Tournament News

The Thunder finished with 3-1 record in the Firecracker Classic on July 3-4.  Oakland Thunder beat the Michigan Thunder 9-1, beat the Macomb Wildcats 9-1, lost to the S.F. Blues 11-4, and beat the Markham Mariners 8-3. The team compiled 38 hits for the weekend and took 5th place out of 18 teams in the tournament.  Great job Thunder!!!

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Another tournament success to report for the Oakland Thunder.  The Thunder finished in second place at the South Farmington Blues 14U Invitational on 6/20-6/21.  The team triumphed in two one-run games to reach the finals where the Thunder lost to the Canton Vipers 8-2 for a second place finish. 

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The Oakland Thunder were crowned champions of the CABA Wolves Challenge Tournament held on 5/30-5/31.  With a combination of solid pitching and defense, along with some impressive hitting, the Thunder won their first tournament of the year.  

The Thunder beat the BC Hawks 8-4 in the first game and beat MSA Silver in the second game in an exciting 6-5 victory.  The Thunder dominated Blissfield Baseball in the final by a score 13-1 to claim the tournament championship! 

Congratulations to all the players!!!  Keep working hard to be your best!  

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Members of this year's team were selected not only based upon try-outs and evaluations, but for their attitude, sportsmanship, and love and desire to play the game of baseball. A winning combination in all respects.

Our goal is to teach these young men the fundamentals of the game of baseball so that they will be prepared to play to the best of each of their own abilities and as a team.  In addition, we hope to help them learn life lessons that competitive sports can instill to help them achieve their desired goals later in life in their studies, business life, and athletically.

The Thunder are coached this year by Rob Waldron, Mike Mackie, and John Ludwick. 

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The 2009 Thunder team members are as follows:  EVAN BRUNT, ANTHONY DIPONIO, ALEX ELENBAAS, DREW LUDWICK, MICHAEL MACKIE, CHRIS MONER, KEVIN PENNY, JON PIERRET, CULLEN PRENA, JACOB ROLLINGER, ERIC ROSTECK, MATTHEW ROSTECK, ERIC WALDRON.

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Inspirational Quotes (offered by players and coaches at each practice)

Most games are lost, not won - Casey Stengel (Coach Waldron)

Each strike brings you one pitch closer to your next home run - Babe Ruth (Anthony Di Ponio)

You have to be mental to play baseball - Yogi Berra (Michael Mackie)

There are no traffic jams on the extra mile- Unknown (Chris Moner)

You are never a loser until you quit trying - Mike Ditka (Coach Waldron)

Finding fault is like washing windows; the dirt is always on the other side - Unknown (Jacob Rollinger)

Success is just an effort away - Unknown (Drew Ludwick)

Don't worry about losing; focus on winning - Unknown (Eric Waldron)

My motto was always to keep swinging. Whether I was in a slump or feeling badly or having trouble off the field, the only thing to do was keep swinging - Hank Aaron (Coach Waldron)

You find that you have peace of mind and can enjoy yourself, get more sleep, rest when you know that it was a 100% effort that you gave-win or lose - Gordie Howe (Coach Waldron)

I've always made a total effort, even when odds seemed entirely against me.  I never quit trying.  I never felt that I didn't have a chance to win - Arnold Palmer (Coach Waldron)

If your aren't going all the way, why go at all? - Joe Namath (Evan Brunt) 

GO THUNDER!!!