CHAMPIONSHIP

The Thunder run-ruled the Sugar Kings Sunday morning at the Santaluces Sports Complex in five innings, as the team won their 8th league championship.

Joey Hennessey started on the mound for the Thunder and tossed the first three innings. He struck out five, walked two, and allowed a hit and one unearned run. Anthony Auletta tossed a scoreless fourth inning, giving up two bloop hits, and Jack Palma finished the day with a 1-2-3 fifth inning. Hennessey earned the win in the shortened game. 

On offense, the team exploded for 18 hits, led 14-1 after the first three innings, and scored another run in the fifth for a 15-1 final. Veterans Mike Deleeuw, Joe Ferro, and Darren Hansen had three hits each. Deleeuw knocked in one run via three singles, Hansen knocked in three runs via two singles and a double, and game MVP winner Joe Ferro drove in six runs via a single, double, and triple. 

Willie Escala doubled and scored twice, Joey Hennessey drove in a run via two singles, and Franklin Garcia picked up an RBI and two singles. Michael "MJ" Jordan doubled in a run, Greg Nicholson had an RBI single, and Devin Blair picked up a single. 

The second-seed Sugar Kings fell one game short but had an excellent season, including a crazy extra inning win against the Caribe Stars in the playoffs. The Kings are again expected to be a force to be reckoned with in the Spring/Summer 2025 season. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Joe Ferro - 3-3 (single, double, triple), 6 RBI's, and 3 runs

The Thunder blanked the Beach Bums Sunday morning at the Santaluces Sports Complex and advanced to their 17th championship game next week against the Sugar Kings.

Joey Hennessey led off the second inning with a single and advanced to second base via a sacrifice bunt by Wisley Correa. Franklin Garcia then doubled home Hennessey and scored on a single by Joe Ferro. With a 2-0 lead in the third inning, Sam Schner singled, stole second base, then scored on a double by Hennessey. 

Cy Young winner Dylan Love kept the Bums in the game for the next four innings, until the Thunder pushed the game out of reach in the eighth. Veteran of the Year winner Greg Nicholson led off the inning with a single, Paul O'Connor was hit by a pitch, and Eric Gormley laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to advance Nicholson and O'Connor. Michael "MJ" Jordan blooped a single over the drawn-in infield, which scored Kody Gardere, who entered as a pinch runner for Nicholson. Jordan stole second base, and then Ethan Wilder clobbered a double to deep left-center field, which scored Gardere and Jordan, and knocked Love out of the game. The Thunder pushed one more run across in the ninth, as Joe Ferro ripped a triple and then scored on an RBI single by Kelsey Launi. 

Righty Joe Hennessey tossed the first three innings for the Thunder. He walked one, struck out two, and gave up his first hit of the season. Devin Blair earned the win by tossing the next five innings, striking out two while scattering three hits. Anthony Auletta walked one and struck out three in the 9th inning to preserve the shutout. 

The Thunder will attempt to win their 8th league championship next Sunday against a hungry Sugar Kings team. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Devin Blair - 5 scoreless innings for the win

The Thunder run-ruled the Heat Sunday afternoon in seven innings at Seminole Palms Park to guarantee the fourth and final seed of the upper bracket playoffs. 

In another bullpen game, Joey Hennessey (3 IP), Anthony Auletta (1 IP), Orsen "OJ" Josephina ( 2 IP), and Devin Blair (1 IP) combined pitching efforts and two-hit the Heat. Hennessey earned his second win, and the group punched out thirteen batters over seven innings. 

Hennessey (3 RBI), Keaton Ijams (RBI), Kelsey Launi (RBI), and Anthony Auletta (RBI) had three hits each, and Ethan Wilder (RBI), Franklin Garcia (RBI), Eric Gormley, Kody Gardere (RBI), and veteran Guy Bitchatcho picked up a hit each.  

The Thunder will take on the 1st place Beach Bums next Sunday in their playoff game, as the team seeks their eighth league championship. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Joey Hennessey - 3 IP, 5 K, Win, 3-3, 3 RBI, 2 R

The Thunder won their afternoon game against the Marlins 4-0, and the Hurricanes lost both games in their doubleheader, which allowed the T-Men to jump into fourth place. However, a win next week over the Heat is needed to solidify a spot in the upper-bracket playoffs.   

The Thunder had three of their five hits in the first inning and took advantage of two errors in the inning to jump out to a 4-0 lead. Unfortunately for the Marlins, that was all the team needed, as neither team did much offensively for the rest of the game. 

Joey Hennessey (3 IP), Jack Palma (3 IP), Kody Gardere (2 IP), and Anthony Auletta (1 IP) combined for the shutout, as they three-hit the Marlins. Hennessey was awarded the win in the bullpen game.

The offense was held to five hits, as Guy Bitchatcho, Mike DeLeeuw (RBI), Joey Hennessey (RBI), Greg Nicholson, and Kelsey Launi each singled. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Joey Hennessey - 3 IP, 5 K, Win, 1-3, RBI, Run

In a must-win game, the Thunder fell short at Dyer Park Sunday afternoon, losing to the Sugar Kings 3-1. The loss all but assuredly pushes the Thunder into the lower-bracket playoffs for the first time in years. 

The Thunder offense sputtered the worst it has, as the team struck out a season-high fifteen times while only picking up four hits. All singles by Erick Abreu, Roy Glaum, Mike DeLeeuw, and Joey Hennessey. However, the team did have chances but left the bases loaded in the 8th and the tying runs at second and third in the 9th. 

Jack Palma was unlucky in a bullpen game as he picked up his fourth loss of the season after giving up a two-run home run in the 7th. Anthony Auletta tossed an inning, striking out two, but he gave up an unearned run due to a walk, a single, and a double steal. Joey Hennessey struck out two over two scoreless innings, Devin Blair tossed a scoreless inning, and Brandon Kaminer struck out all three batters faced in his season debut.  

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Brandon Kaminer - struck out all three batters faced

The Thunder started the new year with a win Sunday afternoon at Dyer Park, as the team run-ruled the Astros after breaking out with eight runs in the 8th inning. 

Michael "MJ" Jordan led the attack with two triples, two RBI's, and two runs scored. Joe Ferro singled, doubled, and scored twice. Devin Blair clobbered a bases-clearing double, Keaton Ijams doubled, and Franklin Garcia, Greg Nicholson, David Galvin, and newcomer Alejandro DeArazoza picked up singles. 

Devin Blair, Jack Palma, Kody Gardere, and Joe Ferro handled the pitching for the Thunder. Blair tossed the first four as he struck out five and allowed two earned runs and two hits. Palma picked up the win throwing the next three, as the struck out three while giving up four hits. Gardere would have had a 1-2-3 inning, but an error kept him on the mound and he ended up picking up an injury. Ferro relieved Gardere and faced one batter to escape a bases-loaded jam. 

The Thunder have three games remaining, all must-wins, including a big matchup next Sunday against the first place Sugar Kings. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Michael "MJ" Jordan - 2 for 3, two triples, 2 RBI, 2 R

After giving up five runs in the top of the second via multiple errors, the Thunder straightened things out, battled back, and beat the Boca Yankees 12-7 Sunday afternoon in West Boynton Beach.

The offense exploded with twenty hits. Joey Hennessey led the way with four hits, including three singles and a mammoth two-run home run in the top of the 9th. Hennessey drove in four runs, scored three times, and pitched one inning of no-hit ball. Kelsey Launi singled three times and scored three times, Franklin Garcia singled twice, doubled, and scored twice, while Keation Ijams, Greg Nicholson, and Michael "MJ" Jordan picked up two hits each. Guy Bitchatcho, winning pitcher Devin Blair, and Kody Gardere each singled, and Mike DeLeeuw crushed a triple in the 6th. 

Joey Hennessey saw his first action of the season as he tossed a clean first inning. Devin Blair threw the next six innings for the win. Blair struck out five but was the victim of the team's defensive meltdown as he allowed six runs, three earned. Kody Gardere struck out one and walked one over the last two innings.  

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Joey Hennessey - 4-4, three singles, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R

The first-place Beach Bums easily handled a sluggish, unmotivated, and mistake-prone Thunder squad Sunday morning at the cozy confines of Dyer Park. The team will have to win-out and get help from other teams to have a chance to make the top playoff bracket.   

Mike DeLeeuw and Greg Nicholson doubled home a run, and Kelsey Launi, Eric Gormley, and Victor Ortiz singled. 

Joe Ferro, Jack Palma, and Devin Blair pitched for the Thunder. Ferro and Palma gave up eight hits and eight runs while walking six, and Blair tossed two scoreless innings while striking out two and giving up two hits. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: None

The Thunder won back-to-back games and improved to 4-2, beating the Blue Jays Sunday afternoon at Seminole Palms Park. 

Michael "MJ" Jordan led the offense again with three hits, three runs, and three stolen bases. Veteran Eric Gormley singled twice and drove in a run, and Darren Hansen, Franklin Garcia, Mike DeLeeuw, and Erick Abreu each singled, with Garcia and Abreu picking up RBIs. 

Erick Abreu tossed four innings to earn his first victory of the season. Abreu faced fifteen, allowed one hit, a walk, an unearned run, and struck out three. Darren Hansen, David Hansen, Anthony Auletta, and Ethan Wilder also saw work on the mound. 

The team is off next Sunday for Thanksgiving, as action resumes on 12/8 against the Beach Bums. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Michael "MJ" Jordan - three singles, three runs, three stolen bases

The Thunder outhit the D'Backs Sunday morning at Seminole Palms Park and pulled away late to pick up their 3rd win.

Michael "MJ" Jordan and Ethan Wilder each had two hits, scored two runs, and drove in a run while swiping three combined bags. Franklin Garcia singled a doubled home a run, Joe Ferro clobbered a double to drive in two, and Joey Hennessey smashed a triple in the 8th and picked up an RBI. David Hansen, Mike DeLeeuw, Greg Nicholson, and Jack Palma each singled, and Erick Abreu picked up an RBI via a groundout. 

Jack Palma, David Hansen, and Joe Ferro handled the pitching for the Thunder and struck out eleven D'Back hitters. Palma struck out five, walked three, and allowed four runs through 6 1/3 innings. David Hansen relieved Palma, struck out four, walked one, but allowed two runs to give up the lead. Luckily for Hansen, the Thunder took the lead in the bottom of the 8th, which gave him the win, as Joe Ferro tossed a scoreless 9th inning to pick up his first save of the year.  

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Michael "MJ" Jordan - single, double, 2 runs, 2 BB, RBI, 2 SB

A lack of hitting, a messy defense, and a wind-blown Dyer Park homerun special allowed the Stars to sneak past the Thunder Sunday morning. 

Aside from the two-run homerun by the Stars, this game had zero energy. In 8th place with a 2-2 record and eight games remaining, the Thunder must go on a winning spree if they hope to play in the upper-bracket playoffs. 

Kody Gardere, Keaton Ijams, Kyle Cole, Guy Bitchatcho, and Greg Nicholson each singled, with Bitchatcho and Gardere picking up RBIs. 

Gardere tossed the first four innings, Anthony Auletta tossed two, and Jack Palma threw the last two. The three pitchers struck out seven while walking three and allowing five hits. Palma picked up his second loss of the season. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Anthony Auletta - 2 IP, 4 K, 0 H, 0 ER

Kody Gardere earned his first win by tossing five innings, as he struck out three while allowing four hits and one unearned run. Devin Blair and Max Charnin made their season debuts, each throwing an inning as they began their return to the field. Joe Ferro tossed the last two innings, striking out four of six batters. 

The offense had fourteen (14) hits, with three players registering multi-hit games. Kelsey Launi singled twice and stole four bases, newcomer Ethan Wilder drove in two with a single and double, and Franklin Garcia (2 RBI) launched a solo homerun in the 4th inning. Eric Gormley, Mike DeLeeuw (2 RBI), and Roy Glaum each doubled, while Joe Ferro, Kody Gardere (2 RBI), Darren Hansen (RBI), David Galvin, and Guy Bitchatcho (RBI) singled. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Franklin Garcia - single, homerun, 2 RBI

Like last season's championship game, the Hurricanes and Thunder played after two weeks off due to rainouts. The result was eerily similar: The Hurricanes put up crooked numbers early and limited Thunder scoring en route to an easy victory. 

The Thunder's offense was active, with eleven hits, but they left ten men on base and the bases loaded twice. Greg Nicholson, Darren Hansen, and Mike DeLeeuw had two hits each, while Eric Gormley, Franklin Garcia, Kody Gardere, Keaton Ijams, and Roy Glaum each singled. 

Jack Palma (4K) started for the Thunder and threw the first three innings. Unfortunately for Palma, he worked behind in counts and left some pitches up, and the Hurricanes took full advantage as they banged out nine hits and eight runs, including a 3-run home run in the 3rd. Anthony Auletta (2 IP, 5K), Anthony Rodriguez (2 IP, 4K), Erick Abreu (1 IP, K), and Kody Gardere (1 IP, 2K) tossed scoreless innings after Palma, but the team was unable to climb back into the game. 

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Anthony Auletta - 2 innings pitched, 5 strikeouts

Back for their 42nd season (21 years), the Thunder started things on a good note. They outhit the Astros 10 to 4 and won their season opener 8-3. 

Greg Nicholson led the way with a single and a double, as he drove in two runs while scoring twice. Joe Ferro followed suit with two singles and two runs scored. Guy Bitchatcho, Matt Ziemak, Anthony Auletta, Kyle Cole, Keaton Ijams, and Kody Gardere each singled, with Cole and Ijams picking up RBIs. 

Kody Gardere tossed the first inning and threw well but was the victim of two errors that allowed a couple of runs to score. Anthony Auletta threw the 2nd and 3rd innings and struck out five of the six batters faced. Jack Palma pitched an inning and a third and was a bit rusty in his return to the mound, as he walked three and gave up a hit and run. Joe Ferro relieved Palma and threw the last 2 and 2/3 innings. Ferro faced eleven batters, walked two, struck out one, and allowed one hit. Auletta's dominant performance earned him his first win of the season.  

THUNDER STAR OF THE GAME: Greg Nicholson - single, double, 2 RBI, 2 Runs