up a hit, and Hennessey picked up the win by tossing the last five innings, as he struck out nine and allowed two hits. 

Michael "MJ" Jordan doubled, scored twice, and swiped two bags. Rookie Jorge Bravo singled and also scored twice. Mike DeLeeuw walked three times and singled, Joey Hennessey drove in three of the five runs scored, to include the game winning runs in the 10th inning, while Joe Ferro and Greg Nicholson each singled, and Kelsey Launi led off the 9th inning with a double and later scored the tying run via a sacrifice bunt / throwing error by the pitcher. 

Ethan Wilder will head out to the Frontier League to play for the Washington Wild Things in Washington, PA, Jake Gilbert is headed out to extended spring training for the Reds, and Joey Hennessey is headed to the Atlantic League to join the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. Good luck guys!

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Joey Hennessey - Outstanding defensive catch in outfield, knocked in three of five runs to include game winning runs, picked up win by tossing the last five innings while striking out nine batters. 

The Thunder outhit the Beach Bums Sunday morning but lost the game partly due to two errors, two wild pitches, a passed ball, and a lack of timely hitting. 

Jack Palma started the game for the Thunder, threw four innings, and left the game tied at three. Palma struck out three, gave up four hits, no walks, and gave up three runs (two earned). Rookie Jake Gilbert was tagged with the loss after giving up the lead in the sixth inning. Gilbert walked three batters, threw two wild pitches, gave up a hit, and allowed two runs (one earned) over two innings. Joey Hennessey struck out two and allowed one hit as he threw two scoreless innings.

Ethan Wilder started the game with a double clobbered to deep center field, then obliterated a solo homerun in the top of the 3rd. Ricky Marinez picked up two hits as well, both singles, while Guy Bitchatcho (double, RBI), Joey Hennessey, Michael Jordan, and Franklin Garcia, and Joe Ferro (RBI) had a hit each. 

Unfortunately for the Thunder, the team left runners at second and third base with less than one out twice, and two other runners stranded at second base. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Ethan Wilder went 2-4 with a double and solo homerun.

The Thunder opened its 43rd season with a win in a morning game at the Santaluces Sports Complex against the Barnstormers (previously known as the Boca Yankees). 

Ethan Wilder (triple), Joey Hennessey (single, RBI), Mike DeLeeuw (single, RBI), Michael Jordan (single, RBI), and Kelsey Launi (single) picked up a hit each, and the Barnstormers committed three errors in the bottom of the first, which allowed the Thunder to jump out to an early 5-0 lead against starter Javier Lugo. 

The Thunder would add another run in the third thanks to an RBI sac bunt by Michael Jordan, another run in the sixth inning via an RBI single by Mike DeLeeuw, and their eighth and final run in the 7th thanks to the hustle of Michael Jordan as he scored after a dropped third strike and throw out to first base. 

Jack Palma started for the Thunder and earned his first win of the season. He tossed 3 2/3 innings, struck out five, allowed two hits, walked four, and gave up one unearned run. Joey Hennessey tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out four, Kody Gardere struck out three in his only inning pitched while giving up an unearned run, and Joe Ferro gave up two runs (one earned) over the last two innings as he struck out four batters.

Palma, Hennessey, Gardere, and Ferro struck out sixteen (16) batters, but also issued eight free passes.   

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Ethan Wilder went 2-3 with a single, triple, and run scored.