Bethesda Big Train Summer College Baseball

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Big Train Win Fourth Straight, Tie Orioles for 1st

Thursday, July 3, 2008
by Will Sisco and David Biel
e-mail the Big Train writers at writers@bigtrain.org!
Box Score

On a hot, clear evening on the eve of America's birthday, the Bethesda Big Train battled the Maryland Redbirds in a tight pitcher's duel. In front of a season high 875 fans, including many Big Train parents and family, SP Scott Schneider (St. Mary's (CA)) and RPs Seth Williams (Michigan State) and Matt Hiserman (San Francisco) combined to allow only one run to the 'Birds, and with the help of two homers from SS Drew Lee (Morehead State), the Big Train prevailed, 2-1.

Lee started off the game with a bang, smacking a solo home run over the right-center field fence in the first inning and giving Big Train a 1-0 lead. Bethesda missed a big opportunity to add on that lead, as they left the bases loaded without adding another run that inning.

Lee came up big once again, giving Bethesda a 2-0 lead in the third inning and hitting his second homer of the night, a blast well over the right field wall. For the game, Lee went 2-4 with 2 HRs and drove in the all the runs needed for Bethesda with 2 RBI. "I was struggling lately," Lee said. "I really tried to relax at the plate and have a little fun and it paid off."

In the top of the fourth, the Redbirds finally responded, as DH Jared Cozart (Catonsville) hit a single up the middle, scoring RF James Piazza (Buffalo) and reducing Big Train's lead to one. With the Redbirds once again threatening in the top of the fifth, Schneider came through in the clutch, striking out Piazza with the bases loaded and 2 outs, keeping the score at 2-1 Bethesda.

After two full scoreless innings, the Redbirds once again threatened to tie or take the lead in the top of the seventh, but Hiserman proved to be the road block. With the bases loaded and two outs, Hiserman came in to relieve Seth Williams and promptly got the first batter he faced to strike out. The Redbirds never threatened again, as Hiserman continued to be--quite simply--perfect on the season, retiring all seven batters he faced in order to record his fifth save of the year. In 17 innings of work on the year, Hiserman has struck out 21 while giving up no walks and no runs on only seven hits.

It wouldn't have been possible, however, if starter Scott Schneider hadn't thrown an almost flawless game. In five innings of work, Schneider gave up only one run on six hits to the Redbirds, struck out three and raised his record on the season to a perfect 4-0. Williams and Hiserman combined to pitch four scoreless innings in relief.

"With [Hiserman] on the mound, there's no tension," said Lee. "We really feel comfortable with him out there."

Game Notes: Tonight was Washington Capitals Night at Shirley Povich Field, and the Big Train welcomed Slapshot, the Caps' mascot....The Big Train thank their sponsor for the night, Hopkins and Porter, and their Non-Profit of the Night, Habitat for Humanity...The Big Train have now beat the Redbirds in all four tries against them on the season, meaning that the Big Train are now 8-0 vs. two teams (the T-Bolts and 'Birds) on the season thus far...Many parents, including Drew Lee's father, were at the game tonight as they will spend the weekend with the Big Train. Mr. Lee made an appearance as a special guest on the Big Train webcast, and fittingly enough, his son made an appearance of his own after the game as he was named the Big Train Player of the Game.