Manual hasn't had much luck against Lincoln recently, but that could start to change on Tuesday. The Thunderbolts will venture away from home to face off against the Lancers at 4:15 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
On Saturday, Manual made easy work of Denver West and carried off a 19-7 victory. The win continues a trend for the Thunderbolts in their matchups with the Cowboys: they've now won five in a row.
Jake Carney made a big impact no matter where he played. On the mound, he pitched three innings while giving up no earned runs or hits. Carney was also big at the plate, going 1-for-3 with two runs and two RBI. Manual is undefeated when Carney posts two or more runs, but 4-6 otherwise.
Alan Whatley
| 04/26/25 vs Denver West | 3 |
| 04/22/25 @ DSST: Montview | 2 |
| 04/15/25 @ Kennedy | 2 |
| 04/02/25 vs DSST: Montview | 2 |
| 04/26/25 vs Denver West | 1 |
In other batting news, Alan Whatley was a standout: he went 3-for-4 with five RBI, one triple, and one run. Those three hits gave him a new career-high. The team also got some help courtesy of Andrew Hernandez, who went 1-for-3 with four stolen bases, two runs, and one triple.
Manual kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 12 hits. That's a new trend for them: they were averaging 5.6 hits per game earlier this season, but in their last 15 matchups they've averaged 10.4.
Lincoln came out on top against DSST: Montview on Saturday thanks in part to the team's impressive 11-run fifth inning. The Lancers blew past the Knights 20-4. The victory was familiar territory for the Lancers, who have now won three games in a row.
Gio Castro was a major factor while hitting and pitching. He tossed five innings while giving up just one earned (and two unearned) runs off two hits. Castro was also solid in the batter's box, going 3-for-4 with four RBI.
In other batting news, Lincoln got a massive performance out of Jose Bustos, who went a perfect 4-for-4 with four runs, four RBI, and one stolen base. Another player making a difference was Sam Trujillo, who got on base in four of his five plate appearances with four runs, one stolen base, and two RBI.
Lincoln's win was their fourth straight at home, which pushed their record up to 11-5. The home victories came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 3.3 runs on average over those games. As for Manual, their record now sits at 9-6.
Tuesday's contest might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Manual has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .486. However, it's not like Lincoln struggles in that department as they've averaged .488. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Manual came up short against Lincoln in their previous matchup on April 11th, falling 14-10. Can the Thunderbolts avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.
