Thundering 13

The Lufkin Little League All-stars, also known as the Thundering 13, were a Little League Baseball team from Lufkin, Texas that played in the 2017 Little League World Series. The team ended runner up to the Tokyo, Japan team.

Thundering 13
Full nameLufkin Little League All-stars
Nicknames"Thundering 13"
Founded2017
Folded2017
LeagueLittle League
RegionSouthwestern United States
Based inLufkin, Texas
Head coachBud Maddox
ChampionshipsU.S. Championship
Members
SuccessorFierce 14

Several celebrities and politicians supported the team including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, baseball player Brandon Belt, and musician Aaron Watson. Support from the community led to tributes being placed in Lufkin to honor the team.

Team

The team composed of the 13 best players of 7 little league teams. The players included Chip Buchanan, Malcolm Deason, Charlie Deaton, Hunter Ditsworth, Kolby Kovar, Lance Modisette, Christian Mumphery, Zack Phipps, Mark Requena, Collin Ross, Blake Slaga, Chandler Spencer, and Clayton Wigley. Budd Maddox was the team coach and manager.[1][2]

2017 Little League World Series
Further information: 2017 Little League World Series

In the 2017 Little League World Series the team represented Southwestern United States.[3] Their first game during the World Series was held against the Great Lakes team, they won 5-1. The second game they played was against New England they won 6-3. Their first loss was played against Southeasts team, they lost 2-1. Once again, the team played New England and won 14-4. In the game to decide who the U.S. Champion was they played once again against Southeast, and won 6-5.[4] In the final game held against Japan to decide the World Champions, they lost 12-2.[5] All the games were held in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.

Support
Greg Abbott Twitter
@GregAbbott_TX

Good luck to Lufkin, Texas team in Little League World Series tomorrow at 6:30pm on ESPN #Thundering13 #LLWS @espn

August 22, 2017[6]

The team received support from the Lufkin and East Texas[1] community as well as politicians, sportsman, and other celebrities. Texas Governor Greg Abbott tweeted about his support of the team and later met them.[7] Additionally, Texas senator Ted Cruz sent a letter to the team,[8] Representative Trent Ashby supported the team and gave a speech at a ceremony,[9] and Lufkin mayor Bob Brown supported the team.[10] Baseball player Brandon Belt supported the team.[11] American country music singer Aaron Watson backed the team. The team later visited Minute Maid Park in Houston during an Astros game. The players walked out on the field and stayed in the dugout during the game.[12]

Aftermath

Fierce 14
See also: 2018 Junior League World Series

The Fierce 14 was another team created about 11 months after the 2017 victory, it was composed of many of the same players.[13] The team won the U.S. Championship in the 2018 Junior League World Series. In the World Champion title they were runner-up to Chinese Taipei team with a score of 2-0.[14]

Community tributes
Downtown Lufkin mural tributing the Thundering 13 and Fierce 14 teams

Several tributes in the Lufkin were put up to honor the Thundering 13 and the Fierce 14. In 2018, the City of Lufkin decided to put up a permanent picture of the Thundering 13 players in Morris Frank Park baseball complex. A plaque was also placed near the picture honoring community youth baseball leaders Bud Maddox, Ted Maberry, and W.A. Dempsy.[15] In 2019, the Lufkin Landscape Task Force put up a statue to honor the Thundering 13 and Fierce 14. The statue is at the Plaza between the Museum of East Texas and Pitser Garrison Convention Center in Lufkin.[16] In 2019, the Lufkin City Council voted to add a mural commenerating the Thundering 13 and Fierce 14 teams. The mural is located on the north wall of the "old penny building" in downtown Lufkin. The City of Lufkin will maintain the mural for 10 years, in accordance with the contract. Pineywoods Foundation agreed to provide $15,000 to the City of Lufkin to be used for maintenance of the mural.[17]

References
  1. Awtrey, Jeff. "'The Thundering 13': All you want to know about the Lufkin Little League All-Stars". https://www.ktre.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020. External link in |website= (help)
  2. "Japan beats Lufkin, Texas, 12-2 for Little League World Series title". Associated Press. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  3. reports, PennLive staff (25 December 2017). "How two teams from storm-damaged towns played the most memorable games of the summer". pennlive. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  4. https://www.sungazette.com/sports/2017/08/southwest-champs-come-back-to-defeat-north%E2%80%88carolina-and-earn-berth-in-championship/. Retrieved 19 January 2020. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. "| Youth Baseball | GameChanger". GameChanger.io. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  6. Greg Abbott [@GregAbbott_TX] (August 22, 2017). "Good luck to Lufkin, Texas team in Little League World Series tomorrow at 6:30pm on ESPN #Thundering13 #LLWS @espn" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. "Texas Governor Greg Abbott at the Lone Star Legislative Summit on Friday, April 13, 2018". The Daily Sentinel. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  8. "Judy Maddux". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  9. "Lufkin's "Fierce 14" brings honored after bringing home another U.S. Championship". KYTX. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  10. Patel, Khyati. "Community beaming in 'Purple Pride,' rallying behind Lufkin Little League team". https://www.ktre.com. Retrieved 18 January 2020. External link in |website= (help)
  11. Gibson, Michael. "Lufkin's Thundering 13 Fall in Little League Championship Game". 101.5 KNUE. Retrieved 18 January 2020.
  12. News, BRANDON OGDEN/The Lufkin. "Thundering 13 enjoy day at Minute Maid Park". The Lufkin Daily News. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  13. "Lufkin's Fierce 14s ready to claim Southwest Regional Tournament". www.ktre.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  14. "Fierce 14s make it back-to-back for Lufkin baseball". The Lufkin Daily News. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
  15. Beames, Caleb. "Lufkin set to honor Thundering 13, pioneers of youth baseball". https://www.ktre.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020. External link in |website= (help)
  16. Randall, Stefante. "Statue honoring Lufkin Little League and junior league on display at Pitser Garrison Convention Center". https://www.ktre.com. Retrieved 19 January 2020. External link in |website= (help)
  17. https://www.ktre.com/2019/10/01/lufkin-council-set-vote-little-league-mural/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
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