Playing their first game of the season against a tough Sussex Red Jr. Chargers team, the Thunder 6th grade came away with a well earned 6-2 victory.  The Thunder parlayed outstanding pitching, terrific defense, and timely hitting into a win, with each and every Thunder player adding something to the win.  The Thunder took a early 1-0 lead in the top of the 1st as Reid Woods worked his way on with a 1 out walk.  C.J. Henschel followed with another walk and when Woods and Henschel completed a double steal, the Thunder had runners at 2nd and 3rd with two outs.  A clutch single by Noah Doedens got Woods home for the first run of the season.  After a 3 strikeout inning by starting pitcher Joey Pettit in the bottom of the first, the Thunder came back with a solo run in the top of the 2nd for a 2-0 lead.  Caden bast singled, swiped 2nd, and scored on a base hit by Jack Miller.

The score remained 2-0 until the 4th, when Sussex tallied a single run off of Pettit for a 2-1 lead.  The Thunder bounced right back with 2 key runs in the 5th.  Christian Ketter and Nate Fettig walked with one out.  After a double steal, a Pettit groundout scored Ketter and a clutch 2 out smash up the middle by Woods scored Fettig and the game was quickly 4-1.  Hinckley shut down the Chargers in the 5th and 6th innings and when the Thunder used their small ball skills in the 7th, it was 6-1.  3 key bunts by Woods, Henschel, and Kevin Lemens triggered the runs.  Hinckley allowed one meaningless run in the bottom of the 7th for a final of 6-2 in favor of the Thunder.

The Thunder have a busy 3 game week next week, the first a Monday night battle vs. the Sheboygan Diamonds.