Bellis breaks strikeout record, Gonzalez dominates in huge 14-9 win

Drew Bellis by Mark Thalman

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Sitting four strikeouts away from history, Bethesda Big Train left-hander Drew Bellis (Central Florida) needed fewer than three full innings to cement his place in the record books.

Now that’s how you take care of business.

The Big Train took down the Alexandria Aces 14-9 at home, fueled by the backdrop of a record-setting day on the bump. In retiring his eighth batter of the day, Bellis became the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League’s all-time record holder for strikeouts in a single season with 61. He received an ovation as he walked off the mound, finally securing his rightful place in league lore.

“His breaking ball and slider is pretty devastating,” Big Train head coach Sal Colangelo said. “If you’re a left-hander, it’s very hard to hit, and he did what he’s been taught, and he competed.”

“[Having the record is] pretty cool,” Bellis said. “But I don’t really think it means anything towards our team. I think we’ve still got games to win. I don’t want that to be … looked at as something that made our season or made my season.”

Indeed, Bellis’ historic day is just one of many moments that has shaped the Big Train into a powerhouse in 2025. Another standout game also came on Sunday from none other than first baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern).

Gonzalez — now hitting .411 on the year — produced an unbelievable 5-for-5 performance, generating six RBI and crushing a pair of home runs to right field. Put simply, it was a banner evening for the first baseman, even among a whole season of strong games.

“I was feeling it a little bit,” Gonzalez said. “I usually have my success against that team, and ever since last year, I’ve been killing them, so you’ve just got to keep going, keep trusting your process.”

The Big Train’s leading hitter has reached new heights in 2025. So what’s made this year so different?

“The hard work I put in after games even though I didn’t play,” Gonzalez said. “All the hours in the cages. Everyone would clown me for being in the cages for so long, but it’s really just the work I put in, that’s all that’s clicked.”

With Bellis, Gonzalez and the rest of the team dialed in, Colangelo’s 25-8 squad appears to be in a good spot with two regular season games to go. Today, the Big Train will face the Metro SoCo Braves on the road at 7 p.m. Tomorrow, it returns home to resume a suspended matchup against the Olney Cropdusters, also at 7 p.m.

Click HERE to read the recap of Sunday’s win!