Bethesda Big Train Summer College Baseball

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Big Train Outhit 10-3, Still Find Way to Win


Sunday, July 6, 2008
by Bryan Oringher
e-mail the Big Train writers at writers@bigtrain.org!
Box Score

In a game in which they had only three hits, the Big Train still found a way to get it done.

The Train finished an undefeated week at 6-0 after they worked T-Bolts pitching into giving up ten walks, as they nipped and clawed to their fifth consecutive win over Silver Spring-Takoma on the season, winning 4-2. T-Bolts starter Matt Trent walked nine Big Train hitters in only six innings, as the Big Train proved that they don't even need to hit the ball to win as long as they're patient at the plate and sound in the field; The Big Train had no errors (a bit different from the six they had Saturday night) to three for the Thunderbolts.

With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the second inning, the Big Train had to sit out a 20 minute rain delay before Ryan Wilkins (Lipscomb) drove in the game's first run with an RBI groundout. In the top of the third, the Big Train struck again after Drew Lee (Morehead State) led off the inning with a single and eventually came around to score on a Michael Cipolla (Saint Mary's CA) sacrifice fly.

In the top of the third, the T-Bolts got on the board with a Brett Conner RBI single. However, they wouldn't score again until the eighth, as Andrew Smith (Charlotte) turned in arguably his best performance of the year, going five innings and striking out five with only one walk.

The Big Train added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh, as a Zach Kim (San Francisco) RBI groundout pushed home Scott Schneider (Saint Mary's CA) in the sixth and Cipolla tripled and then scored on a wild pitch in the seventh.

Chase Tigert (San Francisco) got eight outs in relief, giving up only one run and striking out three before being taken out with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth with the Thunderbolts trailing only by two.

We all know the ending by now--Matt Hiserman (San Francisco) came on to save the Big Train once again, just as he has all season long. Hiserman promptly got Brandon Boykin to strike out swinging and leave the bases loaded, and then came back on for a one-two-three ninth to pick up his league-leading seventh save on the season.

With the win, the Big Train re-took sole possession of first place in the Cal Ripken, Sr. League, as Youse's Orioles were off.

Game Note: Big Train alum Drew Carson was in attendance to cheer on the Big Train. Carson played outfield for Bethesda in 2004 and 2005.