The Thunderbirds couldn’t get anything going Thursday night at Reverchon Park falling to the Dallas Cardinals 12-2. Bodie Wilson battled all game on the mound, but was the pitcher of record. The bats didn’t help him much this night only scraping across 2 late game runs. The team scattered 7 hits on the night with Justin Toona leading the way with 2. The Thunderbirds look to bounce back next week against the Astros at McInnish.

Brad Bode led the late offensive surge Thursday night at McInnish Park where the Thunderbirds rallied to beat the Royals 6-4. Brent Smerczynski picked up the win on the mound throwing 3 shoutout innings of relief while notching 4 strikeouts. Greg Shiro started for the Thunderbirds throwing 4 innings of 4 hit baseball. Shiro’s line on the night: ND- 4IP , 4 hits, 4 runs, 4 walks, 2 hit by pitch and 2 K’s

Trailing 4-0 heading into the top of the 5th, Bode led the inning off with a single, moved to 3rd on an error by the Royals 3rd basemen and scored on a Jeff Whanger sac fly to center. The Thunderbirds scored 4 in the 6th to take the lead. Greg Anderson defied father time and all rules of physics by smoking a leadoff double to the base of the fence. Brad Petty laced a single putting runners at the corners. Anderson scored on an error by the Royal 2nd baseman allowing Jody Nicewonger to reach base. Fabian Mendive laced an rbi single to cut the lead 4-3 with 2 outs. That set the stage for Bode, where he promply ripped a 2 run triple to the fence in left center giving the Thunderbirds the lead for good. Phil Luna added a much needed insurance run in the top of the 7th when he drove in Whanger with a hot shot single up the middle. Whanger had just crushed a ball to to fence for a stand up double before Luna’s hit took the wind out of the Royal’s sails.

Thunderbirds collecting hits: Smerczynski, Mendive, Bode, Whanger, Luna, Anderson and Petty.

The 4-0 Thunderbirds take on the Spirits next week 5/3

Timely hitting and solid defense help the Thunderbirds run their record to 3-0 while beating a tough Modoc team for the first time since Satchel Paige pitched at Reverchon. Bodie Wilson threw six innings of stellar baseball to earn the win for the Thunderbirds giving up 5 runs on 7 hits while racking up 6 strikeouts. Brent Smerczynski led the team at the plate going 2 for 3 with a double, 2 runs batted in and a run scored.

After falling behind 2-0 heading into the 5th inning, Wilson led the inning off with a single followed by an RBI double that was smoked down the left field line by Brad Bode and with 2 down, Jeff Whanger laced a clutch 2 out, game tying single.

Modoc quickly came out and put 3 more runs up in the bottom half of the frame to regain the lead. With their backs against the wall and heading into their last at bat, Greg Shiro started off an epic comeback by getting on base via error. Fabian Mendive and Daniel Bailey followed with walks to load the bases. With 1 out in the inning, Smerczynski roped a 2 run double to right center to cut the Modoc lead to 5-4 scoring Shiro and Mendive. A wild pitch scored Bailey to tie the game and a with infield in Wilson smoked a ball to short scoring Smerczynski and giving the Thunderbirds the 6-5 lead.

Wilson then promptly slammed the door in the bottom of the inning by registering 2 of 6 K’s on the night and Mendive snared a line drive at 3rd to end the game.

Thunderbirds registering hits on the night include: Brian Synatzske, Smerczynski, Wilson, Bode, Whanger and Nathan Larmon .

Next game is 4/26 at McInnish #10 against the Royals

Offense was the key word early for the Thunderbirds as they score all 11 runs in the first 2 innings then hold on after a late charge by the Knights to win 11-10 Thursday night at Carpenter Park in Plano.
Greg Shiro picked up the win on the mound. going 4 + innings giving up 8 runs and striking out 5 Knights. Phil Luna and Fabian Mendive combined to pitch the 6th and Bodie Wilson picked up the save with perfect 6th inning! Mendive was the man at the plate for the Thunderbirds going 3- 3 with 2 doubles (one of which would have landed in Oak Cliff had the wind not been blowing in from left 80+mph) , 3 RBIs and a run scored followed by Brian Synatzske going 2-3 with 2 runs scored.

The Thunderbirds came out of the gates quick again scoring 4 in the 1st and 7 in the 2nd inning. Wilson, Brad Bode and Mendive had run scoring singles in the first while Synatzske, Brent Smerczynski, Mendive, Justin Toone and Daniel Bailey tallied RBI hits in the 2nd. Jody Nicewonger, Jack Sanders and Nathan Larmen also collected hits on the night for the Thunderbirds. The Knights didnt quit all night, but each time they made a hard charge to get back in the game or take the lead, Greg Shiro buckled down and got the job done for the well deserved win.

The win takes the Thunderbirds to 2-0 with a showdown with the defending Champion Modoc slated 4/19 at Reverchon Park.

The old guard “Brewers” opened the season Thursday night under their new identity…. The Thunderbirds and flew to a 10-5 win to open the season over the Dodgers and a few of their familiar faces at Reverchon Park.

Brent Smerczynski picked up the win for the Thunderbirds going 5 innings giving up 5 runs while tallying 5 strikeouts. Bodie Wilson and Brad Bode led the offense each collecting 2 hits apiece. The Thunderbirds dropped an 8-spot in the top of the first to set the tone early with 8 of the first nine batters coming around to score. Brian Synatzske, Brent Smerczynski, Wilson, Bode, Fabian Mendive and Daniel Bailey all collected hits for the Thunderbirds.

The Thunderbirds look to go 2-0 when they face the Knights 4/12 at Carpenter Park in Plano.