Thunder History Page

It all started back in 1999.  I joined the Trappe Green team.  I took over the reigns of Trappe Green in 2000 from Mike Gvodas.  Since that short time, Thunder has grown into a dominate force in the Collegeville Softball League.  After a slow start, Thunder has won back to back to back championships in 2003, 2004 and 2005.  The Thunder name was given to us 2002, I just thought Trappe Thunder sounded better than Trappe Green.  A guy I met through the friend,  Bob Hornsby came up with the Thunder logo last year and that's how we started.  In our 1st year in the Norristown C division League we won the League, we defeated Whitpain Taven 3 games to 2.   That same year we went up to Sunbury for a Class D ASA State Tournament and we ended up going 5-0 and winning our 1st tournament ever. 

Pictured from left to right

Top Row-Ivo Salvi, Joe Diccio, Rob Bickleman, Dave Halter, Rob Sambrick, Kevin Adgalne.

Bottom Row-Ron Weikel, Andy Gelet, Aaron Hazzard, Rod Green, Tony Jordan, Brian James.

not pictured-Keith Berry, Mike Myers, Joe Watkins, Chris Weaver, Ken Shemonski..

Trappe Thunder softball has won the Collegeville League Championship for the 3rd year in a row.  Thunder swept every team they played in the finals.  Thunder won game 3 by in the bottom of the 8th inning.  Joe Diccio hit a 2 out double off the fence and scored on a base hit by Dave Halter.  Great game by both Squads.  Trappe Blue will be force to be reckoned with for many years to come.  

2005 Thunder Norristown League Roster

Top Row from left to right-Dan Frantz, Mike Zubert, John Lee, Eric Vierow, Dave Halter, Rob Sambrick, Ryan Mathias.

Bottom Row L to R-Chris Ness, Jon Corson, Brian "Moose" James, Coach Jaime Heflin, Mike Jones.

Not pictured, Steve Clements, Eric Walker, Brian Swavely.

Norristown Thunder is the C League Champs.  After having a 2-0 lead in the finals series, Whitpain Tavern came out on fire and torched Thunder14-4.  In game 4, the 'Pain put up a huge 1st inning.  Thunder rallied to come back, just to blow a 2 run lead in the bottom of the 7th.  In the deciding game 5, the 'Pain came out and put up 5 runs in the top of the 1st, Thunder battled back to get within 1 run.  After a few innings, Thunder had a 3 run lead going into the top of the 7th.  Thunder allowed 1 run to win the Norristown "C" division championship.  Jon Corson was named Finals MVP and deservedly so.  

2005 Class D ASA Central Champions!!

Top row from left to right: Eric Vierow, Steve Clements, Jon Corson, Rob Sambrick, Mike Jones, Michael Zubert, Ryan Mathias, Dave Halter

Bottom row from left to right: Matt Hoch, Eric Walker, Brian James, Devon (little Zube), Jamie Heflin, Rod Green.

Not pictured: John Lee and Dan Frantz.

Trappe Tavern/Thunder Softball started the weekend by playing Delbaso Ford on SMA field @ 10am.  Thunder batted around the 1st inning and put up 7 runs in the 1st inning.  Everyone chipped in leading us to victory over Delbaso Ford by the score of 23-3.  Dan Frantz, Eric Vierow and Rob Sambrick all  went 4-4.

Thunders next game was against ABE, once again Thunder got hot early putting up 10 runs in the 1st 2 innings.  John Lee, the General came through with 3 huge hits and Thunder scored a lot of 2 out runs.  Ryan Mathias and John Lee led the way this game going 4-5 and 3-3 respectively.  We ended up winning by the score of 24-12.  Great Defense again by our whole team, outfield and infield.  

Next up was Chris Dean Trucking.  After a slow start, trailing 3-0, Thunder picked it up by putting up 4 runs in the 3rd inning to take the lead 4-3.  Thunder then added 3 more the next inning with singles from Brian "Moose" James, Dave Halter, General Lee and Zubey.  Thunder never looked back as the big man, Eric Vierow and Thunder's D held the Trucking team to just those 3 1st inning runs.  Mike Zubert went 4-4 and John Corson and Matty Hoch went 3-4. 

Well, game 4 had Thunder meeting the other bracket winner, the hometown favorite Sunbury Eagles.  Thunder's great D led them to victory again as Mike Zubert, Big E, Rob Sambrick and Ryan Mathias shut down the Eagles chances to get a ball though the middle, right side of the infield.  Dave Halter, Ryan Mathias, Matt Hoch and Eric Vierow all went 3-4.  Final score was 7-4.

Championship game had Thunder meeting Haines, a team from Mifflintown, Pa.  Haines got an early lead and kept the Thunder bats quiet until the 4th inning.  It was 6-2 until a barrage of singles and a doubles evened up the score.  Thunder ended up scoring 2 mores runs the next inning with back to back to back doubles to count 2 more runs.  Thunder D's won the game by not giving runs in the top of the 7th. Great Job again from the whole defensive team!

Thunder Team voted Ryan Mathias to be the MVP who hit the crap out of the ball all weekend.  Way to go guys!! 

Also I want to acknowledge a few guys for helping and being real team players.

Thanks Steve Clements for being a team player, getting in there when  asked.  Thanks to John Lee who also hit when he was in and thank for coming up on Saturday.  Also thanks to Dan Frantz who put off vacation for a day.  Thanks also to Ewalk for coming out on Sunday, hung over, half broken ankle and all. 

States, courtesy of www.statleaders.com