Thunderbolts
| 03/31/25 @ Norris | 7 |
| 03/29/25 vs Lincoln Northeast | 13 |
| 03/28/25 @ North Platte | 23 |
| 03/28/25 vs Waverly | 1 |
| 03/25/25 @ Gretna East | 5 |
| 03/22/25 @ Lincoln Southeast | 1 |
The Pius X Thunderbolts will head out to take on the Papillion-LaVista Monarchs at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Pius X is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.3 runs per game this season.
Pius X is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Nebraska's top teams: Norris, who was ranked third at the time (Pius X was ranked 22nd). The Thunderbolts came out on top against the Titans by a score of 7-2 on Monday. The game was the first time the Thunderbolts have beaten the Titans on their field since May 18, 2017.
Jesus Yanez made a splash while hitting and pitching. He tossed two innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Yanez was also solid in the batter's box, scoring a run and stealing a base while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Tanner Charf, who scored two runs and stole a base while going 3-for-3. Those three hits gave him a new career-high. Kai Vanis was another key player, scoring a run while going 1-for-4.
Meanwhile, after soaring to 12 runs the game before, Papillion-LaVista was a bit more limited in their match on Tuesday. They fell just short of Millard North by a score of 2-1.
Brett Hoelscher was a force to be reckoned with on the mound despite the final result: he struck out 12 batters over 5.2 innings while giving up just two earned runs off two hits (and only one walk).
On the hitting side, Papillion-LaVista saw three different players step up and record at least one hit. One of them was Isaac Pamaran, who scored a run and stole two bases while going 1-for-3. Frankie Parsons also deserves some recognition as he snagged his first stolen base of the season.
Papillion-LaVista's loss dropped their record down to 3-3. As for Pius X, the victory also got them back to even at 3-3.
The batters for both teams will have to hit smart on Wednesday as both have some strikeout artists on the roster. Pius X has been retiring batters left and right this season, having averaged 8 strikeouts per game. However, it's not like Papillion-LaVista struggles in that department as they've been averaging 6.7 strikeouts. Considering how easily both teams rack up Ks, the hitters on both teams better bring their A-game into this one.
Pius X came out on top in a nail-biter against Papillion-LaVista in their previous matchup back in April of 2024, sneaking past 11-9. Do the Thunderbolts have another victory up their sleeve, or will the Monarchs turn the tables on them? We'll have the answer soon enough.
