Photo Copyright 2007 Lisa Kammerman

Big Train Splits Doubleheader With Express!

First Game

by Will Sisco

On a warm Saturday afternoon, the Big Train got back to their winning ways when they beat the Rockville Express 3-1 in the first game of a doubleheader.

The Express took the lead early, scoring a run in the top of the first inning. Second baseman Pete Fatse (Connecticut) reached base to lead off the game when he was hit by a pitch. Fatse then stole second before tagging up and advancing to third on a deep fly ball to right off the bat of right fielder Mike Zuanich (UC-Santa Barbara). Fatse scored on a sacrifice groundout to short by catcher Beau Brooks (Troy).

In the bottom of the third inning, the Big Train came back with three runs of their own. Third baseman Chris Duffy (Central Florida) led off the inning with a walk. Back-to-back bunt singles by second baseman Bert Smith (Jacksonville State) and shortstop Steven Leach (Jacksonville State) loaded the bases for the Big Train with no outs. Duffy then scored on an RBI fielders choice to short by right fielder Andrew Foster (Bowling Green). A sacrifice fly to center off the bat of catcher Chance Harst (Southern Mississippi) drove in Smith for the second out of the inning. Left fielder Clay Whittemore (Jacksonville State) then doubled off the right field wall driving in Foster to make the score 3-1.

Starting pitcher Keith Mooreland (Charlotte) pitched very well for the Big Train, allowing just one run on two hits and striking out three in his six innings of work. In relief, Matt Hiserman (Santa Clara) earned his second save of the season pitching a hitless seventh inning.

Express...100 000 0
Big Train..003 000 0

WP: Keith Mooreland
LP: Dan Francis
S: Matt Hiserman

Box Score (Game 1)

Second Game

By David Biel

In the middle of the fifth inning, with the Bethesda Big Train down 8-2 to the Rockville Express in the second game of the doubleheader it looked hopeless for the Big Train. However, Bethesda fought their way back from the six-run deficit, and forced the game into extra innings in the seven-inning game. Unfortunately, the Express offense was just too much for the Big Train, and Bethesda ended up losing 12-10 to prevent a doubleheader sweep.

The Big Train started the game on the right side. In the bottom of the third inning, left fielder Eli Boike (Michigan State) began with a double to deep left field. This lead to a fielder's choice by second baseman Bert Smith (Jacksonville State) to drive in Boike to make the score 1-0 in favor of Bethesda.

After a one-run top of the fourth inning by the Express, the Big Train answered right back the next inning. After DH Chance Harst (Southern Mississippi) walked and later advanced to third base, a sacrifice fly by first baseman Evan Friedland (Michigan State) drove in Harst to give the Big Train a 2-1 lead.

However, it was a six-run fifth inning by Rockville that dug the Big Train into a deep hole. Starting pitcher Mitch Herold (Central Florida) left the game in the middle of that inning. Herold pitched 4 1/3 inning for Bethesda, and gave up four runs on five hits and struck out eight.

Even when down seven runs, the Big Train refused to give up. Bethesda scored four runs in the next half inning to put the score at 8-6. The runs included RBI hits by Smith, shortstop Steven Leach (Jacksonville State), and an RBI sacrifice fly from Harst.

The next inning, the Express responded immediately with a solo home run over the right field wall by left fielder Kevin Keith to raise the score to 9-6.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, with the Express three outs from a win, the Big Train fought back to tie the game at nine. Harst started the comeback with an RBI double to deep center field to score Leach from third base. Later that inning, with an 0-2 count, catcher Travis Owens (Bowling Green) to center field to score right fielder Andrew Foster (Bowling Green) and make the Express-lead only one run. Later that inning, pinch hitter Clay Whittemore (Jacksonville State) tied the game at nine with an infield single to score Harst.

Once again, in the eighth inning, Rockville immediately responded right back. The Express scored three runs in the inning to raise the score to 12-9 in favor of Rockville. Once again, the Big Train would not go down quietly. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Leach singled to right field to score Boike with two outs. Unfortunately, the Big Train could not produce any more scoring, and lost to the Express 12-10 in eight innings.

Rockville Express: 000.171.03 12 10 1
Bethesda Big Train: 001.140.31 10 12 2

WP: JR McCallister
LP: Mike Matta
S: Travis Babin

Box Score (Game 2)

Game Notes: Tonight the Bethesda Big Train welcomed the musical group the Washington Revels who entertained fans in between games as well as the Leon Day Foundation, an organization that works to bring baseball back to inner cities. The Carl M. Freeman Foundation Non-Profit of the Night was the Rockville Baseball Association. Tonight's sponsor was Text Design.