By Larry Snyder

Madison, Wisconsin – The Madison Radicals (2-0) went on a 9-3 run in the fourth quarter of their home opener to own the game against the Pittsburgh Thunderbirds, with a final score of 26-17, in American Ultimate Disc League action Saturday, April 20, at historic Breese Stevens Field.

The season opener for the Black Gold (0-1) had been close through three-quarters of the matchup. Head coach Pat Hammonds’ brigade battled the defending 2018 champions, keeping the score close at the end of the first (7-6), at halftime (11-9), and the conclusion of the third (17-14). The throw completion percentage for the entire contest was nearly identical between the two squads, 96 percent for the T-birds and 97 percent for the Radicals.

Thomas Edmonds, having played for Pittsburgh in 2017, returned to support the attack by adding three of his game-leading five assists in the third. He aided on one goal to Jimmy Towle and two to Mark Fedorenko to move the T-birds total on the scoreboard from 11 to 14. Edmonds also led in minutes played for the Burgh with 34.

Max Sheppard and David Vatz joined Towle on the score sheet with three goals apiece. Towle was the plus/minus leader with +5. Anson Reppermund claimed two of the Thunderbirds’ six blocks on the evening.

For Madison, Avery Johnson delivered two of his four goals during the nine-point run in the final quarter. Coming through for the Radicals were Peter Graffy and Colin Camp who each put up four goals. Pat Shriwise tallied five assists and Chris Wilen chipped in three blocks.

The difference came down to two other lines in the box score. The turnovers tell part of the story as Pittsburgh had a total of 19 to Madison’s eight. The Teal Blue and Chartreuse, currently tied with the Indianapolis AlleyCats and the Philadelphia Phoenix this week, is averaging 10 blocks per contest and assembled 12 stops.

Here Is A Look At The Remainder Of The 2019 Pittsburgh Thunderbirds Schedule:

Saturday, April 27 – Away – At Minnesota Wind Chill – 6:00 p.m. CDT
Saturday, May 4 – HOME – Vs. Indianapolis Alley Cats – 6:00 p.m. EDT
Saturday, May 11 – HOME – Vs. Chicago Wildfire – 6:00 p.m. EDT
Saturday, May 18 – HOME – Vs. Detroit Mechanix – 6:00 p.m. EDT
Saturday, May 25 – HOME – Vs. Minnesota Wind Chill – 6:00 p.m. EDT
Saturday, June 15 – Away – At Detroit Mechanix – 5:45 p.m. EDT
Saturday, June 22 – HOME – Vs. Madison Radicals – 6:00 p.m. EDT
Saturday, June 29 – HOME – Vs. Indianapolis Alley Cats – 6:00 p.m. EDT
Saturday, July 6 – Away – At Detroit Mechanix – 4:00 p.m. EDT
Saturday, July 13 – Away – At Chicago Wildfire – 6:00 p.m. CDT
Sunday, July 14 – Away – At Indianapolis Alley Cats – 4:00 p.m. EDT

Ultimate Clipboard: This summer the inaugural AUDL All-Star Game is Saturday, June 8, at Breese Stevens Field in Madison, WI.

You can catch the Black and Gold on AUDL.TV (subscription service), select Pittsburgh Thunderbirds as your preferred team, and gain access to every contest.

Plan to take in a home game by aquiring your tickets online here. This season the T-birds call J.C Stone Field in Allison Park, PA their home nest.

When it comes to gathering after the match, the Thunderbirds 2019 post-game bar sponsor is the Bonefish Grill in McCandless.

Top Of The Article Photo Courtesy Of The Pittsburgh Thunderbirds