BIG TRAIN BATS STAY HOT, BEAT ORIOLES 9-5 BEFORE STANDING-ROOM-ONLY CROWD AT POVICH SATURDAY Box Score

A standing-room-only crowd of 838 showed up at Povich Field on Saturday night with many hoping for another instant classic in the mold of Friday night's thriller. It wasn't to be. While the Orioles again jumped in front early, this time on the strength of a lead-off double against the fence in left centerfield by Allan Smaltz, the Big Train bats began to pour it on in the second inning and Bethesda led by 8-1 through five. Two doubles by Chris Taylor (UNC-Charlotte), who was 4-for-5 on the night, and a two-run triple by Steven Leach (Jacksonville State) sparked the Big Train offense. After giving up the lead-off double in the first, Big Train starting pitcher Robby Smithson (Lipscomb) pitched four scoreless innings. The Orioles got back in the game scoring two runs in the sixth off reliever Alex Pepe (Florida Atlantic) and two more in the seventh courtesy of a home run by Justin McClanahan (Louisville) off reliever Brian Anderson (San Francisco). Anderson settled in and retired the last eight batters, including three in a row by strikeout, to preserve the win for Bethesda.


Bethesda Big Train (19-9) 0 1 2 3 2 0 0 0 1 -- 9 15 1
Youse's Orioles (18-11) 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 -- 5 9 4


WP: Smithson (1-0)
LP: Bach (0-2)
HR: McClanahan (YO)
3B: Leach (BBT)
2B: Smaltz (YO), Taylor (two) (BBT), Kight (YO)
Attendance: 838
Time: 2 hours, 38 minutes


Big Train Notes: The Big Train played as the visitors Saturday night at Povich Field. Six of the eight contests between the teams are scheduled at Povich with the Orioles designated as the home team in two of those six (next Sunday July 23 is the other)... Here's why the Big Train pitcher and manager were ejected in the seventh inning of Saturday night's game: After a wild pitch over the head of a Big Train batter in the fifth inning, the Orioles bench was warned by the umpire. When the Big Train pitcher hit the leadoff batter with the first pitch in the seventh inning, the pitcher and our manager were ejected. Neither will be eligible to participate in the first game of Sunday's doubleheader.


It was Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad Night: A Big Train Tribute to Gus Anastasi. The Rescue Squad brought several of its finest vehicles to display. And the Eastern Women's Baseball Conference helped us honor the 75th anniversary of the day in 1931 that the amazing Jackie Mitchell struck out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. They showed a video of Jackie striking out the Babe. Thanks to Trawick Associates for sponsoring Saturday night's game.