Triple Threat Back for the Bolts03/10/2010 11:45 AM
 The Chicago sports scene has witnessed some magnificent trios in their prime. The 1985 Bears were led to a victory in Super Bowl XX by McMahon, Payton and Singletary. The 1995-96 Bulls had a record 72 wins with Jordan, Pippen, and Rodman leading the way. The 2010 ThunderBolts are looking to use some of that magic with the announcement of Mejia, Restko, and Sullivan returning for another season. These three stars have all signed their contracts for the 2010 season.
Gilberto Mejia has been a key piece to the ThunderBolts roster since 2007. In his 3 seasons with the franchise, he has boasted a .295 batting average with 104 stolen bases. Gilberto was a Frontier League All-Star in 2008 and 2009. Last season, the second baseman batted .324 which was 7th in the league. Gilberto, a resident of the Dominican Republic, was the 2009 league leader in stolen bases and triples, with 47 and 10 respectively. The switch-hitter advanced as high as AA with the Detroit Tigers organization in 2005. Mejia is an experienced veteran and looks to be an important table setter once again in 2010.
J.T. Restko, the product of local Marist High School, will once again be covering the first base duties for the ThunderBolts for a second straight year. Restko was a 10th round selection by the Marlins in 2003. His best season was in 2005, where he had a .313 average with 15 home runs and 70 runs batted in for the Greensboro Grasshoppers. The 2009 Frontier League All-Star had a .334 batting average, which was 4th in the league. The 6’5” righty had big power numbers for the ThunderBolts last season with 18 home runs and 76 runs batted in. J.T. should be a reliable force in the middle of the lineup.
The third member of the trio is outfielder Mike Sullivan. Sullivan was selected in the 2006 draft by the Detroit Tigers. He spent two years in their organization before finding his way to the Frontier League. After starting the 2008 season with the Evansville Otters, the ThunderBolts acquired the lefty batter at the 2008 All-Star break as a free agent. He batted .363 and helped lead Windy City to a Championship in 2008. Sullivan’s 2009 season was shortened due to a shoulder injury. He only played in 14 games, but did bat .360 with 16 runs batted in. Sullivan looks to have a healthy and productive 2010 season in Crestwood.
ThunderBolts Field Manager, Mike Kashirsky was excited when he found out a core of his line-up was returning in 2010. Kashirsky, said, “Three great players and leaders are returning in 2010. It is going to be a privilege to manage three outstanding people. Mejia, Sullivan, and Restko are unbelievable teammates that make everyone around them better."
Although comparing Mejia, Restko, and Sullivan to six of the greatest athletes to ever grace the city of Chicago may be a stretch. The fact of the matter is these three are just as important as the ThunderBolts chase their third Frontier League Title in 2010.
The Windy City ThunderBolts open to the 2010 season on Thursday, May 20th @ 7:05 p.m. against the Kalamazoo Kings at Standard Bank Stadium. For more information, visit us on the web at www.wcthunderbolts.com or contact the ThunderBolts box office at 708-489-BALL. Fans can send email inquiries to [email protected]. |
Browse by Year »
2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
Browse by Month »
November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 February 2024 January 2024 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 November 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 September 2020 June 2020 April 2020 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 January 2018 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 November 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 |
