Big Train Sweeps Doubleheader, Closes Gap on Orioles
by Brian Oringher

The Big Train seem to know exactly when to get hot. After a six-game win streak earlier this summer, the Big Train will look to expand on that after winning their fourth and fifth consecutive games in a doubleheader sweep of the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts at Montgomery Blair Stadium on Sunday Night to cut Youse's Orioles' league lead to only two games. The Big Train excelled in nearly all aspects of the two games, and continue to play fundamentally sound baseball in the thick of the league race, winning the games 9-4 and 4-2.

Game One

Connor Hoehn (Alabama) took the mound for the Big Train, and started off lights-out. Hoehn proved why he was a 21st round draft pick by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2007 MLB amateur draft, facing the minimum 12 batters in his first four innings while giving up only one single, which was then erased on a double play, and striking out four. However, in the fifth, Hoehn tired after getting two quick outs, allowing the next four batters to reach base before giving way to Colin Cargill (Southern Mississippi).

Hoehn left after 4.2 innings while giving up 3 hits and 3 runs with 4 strikeouts. Cargill came on to earn the victory after pitching 2.1 innings, giving up only one unearned run on 3 hits.

The real story of the game, however, was the slugfest put on by the Big Train offense. Up and down the order, everyone contributed. All Big Train hitters reached base, and all had a hit, except for Quinn Ewert (Michigan State), who walked twice and later earned the save in the second game. Bert Smith (Jacksonville State) continued to anchor the Big Train offense by scoring 3 runs in the leadoff spot, and Jon Karcich (Santa Clara) continued his tremendous hitting as of late, going 3-4.

Things didn't look good for the Big Train going into the sixth inning, trailing 3-2. So far in the game, the story was wasted opportunities for the Big Train. The Big Train left 9 batters on base through the first four innings, including the bases-loaded in the top of the third. Thunderbolts' manager John Duffy turned to Jeremy Zarou (LaSalle) after Jake Laber (North Dakota State) pitched 5 solid innings. Zarou got Quinn Ewert to ground out, and then should have got Bert Smith to ground out as well, but Smith reached on an error by shortstop Michael Parker (Wingate), one of two for him in the game. Oddly, Duffy decided to take Zarou out and called for Wes Cogdill (Gardner-Webb). Cogdill was able to strike out Steven Leach (Jacksonville State) looking, making it seem as if Duffy's decision was justified.

However, Duffy then continued to display the "MLB manager" epidemic. After Cogdill struck out Leach, Russo decided to switch things up again and managed to find the one reliever in his bullpen who didn't have his best stuff, Clay Bartlett (Columbia). First, Andrew Foster (Bowling Green) doubled to left field, scoring Smith to tie the game at three. Chance Harst (Southern Mississippi) then scored Foster on a bloop single to put the Big Train ahead 4-3. Jon Karcich then followed with a single to advance Harst to second, and Bartlett then hit Eli Boike (Michigan State) with a pitch to load the bases. Pat Minogue (Northern Illinois) then drilled a bases-clearing double to deep centerfield to put the Big Train ahead 7-3, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple, the only out Bartlett was able to get in his outing.

The Big Train then added two more runs in the top of the seventh after Chris Duffy (Central Florida) singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bert Smith lined a double to left-center to score Duffy, and then Steven Leach doubled to right to score Smith, putting the Big Train comfortably ahead, 9-3.

Game 1 - Box Score


Game Two

Jacksonville State won game two of the doubleheader for the Big Train.

Well, perhaps it wasn't just them, but manager Sal Colangelo sure owes Jacksonville State manager Jim Case a "thank you" for sending him four of their finest players, all of which shined in the starting lineup for the Big Train tonight.

Ben Tootle (Jacksonville State) took the mound for the Big Train, and turned in a fantastic effort. Tootle fell only one out short of pitching the Big Train's first complete game of the season, but the tying run game to the plate so Sal Colangelo turned to Quinn Ewert (Michigan State) to close it out. Tootle finished with 6.2 IP, giving up only 2 runs on 7 hits and one walk. Tootle dazzled with his pinpoint control and sinking pitches, getting fifteen of his twenty outs on ground balls and not walking a batter until the seventh inning.

The Big Train needed only one strong inning to let their offense shine, and that was more than enough for Tootle. With one out in the top of the sixth, Bert Smith (Jacksonville State) laid a beautiful bunt down the third base-line for a single and advanced to second on a Sam Goss throwing error clearly caused by Smith's speed. Steven Leach (Jacksonville State) then ripped a double to deep rightfield, scoring Smith and giving the Big Train a 1-0 lead. After Andrew Foster (Bowling Green) was hit by a pitch and Jon Karcich (Santa Clara) singled to load the bases, sure enough, Jacksonville State's Clay Whittemore picked the perfect time to emerge from his slump and ripped a double to the wall in right to clear the bases and give the Big Train a commanding 4-0 lead.

Quinn Ewert, who played designated hitter for the Big Train in the first game, came on to get the winning run at the plate Nick Siega-Riz to ground out to pick up his first save of the season as the Big Train won 4-2.

Game 2 - Box Score

Game Notes: The attendance was estimated at 230...The temperature at first pitch was 93 degrees...Chance Harst's (Southern Mississippi) brother, Clay won the nightly "Races Around the Bases" contest...The Big Train's next home game is Friday, July 13th, against the Thunderbolts.