In the Sunday playoff version of the Waukesha Walk Off Tournament, the shorthanded West Bend Thunder beat the Milwaukee Hitmen 8-0 to advanced to the Championship where they were struck by lightning more than once in the first inning, eventually falling to the Lake Villa Lightning 15-4, good enough for a second place finish.

In the opener, the story was both hitting and pitching.  The Thunder pounded out 11 hits in only 4 innings and Ayden Spykstra was pounding the strike zone all day allowing only 1 hit while striking out 7 to earn the complete game shut out.  It was a dominating performance for Spykstra and it allowed the Thunder to cruise to victory.  Offensivley, the Thunder struck early.  Kevin Lemens, leading off for the first time this season, started things off with a single and a steal of 2nd.  Sam Lemler reached on an error and also swiped 2nd.  Joey Pettit's single gave the Thunder the 1-0 lead and his steal of 2nd again put runners at 2nd and 3rd, this time for Gavin Hinckely.  Hinkley walked to load the bases for Christian Ketter who promptley singled to drive in 2 runs.  An errant pickoff attempt plated Hinckley and the Thunder were quickly up 4-0.  The Thunder would add one more run as Reid Woods laced a sceamer down the 3rd base line to score Ketter and give the Thunder a 5-0 lead.  The Thunder would add another run in the 3rd and 2 more in the 4th to end the game via the run rule.  For the game, Lemens finished 2-3 scoring 2 runs, Lemler was 2-3 with a run and RBI, Pettit went 2-3 with a run and 2 RBI, Hinckley 1-1,Ketter 2-2 with a run and 3 RBI and Noah Doedens and Caden Bast also had hits.

Having to play back to back games while Lake Villa rested proved too daunting of a task for the Thunder in the Championship.  The Lightning cracked the ball allover the field in the first inning as the jumped out to a commanding 13-0 lead and never looked back.  The Thunder never quit and battled the rest of the game, outscoring the Lightning 4-2 for the remainder of the game but the Thunder never got close, losing 15-4.  Doedens pitched a 1-2-3 4th inning for the Thunder to lead the pitching staff and the Thunder were lead offensivley by Lemler, Pettit, Hinckley, Spykstra, Doedens, and Jack Miller, each of them getting a hit in the game.  The Thunder will look to bounce back , having their winning streak snapped at 7 games, with a League game Wednesday night at the New Berlin Heat.  Then it is off to the Fathers Day Classic this weekend at the West Bend Little League Complex.  The Thunder will play Friday night against the Mequon Heat at 6:00 on the South Diamond and then again Saturday at 10:30 vs. the Grafton JR. Hawk on the South Diamond.

Great weekend Thunder!!!