Express 3, Big Train 1

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By Andy Ireland
Big Train Staff Writer

The Rockville Express came to Povich Field Wednesday night tied for the worst record in the CRSL, but made a argument that they can compete with anyone. Rockville outplayed the home team and beat the Big Train 3-1, winning for the second straight time against the Bethesda Boys of Summer. The Express no-hit the Big Train in their previous victory on Tuesday July 5 at Knights Field.

Big Train starting pitcher Kenny Moreland (Christopher Newport) allowed the Express to strike first by giving up two well-executed runs in the second inning. Two singles by Matt Edgecombe (Fresno State) and Steve Braun (Pierce College) lead to a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners, who eventually scored on a Justin Wilson (Wright State) sacrifice fly and a Steve Blackwood (Montgomery College) single. Rockville added another run in the sixth inning on a perfect suicide squeeze by Blackwood.

The Big Train picked up its only run in the bottom of the third inning without getting a hit. Express pitcher Ad Olbrychowski (Pepperdine) walked Jonnie Knoble (San Francisco) and Andrew Smith (San Francisco) before Greg Lemon (Salisbury) reached on an error by the second baseman. Knoble scurried home on the misplayed ball to give Bethesda hope. The Rockville bullpen quickly destroyed that hope with excellent pitching by Kyle Brown (Golden West), Justin Segal (UC-Santa Barbara) and winning pitcher Billy Butler (Moore Park College).

The difference in the game was doing the little things to score runs with runners on base. Rockville was effective in plating runners in scoring position while the Big Train consistently left runners stranded. Bethesda left ten runners on base; seven of those ten were in scoring position.

"We need to take a better approach [to hitting with runners on base]." Big Train manager Sal Colangelo said, "we'll be working on shortening our swings in the next few days."

Despite the loss, the Big Train got another solid performance from the pitching staff, most notably Kenny Moreland who picked up his third loss of the season. In seven strong innings, Moreland allowed three runs, struck out four and scattered ten hits. Relief pitcher Steve Stone (Mount St. Mary's) pitched a nearly perfect eighth and ninth innings surrendering only one hit. "Moreland and Stone pitched well tonight," Colangelo said, "we expect to win with that level of performance."

Big Train Notes: Screech, the mascot of the Washington Nationals, was Wednesday night's headliner at Povich Field... Kids from Linkages to Learning were given tickets by our game night sponsor, Trawick & Associates.

Rockville Express (10-14) 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 11 1
Bethesda Big Train (16-10) 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 4 0

WP: Butler (3-0); LP: Moreland (4-3); Save: Segal (4)
2B: Braun (RE); Cuevas (BBT); Carson (BBT)
Attendance: 434
Time: 2 hours, 37 minutes