Big Train Drop Two to Orioles

By Will Sisco

First Game

In the first game of tonight's rain-delayed doubleheader the Bethesda Big Train lost to the Orioles 7-2. The loss dropped the Big Train to one game back of the first place Orioles.

The Orioles drew first blood, getting on the board in the top of the first inning. Shortstop Chris Jackson led off the game with a walk and then reached third on a throwing error by the Big Train. Later in the inning, Jackson came into score on a wild pitch.

In a big top half of the second inning, the Orioles stretched their lead to seven runs. Centerfielder Steven Bumbry, Jackson, third baseman Alex Buchholz, and first baseman Justin Bour all had RBI base hits as the Orioles sent ten batters to the plate, scoring six runs.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the long ball helped the Big Train to chip away at the lead. With one out in the inning, first baseman Evan Friedland (Michigan State) doubled high off the right field wall. Designated hitter Chris Duffy (Central Florida) then homered to the deepest part of the ballpark in centerfield to cut the deficit to five runs. The Big Train, however, were unable to draw any closer as the seven-inning game finished with a final score of 7-2.

Second Game

The Big Train lost the second game of the double header 10-6 in another slugfest. After their last regular season game at home the Big Train are two games back of first place.

In the second game, the Orioles got on the board first once again. Shortstop Chris Jackson led off the game with a single. Third baseman Alex Buchholz then tripled to drive in Jackson and first baseman Justin Bour singled to bring in Buchholz as the Orioles took an early 2-0 lead.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Big Train came back with a run of their own. Second baseman Bert Smith (Jacksonville State) led off the inning with a walk and reached second on a passed ball before a single off the bat of third baseman Jon Karcich (Santa Clara).

For the second straight game, the Orioles enjoyed a big second inning. The Orioles scored four runs in the inning capped off by a two-run homerun over the wall in leftfield by first baseman Justin Bour to make the score 6-1.

The Big Train came to score four runs in the bottom of the third inning to cut the lead to one. Shortstop Steven Leach (Jacksonville State) led off the inning with a single and later came in to score from third on a wild pitch. Left fielder Clay Whittemore (Jacksonville State) also singled to drive in Karcich who had reached base on a fielding error by the Orioles' third baseman. The third and fourth run of the inning came in to score on an error by the Orioles' shortstop on a hard hit groundball off the bat of catcher Eric Roof (Michigan State) with bases loaded.

In the top of the fourth inning the Orioles increased their lead with a mammoth two-run home run over the right field wall by Bour, his second of the night, and added another run in the top of the fifth inning on an RBI double by left fielder Derrik Gibson to make the score 9-5.

In the bottom of the seventh and final inning, Karcich hit a solo shot to left field to cut the lead to four but the Big Train were unable to draw any closer as the Orioles won 10-6.

Game Notes

Tonight was the final Coldstone Friday of the year. 15 lucky fans received a free ice cream. Tonight's sponsor was Chick-Fil-A. The Carl M. Freeman Foundation Non-Profit of the Night was the Manna Food Center. The Big Train finished the regular season tonight with an average league-game attendance of 706. It was the first time in Big Train history that a season had an average attendance of over 700. Chris Duffy's home run in the bottom of the fifth inning of the first game was one of just a handful in the history of Shirley Povich Field that went over the high wall in centerfield. Tonight's combined attendance was 684. As the 15,000th fan to attend a Big Train game at Povich Field this season, the Heftley family. received season tickets for next year. Tonight, Homer won his first bases race in the history of Big Train. Tonight was Big Train volunteer and host appreciation night.

First game

Orioles...160 000 0 7

Big Train...000 020 0 2

Second game

Orioles...240 211 0 10

Big Train...104 000 1 6

Box Score (Game 1)

Box Score (Game 2)