BOLTS PROVIDE THE THUNDER AT POVICH IN THE ALL-STAR GAME
BETHESDA, JULY 7- All-Star Day at Shirley Povich field was filled with good vibes and positivity. The Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League’s best showcased their talent on the biggest stage of the summer and appreciated the success they had seen so far.
The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts representatives matched the moment, arguably being the top performers in the game for the Ripken League All-Stars.
Centerfielder Gabe Pegues (So., U of Lynchburg) had absolutely earned the opportunity to be on the roster, hitting .284 with two home runs, 16 RBIs, 30 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.
Those 15 steals are currently tied for third in the Ripken League, and while being in the top of the lineup consistently he’s always scoring. It is truly a five tool game if you add on the fact he is the captain of the outfield.
On the mound, T-Bolts’ ace Christian Dray (So., U of Richmond) filled out the pitching staff for the Ripken League All Stars. Dray has been fantastic so far in four starts, posting a 1.17 ERA in 15.1 innings pitched with a 1.37 WHIP and 20 strikeouts.
Dray currently holds the third lowest ERA in the league, and his last outing against the D.C. Grays alone likely got him a spot on the all-star team. On June 30, he tossed four innings while allowing four hits and striking out eight.
The two shined in the first half of the season for the T-Bolts, and they came ready to go against the Valley League all-stars.
Pegues was given the nod to start at his everyday position and hit seventh. He looked the part, legging out an infield single and plating the Ripken League’s first run in the bottom of the second. It tied the game 1-1 in response to the Valley League’s run in the top half of the inning.
That same inning, Pegues scored on a double, extending the Ripken League’s lead to 2-1. He got his second at-bat in the bottom of the fourth, where he barreled a single up the middle and stole second base shortly after. Even though he didn’t see much action in the field, Pegues was done after the first half of the game with very successful results.
It wouldn’t be long before Dray entered the game, and he did so in the middle of a Valley League four-run barrage. Of course, the Doctor was surgical, and picked up a strikeout which ended the rally then and there in two hitters faced.
Dray came back out for the top of the seventh, and registered another strikeout before getting pulled. The right hander finished with one inning of work, one walk, one hit, and two strikeouts.
Despite a 12-3 loss to the Valley League, Pegues and Dray didn’t disappoint.
Pegues reflected on the experience well, calling it “a blessing.” “I’m grateful to be out here with Christian and competing for the T-Bolts. I’m glad I could go out there and perform well and showcase how the T-Bolts play and have fun,” he said.
“It felt great, I’m used to coming out of the [bull]pen, that’s what I do at Richmond,” Dray said after the dust had settled. “Like Gabe said, it’s definitely a blessing to be able to play here and meet all of these other talented players and coaches. I had a lot of fun.”
Head Coach Brock Hunter, who was on the coaching staff for the Ripken League All-Stars, was proud of the two and how well they did.
“They definitely showed out,” he said. “Gabe got to show his speed in that first hit [by] beating it out. As soon as he hit it, I was like ‘he’s there’, and it was awesome to see.
On the other side of the ball, “Dray was just Dray, showing that he’s got a good changeup, curveball, and fastball,” Hunter said.
Safe to say, the T-Bolts left their mark on this game. Pegues and Dray stayed true to themselves, and it paid off with two excellent performances. They’ll look to continue prolific summers in the second half of the season.