Mike Helm
Mesa Legend

Kim Patterson Mesa Legend

Thunderbird outfielder Brandon Christensen avoids an out with a slide into first base.

The men’s baseball team fell short on Mar. 25 to Olympic Community College from Washington.
The Thunderbirds pitched by committee during the game as they sent seven different hurlers to the mound.
Tom Johnson started the game on the mound for Mesa and ran into trouble early. He allowed two runs in the first inning, but eventually settled down, preventing any more damage. The Thunderbirds could not score in their half of the first and Johnson ran into trouble again in the second, letting runners on base. Third baseman Bob McMurray converted a double play on an attempted bunt to help end the second inning for Mesa.
The score remained at 2-0 until the third inning, when the Thunderbirds managed a run with McMurray batting in Brandon Christenson.
Mesa pitcher Rob Ozga shut down the opponent in the fourth inning and the Thunderbirds came back with two runs. Christenson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Nate Wells. Tony Zito scored on Tom Ward’s sacrifice fly, giving Mesa the lead 3-2.
Brett Cole came in to pitch the fifth inning for the Thunderbirds and did a good job, shutting down the Olympic team.
The score remained 3-2 until the seventh inning, when the Thunderbirds started to run into trouble. Pitcher Andre Fernandez started the inning after allowing no runs in the previous inning. He allowed one run, which brought in pitcher Kevin Conley. The Thunderbird defense temporarily faltered on a pick-off play, allowing the runner to advance to second and the run to score from third. Another base hit by the Olympic team threatened a run, but a strong throw from center field by Christenson picked off the Olympic runner at third base. The inning ended with the visiting team ahead 4-3.
Olympic Community took a commanding lead in the eighth and ninth innings, scoring six more runs, four of them in the top of the ninth.
The score stood 10-3 going into the bottom of the ninth.
The offense that the T-birds had been waiting for all day came alive, on fire in their last inning at bat with doubles by Ward, McMurray and Aaron Levinson. A few walks and singles later, the score was 10-8 with two outs and the tying runs on base. The Thunderbirds proceeded to fall short,unable to score the tying runs.
Head Coach Tony Cirelli declined to comment after the game.