TBolts Outslug Braves in 10-7 Game Two Triumph
LORTON, JULY 11—Game Two of last night’s doubleheader between the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (10-21) and Metro SoCo Braves (13-15) proved to be a thrilling back-and-forth affair at South County High School. Unlike their 3-0 Game One victory, Game Two was only scheduled to go seven innings. However, it only lasted six due to lightning flashes that yielded an early end.
Since Assistant Coach Max “Skip” Eckert was out of town, three Thunderbolts players filled in as the first base caoch last night. Starting pitcher Branden Brown, reliever Michael Preske, and infielder Nolan Kutney all took turns guiding their teammates on the base paths. For Preske, he humorously described the experience as a “one-time thing.”
Right-hander Griffin Roussell (Point Park) made his fifth start of the summer for Silver Spring-Takoma. Roussell threw three and one-third innings, allowed six hits, struck out two, and issued six walks. For Metro SoCo, Caleb Rist (Carson-Newman) made his first start after four previous relief appearances. The righty tossed two and one-third innings, allowed four hits, struck out two and issued three walks.
The Thunderbolts reached base five straight times to begin the game, and Trent Lopez (Cornell) drew a walk to plate the first run. After loading the bases, Metro SoCo responded with a sac fly from Aiden Simoneau (Marymount) to square things up at 1-1 after one.
In the second, Thunderbolts catcher Kai Schmelzer (Gulf Coast State College) and Braves outfielder Julian Lemper-Turkisher (Wagner) both exchanged doubles—Schmelzer’s was sent to left field, while Lemper-Turkisher’s headed to right— to tie it at 2-2.
In the top of the third, Lopez lashed a high fly ball that carried for over six seconds in the air, and it finally dropped over the left-field fence for a two-run homer. Lopez now has three homers on the season, which is tied with Gabe Pegues (Lynchburg)—who went yard in their Game One win—for the most by a TBolt in 2026. In the bottom half, a Braves run scored after a failed pickoff attempt at second scattered into the outfield; the lead was now chopped down to 4-3.
In the fourth inning, center-fielder Gabe Pegues made a lightning-quick solo trip around the base paths. His journey began when he legged out an infield single that was chopped to third. Metro SoCo tried to pick off Pegues heading to second for a steal, but their throw from first to second was too late for the speedy All-Star. Pegues then bolted for third, and watched as the throw-out attempt trickled into deep foul territory. After this wild throw, Pegues trotted home easily to put the TBolts up 5-3.
The excitement for Silver Spring-Takoma squandered in the bottom half, as shortstop Robert Kelly (Monmouth) rocked a two-RBI double to left, and right-fielder Joey Swekosky (Marymount) cashed in with an RBI single. With these clutch hits, the Braves retook a 6-5 lead.
In the top of the fifth, the script flipped once more in favor of the TBolts. Following in Lopez’s pursuit, right-fielder Marco Pulizzi (Millersville) punished a two-run homer over the left-canter field fence. Matthew Kim (Hampden-Sydney) then came through with a bases-loaded walk, and the TBolts held an 8-6 advantage.
The Braves loaded the bags promptly in the fifth in an attempt to come back once more. After his gold glove caliber snag on Friday, TBolts first baseman Connor Frickey (Babson) flashed the leather again last night. With one out in the fifth, Chip Krese (Stevens Tech) hit a fly ball into foul territory, and Frickey went dashing to his right to make a dazzling diving grab. After his poised catch, a run scored off the sac fly to make it 8-7.
In the sixth, second baseman Aydin Prell (Dickinson) and Schmelzer both scorched left-field singles to add insurance runs. Lightning was eventually seen looming in the night sky, and the game was officially called after six innings. Instead of entering a 30 minute lightning delay, both coaches agreed to book it as a complete game. Thus, the Thunderbolts came out on top 10-7 for their 10th total win, and third consecutive victory. This is the longest win streak Silver Spring-Takoma have had all season.
In total, the TBolts rallied for eight hits, drew nine walks, and hammered three extra-base hits. Overall, Head Coach Brock Hunter is happy with the production he got out of his players last night.
“The offense did a good job just making stuff happen every inning and pitchers just limiting damage. That first inning, Griffin had the bases loaded, no outs. We got out of it with one run. Connor made that good play in the fifth inning where we only let one go across on that pop-up. But, yeah, we’re just making pitches when we need to make pitches.”
Kai Schmelzer had a dominant day at the dish, going 2-3 with a double, two RBIs, and a walk. The catcher has been dominant on the defensive side all summer, and broke through for a starry offensive showing.
“I’ve had a lot of work with all the guys who have been giving me advice all year,” Schmelzer said after the game. “I was just glad to have some productive at bats and come through for the guys.”
The Thunderbolts will look to carry this doubleheader sweep into tonight’s game with the Gaithersburg Giants at Criswell Automotive Field.