Bats Emerge, Gladden's Tightrope Act Propels Big Train to 8-5 Division-Clinching Win over Giants

by Alex Rubinson

Team pregame huddle by Mark Thalman

Gaithersburg, Md. - In the top of the sixth inning, the Bethesda Big Train trailed the red-hot Gaithersburg Giants 5-4. The Giants had won seven in a row and had just taken the lead in the fifth. The bottom of the lineup started a Big Train rally. Parker Corbin (University of Maryland) and Dylan Murphy (Florida Atlantic University) each walked. After a fielder’s choice grounder, Brennon Wright (University of South Alabama) stepped to the plate. After the last two games had been suspended, he still hadn’t officially tied the Big Train on-base record of 30 consecutive contests. With a runner on third and two outs, Wright stayed true to his game. The lefty lined a line drive knock to the opposite field to knot the game up. The infielder had extended his on-base streak to 30 games. One batter later, Alex Peltier (East Carolina University) dashed to the plate to help the Big Train retake the lead on a wild pitch. Even up 6-5, the lead was far from safe in a game that had been a back and forth affair. Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern University) wanted to break the game open. The first baseman cranked one to the right field gap for a double. Two more runners crossed the plate, and the Big Train had their largest lead of the ballgame.

“I was late on two fastballs,” Gonzalez recalled. “I kind of figured he was going to try to go with a third to blow it by me again, and I just adjusted and got the hands out early and was able to hit hard in the gap.”

Emilio Gonzalez by Mark Thalman

The Big Train held off the Giants 8-5 on Friday. The victory clinched the North Division for the team.

“[Gonzalez] was locked in,” Manager Sal Colangelo said. “He knew what was coming. He wanted to put a good swing on it. He’s been swinging the bat very well. He’s an all-league first baseman.”

Despite being up 8-5, the cushion got dicey in the ninth. James Gladden (University of Maryland) had already escaped a bases loaded jam in the eighth inning. Gladden walked or hit three of the first four batters in the final frame to load the bases. The Giants all of a sudden had the winning run at the dish. Pitching Coach Craig Lopez went out to the mound to talk with Gladden and try to lower his pulse. Gladden immediately threw two straight balls to the next hitter to fall behind in the count. At that point, something clicked. Gladden returned to his all-star form. The pitcher hurled three consecutive strikes to punch out Aidan Marino swinging. With the Big Train one out away, Gladden forced leadoff hitter Nate Hawton-Henley to hit a grounder right back at him. Gladden flipped to first for the out and the ballgame.

“I was trying to do too much,” Gladden said. “After Coach Lopez came up to me, it was just a reset…. I’m honestly just getting [angry] with myself because I’m walking guys, but the main thing is a lot of positive talk and positive reinforcement.”

James Gladden by Mark Thalman

In the fourth inning, the Big Train took advantage of a Giants’ miscue. They had the bases loaded for Peyton Steele (University of Alabama). The right fielder hit a soft lineout to second. After the ball was caught, Marino tried to double-off John Martinez (Florida Atlantic University) at first base. The throw was wide of the mark and went into the dugout. Each runner moved up two bags, and the Big Train tied the game at two apiece on the two-run error. Matt Westley (undecided) followed it up with a go-ahead single.

An inning later, the Big Train’s defense made a game-altering play. The Giants had the bases loaded with only one out. They had already scored two runs in the frame to take the lead. Hawton-Henley hit a fly ball to Steele in right field. The ball should have been deep enough to score another run. Instead, Marino at first base took off for second. Steele showed off his arm strength and threw out Marino before the runner at third could score. Although the Big Train was still down a run, the right arm of Steele allowed for his team to comeback later in the contest.

Wright and Gonzalez each recorded two hits in the victory. Josh Skowronski (Winthrop University) had a very productive night, as he was on base throughout the game and scored three times.

“[Wright] is a leader,” Colangelo said. “He owns it. He lives it, and he loves it.”

The Big Train will travel to take on the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts today at 7 p.m.

Click HERE for the full recap!