Northwood News ♦ June 2010

Thunderbolts Offer Baseball Fun

Seeing the Washington Nationals or the Baltimore Orioles requires a long drive and big expenses for parking, eating, and the tickets themselves. If you’re looking for an “old-fashioned” baseball game, the Thunderbolts may offer just the experience you’re seeking and you don’t have to travel farther than the field at Montgomery Blair High School (where the parking is free!).

Andrew Richardson from the University of New Orleans pitches for the Thunderbolts during a game last year at Blair.

The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts is an amateur, wooden-bat, summer baseball team which plays all its home games at the baseball stadium at Blair (51 East University Blvd., enter off University). Most of its players are drawn from the college ranks.

The team is a member of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League. The nonprofit Thunderbolts are funded through ticket sales, sponsorships, merchandise sales, donations, and other fundraising efforts at games.

“It’s a great way to see potential future pro baseball players playing both competitively and enthusiastically, in a fan-friendly, family-friendly, and wallet-friendly environment,” said a spokesman.

The admission prices sure beat the professional teams: adults are $5, children under 18 are $2, and youth baseball and softball players in uniform and children under the age of 5 get in free. Season tickets are $75 per person.

On-field youth activities are held during Thunderbolts games. For example, in past years they have featured two rounds of races around the bases (usually between the fourth and fifth innings), where kids were selected from the stands to participate. There’s also a small concession stand where fans may purchase drinks, pizza, hotdogs, and other snacks.

Local business can support the team by sponsoring individual games or purchasing an ad in their season program.

The Thunderbolts also run summer camps for boys and girls ages 8 to 15. The camps are in two locations: Wheaton Forest Local Park (1700 University Blvd. in Wheaton) or Nolte Field (200 Denver Road in Silver Spring). See their website (www.tbolts.org) for details. ■