Bethesda Big Train Baseball

Bethesda Big Train Summer College Baseball

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

Back-to-Back Big Train Titles! With a dramatic 8-4 victory over the Redbirds, the Big Train captured their second consecutive CRCBL Championship.

Saturday July 31 Championship Game Summary:

Click Here for Saturday's Championship Game Box Score

Saturday evening, in front of more than 600 fans at Povich Field, the 2010 Bethesda Big Train captured the team's second consecutive Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League Championship. Despite entering the League Championship Series as the #3 seed, the Big Train knocked off the #1 seeded Youse's Orioles and beat the #2 seeded Baltimore Redbirds 8-4 in the rematch for Friday's game -- becoming the first team to repeat as outright CRCBL champs!

The night got off to a rocky start as the "home-team" Redbirds struck first, on a solo home run from Corey Jensen (Florida Southern) in the bottom of the first inning. The Big Train answered back in the top of the third inning, beginning with a walk by third-baseman Nick Vickerson (Mississippi State). Vickerson advanced to second on a pass ball, and then to third when Danny Stienstra (San Jose State) reached on an error by Jensen. The miscue would prove costly. Ryan Collins (Mississippi State) tied the game at 1 with an RBI single on the next pitch, followed by another single from Austin Harclerode (Towson) to load the bases. Mason Morioka (San Francisco) then picked up his fifth RBI of the LCS, driving home Stienstra and advancing Collins to third with a sacrifice fly to deep left-centerfield. Jarrod Parks (Mississippi State) added to the inning with a line-drive RBI single to right, scoring Collins and giving the Big Train a 3-1 lead.

From there, the Big Train rolled ahead and never looked back. Parks led off the Big Train sixth inning with a HBP, and would eventually score on a wild pitch later in the inning, extending the Big Train's lead to 4-1. Meanwhile, starting pitcher Joe Mantiply (Virginia Tech) turned in a remarkable performance on the mound, limiting the red-hot Redbirds offense to just 1 run in the 5 innings after Jensen's first inning blast. Mantiply struck out 5 in his 6 innings of work, and turned the ball to David Wayne Russo (San Jose State) with the Big Train up 4-2 in the seventh inning.

Russo shut down the Redbirds bats in the seventh inning, and the Big Train then extended their lead in the top of the 8th -- scoring 2 insurance runs that proved to be crucial. Morioka began the charge with a one-out single. With 2 outs, Nick Schneeberger (Tulane) drew a decisive walk to keep the inning alive, and Matt Bowman (Princeton) roped a single to drive home Morioka and advance Schneeberger to third. On the next pitch, Schneeberger raced home on a pass ball to give the Big Train a 6-2 lead.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Redbirds scored twice, cutting the lead to 6-4. Corey Jensen and leadoff hitter Ben Winter (Towson) both scored on a Jack Carey (Wake Forest) two-run single. But with the go-ahead run at the plate, Big Train closer Bryan Hamilton (UNC Charlotte) came in and struck out the Redbirds' Josh Conway (Coastal Carolina), sending the Big Train into the ninth inning with a two-run lead.

The Big Train bats would give Hamilton a four-run lead when third-year Big Train star Danny Stienstra homered in his final at bat at Povich Field and rounded the bases to a standing ovation. Later in the inning, Ryan Collins singled and then scored the Big Train's last run, reaching third base on a Mason Morioka double and trotting home on a wild pitch.

Hamilton, as he has so many times this season, slammed the door with a pefect ninth inning to preserve the 8-4 Big Train victory. Including the LCS, Hamilton finished a record-setting summer with a perfect ERA of 0.00 in 20 appearances, 2 wins and 10 saves, and 36 strikeouts in 24 innings of work.

Fans, players, and coaches celebrated at Povich Field as Bethesda's boys of summer captured their second straight Ripken League championship. Catcher Mason Morioka was named the LCS Most Valuable player, providing exceptional play behind the plate and hitting .417 with 6 RBI in the playoffs, including a 2 for 4 night with 2 RBI in the Saturday's championship game. League Comissioner Bob Douglas greeted Morioka with an onfield ceremony for the MVP award, commended both the Redbirds and Big Train teams, and presented the Big Train with the 2010 CRCBL Championship Cup.

Saturday evening's victory concluded another memorable Big rain summer, with a final record of 29-17, and a regular-season record of 26-16. It is the third championship for longtime Big Train manager Sal Colangelo, and the second consecutive year in which the Big Train topped the Redbirds to win the championship game.

We would like to thank all of our players, coaches, parents, host families, volunteers, staff members, sponsors, partners, and fans for making the 2010 season so special and memorable. You are the community at Povich Field, and without your hard work, dedication, and continued support, Big Train baseball would not be possible. We look forward to more great baseball in 2011, and 'til then, we will miss such special nights with you at Povich Field.

Click Here for Saturday's Championship Game Box Score

2010 CRCBL CHAMPIONS: Saturday night the Big Train secured their second consecutive CRCBL Championship, beating the Baltimore Redbirds 8-4 at Povich Field! Congratulations to the 2010 Bethesda Big Train coaching staff and players, and thank you to the volunteers, staff, host families, parents, supporters, CRCBL, and sponsors who made another summer of Big Train baseball possible!

Joe Mantiply (Virginia Tech) was outstanding on the mound, picking up the victory in 6 innings of work, allowing 2 earned runs and striking out 5. Bryan Hamilton (UNC Charlotte) slammed the door in the ninth, picking up another save and finishing his season with a record 20 appearances and a perfect ERA of 0.00. Danny Stienstra (San Jose State) homered in his final Big Train at bat, and Mason Morioka (San Francisco) took home the LCS MVP award with a 2-hit night, exceptional defensive play, and 6 RBI in the Big Train's 4 playoff games.

We are already looking forward to another great summer of Big Train Baseball in 2011!