Big Train 7, Express 4 (10)

 │ Season Stats

The math was clear. To win the inaugural season championship of the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, the Bethesda Big Train needed to win its last three regular season games. On Saturday night, the Big Train beat the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts 7-6 in the bottom of the tenth on a walk-off RBI hit by Jonnie Knoble (San Francisco). As Monday afternoon turned to Monday night, the Rockville Express scored three times in the eighth but left a runner stranded on third in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to overtime with the light growing dim and possibilities for additional innings growing slim. But with a single, a sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk, a smash back at the pitcher, a swinging bunt, a sacrifice fly, and a passed ball, the Big Train scored three to win again and clinch at least a tie for the Ripken Senior title. A win on Tuesday night at Povich Field against the College Park Bombers would give the Big Train the title outright.

Bryan Thomas (Virginia Tech) got the Big Train on the board in the second inning, reaching on a two-base throwing error by the third baseman and scoring on an RBI single by Knoble. Ken Beamer (Findlay) and Greg Lemon (Salisbury) led off the fourth with singles and both scored when the Express pitcher picked up an attempted sacrifice bunt by Andrew Smith (San Francisco) and threw the ball way down the rightfield line.

Rockville pulled within two at 3-1 in the bottom of the fifth when Scott Blackwood (MC-Rockville) walked and scored. Knoble led off the seventh with a walk and scored on bunt singles by Beamer and Lemon and a misque by the Express first baseman. With a 4-1 lead and starting pitcher Derek Caldwell (Rider) pitching well and erasing three baserunners on doubleplays, all looked well for Bethesda.

But in the eighth, Caldwell walked the lead-off batter and gave up a single to Justin Wilson (Wright State) before being replaced by Robby Smithson (Lipscomb) who gave up a bunt single to load the bases and a two RBI single by Mike Murphy (Maryland). With the score 4-3 and the go-ahead run on first base, Rockville sent All-Star Game MVP RJ Brown (UC-Irvine) to pinch hit. Manager Sal Colangelo countered with lefty Brett Tidball (Maryland). Before his first pitch, Tidball picked-off the runner at first. Brown was walked intentionally to set up an inning ending double play. But Matt Edgecombe (Fresno State) foiled the plan with an RBI bloop to leftfield to knot the score at four. Two fly-outs ended the eighth with no further damage.

In the ninth, the Big Train went quietly 1-2-3. Tidball struck out the first batter but walked Wilson. Tidball had Wilson picked-off but the play was botched and Wilson ended up safe at second. He promptly stole third. Trey Cuevas (Southern Mississippi) hung onto a foul tipped third strike and Tidball stranded the runner 90 feet short of victory on a flyout.

Lemon started off the tenth with his fourth single of the day. Rhett Teller (Saint Leo), as the cleanup hitter, is seldom asked to bunt, but he laid down a sacrifice to move Lemon into scoring position. The Express gave Smith an intentional pass and brought in their nasty-throwing submarine reliever, Justin Segal (UC-Santa Barbara). Thomas smashed a single back at Segal to load the bases. Nick Cleckler (Jacksonville State) plated Lemon with an infield hit. Drew Carson (Southern Mississippi) scored Smith with a sacrifice fly to center. Thomas raced home on a passed ball to give Bethesda a 7-4 lead. Wyatt Stewart (Richmond), the Big Train closer, picked up his sixth save allowing two singles but no runs.

Bethesda Big Train (24-15) 0 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 3 -- 7 11 2
Rockville Express (19-20) 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 -- 4 10 3

WP: Tidball (2-1) LP: Butler (2-1) Save: Stewart (6)
2B: Knoble (BBT), Thomas (BBT)
Attendance: 71
Time: 3 hours and 4 minutes

Big Train Notes: After Monday's game, Big Train Manager Sal Colangelo had an opportunity to talk with Los Angeles Dodgers Manager Jim Tracy about Big Train alum Steve Schmoll (BT 2000; Magruder/ Maryland). Tracy said with his excellent work ethic, Schmoll should remain in the big leagues for many years to come. Tracy was in town on an off-day before the Dodgers play the Nationals a three game set starting Tuesday. Tracy's son Brian Tracy (UC-Santa Barbara) pitches for the Rockville Express.