The NTX Thunderbirds dropped a late inning heartbreaker to the Oak Cliff Pelicans 6-3 Thursday night to drop to 2-2-1 on the season.

Sean House started on the mound for the birds going 2 1/3 innings while collecting 3 Ks. Brent Smerczynski came on in relief in the 3rd and finished the game out, suffering the loss and falling to 1-2-1 on the year. After falling behind 1-0 in the first, the birds tied the game in the top of the third. House singled, then Smerczynski ran for him, stole 2nd, then scored after a wild pitch and an errant throw.
Again falling behind 2-1, the Thunderbirds scored 2 in the 4th to take a 3-2 lead. After reaching base on a fielder’s choice, John Menth scored on a Dustin Harrison line drive to right center. Harrison would come around to score on a wild pitch. The Pelicans tied the game at 3 in the bottom of the inning on a flare to center. In the bottom of the 5th the Pelicans sealed the game and against the birds. After a flare to center the fell in and an end of the bat infield hit, the Pelicans pitcher and 2-hole hitter laced a well-timed 3 run shot just inside the left field foul pole. A scoreless top of the 6th ended the night for the birds.
At the plate, the birds only mustered 5 hits led by Carroll (3 SB), Harrison, Ryan Karonka, Don Massoud and House.

Following a tie and a loss, the Thunderbirds look to get back in the win column next week against the Dodgers in a 6:45pm contest at First Baptist Academy in Dallas.

Your NTX Thunderbirds battled all night against an always tough Modoc team Thursday night and ended in a 3-3 tie.

The game was a pitchers duel all evening with both starters matching each other throughout the contest. Brent Smerczynski threw his 2nd complete game of the early season surrendering 2 earned runs on 8 hits while notching 7 strikeouts.

The birds jumped out to an early lead when Bo Vaculik led the game off with a double and later scored an an John Menth single. Modoc tied the game in the 2nd inning on a single and three passed balls. The two starters traded zeroes until the bottom of the 6th when Rob Carrol reached on a 1-out single, stole second and was driven in on Menth’s 2nd hit of the night. He would later score on a Sean House line drive single to right center.

The resilient Modoc squad battle back to tie the game in the 7th on a 2 out , 2 run single and that’s where it ended.

Other thunderbirds collecting hits on the night included Dustin Harrison, Ryan Karonka and Jody Nicewonger.

The Thunderbirds return to action next Thursday for an 8:45pm contest against the Dallas Mustangs at Reverchon Park.

Your NTX Thunderbirds used a trio of pitchers and hits up and down the lineup to drill the Dallas Mustangs 10-2 Thursday night at McInnish park to move to 2-0 on the season.

John Ward got the win on the mound for the birds going 2 innings giving up 1 hit and grabbing 2 Ks. Dustin Harrison relieved Ward going 2 innings, giving up 2 runs and grabbing a K and Ron Short closed out the game going 2 innings while not giving up a run.

The birds offense got going in the first inning scoring 2 runs . Rob Carrol led off with a hit by pitch, John Menth walked, Brad Bode reached on an error to load the bases with no outs. Harrison then singled to left, followed by a Brent Smerczynski sac fly error to make it 2-0.

After another shutdown inning by Ward, the Birds erupted for 7 runs in the 2nd to essentially put the game away early. Ryan Karonka led off with a single, followed by a Jeff Whanger walk, an RBI single by Short, singles by Jody Nicewonger and Menth, RBI singles by Bode and Harrison , a sac fly by Don Massoud, walks by Smerczynski and Sean House and a run scoring hit by pitch by Bo Vaculik.

Nicewonger added another single in the 4th and Vaculik added a triple in the 5th to lead the Thunderbird offense with 2 hits apiece.

Your NTX Thunderbirds are idle next week, but return to action Thursday May 20th hosting the Oak Cliff Pelicans at Prestonwood for a 9pm contest.

Your NTX Thunderbirds welcomed some new and old faces alike to the team last Thursday night to open the 2021 season. A walk-off error led the Thunderbirds past the Dodgers 4-3 . The game was tied at three with the Thunderbirds batting in the bottom of the sixth when an error on a a fielders choices allowed the winning run to cross the plate.

The Dodgers fired up the offense in the first inning , scoring 2 runs and tacking on another in the third. The Tbirds battled back all night scoring lone runs in the first and third before tying the game in the 5th and walking off in the 6th

Brent Smerczynski was the winning pitcher for Thunderbirds The lefty tossed a complete game , allowing five hits and three runs while striking out seven.

Rob Carroll, Bodie Wilson, Dustin Harrison, and Ryan Karonka all had one hit to lead Thunderbirds offense. The Thunderbird defense was sure-handed in the field. They didn’t commit a single error.

The birds return to action this Thursday the 29th to take on the 3 time defending champion Modoc for a 6:30 pm contest at Reverchon Park.

With a week remaining before the kick off the 2021 season, your NTX Thunderbirds took a moment and gathered together Thursday night to celebrate the 2020 season at The Truckyard in The Colony.
It was a great night had by all where a few awards were given out to deserving members for their performance last season:

• Batting Champion:* Rob Carroll
• Pitcher of the Year:* Brent Smerczynski
• Team MVP: Brad Bode
• Defensive Player of the Year: John Menth
• Thunderbird Award: Brian Synatzske

The returning group of ballplayers and new additions to the Thunderbird family look forward to getting back on the field next week and seeing everyone again for what we hope to be a successful 2021 campaign.