One of the primary goals Johnny Mac Director Jim Muskopf has for the organization’s 18-U team is to get each player as much exposure as possible to college scouts.

The Thunder (14-16, 8-3 St. Louis Amateur Baseball Association) have traveled to Springfield, Omaha, Neb., and Edina, Minn., this summer with the final week of the season being played at the Fletcher Baseball Championships at the Naimoli Sports Complex in St. Petersburg, Fla.

“One of the reasons why I chose these type of tournaments is that we have several juniors on this year’s team, and we wanted to get them a lot of exposure against some of the best competition,” Muskopf said. “Fletcher is by far one of the best tournaments there is, and this is one of the youngest 18-U teams that we’ve ever had.”

Johnny Mac’s appearance in the Fletcher Baseball Championships is the team’s first since the Thunder took runner-up honors in 2004. Joe Palumbo and Tyler Aholt, who currently coach the Johnny Mac 16-U team, were members of that 2004 squad.

The Thunder took on the Ohio Glaciers Tuesday and the West Florida Outlaws Wednesday — after the Call went to press.

Johnny Mac is scheduled to face the Big Stix Gamers 18-U team of Georgia at 4:15 p.m. today — July 30.

The championship game of the Fletcher Baseball Championships will take place at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

In related news, the Thunder will send five players to the SLABA All-Star Game at 8 p.m. Sunday at T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O’Fallon.

Catcher Willie Marx, center fielder Nick Montero, designated hitter Tim Goodman and starting pitchers Brett Wolf and Bob McArthor will represent Johnny Mac on the South All-Star Team.