Bethesda Big Train Summer College Baseball

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Bethesda, MD 20824

Smith, Hiserman Key In Big Train Win

Sunday, June 29, 2008
by Jason Krakower
e-mail the Big Train writers at writers@bigtrain.org!
Box Score

Only one day after dropping a one-run game to the College Park Bombers, the Bethesda Big Train took one back by defeating the Bombers 7-4. Fueled by exceptional plate patience and solid pitching by Andrew Smith (Charlotte), the team snapped their two-game losing streak and retained a share of first place after the aces swept their doubleheader.

The Big Train got things started in the second inning, when cleanup hitter Danny Stienstra (San Jose State) laced a single up the middle. After left fielder Luke Adkins (Mississippi State) walked, the Big Train played small ball to manufacture a run. A sacrifice bunt by Michael Cipolla (St. Mary's CA) advanced both runners, and catcher Ryan Mulligan (St. Mary's CA) grounded out to the right side to bring home Stienstra. The scoring would continue, as Scott Schneider (St. Mary's CA) drove one in with a single, and with two men on, Zach Kim (San Francisco) launched a double off of the center field wall to put Bethesda up 4-0.

The momentum continued in the third inning, and Bombers pitcher Brett Jones was chased from the game after loading the bases with no outs. Back-to-back sacrifice flies by Mulligan and Schneider plated two, giving the Big Train a comfortable 6-0 lead. They would tack one more run on the board in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Stienstra.

The previously dominant Smith was finally broken in the fourth after retiring the first 11 batters, losing his perfect game, no-hitter, and shutout in succession. He allowed three runs in the inning, two of them on a missed diving attempt by Kim that resulted in a bases-clearing triple. Smith would surrender only one more run on the night.

"I was just trying to hit the strike zone, throw first pitch strikes, and work from there," Smith said. "I really wasn't trying to think about [the perfect game possibility]."

The starter pitched seven strong innings, walking one and striking out three. Smith was relieved in the eighth by closer Matt Hiserman (San Francisco), who entered the game without an earned run against him all season. Hiserman converted the two-inning save for his fourth on the season, striking out three and walking none.

Big Train hitters drew a total of nine walks tonight, two of which came around to score. When they weren't walking, they put the bat on the ball, as Bombers pitchers struck out only one batter in the game.

Game Notes: Tonight was "Say Cheese" night, which was presented by the MD State Dairy Princess Association. The Big Train welcomed the Christmen family and their cow Carmel, as well as Maryland Dairy Princess Katelyn Patrick and Carroll County Dairy Princess Pamela Bell...Fans received free cheese courtesy of Cabot Cheese...The Big Train also welcomed special guest Bob Greenberg who was signing his book "Swish" Nicholson - A Biography of Wartime Baseball's Leading Slugger...The attendance for the game was 557...From about the fourth inning on, fans were treated to the sounds of fireworks from a nearby display. Once fans realized it wasn't thunder they were hearing, most seemed to enjoy the background noise.