Thunder baseball ends their season in first round, 8-4

The heat definitely played a factor in today's baseball game between the Jackson County Thunder and the LaGrange Demons. Not only that with a schedule hard to maintain this season due to rain, both teams said it was hard to find their groove with two three-week breaks in between games.

The Demons were able to make contact with the ball early on in the game to put some numbers on the scoreboard. Connor Bertsch hit a homerun in the top of the third inning, and brought some runners in along the way. Thunder player Aaron Peters stretched to catch a ball that prevented LaGrange from scoring when their bases were loaded.

Unfortunately, Thunder catcher Doogie Van Wie was hit in the head by a throw in from the right field, but turned out to be okay.

By the top of the fourth inning the score was 6-0, LaGrange, but Thunder finally decided the game needed a little rain. Van Wie and Aaron Peters hit a double each to bring in some teammates and score for their team. At the top of the fifth the score was 6-3.

Thunder first baseman Brian Peters hit a homer out of the park to bring the Thunder score to four, but LaGrange was able to add a few more runs to their score, including Bertsch with another homerun. Thunder pitcher AJ Flores took Jordan Pacheco's spot in the last inning to pull out some strikes, but the heat was making its mark in the game and tiring out players from both teams.

Read the July 27th Jackson County Herald-Tribune sports section for comments from both teams on the game.