Big Train Defeats Orioles in Showdown of League's Best
by Bryan Oringher

In front of a sellout crowd of 970 at Shirley Povich field on a beautiful Saturday night, the Big Train continued to close the gap on the first-place Youse's Orioles by defeating the Orioles themselves, 5-4, in a battle of the top two teams in the Cal Ripken Sr. League. The Big Train used a balanced offensive approach and a terrific pitching effort to win their third consecutive game and improve to only three games behind the Orioles in the race for first place.

In the top of the first inning, it looked as if Big Train starter Keith Moreland (Charlotte) had finally met his match in the potent offense of the Orioles. After L.J. Hoes walked to leadoff the game and later stole second, Chris Jackson drove him in with an RBI double that nearly left the ballpark. Later, after Justin Bour singled to advance Jackson to third and later stole second himself, Alex Buchholz drove both in with a single to give the Orioles an early 3-0 lead.

Instead, Moreland proved to be dominant the rest of his outing, keeping the Orioles scoreless for the next four innings while giving up only two hits as the Big Train mounted their comeback. Moreland left after going five strong innings, allowing only 3 runs on 5 hits to improve to 3-0 on the season, and gave way to reliever Brett Smalley (Middle Tennessee State), who continued to stymie the Orioles' offense.

After the Orioles scored three runs in the top of the first, it did not take long for the Big Train to get on the scoreboard. Up against Justin Grimm, a 13th round draft pick by the Boston Red Sox in the MLB Amateur Draft, the Big Train were not intimidated. In the bottom of the second, Eli Boike (Michigan State) grounded into what looked like a routine double-play ball. Instead, the throw from Orioles' shortstop Chris Jackson sailed into right field, allowing a run to score and setting up runners on first and third for 3B Chris Duffy (Central Florida), who ripped a double all the way to the wall in RF, scoring two and tying the ballgame at three.

In the bottom of the third, the Big Train took the lead after Andrew Foster (Bowling Green) was hit by a pitch and later scored after Chance Harst (Southern Mississippi) ripped an RBI double to right to give the Big Train a 4-3 lead. In the bottom of the sixth, the Big Train added a huge insurance run on a Pat Minogue (Northern Illinois) RBI double to score Jon Karcich (Santa Clara), who reached after singling and put the Big Train ahead 5-3. The Orioles trimmed the lead to 5-4 on a Chris Duffy throwing error in the top of the seventh to score Alex Buchholz, who also reached on a Duffy error. However, Duffy more than made up for it with his bat. After driving in two with a double to tie the game earlier, Duffy nearly homered to the deepest part of the ballpark in the bottom of the 8th, but had to settle for another double.

In relief of Moreland, Brett Smalley came on to pitch three outstanding innings, giving up only one unearned run on one hit while striking out two. Smalley gave way to Collin Cargill (Southern Mississippi) in the top of the ninth. Cargill served up a ground-rule double to Chris Henderson with one out, but recovered and got L.J. Hoes to ground-out to Steven Leach (Jacksonville State) to end the game. Cargill earned his team-leading fourth save of the season.

Box Score

Game Notes: The Big Train welcomed Sportstalk 980 and Holly Fantaskey...The Big Train also welcomed John Kelly of the Washington Post, who ran the raffle as part of his Send a Kid to Camp program. For more information about John's program, please visit fcsdc.bigstep.com...The Big Train celebrated the 60th anniversary of the 1937 baseball all-star game at Griffith Stadium...The Big Train thank tonight's sponsors, Sunburst Electric and Coldstone Creamery. Sunburst Electric of Metro D.C. offers residential and commercial full service repair, replacement and upgrades as well as security and outdoor lighting, high-tech troubleshooting, surge protection, and home safety check-ups. Coldstone Creamery of Olney is the official ice cream provider of the Big Train...The Big Train set a new record with their raffle led by John Kelly tonight, which raised $704, about enough to send one kid to camp for a week...Tonight's non-profits were YMCA Youth and Family Services, Court Appointed Special Advocate, and Books, Bears & Bonnets...Before the game, all Big Train mothers threw out an honorary first pitch to their sons.