Bullpen Carries Big Train in 6-4 Victory

Thursday, June 18, 2009
by Zach Stone, Seth Ross, and Jason Krakower
e-mail the Big Train writers at writers@bigtrain.org!

On Thursday night, the Big Train faced an unfamiliar situation: they trailed at home. In the two prior home games this season, the Big Train won in commanding fashion without ever falling behind.

The Big Train offense got on the board early, scratching across a run in the first inning. Player of the Game, Connor Bernatz (San Francisco) led off the game with a double to deep right-centerfield. After advancing to third on a balk, Bernatz came around to score on an RBI groundout by Mike Celenza (Salisbury).

The Thunderbolts scored the first runs for the opposition at Shirley Povich this season in the second inning with a three-run homer, but they could not hold it long as the Big Train offense got back to work.

"Our guys play every pitch every inning," Big Train manager Sal Colangelo said. "We have the offensive power that we're not out of the game even if we're down six or seven."

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Big Train had their own three-run inning to take a 4-3 lead. Celenza and Danny Stienstra (San Jose State) led off the inning with back-to-back singles, and CRSCBL Hitter of the Week Jarrod Parks (Mississippi State) delivered with a double to leftfield. Luke Adkins (Mississippi State) and Jordan King (Meridian CC) followed with RBIs of their own, on a single and a sacrifice fly.

The Thunderbolts tied the game at 4-4 in the top of the fifth inning, but the Big Train retook the lead in the bottom of the inning. Bernatz led off the inning with another double, and after Celenza was hit by a pitch, Bernatz stole third.

Stienstra reached first base on an error, allowing Bernatz to score the winning run from third.

The Big Train added an insurance run in the sixth inning to finish the scoring at 6-4.

The Big Train bullpen shut down the T'bolts offense as relievers James LoPresti (Sonoma), Mike Matta (Mount Saint Mary's), and Nolan Rudman (Ventura) pitched 4.2 scoreless innings, striking out five Thunderbolt hitters.

"Nolan is a guy you want to have the ball in the ninth inning when the game is on the line and you have a chance to win," Colangelo said. "I feel confident with Matta in the 7th and 8th and Rudman in the ninth that the job is going to get done."

With the win, the Big Train move to 9-2, one game ahead of the second-place Maryland Redbirds (7-2).

"We're really starting to gel," Colangelo said.

Game Notes: The non-profits of the night were KEEN and the Jewish Council for the Aging...Tonight's attendance was 568...Tonight was Dave and Buster's "Football Fanatic Night"; each fan received a $10 Power Card upon entering, and all fans received another $5 card since the Big Train scored in the fifth inning for Dave & Buster's POWERS the Big Train...The School-of-the Night was Wood Acres Elementary School...Tonight's raffle raised $214 toward rebuilding local youth ballfields...Tonight was the first appearance for James LoPresti, who earned the win.