Big Train Celebrate Host Families, Award Everymind as Community Hero in Victory over Giants

by Alex Rubinson

Emilio Gonzalez and Kide Adetuyi with host family by Mark Thalman

ROCKVILLE, Md. - The Bethesda Big Train hosted many special guests during their 19-11 win over the Gaithersburg Giants on Wednesday. The team celebrated host family appreciation night. Many players on the Big Train stay with these families for the summer as they pursue their baseball dreams in the Cal Ripken Sr. League. The festivities included the host families answering trivia questions about the player staying with them and choosing their player’s walk-up song. It was also Washington Capitals night at Shirley Povich Field, as fans had the opportunity to take hockey shots with an indoor inflatable hockey set. In addition, Founder Bruce Adams hosted BCC Baseball, Everymind and SPC Financial, who is a key sponsor for the organization.

David Schneider was the General Manager of BCC baseball. Schneider grew up playing BCC baseball and attended plenty of Big Train games when he was younger. Schneider later became the GM of the Big Train.

“When I was the general manager of the Bethesda Big Train, it was under the umbrella of BCC baseball. There is that natural harmony between the two organizations,” Schneider said. “It’s just really special.”

David Schneider and Bruce Adams by Mark Thalman

Alejandro Aguilar represented Everymind, which is a non-profit organization based in Rockville, Maryland that centers around one’s mental health. Everymind was Wednesday’s Community Hero for the Big Train. Aguilar was thankful that the Big Train gave them a platform to come to Shirley Povich Field to talk about their organization and the positive work that they spread.

“Our mission is to empower individuals and to strengthen communities to have better mental wellness in general and in the community,” Aguilar said. “We know the people that come to [Big Train games] are super conscious of what mental wellness means.”

Bruce Adams and Alejandro Aguilar by Mark Thalman

In addition to Big Train games, Aguilar understands the positive influence baseball and sports has on someone’s mental health. In a lot of ways, it can serve as a healthy distraction and allow people to do something that brings them joy.

“Baseball and every sport has given us a great balance,” Aguilar said. “It’s a way to balance your life and relax.”

Schneider has also seen the value that sports provides. He knew he wanted to work in sports going back to when he was just a teenager in high school. Schneider called it “an incredible experience” when he had the opportunity to join the Big Train as an intern.

“My motive is always put your head down, work hard and good things will happen,” Schneider said.

When Schenider was an intern, he recalled there only being 10 people with undefined roles. That has changed dramatically with the current program that he constructed.

“I am really proud of the internship program that I helped build,” Schneider said. “I created the operations internship, the writing internship, the social media internship and really built out that program, so we can find more high school and college age kids who want to get into sports.”

SPC Financial has been a longtime sponsor and supporter of the Big Train. Its president, Jeff Sella, is a huge baseball fan himself, as his kids played baseball growing up.

“SPC Financial is family-orientated,” Jason Perlman said, as SPC’s representative. “It’s a relationship business where we are going to take care of all of our clients. It’s not just a business transaction. It’s a long-term relationship.”

SPC Financial by Mark Thalman

Perlman explained that SPC and baseball share a lot of traits, especially when it comes to helping out locally.

“It’s a sense of community,” Perlman said. “Being a part of the community is important and has always been a priority.”

Schenider agreed that sports “is all about the community.” He believes “sports is what brings people together.”

Aguilar hopes that conversations surrounding mental health continue to grow both locally and around the world. He believes that it is vital that more people become familiar with the resources that can help themselves live healthier and more fulfilling lives. He also notes that a lot of these helpful ways are free, yet are not being used to its fullest extent.

“Mental health is huge,” Aguilar said. “We are here to make people aware that there are a lot of resources and a lot of things that we can do for mental health. [Mental health] makes life better for everyone.”

The Big Train will be on the road to face the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts today at 8 p.m. They will return home for a doubleheader against the Alexandria Aces on Saturday with game one starting at 4 p.m.