Greg Perschke, who begins his second season as head baseball coach for the Thunder, has added a junior varsity team, with a 20-game schedule, beginning this year. Perschke brings considerable experience to the Thunder teams. He graduated from the University of New Orleans and was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1989 and spent nine years in the minor leagues. 

            The Thunder finished 18-23 overall last season and were one game out of third place in the Wolverine Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) (12-12).  Despite losing several seniors to graduation, (Jason Worrell, RHP; Jason Meier, RHP; Dustin Strickler, OF; Eric Flatt, OF; and Joe Gyurasics, RHP) the Thunder return a solid core of upperclassmen, including senior Todd Babij, who was an All-Conference outfielder last season.  Also returning this season are All-Conference Honorable Mention selections senior Aaron Eberhard, 1B; senior Ray Sterling, RHP; and junior Chris Spaulding, LHP. Other key returnees include senior Judd Reidel, C, and juniors Justin Hole, OF; Kris Kristich, UT; Scott Hammer, OF; Mike Sattler, IF; Jon Walmer, IF; and Nate Whewell RHP. The returning sophomores include Jon Lies, IF; Marc Baird, IF; Sam Collins, OF; Brody Duncan, OF; Ryan Funkhouser, RHP; John Kimmerly, RHP; Michael Dean, IF; Jake Lemish, C; Jed Roberts, LHP; Kyle Snyder, IF; Justin Sturgeon, LHP; and Mark Urbanski, IF.

            Coach Perschke also has a solid recruiting class entering the Thunder program this fall. These freshmen include Ryan Tropp, RHP, South Bend Washington H.S., South Bend, IN; Michael Howard, IF, Logansport H.S., Logansport, IN; Brian Bego, C, Cathedral H.S., Fishers, IN; Kyle Aldrich, IF, Hamilton H.S., Hamilton, IN; Ken Schlosser, OF, Mott CC, Flint, MI; Adam Beltz, LHP, Hicksville H.S., Hicksville, OH; Devin Dewitt, IF, Eastern Howard H.S., Greentown, IN; Brandon Hull, RHP, South Bend Adams H.S., South Bend, IN; Adam Koenig, IF, Botkins H.S., Botkins, OH; Greg Mitskavich, IF, Lake Catholic H.S., Euclid, OH; Mike Salmon, RHP, Elkhart Central H.S., Elkhart, IN; Tim Schumaker, LHP, New Prairie H.S., New Carlisle, IN; Kyle Stoops, IF/RHP, Elkhart Central H.S., Elkhart, IN; and Brad Belaire, OF, Pulaski H.S., Pulaski, WI.

            The 2003 squad will be in contention this year and will be fighting for the top three spots for the NAIA Regional in May. The Thunder missed the NAIA Regional by one game last year.