2025 Big Train Playoff Preview

John Martinez by Mark Thalman

ROCKVILLE, Md. - The Bethesda Big Train are playoff bound! The team finished the regular season with a league-best 27-8 record. The number one seed will get a first round bye before kicking off their playoff run at home on Thursday. Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern University) locked up the first ever Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League triple crown. Brennon Wright (University of South Alabama) reached base in every one of the 33 games he played in. On the pitching side, Kide Adetuyi (Florida Atlantic University) logged a league-best 0.32 ERA. Drew Bellis (University of Central Florida) set the single-season strikeout record with 61 punchouts. The Big Train led the league in a slew of categories including batting average, OPS, ERA and strikeouts.

Today is the first round of the postseason. That round will be a one-game winner-take-all contest. Both the second round and the championship will feature best of three matchups. Let's take a look at the five potential postseason opponents the Big Train could face throughout the playoffs. 

Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts

The Thunderbolts finished the season with an uninspiring 14-20 record and went 2-8 in their final 10 games. Thunderbolts ace Josh Domaracki pitched to a sub 2.00 ERA this season but was used in the play-in game yesterday, which makes his availability for the next few postseason games an uncertainty. The Thunderbolts will have to win later today if they want to even have an opportunity to advance to the second round. Brady Grimes tied for the league lead with five long balls, but the rest of the T-bolts lineup managed just three homers. The Big Train went 4-1 against the Thunderbolts in the regular season. The Thunderbolts will face the Olney Cropdusters today in the first round. If the Thunderbolts win, they will face the Big Train regardless of the other outcomes. 

D.C. Grays

Like the Thunderbolts, the Grays also were forced to play a play-in game on Tuesday, holding on narrowly against the Metro South County Braves. The Grays finished with a 17-20 record and had lost seven of their final 10 games. Ryan Soong led the team with a .363 batting average. After falling to the Grays on opening night, the Big Train won three straight against them to finish with a 3-1 record. The Grays will play the Southern Maryland Senators today in the first round. The Grays will be the Big Train's first opponent if they win and the Thunderbolts lose. 

Southern Maryland Senators

The Senators appeared to be the team to beat earlier in the season, when they started 9-1. They struggled for most of the remaining part of the year but still recorded a 19-16 record, and they have won two straight games to close out the season. Only the Braves had a worst team ERA during the regular season. Nick Wimberly did finish tied for fourth in ERA at 2.67. Logan Tribble hit a whopping .380 this season, only Gonzalez had a higher mark. The Big Train went 3-1 against the Senators. If the Senators beat the Grays, and the Cropdusters win, the Big Train will host the Senators in the first round. 

Olney Cropdusters

The Cropdusters finished tied for second in the entire league with a 22-14 record. They finished the season 7-3 in their last 10 contests. If the Cropdusters were to play the Big Train, it would be for the championship. The Cropdusters showcased their muscle, as they led the league in homers with 22 (the Big Train were second with 18). Andrew Kell and Walker Zampella led the way with four home runs apiece. Although they hit for power, they also were second to last in team batting average at .236. The Cropdusters were second in team ERA for the season. Glenn Smith was tied for fourth with a 2.67 ERA. The Big Train went 4-1 on the season versus the Cropdusters. The Cropdusters will host the Thunderbolts later today. 

Alexandria Aces

The Aces won the south division with a 22-14 record. Like the Cropdusters, the only road to the Aces playing the Big Train would be in the championship. The Aces finished second in both batting average and OPS to the Big Train. Derek Almeda finished fourth in the league in average at .365. They also ranked third in the league in team ERA. Mason Christopher was second behind Adetuyi in ERA at 1.95. The Aces were the only team to beat the Big Train multiple times during the season, as the Big Train went 4-2 against the other division champion. The Aces will also get a first round bye. 

The Big Train will make their push for the three-peat starting at home on Thursday at 7 p.m.