Moreland solid as Big Train salutes Shirley Povich

Big Train 7, Express 3

Box Score │ 

Appropriately enough on the night we paid tribute to Shirley Povich in anticipation of his 100th birthday, the weather was perfect, the house was full, and the Big Train won. With a 7-3 victory over the Rockville Express in front of 756 fans at Povich Field, the Big Train improved its season record to 3-3.

As he has in all three Bethesda victories, leadoff batter Jonnie Knoble (San Francisco) got the Big Train on the board in the first inning. Knoble was hit by a pitch, advanced on a single by Ken Beamer (Findlay), and scored on an RBI single by Rhett Teller (St. Leo). Drew Carson (Southern Mississippi) reached on a fielder's choice and scored on an RBI single by Greg Lemon (Salisbury). At this point, Brian Tracy (UC-Santa Barbara), the Rockville starting pitcher, settled in and kept the game at 2-0 through five innings.

A Rockville error and walks in the sixth gave the Big Train a 4-0 advantage. In the seventh, the Southern Mississippi bats produced three more runs for a 7-0 lead. Carson led off the seventh with a solo-home run down the left field line. Walks to Bryan Thomas (Virginia Tech) and Dan Terpak (Florida Atlantic) set up a two RBI single by Trey Cuevas (Southern Mississippi).

Bethesda's starting pitcher Kenny Moreland (Christopher Newport) allowed only two hits in seven innings of work while striking out eight. Rockville got to Big Train reliever Derek Caldwell (Rider) for three runs in the ninth powered by a two RBI single by Scott Ericson (Mansfield).

Rockville Express (2-4) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 -- 3 5 2
Bethesda Big Train (3-3) 2 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 - -- 7 10 0
WP: Moreland; LP: Tracy
HR: Carson (BBT); 2B: Kearney (RE)
Attendance: 756
Time: 2 hours, 50 minutes

Big Train Notes: The capacity crowd at Povich Field set a Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League attendance record and ate its way through five humongous layer cakes to celebrate Shirley Povich's 100th birthday coming up in July. Former Washington Post sports editor George Solomon and David Povich signed a new collection of Povich's best writing and each threw out a ceremonial first pitch before the game. Each fan received a limited edition collectors card of Shirley Povich courtesy of game night sponsor Grossberg Company (Shirley Povich's accountant).

Patrick Deem performs the National Anthem on his trumpet before a packed house at Povich Field