Thunder teams aim to strike in Hershey

Whig-Standard Article July 2nd, 2011
by Doug Graham

Two Kingston Thunder minor baseball clubs are in Hershey, Pa., this weekend with different objectives on the diamond.

The minor bantams, under the coaching off Matt Steele, seek to continue their winning ways, which began back on June 4.

Steele's 14-year-old age group has won 12 straight, including a 5-0 record and a tournament title at its home field, Woodbine Park, last month.

The major bantams, also winners of their division at the Thunder tournament, are seeking consistency.

"It's extremely frustrating. You don't want the ups and downs, you want a consistent level and we haven't found that as a team," said coach Randy Casford.

He said the tournament comes at a perfect time, following some heart-to-heart talks the coaches have had with players and parents.

"We had a group meeting. I think we are under-achieving a bit. We have to take the game a little more seriously. Their actions aren't showing that," Casford said.

"If you are thinking your are going to be a ball player, that you are going to play at higher levels, then it starts with being more focused and practising harder."

The Thunder began play Friday in the under-15 division at Hershey. Casford is expecting some very tough opposition. He isn't looking for victories as much as a sign the players are going to come play with more of a purpose over the balance of the summer season.

"It is going to be a great eye-opener for the guys. They're going to see how good teams play, how they work at it," Casford said.

"It is good timing for the group as a team. This tournament will make or break us for the rest of the season. And I am not talking about whether we win (at Hershey) or not," he said.

"It will be about how they act, how they conduct themselves. Focus on the game and be all thinking baseball," he added.

"Read the pitcher. See how (his pickoff move) is and what he throws in certain spots. All the little stuff that adds up to making true ball player."

Casford considers Dexter Coughtrey, Connor Burns and Mitchell Knight, all right-handers, as his prime starters. He has another four "in progress."

Casford does not want to see the yo-yo performance the club had in its most recent Eastern Ontario Baseball Association outing. The Thunder mercied Ajax in one game and then went out in the second game and lost "like we weren't the same team," Casford said.

"This is (the) 15-year-old age group and they are going through different things. When it is baseball, we want them to stay focused and stay together," Casford said.

"We are going to demand (that) from here on in. If they don't want to step up to the plate (staying focused and together), they won't be playing."

It is a different story for the minor bantams, who have compiled a 14-2 mark heading to the Hershey tournament.

Other than a rough stretch with the rain in May which saw the team rained out in five straight games, the Thunder have been playing solid baseball.

"Our hitting has been very good. We have 15 guys on the team and they have all been pounding the ball," Steele said.

Pitchers Cater Hoffman (4-0) and Ryan Bothwell (3-0) lead a strong staff. Steele said he can count on 11 different throwers.

"We've got lots of pitching. I'm blessed that way," Steele said.

Five of the minor bantams are players that graduated from the Little League zone championship team that went to the Ontario finals in Thunder Bay last fall. Those five -- Ken Allan, Logan Chartrand, Luke Webb, Wyatt Crampton and Tom McCabe -- come from last year's major peewee Thunder team.

Aaron Luchuk, who pitches and catches, played both peewee and minor bantam last year. He is a threat on the field and at the plate. Ben Cross has logged the second-most innings pitched behind Hoffman.

Steele is waiting to see how the Thunder perform at the Hershey tournament before deciding on what Ontario Baseball Association the team will play at in the play-downs for the provincial championship.

"We will decide (either double-A or triple-A) by Wednesday. We're pretty strong, though, so I think maybe triple-A," Steele said.

The Thunder have a 7-2 record in EOBA play. The Clarington Orioles are at the top at 9-1. The Thunder and Orioles have yet to play each other. All four of their games come up near the end of the EOBA schedule.

AROUND THE DIAMOND

Pat Robb and Jim Hunt, coaches for the Thunder peewees, will be handling the fall EOBA peewee travel team. Hunt and Robb coached the successful Kingston Colts Little League team last year before taking over the EOBA peewee entry for the Thunder. The team is 4-10 for the season, sitting in the second tier of the 10-team standings. A strong Whitby Chiefs team is 16-1 and the Oshawa Legionaires are 11-1. ... At the midget EOBA level, the Kingston Braves, after losing several close games, finally got their first win of the season against Whitby. The Braves, coached by former Kingston Ponies skipper Steve Vallier, are 1-8 but only a couple of wins out of sixth place.