Baseball Game Preview: Manual Thunderbolts vs. Lincoln Lancers

Manual is 0-5 against Lincoln since April of 2023 but things could change on Monday. The Thunderbolts will face off against the Lancers at 4:30 p.m. Manual is coming into the match hot, having won their last four games.

On Friday, Manual earned a 5-1 win over Rangeview.

Leo Zimmerman spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: he surrendered a run (which was unearned) on two hits and racked up 12 Ks. He has been nothing but reliable: he hasn't given up more than two walks in eight consecutive appearances.

Edgar Salas

Runs

05/02/25 vs Kennedy	4
04/22/25 @ DSST: Montview	4
03/21/25 @ Thornton	4
05/05/25 @ Denver West	3
05/01/25 vs Jefferson	3
+ 11 more games

On the hitting side, the team relied heavily on Edgar Salas, who went 1-for-2 with two stolen bases and two runs. He has become a key player for Manual: the team is 10-2 when he posts at least two runs, but 3-5 otherwise.

Meanwhile, Lincoln fought the good fight in their extra-innings contest against Fort Lupton on Saturday but wound up with a less-than-desirable result. They fell just short of the Bluedevils by a score of 10-9. The Lancers' loss signaled the end of their three-game winning streak.

Manual's victory was their fifth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 13-7. Those home wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.2 runs on average over those games. As for Lincoln, their defeat dropped their record down to 15-7.

Manual suffered a grim 10-1 defeat to Lincoln in their previous meeting two weeks ago. Can the Thunderbolts avenge their loss or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.