Big Train Shuts Down Thunderbolts 14-0
By David Biel

On Sunday night in front of 630 fans at Shirley Povich Field, the Big Train rolled to a 14-0 shutout against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts for their fifth straight win. With the help of seven Thunderbolts' errors and numerous good plays in the field for Bethesda, ten Big Train hitters got at least one hit each in the victory and the pitchers combined to pitch nine scoreless innings while only allowing five hits.

The Big Train swung the bats well early starting with an infield single by second baseman Bert Smith (Jacksonville State)to begin the bottom of the first inning. After Smith stole second, he later scored as catcher Chance Harst (Southern Mississippi)reached first base on an error by Silver Spring-Takoma shortstop Mitchell Levine.

The Big Train offense continued with a big third inning. The offensive explosion began with an RBI single off the bat of first baseman Evan Friedland (Michigan State) to drive in shortstop Steven Leach (Jacksonville State). In the same inning centerfielder Pat Minogue (Northern Illinois) drove in right fielder Andrew Foster (Bowling Green)on an RBI single to left field. Third baseman Chris Duffy (Central Florida) increased the Big Train lead after he launched a two-run double to left field that drove in leftfielder Clay Whittemore (Jacksonville State) and Friedland to give the Big Train a commanding 5-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Big Train further extended their lead with a line drive single by DH Eli Boike (Michigan State) to drive in Friedland from third base. Later that inning, Minogue scored on a wild pitch by Silver Spring-Takoma pitcher Sean Swetnam to increase the lead to seven runs.

Even with a very large lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Big Train offense just wouldn't go away. The Big Train scored seven runs in that inning alone, including RBI hits from Harst, Friedland, Minogue and Boike, to go up 14-0 against the Thunderbolts.

Starting pitcher Connor Hoehn (Alabama)earned the win for the Bethesda Big Train tonight, pitching five strong innings, allowing only two hits and striking out six. Relief pitchers Brian Anderson (San Francisco) and Mike Matta (Mount St. Mary's) combined to pitch four scoreless innings and striking out two batters.

Silver Spring-Tacoma Thunderbolts..000..000..000..0.5.7
Bethesda Big Train...................104..020..70X..14.14.0

WP: Connor Hoelm
LP: Matt Trent

Box Score

Game notes: Tonight was WMAL night with Chris Berry. It was also Takoma-Silver Spring Babe Ruth Baseball night... The Big Train also welcomed Paul Dickson for seminar on keeping score before the game... The Big Train also welcomed ESPN's Tim Kurkjian... Tonight's sponsor was The Bean Bag... The next game at Povich Field is against the U.S. Military All-Stars on Tuesday June 26th at 7:30 p.m.