Late Rally Propels Big Train to Win

Thursday, June 12, 2008
by Reid Kellam
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Box Score

On a perfect evening for baseball, and before a crowd of nearly 600 at Shirley Povich Field, the Big Train picked up their third win of the young season, defeating the Herndon Braves 5-4, thanks to late clutch hitting.

In the top of the first, four errors by the Big Train infield allowed the visiting Braves to score twice. The first run came on two errors in one play by Big Train third baseman Michael Cipolla (Saint Mary's) who misplayed a ground ball, and then errantly threw home. Herndon scored again when Joe Charron stole third and advanced home after a throwing error by the catcher.

The Big Train answered back immediately in the bottom half of the inning, when first baseman Danny Stienstra (San Jose State) laced a single to right that scored Zack Kim (San Francisco) from second base, cutting the Braves lead to one.

Herndon was able to put up a run in both the top of the fifth and top of the sixth, to make the score 4-1. The Braves scored in the fifth on an infield single that scored Alex Ferrera from third. After loading the bases with no one out, the Braves could only send across one run in the top of the sixth.

The Big Train were able to score twice in the bottom of the sixth off Braves relief pitcher Pat Devlin. The first run came on a strange play when catcher Dylan Tonneson (California) doubled to left, and scored after Luke Adkins (Mississippi State) was thrown out at the plate, and catcher Eric Woodrow overthrew third base. Ben Jones (Auburn) was able to score the Big Train's third run courtesy of a double by Kim.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Big Train once again added two runs. With the bases loaded, Cipolla reached on an infield single that scored Stienstra. A sacrafice fly by Jones scored Adkins from third, giving the Big Train a 5-4 lead that they wouldn't give up.

With a one run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, Big Train Manager Sal Colangelo called on Matt Hiserman (San Francisco) to close out the game. Hiserman was able to strike out two of the three batters he faced on the way to picking up a save, and preserving a Big Train win.

Big Train starter Justin Wright (Virginia Tech) gave the Big Train five strong innings, giving up only 3 runs (1 earned) on 3 hits and 1 walk with 5 strikeouts. David VanVorhees (Marietta) came on and pitched two excellent scoreless innings in relief, before giving way to Quinn Ewert (Illinois State), who tossed another scoreless inning, and then the closer Hiserman.

Game Notes: The attendance was 591... In celebration of the end of the school year, the Montgomery County Educational Association generously provided free food and beverages to all educators and their families that were in attendance. MCEA president Bonnie Cullison threw out the first pitch, and Germantown's Daly Elementary chorus teacher Georgene Fountain sang the national anthem...The Big Train welcomed players from the Washington Freedom, the women's professional soccer team...The Non-Profit of the Night was the Montgomery County Educational Association, a leader in efforts to build a new kind of teachers' union that responds to the needs of today's educators.