Big Train Takes Down Bombers 11-4
By Will Cisco

On a warm, sunny 80 degree Sunday night, the Bethesda Big Train beat the College Park Bombers 11-4. Every batter in the lineup for Big Train either had a hit or scored a run in the slugfest. It was the first win for the Big Train in four games against the Bombers this season.

The Big Train got on the board early in the bottom of the first inning. After the Bombers' starting pitcher Mike Proctor retired the first two Big Train batters to start the inning, right fielder Andrew Foster (Bowling Green), designated hitter Clay Whittemore (Jacksonville State), and Jon Karcich (Santa Clara) all walked to load the bases with two outs. Foster then scored when catcher Travis Owens (Bowling Green) drew the fourth consecutive walk of the inning. Later in the inning Whittemore scored from third on a wild pitch to give the Big Train a 2-0 lead.

In the third inning, the Big Train tacked on a third run. Shortstop Steven Leach (Jacksonville State) led off the inning with a walk and then reached second on a wild pitch. Owens then drove in Leach with an single up the middle into center field, his second RBI of the night.

In the top of the fourth inning, the Bombers came back with two runs of their own. Shortstop Matt Bodenchuk and third baseman Mike Celenza were both hit by pitches to start their rally. Bodenchuck then scored on an RBI single off the bat of second baseman Cody Collins. The next batter, designated hitter Ryan Bottegalsingled in Celenza but Foster prevented a second run from scoring when he gunned down Collins at the plate with a great throw from right field.

The Big Train scored two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to give them a three-run lead once again. Right fielder Eli Boike (Michigan State) reached second base on an error to start the inning when an infield popup was lost in the lights. Third baseman Chris Duffy(Central Florida) was then hit by a pitch and center fielder Pat Minogue (Northern Illinois) reached first on a bunt single to load the bases with no outs. Second baseman Bert Smith (Jacksonville State) drove in Boike on a single up the middle and Duffy scored on a confusing play in which the Bombers' catcher thought it was a force play at the plate. Since the infield fly rule was called, however, Duffy needed to have been tagged so his run counted.

In the fifth inning, the Big Train bats broke the game open. Karcich and Boike both
singled and Duffy was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game to load the bases once again. A sacrifice fly and a fielding error then drove in two runs. Later in
the inning, Leach hit a towering three-run homer over the right field wall to give the Big Train a 10-2 lead.

Starting pitcher Brian Anderson (San Francisco) earned the win for the Big Train. In his five innings of work, Anderson allowed two runs on four hits. He struck out five and did not walk a batter.

Game Notes: Tonight was the first game part of Parents Weekend. All Big Train players' moms received a Big Train visor. Tonight was also the fourth Coldstone Friday. Coldstone Creamery provided Big Train fans with 15 free ice creams. The sponsor of tonight's game was Ourisman Honda. Tonight's Carl M. Freeman Foundation Non-Profits of the Night were Bethesda Cares and the Silver Spring Interfaith Housing Coalition. Tonight's attendance was 630.

Bombers...000 201 010

Big Train...201 250 10-

Win: Brian Anderson
Loss: Mike Proctor

Box Score