TBolts Look to Scorch Cropdusters Tonight in Olney
OLNEY, JULY 15—The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (11-22) are currently riding their hottest winning streak of the summer. The TBolts have won four of their last five games, and look to carry their hot hitting into tonight’s toil with the Olney Cropdusters (21-11).
The Thunderbolts have yet to bring a storm strong enough to weather the Cropdusters this season. Olney is a perfect 6-0 against Silver Spring-Takoma, and they are 3-0 at First Responder Field. In their six contests, the Cropdusters have outscored the TBolts by a combined 53 runs.
These two teams last met on July 6 in a game that ended after seven innings due to inclement weather. The Thunderbolts had dry production all around, and the Cropdusters won it 11-3. The TBolts had just four hits, committed three errors, and four different pitchers conceded runs. Cropdusters second baseman Patrick Gozdan (West Chester) had three RBIs in that game, including a solo home run in the first inning.
Olney’s pitching staff currently hold the lowest team ERA (5.21) in the Ripken League and have allowed the least amount of hits (232). While they have done wonders all season, they have recently hit a road block. Over their last three games, the Cropdusters conceded a combined 32 runs to their opponents; they went 1-2 in that stretch.
The Thunderbolts have amassed an average of nine hits, eight walks, and eight runs in their past five games. The offense has been clicking on all cylinders, and that will be key to take down a dominant Olney defense.
Limiting defensive miscues will also be crucial for the TBolts. In their 15-8 loss to Gaithersburg on Sunday, the TBolts made silly mistakes such as balks, wild throws, and errors that allowed ticky-tack runs to score. Behind beautiful infield defense, the Thunderbolts avoided those mistakes en route to a 9-5 win over Alexandria last night.
First pitch tonight is scheduled for 6 P.M. at First Responder Field. Patrick Moran and Peter Kelly will bring you the call on the Thunderbolts YouTube Channel.