The Manual Thunderbolts will head out on the road to challenge the Kennedy Commanders at 4:15 p.m. on Tuesday. One thing working in Manual's favor is that they have posted at least ten runs in their last four matches.
Manual is probably headed into the contest with a chip on their shoulder considering Lincoln just ended the team's four-game winning streak on Friday. They took a 14-10 hit to the loss column at the hands of the Lancers. While the Thunderbolts didn't get the win, they did start the game off strong, beating the Lancers 5-1 in the first period.
Jesus Marquez
| 03/21/25 @ Thornton | 4 |
| 04/11/25 vs Lincoln | 3 |
| 04/08/25 vs Bruce Randolph | 2 |
| 04/02/25 vs DSST: Montview | 2 |
| 03/11/25 @ Wheat Ridge | 2 |
| + 2 more games |
Jesus Marquez was cooking despite his team's loss, scoring three runs and stealing two bases while getting on base in all four of his plate appearances. He has become a key player for Manual: the team is 4-1 when he posts at least two runs, but 2-3 otherwise. Andrew Hernandez also deserves some recognition as he hit his first double of the season.
Meanwhile, winning is always nice, but doing so behind a season-high score is even better (just ask Kennedy). Everything went their way against Jefferson on Saturday as they made off with a 12-0 win. The team's explosion at the plate also rewarded the Commanders with their most commanding win of the season.
Eric Valenzuela made a splash while hitting and pitching. On the mound, he didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only two hits while striking out 12 over six innings pitched. He has been consistent recently: he hasn't given up a single earned run in three consecutive appearances. He was also big at the plate, scoring a run while going 2-for-4.
In other batting news, Kalani Market was a standout: he went 3-for-4 with three stolen bases and three RBI. With that strong performance, he is now averaging an impressive 1.1 stolen bases per game. Damian Ortiz was another key player, scoring three runs and stealing a base while going 3-for-4.
Kennedy kept the outfield on their toes and finished the game with 14 hits. That strong performance was nothing new for the team: they've now got at least nine hits in three consecutive games.
Kennedy's record is now 4-5. As for Manual, their defeat was their first in the league, dropping their league record down to 2-1 and their overall record down to 6-4.
Tuesday's matchup might come down to which pitcher can control the ball better. Manual has hit smart this season, having averaged an OBP of .469. However, it's not like Kennedy struggles in that department as they've averaged .547. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance. Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other baseball content.
