Big Train Fall Twice to Express

by Michael Groeneman and Bryan Oringher

On a steamy Saturday afternoon, the Bethesda Big Train took on the Rockville Express in a doubleheader. The Big Train were coming off two heartbreaking losses at home against Youse's Maryland Orioles Friday night and were forced to play 4 games in a span of around 20 hours. However, the Big Train continued their skid going into the playoffs, and lost the first game in heartbreaking fashion before getting shut out in the second game to fall to the third seed going into the Cal Ripken, Sr. League Playoffs.

Game One
Ben Tootle (Jacksonville State) started well for the Big Train, allowing no runs in the first five innings of the game. Unfortunately for the Big Train, Express Pitcher Joe Miller also threw five shutout innings before the Big Train were able to score in the sixth.

Jon Karcich (Santa Clara) got the Big Train offense started in the sixth with a walk and aggressive baserunning. He advanced to second on a throwing error by the catcher and then attempted to steal third. It looked like Karcich would be thrown out by a few steps, but the third baseman dropped the ball, which rolled into foul territory. Karcich was then able to score on the error, putting the Big Train on the board first.

The Express threatened in the bottom of the sixth. Eric Allen walked and then stole second, and Beau Brooks also walked to put runners on first and second with two outs. The Big Train made the first pitching change by either team, bringing in Matt Hiserman (Santa Clara). Both runners advanced to second and third, respectively, after one of Hiserman's pitches sailed to the screen. Glen Kiture then flied out to right, ending the inning and saving the Big Train pitching staff's shutout for the moment.

The Express' Joe Miller stayed on to pitch in the seventh. In the top of the inning, 1B Evan Friedland (Michigan State) hit a towering home run that cleared the right field fence easily to give the Big Train an insurance run.

In the bottom of the seventh, Paul-Michael Klingsberg came in to pinch hit for Mark Tracy, and answered Evan Friedland's home run by hitting his own bomb to right field, cutting the Big Train lead to 2-1. Steve Babin hit a ground rule double to center with two outs, and Big Train manager Sal Colangelo promptly replaced Matt Hiserman with closer Collin Cargill (Southern Mississippi). It all came down to Steve Domecus, who hit a line drive double to left field to score Babin and tie the game at 2. Eric Allen then hit a blooper that fell right in front of RF Andrew Foster (Bowling Green) to score Babin and give the Express the walkoff victory, 3-2.

Big Train: 000.001.1
Express: 000.000.3

Game Two
The Big Train tried to get back on track after their heartbreaking walk-off loss in the first game of the doubleheader. Unfortunately, they were unable to avoid losing their fourth straight, falling 7-0 to the Express.

In the top of the first inning, Steven Leach (Jacksonville State) and Clay Whittemore (Jacksonville State) both hit infield singles that bounced off the pitcher. Chris Duffy then walked to load bases with two outs. Unfortunately for the Big Train, Evan Friedland (Michigan State) grounded to the second baseman to end the inning with three men on base.

Jimmy Saris struggled with his control, allowing plenty of long fly balls in 4 innings and 80 pitches of work.

In the bottom of the first inning, Bruce Alter walked and then stole second to start things off for the Express. Catcher Travis Babin also walked to put runners on first and second with nobody out. Big Train Catcher Eric Roof then dropped a pitch and was charged with a passed ball, allowing both runners to advance. After Steve Domecus struck out, Eric Allen crushed a double to right field to score both Alter and Babin. After one, the Express were on top 2-0.

In the bottom of the third, Travis Babin hit a long double over the head of LF Clay Whittemore to start off the inning. Steve Domecus was then hit by a pitch, and Eric Allen walked to load the bases with nobody out. Mike Zuanich hit a long sacrifice fly to center field, which also advanced runners to second and third with the Express now leading 3-0. Beau Brooks then hit a long fly of his own for another sacrifice fly. Eventually, Paul-Michael Klingsberg was caught in a rundown after trying to steal second, ending the inning, but not before the Express had taken a 4-0 lead.

The Express added to their total in the bottom of the fourth, with two doubles, a single and a sacrifice fly contributing three runs, making the score 7-0.

The Big Train loaded the bases in the top of the seventh, but were unable to break Kevin Fuqua's shutout. Fuqua was lights-out for the Express, throwing a complete game shutout while allowing only five hits.

Big Train: 000.000.0
Express: 202.300.0

Box Score (Game 1)

Box Score (Game 2)