Thunder Baseball To Make Program Opening Debut In Metrodome

Mar 22, 2012

By Tom Urbanski

CLOQUET, MN– It’s time for the umpire’s call of “Play ball” for the inaugural season of the Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College Thunder Baseball team. The Thunder open their 2012 season late tonight with a season-opening and program-opening doubleheader against perennial powerhouse St. Cloud Technical College who are currently 13-3 and ranked #4 in the NJCAA Division III national poll.

To add to the excitement, the debut games during this inaugural season will be inside the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis tonight, Thursday, March 22. First pitch of the late-night shift is set for 9:00 p.m. for the initial game and 11:00 p.m. for the second game.

Thunder Head Coach Cal Barr has assembled a 15-member team stocked with local talent. While an inaugural season is difficult to predict, the coaching staff and team members are optimistic about their chances for a successful season.

“We’re excited about starting the new baseball program and we are looking forward to playing and competing on the field,” said Thunder Head Coach Cal Barr. “I’m looking to see how the players respond tonight. This is like a test to see if they have learned the skills we have been working on for about two months in practice.”

Some of the local players leading the Thunder into action include the starting pitcher in tonight’s opener, Richard Jubie of Esko; and second game starting pitcher Ryan DeShaw of Silver Bay. Two Duluth Denfeld grads, outfielder Tony Klass and catcher Travis Magzdas are in the starting lineup, as is outfielder Donnie Roberts of Spooner, WI. A trio of pitchers/infielders from the former AlBrook High School, Cody Anderson, Bryce Karppinen, and Matt Lisic, will add depth to the pitching staff and anchor the defensive unit.

Thunder Head Coach Cal Barr organized a club-level team last spring to gauge interest in intercollegiate baseball at the college, and last season’s club team challenged MCAC teams in a handful of exhibition games. The Thunder program was accepted into the baseball division of the conference, and it’s full speed ahead this season.

After the season opener tonight, the Thunder embark on a 20-game schedule in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference. The team will play in a multi-day tournament in Austin, Minnesota, on April 6-7, and then will host the teams’ home opener on April 14 vs. Hibbing Community College. Home games will be played at Braun Park in Cloquet.

Admission is free to everyone at all home games. Schedules are available online at the college website located at www.fdltcc.edu and at the college campus in Cloquet.

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