BY GREG DEEG
Special to The Review
The Great Lakes ThunderCats started this baseball season right where they left off last year. The ‘Cats finished out the 2003 season winning championships in Grand Blanc and Canton.
Recently, in Battle Creek, the ‘Cats competed in The Spring Break Challenge, a USSSA (United States Specialty Sports Association) national qualifier. Eighteen teams competed in the two-day event, and once again the ThunderCats emerged as the champion.
During pool play, the ‘Cats cruised to mercy victories in three of their four games, dropping a 5-2 decision to the Southwest Michigan Cobras. Winning pitchers included Kolden Buehler, Joshua Deeg, and Christopher Lum, who combined, gave up less than one hit per game.
The club was led in scoring by Mike Wood and Billy Cribbs, who had three triples and four doubles. Defensive standouts were Cribbs, Matt LaMothe, and Buehler. Tyrel Taylor, Trey Larocque, LaMothe and Lum had multiple scores.
Over the event, the ‘Cats outscored their competition 52-10. The semi-final game found the ‘Cats, once again, down to the Cobras. The team would rally back and tie the score 4-4 in the second inning, and then open up the scoring in the fourth inning.
Brandon Riggsbee, Buehler and Lum combined efforts for the 12-4 victory. Playing solid defense for the ThunderCats were Andrew Harrison, David Pardun and Tyrel Taylor. Offensive contributors included Cribbs, Mike Wood and Taylor Phillips.
In the championship game, Lum and LaMothe combined on a two-hit shutout and victory over a strong Niles Knights Baseball Club.
Deeg at catcher gunned down would-be base stealers at will. Neither Larocque or Phillips let a ball hit the outfield grass.
Strong offensive showings came from Taylor, Buehler and Deeg, who drove in the winning run in three of the six tournament victories.
Missed, but not forgotten, is ThunderCat Brian Robinson, who currently competes with his high school team.
The rest of the summer, the Great Lakes ThunderCats will compete in the 14-year-old Division of the Midwest Super League, a total of nine weekend tournaments and one week-long tournament in Orlando, Florida.
The ‘Cats? schedule is posted on their team website at www.eteamz.com/gltcats.