Ninth-inning homer gives Orioles first place

Orioles 1, Big Train 0

Box Score │ Season Stats

Friday night at Povich Field was about as fine a night at a ballpark as a fan could imagine. The two top teams were playing for first place. The weather was uncharacteristically crisp and cool for Bethesda in July. The stands were full, and the game was played in just over two hours. Two unbeaten pitchers were both fantastic. Each team had its chances, and there were some sensational fielding plays. The Maryland Orioles won the game 1-0 on a ninth inning home run by Danny Williams (Pittsburgh) to take over first place in the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League.

Orioles starting pitcher Bernard Robert (SE Louisiana) gave up only five singles and two walks, never letting a Big Train runner past second while striking out seven. Big Train starter Derek Caldwell (Rider) was nearly as effective. Caldwell allowed only four hits and five walks in 8 1/3 innings of work.

The Orioles managed to get runners to third in the first, fifth, and eighth innings. A 5-4-3 double play got Bethesda out of the first inning jam. Two fly balls ended the fifth. An awesome diving stop and flip to second by Big Train shortstop Andrew Smith (San Francisco) for a force out ended the eighth. With two out in the bottom of the ninth, Brett Hoeflich (Southern Mississippi) and Jonnie Knoble (San Francisco) hit back-to-back singles, but Robert induced a groundout to end the inning. Williams hit his blast into the trees beyond the leftfield fence with one out in the ninth. Greg Lemon (Salisbury) led off the bottom of the ninth with a walk. Rhett Teller fouled off pitch-after-pitch before flying out. A ground ball double play ended the game.

Maryland Orioles (15-8) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 -- 1 4 0
Bethesda Big Train (15-9) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 -- 0 5 1

WP: Robert (4-0) LP: Caldwell (2-1)
HR: Williams (MO) (1)
Attendance: 720
Time: 2 hours and 10 minutes

Big Train Notes: The Orioles won the first two matchups of the season. The Big Train won the next three. Friday night's game evens the season series at three games apiece with two left to play... Robert, who beat the Train on opening night, pronounces his name in the French manner (ROW-BEAR)... FAB Electric was the sponsor of Friday night's game.