Bethesda Big Train Summer College Baseball

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

Big Train Fall Despite Valiant Comeback Effort


by Jason Krakower and Zach Stone

In front of a Thursday night crowd of 781, the Bethesda Big Train narrowly came up short of their biggest comeback of the season, dropping the game to the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts by a score of 11-10. The team worked its way back after a huge early deficit but could not convert on many opportunities, leaving 15 runners on base.

The Thunderbolts stormed out of the gate for 10 runs in the first two innings, and the Big Train went through three pitchers in that span. The hole was eight runs at that point due to a two-run single by designated hitter Cody Freeman (Mississippi State) in the bottom of the first inning. Reliever Tyler Easterly (Ferrum) allowed only one run in his 3.2 innings out of the bullpen, and gave the team an opportunity to claw their way back into the game.

The Big Train cut the lead to six in the bottom of the third, again with a key contribution from Freeman. After third baseman Jarrod Parks (Mississippi State) was hit by his league-leading 14th pitch of the season to load the bases, Freeman reached on an error by the Thunderbolts shortstop, allowing center fielder Connor Bernatz (San Francisco) to score from third.

First baseman Mike Celenza (Salisbury) then displayed his plate patience with a bases-loaded walk to bring home second baseman Danny Stienstra (San Jose State). Stienstra drove home a run of his own in the fourth on a well-placed groundout, after right fielder Eli Boike (Michigan State) set the table with a sacrifice bunt. The Big Train continued to bridge the gap in small steps when shortstop Justin Roland (UNC-Charlotte) laced an infield single in the fifth inning to bring home Freeman.

In the seventh, the Big Train cut the lead to three through some unconventional scoring. With runners on second and third following a double by Bernatz, left fielder Jack Mosbacher (Stanford) came home on a groundout by Boike. The Big Train then loaded the bases, and Bernatz snuck home on a passed ball and throwing error by the Thunderbolts catcher.

The Big Train batters made a last-ditch effort to tie the game in the ninth, and things looked promising when Boike launched a home run over the right field fence to start the inning. Stienstra then singled, and Parks reached base when he was hit by his third pitch of the game. Manager Sal Colangelo opted to sacrifice Freeman, which was successful, advancing both runners into scoring position. Celenza drove one home with a sacrifice fly, but that was all the team could muster before the Thunderbolts retired the side to end the game.

Relief pitcher Ahmed Garcia (Florida Atlantic) shut down the Thunderbolts for the final three innings of the game, striking out three and allowing only two baserunners.

Game Notes: Tonight was Blue Crabs Night, featuring appearances by former Boston Red Sox manager and current Southern Maryland Blue Crabs manager Butch Hobson and two-time MLB All-Star and Blue Crabs hitting coach Andy Etchebarren. The Blue Crabs mascot Pinch also attended, and came up just short in a special Mascot Race...Tonight's attendance was 781...Tonight's Bucks for Ballfields raffle raised $208 towards improving local ballfields...The non-profits of the night were The Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless and Imagination Stage...Tonight's School of the Night was Burning Tree Elementary School.