After allowing 28 runs in the first two games of the season, both one-sided losses, defence and timely hitting will be on the minds of Hamilton Thunderbirds players when they take the field in Brantford tomorrow afternoon (May 10).

The Intercounty Baseball League squad will be looking for their first win of the season and hopefully make it two wins in a row when they return home to host London May 11 at 2 p.m.

Lefty Kevin Whyte is slated to start on the mound for the T-Birds in Brantford, while RHP Dariel Saucedo is expected to start against London.

In Guelph May 6 the Royals pounded out 17 hits en route to a 15-6 win over the T-Birds. It was a make-up game from May 3 that was rained out.

T-Birds manager Adeo Calcagni said his troops played well considering they had only six starters in the line-up due to injuries and had to go with several call-ups from the Stoney Creek Junior Cardinals. The short bench forced pitcher Bill Lawrence to patrol left field for the Thunderbirds.

Calcagni also noted the Thunderbirds failed to capitalize on several scoring opportunities.

"We had the bases loaded four times," he said "We were missing the clutch hits."

Former Hamilton Cardinal, Sean Reilly had two triples and a two-run homer as he drove in seven runs as both clubs engaged another marathon match that lasted three hours and 47 minutes. Last Sunday, the two teams played a three-hour contest.

Andrew Karkoulas also had three hits and scoring twice and batting in the run. Kyle Leon and Mike Walker both drove in a pair of runs for the Royals as they slapped 17 hits in the game.

Pitcher Patrick Warden started, but lasted just three and two-thirds innings. Reliever Craig Fairfull then pitched two and two-thirds shutout innings for the win. He allowed two hits with two strikeouts and four walks. Dariel Saucedo was charged with the loss, allowing six runs - five earned - on seven hits, and two walks over three and two-thirds innings. Andy Sprintstead drove in three runs for Hamilton with Jesse Robertson adding three hits and an RBI.

At the T-Birds' home opener at Bernie Arbour Stadium May 4, the Royals grabbed a six-run lead through the first four innings and topped the Thunderbirds 13-2.

Guelph pounded out 15 hits as pitcher Ryan Hart went six innings for the win allowing two hits and a walk. He struck out seven of the batters he faced. Hart got relief help from Aaron Biggs in the seventh inning. He added six more strikeouts while yielding a safety and a walk.

Kevin Whyte was charged with the loss for Hamilton as he gave up four runs on five hits and three walks through four innings. He had three strikeouts. Whyte had relief help from Kyle Nicoletta, Arthur Lebenda, Bill Lawrence, Ryan Nowack, and Jarrod Wehri.

Centre fielder Matt Mann was a one-man wrecking crew for Guelph as he connected for four hits including two doubles and a three-run home run 380 feet over the right field fence in the third inning. He scored once. Frankie Hare scored four runs on three hits and batted in two runs while Andrew Karkoulas added a single and a 290-foot solo home run over the left field fence in the fourth inning.

Jarrod Wehri and Richard Wright singled for Hamilton with Wright batting Wehri home in the sixth inning.

Calcagni said he expects 9-10 players, currently attending college or with other commitments, to bolster the Hamilton line-up in the next two weeks.

With files from Mark Newman