Grays cruise past Thunderbolts

Behind terrific pitching, the DC Grays ended their two game losing skid after defeating the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts 5-1 at the Washington Nationals Youth Academy on Friday.  DC improved to 9-16 on the year. 

As the playoffs begin to near, the Grays got a much needed win as they jump ahead of the Thunderbolts and Gaithersburg Giants in the league standings.

The Grays started off hot, as they recorded three straight hits from the top of their order in the bottom of the first.  Geroge Mason’s Derek Wood and Brown’s Miles Newsome both singled in the bottom of the first, allowing Wofford’s Connor Larson to bring home one run with a line-drive double. A hit-by-pitch and a walk would cost the Thunderbolts another run, making the score 2-0 after the 1st inning.

Thunderbolts catcher Bowman Wingard (Macalester) was able to find some success, singling to get on base as well as advancing to second due to a pitching error, but they would end up going scoreless again to end the top of the second. Kyle Tyler (Valparaiso) showed off his speed in the 2nd inning by being able to score from 2nd base, after an errant throw.  A Connor Larson walk and stolen base set up Maine’s Myles Sargeant to score another run with his single, increasing the score to 4-0 going into the third inning.

Grays starter Diego Barrett (North Carolina A&T) had another terrific outing, allowing one run, striking out six batters, and walking none. Barrett pitched a shutout ball for five innings before giving up a lone run in the sixth.  

The DC lead grew bigger in the fifth as a Myles Sargeant single, Aaron Thomas (Wofford) single, and a Braeden Mondeau (BYU) walk would set up a bases-loaded balk from Thunderbolts pitcher Michael Heckman (Shippensburg) to bring in yet another run for the Grays, going up 5-0 entering the 6th inning.

The Thunderbolts would be able to score their one and only run in the 6th inning, after an error by Gray’s catcher Michael Mallas (Lafayette) allowed Joseph Kaleck (West Chester) to score from second base.

Delaware State’s Evan Bouldin, Wofford’s Sam Stratton, and Alvernia’s Ryan Wheeler would all contribute to the Gray’s pitching performance, each throwing a scoreless inning for DC.  

The Grays look to keep winning as they play a home double header on Saturday against the Bethesda Big Train at 4:30pm and 7:00pm ​