Big Train Wins Sixth Straight


The Bethesda Big Train just cannot be stopped right now. On Monday night at Herndon High School, the Big Train shutout the Herndon Braves 3-0. The victory was the team's second consecutive shutout, and it was their sixth straight win.

The Big Train started well on the offensive side. In the first inning, second baseman Bert Smith (Jacksonville State) started off the game with a single past the shortstop, and later stole second base. On a wild pitch by Herndon starting pitcher Paul Rodriguez with catcher Chance Harst (Southern Mississippi) at the plate, Smith scored from third base to give Bethesda an opening 1-0 lead.

In the fifth inning, the Big Train once again took advantage of wild pitches. Rodriguez once again threw wildly with right fielder Andrew Foster (Bowling Green) at bat, resulting in DH Eli Boike (Michigan State) scoring from third base and Smith advancing to second. Later that inning, Rodriguez once again threw a wild pitch with Harst at the plate, and Smith scored from third with Foster moving to second base to bring the lead to 3-0.

Bethesda starting pitcher Jimmy Saris (Georgetown) pitched very well tonight, working a no-hitter until the fifth inning, when Braves' shortstop Andrew Thal laid down a bunt for a single. Saris ended up pitching five innings and only allowing two hits and no runs, while striking out five batters.

The Big Train also managed to get out of innings leaving Braves' runners on base. In the fifth inning, with Saris pitching, the Big Train got out of a jam with an out at home plate, leaving three runners on base. A similar situation occurred in the seventh inning with relief pitcher Matt Hiserman (Santa Clara) on the mound, when Bethesda got out of the inning with two men left on base after a strikeout of Braves' third baseman Joe Palumbo.

The Big Train closer Collin Cargill (Southern Mississippi) earned the save for Bethesda tonight after pitching a scoreless and hitless ninth inning and striking out one.

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