GAME 2

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.