The Tornado were ignited Wednesday by RJ Schenk.  Schenk hit a three-run shot to deep right field to spark the four run inning of the Tornado.  Schenk went 4-5 on the night with four RBIs and two runs scored.  Logan Bowers went 3-4, while he scored two runs.  Kyle Muhlsteff went 2-4 for the Tornado, brought in two runs, and scored a run.  ETSU’s Bart Roark also performed well at the plate as he went 1-3 and scored two runs. 

The Tornado hit the road to take on the Carolina Chaos Friday, June 13.  The double-header is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.  They return home Saturday, June 14, to take on the Morganton Aggies at Cardinal Park.  Saturday’s games begin at 5 p.m. 

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Tornado Split with Aggies
By:  Jay Bernhardt

Morganton, N.C. (June 7, 2008) --- The Tennessee Tornado split with the Morganton Aggies Saturday, June 7, on the road.  The Aggies got the best of the Tornado during the first game of the evening 5-1, but bounced back to win the finale 8-6. 

Colin Duffie started out on the hill for the Tornado during the first contest and pitched a complete game.  Duffie scattered eight hits, while he gave up five runs, four of which were earned.  Duffie walked one and struck out five.  Offensively, the Tornado were led by Aaron Hudgins and Topher Ellis.  Hudgins went 1-3 on the outing, and Ellis went 1-1 including a run scored. 

The Tornado got on a hit streak during the second game as they tallied 13 hits that scored eight runs.  The strong Tornado front was led by Marty Parks, RJ Schenk, Robbie Bailey, and John Dalton.  Parks, Schenk, and Bailey all rattled off three hits for the Tornado.  Parks scored two and drove in two, along with a home run in the fifth inning.  Schenk went also drove in two runs and he chalked up a run.  Schenk was the second of the three home runs hit for the Tornado during game two.  Bailey went 3-3 and drove in a run.  Dalton was the final leg of the home run trifecta as he hit a solo shot to open the fourth inning during game two.    

Kyle Bolton is credited with the win on five innings of work.  Bolton scattered five hits and allowed five runs, two of which were earned.  Bolton also struck out nine batters in the effort.  Zack Howell earned the save in game two as he put in 1.2 innings of work.  Howell gave up two hits, no runs, and struck out two batters. 

The Tornado face the Carolina Thunder Tuesday, June 10, at Cardinal Park.  The single game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.  After facing the Thunder, the Tornado gear up for another home game against the Asheville Redbirds on Wednesday, June 11, which also starts at 7 p.m. 

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Tornado Stops Chaos
By:  Jay Bernhardt

Johnson City, Tenn. (June 6, 2008) --- The Tennessee Tornado swept the series against the Carolina Chaos Friday, June 6, at Cardinal Park.  The Tornado won the first contest 7-3 and won the night cap 11-5. 

The Chaos jumped out to a quick start in game one going up 2-0 in the top of the third inning, but the Tornado answered quickly as they tied the game up by the end of the third inning.  The Chaos did not end there as they went ahead one more time, but the Tornado rattled off five more runs to end the contest.  The Tornado finished the first game with seven runs on six hits.

Jacob Lambert started out on the hill for the Tornado and put in 3.2 innings of work.  Lambert scattered five hits while he only gave up two earned runs.  The win is credited to Scott Foster in game one as he pitched 1.1 innings and only gave up two hits, while he struck out one. 

At the Plate, the Tornado were led by Kyle Muhlsteff and Aaron Hudgins.  Muhlsteff was just a single away from the cycle as he opened up with a triple in the third inning, followed by a double in the fourth.  His next at bat was a deep shot to left field which cleared the bases.  Muhlsteff finished the first game 3-3, and he also scored three runs and two RBIs.  Hudgins batted 1-2, scored a run and brought in a run.

The Tornado started out hot in the final game of the evening as they jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but the rain quickly cooled things down.  After the thirty minute weather delay, play resumed and the Chaos rattled of five runs in the second inning.  In the third, the Tornado brought in another run but still trailed by one.  The fourth inning was when the Tornado took command and ended the Chaos as they scored two in the fourth, four in the fifth, and one in the sixth.  The Tornado scored 11 runs on 10 hits.   

Mark McGill started on the mound for the Tornado in the second game and pitched 1.1 innings of work.  McGill gave up four earned runs on one hit.  Mark Bounds is credited with the win during game two as he scattered five hits and allowed no runs, while he struck out 10 batters. 

Hudgins once again led the Tornado at the plate, along with Marty Parks and Gary Tucker.  Hudgins went 2-3 with one run scored and three RBIs.  Parks went 2-3 at the plate, scored two runs and also drove in a run.  Tucker rounded out the offensive leaders as he went 2-4, scored a run and also drove in a run. 

The Tornado takes on the Morganton Aggies Saturday, June 7, on the road.  The double-header is set to start at 5 p.m.  The Tornado are back at Cardinal Park Tuesday, June 10, as they take on the Carolina Thunder at 7 p.m.   

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Locals Provide Excitement for Tornado
By:  Jay Bernhardt

Johnson City, Tenn. (June 2, 2008) --- Eight players from the tri-cities area will be playing for the Tennessee Tornado this season.  Five of which play their home games in Johnson City on a regular basis.  Bart Roark is the only returning player on the Tornado this season.  Roark plays for Coach Tony Skole at East Tennessee State University, whereas Brandon Murphy, Spencer Street, Michael Dillow, and Frank Newcomb all play at Milligan College.  The other locals consist of Logan Bowers from Bluff City, Zack Howell from Johnson City, and Aaron Hudgins from Kingsport.  Bowers plays at Walters State, Hudgins plays at Tusculum, and Howell plays at Carson Newman.   

The Tornado play in the Southern Collegiate Baseball League, which is a wooden bat league that consists of seven teams.  The Tornado are coming off of a 20-22 season, which placed them in fifth place during the 2007 season.  Cardinal Park has been the home field of the Tornado for the past two years under the ownership of Wiley and Caroline Roark.  The Tornado play a 42 game schedule during the months of June and July.  The games are split down the middle, with half at home and half on the road.   

Head Coach Philip Al-Mateen is at the helm of the Tornado for the start of the 2008 season.  Al-Mateen played collegiate baseball at Voorhees College in Denmark, S.C.  Al-Mateen went on to play professional baseball for four years in the Anaheim Angels organization.  He is currently working at East Tennessee State University in the athletic department as the Director of Business Operations.  Al-Mateen is joined by Dustin Morrow, Baker DeCamp, and Chris Gordon.  Morrow will be the infield coach for the Tornado.  Morrow is a recent graduate of Tusculum College.  DeCamp will be the outfield coach, whereas Gordon will be the pitching coach.  Both DeCamp and Gordon played baseball at Milligan College. 

“I am very enthusiastic about this team,” said Al-Mateen.  “We have a great mixture of speed and power.  Our pitching staff will be strong because of the their demeanor, their character, and their ability.  We hope to display an exciting brand of baseball when we take the field.  We will run, set the tone early, and dictate the game.” 

The Tornado recruits players across the country from different collegiate baseball teams.  The Tornado boasts a strong base as they have nine NCAA Division I players, seven NAIA players, six NCAA Division II players, and six NJCAA players.

“Mr. Roark and I are excited about our prospects this year,” commented General Manager Tom Reece.  “We feel we have players who display outstanding character on and off the field, and also have tremendous baseball talent.  I am excited about this season and we are fortunate to have Coach Al-Mateen and his staff to work with and guide these young men.”

The Tornado opens the season on the road against the Carolina Thunder on Tuesday, June 3.  The home opener is scheduled against the Carolina Chaos for Friday, June 6, at Cardinal Park.  The double-header is set to start at 5 p.m.              

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