2023 Thunder Defend Their Crown, Earn Back-to-Back Lehigh Valley MABL Championships
Thunder 6, Orioles 4 (Game two in best-of-three championship series sweep)
Submitted by Rick Oskowis, Thunder manager
In a Lehigh Valley MABL championship grudge match, the Thunder and Orioles faced off for league supremacy in a best-of-three series for a second year in a row.
The Thunder took a high-scoring game one by a score of 11-6, behind a 9-inning complete game on the arm of Todd Eichelberger. Matt Harper’s three-hit, five-RBI performance fueled the team’s fourteen-hit offensive attack.
Game two featured a marquee pitching matchup between two of the league’s aces. The Orioles played a tough game, but ultimately the Thunder prevailed 6-4 thanks to a gutsy 14-strikeout, 7-inning complete game by Brian Ernst. His batterymate, Derrick Stair came through with two of the Thunder’s nine hits, including a key double and an RBI.
This year’s victory marked the sixth championship season for the Thunder since their inception, and their second time winning back-to-back titles!
