Bethesda Big Train Summer College Baseball

301.983.1006
faninfo@bigtrain.org
P. O. Box 30306
Bethesda, MD 20824

Big Train Fall to Orioles on Opening Night, 4-1


Friday, June 6 2008
by Will Sisco
e-mail the Big Train writers at writers@bigtrain.org!
Box Score

On a beautiful, 81 degree Friday evening, the Bethesda Big Train fell to Youse's Maryland Orioles 4-1 before a crowd of 512 on opening night of the Big Train's tenth season and the fourth of the Cal Ripken, Sr. League, the summer of 2008.

The Big Train got on the board first in the bottom of the fifth inning. Designated hitter Michael Cipolla (Saint Mary's) led off the inning with a bloop hit into shallow right field before advancing to second on sacrifice bunt off the bat of catcher Ryan Mulligan (Saint Mary's). Cipolla then came in to score on an RBI single through the right side of the infield by second baseman Jordan King (Meridian).

In the top of the sixth inning, however, the Orioles came back to take the lead as catcher Joe Velleggia hit a two-run homer to deep left field to make the score 2-1. The Orioles tacked on a third run in the top of the eighth when shortstop Gerald Hall singled and scored on an RBI ground out off the bat of first baseman Sean Lamont. In the top of the ninth, the Orioles made the score 4-1 when designated hitter Jacob Quigg walked and later scored on a wild pitch.

The Big Train attempted to come back in the bottom of the ninth as pinch hitter Seth Williams (Michigan State) got on base with a hard-hit double into the right field corner, but the Big Train were unable to score as they lost their season opener by a final score of 4-1.

All four of their pitchers in the game pitched well for the Big Train. Starter Cody Allen (Central Florida) shut out the Orioles through the first five innings of the game before letting up the two-run home run in the sixth. He gave up just two runs off four hits and struck out six in his five-and-a-third innings of work. Billy Murphy (Rutgers) let up one run and struck out five in two strong innings of relief. David VanVoorhees (Marietta) let up just one unlucky run as he held the Orioles hitless through an inning and a third while Derek Caldwell (Rider) struck out the only batter he faced.

Game Notes: In his last start for the University of Maryland, Orioles starting pitcher Scott Swinson no-hit the Delaware Fightin' Blue Hens, just the sixth no-hitter in Terrapins history...Tonight, the first 250 families received a copy of Shirley Povich's "All Those Mornings At The Post" courtesy of the Povich Family...Big Train would also like to thank tonight's sponsor, Grossberg, for providing all fans with a souvenir seat cushion as well as EU Services for providing free souvenir programs...Tonight, the Big Train also welcomed the Washington Revels and Bethesda Magazine to the ballpark...Before tonight's game the Big Train celebrated the opening of the brand new brick garden outside the front entrance.