The Manual Thunderbolts will take on the Kennedy Commanders at 4:15 p.m. on Friday. Manual is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 10.9 runs per game this season.
Manual took a loss when they played away from home on Tuesday, but their home fans gave them all the motivation they needed on Thursday. Their pitchers stepped up to hand Jefferson a 15-0 shutout. The victory continues a trend for the Thunderbolts in their matchups with the Saints: they've now won five in a row.
Jake Carney made a big impact while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he tossed one inning while giving up no earned runs or hits. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up more than two hits in three consecutive appearances. He was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Edgar Salas
| 05/01/25 vs Jefferson | 3 |
| 04/02/25 vs DSST: Montview | 3 |
| 03/21/25 @ Thornton | 3 |
| 03/11/25 @ Wheat Ridge | 3 |
| 04/26/25 vs Denver West | 1 |
| + 4 more games |
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Edgar Salas, who got on base in all three of his plate appearances with three runs, three RBI, and one stolen base. Manual is undefeated when Salas posts three or more RBI, but 6-7 otherwise. Jeremiah Myles was another key player, getting on base in both of his plate appearances with three runs, one stolen base, and one RBI.
Manual always had someone on base and finished the game having posted an OBP of .704. They are a perfect 7-0 when they post an OBP of .513 or better.
Meanwhile, Kennedy had already won three in a row (a stretch where they outscored their opponents by an average of 7.7 runs) and they went ahead and made it four on Wednesday. They came out on top against the Lancers by a score of 7-4.
Like Manual, Kennedy also got a great game from a two-way player: Eric Valenzuela. He struck out seven batters over seven innings while giving up four earned runs off seven hits. Valenzuela was also big at the plate, going 2-for-3 with three RBI, one stolen base, and one run.
In other batting news, Dylan Nielsen was excellent, going a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs and one stolen base. Those two runs gave him a new career-high. Another player making a difference was Xavier Benavidez, who went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases and one run.
Manual's win was their third straight at home, which pushed their record up to 10-7. Those home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.3 runs on average over those games. As for Kennedy, they now have a winning record of 9-8.
The pitchers for both teams better look sharp on Friday as neither team is afraid to steal. Manual has been swiping bases left and right this season, having averaged 5.8 stolen bases per game. However, it's not like Kennedy struggles in that department as they've been averaging an even more impressive 7.6 stolen bases. The only question left is which team can snag more. Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other baseball content.
