Greenville Thunder baseball teams open season play

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GREENVILLE – Baseball got underway Wednesday night at Greenville’s Sater Park with the Greenville Thunder varsity team taking on the Thunder junior varsity squad in exibition play.

With the cancellation of the American Legion season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Legion teams will continue to play under different names for the 2020 season.

“Instead of Junior Legion and Senior Legion we are just going by Greenville Thunder this year,” said Greenville American Legion Post 140 varsity coach Chad Henry. “Obviously we are still playing with the same morals, the same ethics as American Legion Baseball – that is what we are founded upon.”

Following a late afternoon downpour, the field was readied for play under sunny skies and strong winds before appreciative family, friends and fans.

“We made a lot better contact than I thought we would,” said varsity Chad Henry. “The pitching was a little bit behind. We’ve been throwing but we havent competed against live hitters.”

“I was surprised with the hitting,” Henry continued. “I was really impressed with our baserunning. Defense on the upper team – they played well. They did what you would think and older team would do.”

“The kids were a little rusty but that was to be expected with missing the whole spring season,” said Thunder JV coach Austin Baumgardner, “ but definitey some talent. We have some depth and I am really looking forward to the rest of the summer with them.”

“The younger team, the wind got to them a little bit but you are going to have that when they are freshmen and sophomores out there,” added Coach Henry.

The senior Thunder squad defeated the younger junior varisty team by a 15-5 scored in regulation play.

“The younger team, the wind got to them a little bit but,” said Coach Henry. “You are going to have that when they are freshmen and sophomores out there.”

“The younger guys that don’t have the experience, the wind and then the sun for the first baseman and the right fielder – it was tough to deal with,” Baumgardner noted.

Coach Henry begins his third season at the helm of the Post 140 team, a team that continues to shine made up of some of the area’s best baseball talent.

The senior Thunder team travels to Troy to play in the Miami Valley Veterans Appreciation Tournament this Friday, Saturday and Sunday, June 12,13 and 14 at Troy’s Duke Park while the junior Thunder team hosts the Dayton Classics at Sater Heights Park, Saturday with an 11 a.m. game vs the 16U team and a 1 p.m. game with the Classic’s 17U team.

Sater Heights Park will have baseball each night next week beginning Monday (June15) with the Junior Thunder hosting the Dayton Classics 17U team with a 6:30 p.m. start time.

The Senior Thunder team will be home for four consecutive nights of baseball with all games starting at 7 p.m.

Tuesday (June 16) vs. Troy Legends

Wednesday (June 17) vs. Piqua

Thursday (June 18) vs. Dayton Classics 18U

Friday (June 19) vs. NW Ohio Naturals

“From here on it is the real thing so it will be fun,” said junior coach Austin Baumgardner. “Definitely looking forward to seeing the prgression. That is the big thing with summer ball especially missing spring ball for them.”

“The next ones are going to count,” Coach Henry concluded. “We are going to head to Troy this weekend and play five of them and the junior team is going to have the Dayton Classics coming in. That is one of the premier progams in the area so they are going to have five games with them.”

A.J. Shaffer takes a turn at the plate for the Thunder junior team.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_g-A.J.-Shaffer.jpgA.J. Shaffer takes a turn at the plate for the Thunder junior team.

Greenville Thunder senior team coach, Chad Henry (L) and Thunder junior coach, Austin Baumgardner talk during innings of their teams exhibition game.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_h-Coaches.jpgGreenville Thunder senior team coach, Chad Henry (L) and Thunder junior coach, Austin Baumgardner talk during innings of their teams exhibition game.

Tytan Grote catches for the Greenville Thunder senior team in Wednesday night action.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_i-Tytan-Grote.jpgTytan Grote catches for the Greenville Thunder senior team in Wednesday night action.

The 2020 Greenville Thunder senior team opens season play.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_a-team.jpgThe 2020 Greenville Thunder senior team opens season play. Gaylen Blosser | DarkeCountyMedia.com

Alec Fletcher makes a safe slide at third for the senior Thunder team.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_b-Alec-Fletcher-slide.jpgAlec Fletcher makes a safe slide at third for the senior Thunder team. Gaylen Blosser | DarkeCountyMedia.com

Hayden Bush pitches for the Thunder junior squad in Wednesday night action.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_c-Hayden-Bush.jpgHayden Bush pitches for the Thunder junior squad in Wednesday night action. Gaylen Blosser | DarkeCountyMedia.com

Grant Delk makes a putout at first for the senior Thunder team.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_d-Grant-Delk.jpgGrant Delk makes a putout at first for the senior Thunder team. Gaylen Blosser | DarkeCountyMedia.com

Zac Longfellow steps in at the plate for the Thunder senior squad in exhibition play.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_e-Zac-Longfellow.jpgZac Longfellow steps in at the plate for the Thunder senior squad in exhibition play. Gaylen Blosser | DarkeCountyMedia.com

Tyler Beyke takes the mound for the Greenville Thunder senior team.
https://www.dailyadvocate.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/web1_f-Tyler-Beyke-1.jpgTyler Beyke takes the mound for the Greenville Thunder senior team. Gaylen Blosser | DarkeCountyMedia.com

By Gaylen Blosser

DarkeCountyMedia.com

Contact Darke County Media Sports Editor Gaylen Blosser at [email protected] or 937-548-3330

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