The Great Lakes ThunderCats baseball team recently participated in the May Day Classic, the biggest baseball tournament starting each season, hosted by Wayne County Wolves baseball and sanctioned by the USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association) as a national qualifier.
Highly skilled teams from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and Michigan travel to attend this event. Multiple venues throughout Wayne County and Oakland County are filled to capacity.
The ThunderCats opened the tournament at Heritage Park in Westland against a tough Medina (OH) Athletics club. The Athletics are a perennial powerhouse team in Ohio, always having strong players up the middle.
The ‘Cats had an offensive flurry in the first inning, scoring five runs and knocking out the Atheltics? starter. In the process, the team lost starting center fielder and team leader Trey Larocque, when a foul ball came back and struck him. He will be out following surgery for 1-3 weeks.
Athletics? relief pitching shut down the ‘Cats? offense, striking out nine, as the Athletics got back into the mix as the game’s scoring increased to five runs.
The ‘Cats added two more and held out as time ran out, with pitchers Kolden Buehler and Chris Lum combining for a 7-5 win.
Game two found the ‘Cats facing the Macomb Township Dawgs. The Dawgs didn’t put up much of a fight, as ‘Cats starting pitcher Brandon Riggsbee confused the Dawg hitters with his wicked left-handed curveball.
The ‘Cats had 20 hits and 18 runs while cruising to an 18-0 victory. Offensive help came from Josh Deeg (4-4), Taylor Phillips (3-3) and Michael Wood, with a three-run homer. Riggsbee pitched all three innings, striking out eight.
Founders Park in Farmington was the site for game three between the ‘Cats and the Michigan Indians of Wixom, with both teams playing in the same Midwest Super League. Starting pitcher Matt LaMothe, in all four innings, struck out six.
Tyrel Taylor and Bill Cribbs contributed offensively for the ‘Cats, driving in two runs each in the 10-0 victory.
On May 9, the ‘Cats delivered a 14-1 victory against the Whitmer Panthers of Toledo, OH. Deeg, a starter, pitched two shut-out innings, as ‘Cats hitters put up nine runs, including a grand slam homer by Cribbs. Cribbs, playing catcher, also threw a base stealer to end the game.
In relief, Andy Harrison and David Pardun pitched and held on for the victory.
For the championship game, the team returned to Founders Park, facing the Security Dodgers.
‘Cats starter Lum held in the top of the first, and in the top of the second, the ‘Cats manufactured a run with speedster Pardun stealing home.
Lum pitched five and 1/3 innings, giving up two runs. The ‘Cats wore down the Dodger starter, giving up six runs. Taylor at third base and Deeg provided strong defense. Offensive standouts were Pardun and Phillips.
LaMothe came on to earn the save and the ‘Cats went on to win the championship game of the sixth annual May Day Classic, 8-2.
In the previous week, the team won the Clarkston Spring Tune-Up Tournament at Clintonville Park, without losing a game.
The May Day Tournament marks the fifth straight tournament victory. For more information on the team, visit www.eteamz.com/gltcats.