Thunder look to make noise at nationals
The desire to get to the top of the podium is what continues to push members of the Tecumseh Thunder.
The club will seek its thirdstraight Baseball Canada senior championship at this year’s tournament, which begins on Thursday in Victoria.
“To win three straight at nationals means everything,” Thunder centre-fielder Curtis Lambkin said. “Who can say they’ve won three nationals? That’s what keeps us going. We know we have the target on the back and that’s the fire that keeps you motivated.”
No team has won three-straight titles since the Windsor Chiefs reeled off four-straight titles from 1988-91.
“We always talk to each other and tell each other to act like you’ve been there,” the 25-yearold Lambkin said. “It’s not our first time. We still get nervous and it’s still a thrill, but at the same time we’ve been there before and it only gives us more confidence.”
This has not been an easy season for the Thunder, who saw key players Paul Lamantia and Ryan LaPensee retire before the season and veteran players struggle to fit games in with the demands of adult life.
“This is one of our most challenging years,” Lambkin said. “Losing a couple of players, and through the year none of us has showed up at the same game. The only time we had the full team was the start of Can-Am (League) playoffs and then the (Ontario) eliminations.”
Tecumseh claimed its fourthstraight Ontario senior elimination tournament to earn the trip to B.C. and it was that effort that convinced manager Jamie Kell that there’s plenty of potential for this club.
“I think it confirmed with me that these guys are the real thing,” Kell said of the Ontario title. “The season in the Can-Am League is what it is. Guys have families and jobs and were missing games here and there and we really didn’t have a full roster until late June or early July. Sometimes we only had 11 or
12 guys showing up.
“The coaching staff, from May to July, we weren’t sure what we were going to get. It’s not easy to always get out, but they kept reaffirming to us that when all the players can do when they get together.”
And the Thunder will look for that third title with a roster that features just one addition in righthanded pitcher Kyle Breitner, who played at St. Clair College.
He’ll add to an already solid pitching staff that features Joel Pierce, Brandon Lindquist, Shane Courtney junior graduate Webber Snow along with Connor Soulliere, Alex Murphy, Eric Carducci, Ben Baltrusiunas, Matt Van Buskirk and closer Jesse Carriere, who will also play at catcher.
Offensively, Lambkin keys the offence from the top of the order along with shortstop Brandon Gignac, first baseman Mitch Delaney, outfielders Chris Horwood and Kiefer Quick, second baseman Matt Sykes, catcher Eric Cunningham and third baseman Ross Barker while Casey Boutette fills in throughout the lineup.
“This has been one of the most exciting years and it will be exciting out there, too,” Lambkin said.
On a roster where every player is under the age of 30, the Thunder opens on Thursday against Red Deer, Alta. The club will face the host Victoria squad and New Brunswick and close pool play on Saturday against Manitoba.
If Tecumseh wins its pool, the team advances right to the medal round of the 10-team tournament. Teams finishing second and third in pool play will crossover in quarter-final play.