TBolts Get Another Chance Against Gaithersburg Tonight at Blair
SILVER SPRING, JUNE 17—The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (2-8) will face the Gaithersburg Giants (7-4) at Blair Baseball Stadium tonight at 7 P.M. In their two previous matchups this summer, the TBolts had a tough time taking down the Giants. They lost 20-8 on June 3 at home, which was followed by a 10-3 loss on June 9 at Criswell Automotive Field.
The Thunderbolts are coming off a heartbreaking 7-6 loss last night against the Southern Maryland Senators, who hit a walk-off solo homer to win it in Waldorf. Gaithersburg is riding a two-game win streak, and defeated the Metro SoCo Braves 10-8 yesterday on the road.
Brady Grimes (Jr., Millersville) will officially make his second start of the summer on the mound. On June 11, Grimes’ prolific performance was cut short against the Bethesda Big Train. Through four innings, he struck out five Big Train batters and allowed just one earned run. However, this game was postponed due to stormy weather, which means these statistics are not yet cemented.
Grimes and the pitching staff will have to keep an eye out for a few dangerous Giants hitters. Third baseman Ayden Phillips (So., Jacksonville) currently has a six-game hitting streak, and is batting .457 with 14 RBI’s on the season. Shortstop Cole McKenna (So., Old Dominion) is batting .364 with 6 RBIs, and has notably been killing it on the base paths. McKenna’s seven stolen bases is tied for the Ripken League lead.
Gaithersburg has perhaps the most poised pitching in all of the Ripken League. The pitching staff have surrendered the least earned runs (53), and the least amount of hits (76). They also have the lowest team WHIP at 1.67. Last night, Trent Lopez (So., Cornell) authored a monster performance after going 2-3 with two two home runs and 5 RBIs. Lopez and the TBolts will have to do a similar type of offensive damage if they want to slay the Giants for the first time this summer.
First pitch is set for 7 P.M. at Blair Baseball Stadium. Additionally, Peter Kelly and Brian Alves will be broadcasting this game on the Thunderbolts YouTube Channel.