Game 71 Recap: Putting a Really Good Game Together
Ballers win eighth straight, 13-3, behind terrific Thomas start and full roster bats
by Joe Horton
During the first week of the season in May at Raimondi Park, both of our co-founders said to me separately, “we’re a slow-starting team.” With only three years to draw from, this is technically true, but I think it speaks more to the speed where the squads ended up: ready and revved to play with anyone in the league. We have plenty of season left in 2026, but this team is sure started and rolling now.
The Oakland Ballers (13-10 second half, 35-36 overall) won their eighth straight game, throttling the Yuba-Sutter Freebirds (5-18, 20-51) 13-3 in a game that was not that close. The B’s tallied those 13 runs on an economical 15 hits, with production from the entire roster: every Baller had at least one knock.
The story of the game was starter David Thomas, who threw 6.0 of scoreless ball, allowing only four hits while striking out two and not walking anyone. Can you imagine reading that two months ago? “I was just trying to win that first pitch and stay ahead of the hitters and trust my defense to make plays,” Thomas wrote to Dispatches after the game, saying all those right things. “They made some great plays behind me tonight, so couldn’t have done it without them.” It was the San José State alum’s first pro win.
Thomas was relieved in the seventh by Brady Chavez, another new pitching addition who has paid immediate dividends. He went 1.2 giving up only one run on three hits while striking out four. Dispatches asked if his approach changes when he’s relieving a starter who’s pitched so well. “For me nothing really changes whether we’re up 10 or down 10. I attack the hitters in and around the zone with my best stuff and make them beat me and my defense by putting the ball in play,” Chavez wrote. However, he admitted, “After the outing I’ll definitely reflect on the fact and I’ll joke that I ruined the scoreless game.”
Offensively, Brendan O’Sullivan led the way, going 3-for-4 with a walk and three RBI. O’Sullivan, who is one of the veteran in-season additions to the squad (his first game was June 17) had this to say about the team’s vibe in an undefeated August. “It really feels like we are getting close as a team finally. Everyone is getting along well, playing for each other and having fun while doing it. This is allowing us to play loose and have fun, which is allowing us to put a really good game together.”
Tomorrow’s game has been moved up to 11:05 am, not the original 6:35pm first pitch. See you for some Sunday morning baseball.
Odds & Ends
By Pioneer League standards, the game was a positively lean 2h50.
The Glacier Range Riders beat the Long Beach Coast 4-2 in a six-inning game called early due to smoke from wildfires (the one closest to that field in Kalispell is called the Skillet Fire).
With a win tomorrow, the Ballers would climb back to .500 on the season. The last time they were evened up was at 6-6 on May 31.
Back home at Raimondi Park, Head Groundskeeper Anthony Alejandrez is dealing with a new challenge: a ghostly golf cart that revs its engine, desperately trying to bolt forward, despite being empty of people, the parking brake being on, and the gas unpressed. Calling all exorcists.
Photos by Maya Lee.
Joe Horton is the editor of Dispatches from Raimondi.
