AZ Thunderbirds Baseball

As our families are wrapping up their trips and we have Birds scattered across the country, we want to take a moment to thank our wonderful Coaches 🏆

Behind every great athlete is a coach who believed in them long before they believed in themselves. Thank you for your tireless dedication, endless patience, and for pushing the boys beyond their limits. The sacrifices and time spent away from family do not go unnoticed. We are so grateful for your impact both on and off the field! 🙏

And to our parents… you’re the GOAT 🐐 What an adventure we’ve had!

Game Day Three did not let us down. Tyson scored home runs in both games 👀, and we also got to add Billy and Levi to the home run club! Great job boys! ⚾️ During the long break they also got to get off site and visit the Hall Of Fame for the afternoon.

Playoff brackets starting bright and early at 8:30am 🤪

Game Day Two! The Birds saw another win AND our first home run hitters Bentley and Kai ❤️ The second game we saw some tougher competition and took our first loss. Back at it this morning at 8:30 EST ⏰

Cooperstown… WOW 🤩 What an adventure we’ve been on! We ended Game Day One on the highest of highs… and are heading into Game Day Two ranked 9th out of 94 teams! Let’s go Birds! 🦅 ⚾️

TBIRDS TAKE COOPSERSTOWN!! ⚾️

Land of the free because of the brave. Remembering and honoring our heroes today.

Hey, Coach! 📣

Formally introducing our Thunderbirds Coaches ⚾️

Assistant Coach Brian Schuele, Head Coach & Founding Father Tom Wilhelmsen, Assistant Coach BJ Katz, and Assistant Coach Don Bills.

Combined, they have over 16 years of HS and collegiate level playing experience, 9 years of professional Minor and Major League playing experience, and 24 years of coaching little league up to high school and college level players. 🤯 They truly know their stuff!

Coach Tom, what is something non-sports related you are secretly good at? 🤫
Secretly? Ha! No chance! I don’t keep anything I’m good at a secret.

Coach Don, if you could have dinner with any baseball legend who would it be? 🥘
Rickey Henderson. I grew up watching Rickey as an A’s fan in the Bay Area. A local boy who became the best leadoff hitter and called himself the greatest of all time after breaking the stolen base record, he was unlike anyone else in his time.

Coach BJ, what is your favorite baseball movie? 🎥
Field of Dreams. It takes place 45 mins from where I grew up. We played on that field as a kid. Kevin Costner reminds me of my Dad in all his baseball movies. My Dad was my high school coach and has coached high school baseball in the state of Iowa for over 40 years. Amanda makes fun of me because I cry multiple times throughout the movie. It just really hits home.

Coach Brian, what is the most rewarding part of coaching for you? 🙏
The most rewarding part of coaching for me is being able to pass along the love of the game that I have to these boys. The life lessons baseball can teach someone is priceless!

⚡️Player Spotlight # 54 Kai Wilhelmsen ⚡️

When did you start playing baseball, and did you always love it… or did it take a minute?👀.
I started playing in T-ball and always loved it!

What positions do you play, and which one is obviously the best one on the field? ⚾️
I play a lot of left field but pitching is my favorite.

What’s been your coolest baseball moment so far? 😎
Pitching a complete game with twelve strikeouts.

Who’s your biggest supporter in your baseball life, and what do they do that helps you the most?🙏
My Dad because he helps me with pitching and my grandpa, he gives me baseball advice, history, coaching, and a lot of stories!

What’s your big baseball dream?💭
Getting to the Major Leagues and pitching a perfect game in the World Series BABYYYY!!!

⚡ Lightning Round ⚡
Favorite MLB Team: Mariners 🔱
Favorite MLB Player: That’s tough. My favorite’s obviously Dad, but I also love Ichiro.
Dream Ballpark to Play In: Mariners, T-Mobile Park
Walk-Up Song: DJ Kool - Let Me Clear My Throat.
Pre-Game Meal or Snack: My opponents.
Baseball Superstition (if any 👀); None that have worked so far.
One word your teammates would use to describe you: Hyped

Mama Birds ❤️