Big Train Championship Opponent Preview: Olney Cropdusters

Bethesda Big Train Right Fielder Zachary Malvasio (37) and Bethesda Big Train Catcher T.J. Gramesty (1) celebrate Malvasio’s home run during the game against the Olney Cropdusters at Shirley Povich Field on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)

The Bethesda Big Train in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Championship Series. A tale as old as time.

The Big Train blitzed past the Southern Maryland Senators in Game 3 of the semifinal series by a score of 20-5 Monday night. The impressive hitting performance came after a three-hit shutout in Game 2.

Tuesday’s game was rained out — moving every game in the series back one day — but Wednesday night marks a chance for Bethesda to start the series strong on the road to its fourth consecutive Ripken Sr. League title and add to its league-leading 12 Championships. 

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at First Responder Field at OBGC Park in Olney, Maryland, against the Olney Cropdusters.

The stadium left a sour taste in Big Train fans, coaches and players' mouths in the last matchup against the Cropdusters. Bethesda had a chance to win the Ripken Sr. League’s regular-season title and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

However, the Big Train were downed 11-8 due to a six-run bottom of the eighth inning from Olney. Bethesda’s offense lit up throughout the game, with center fielder TJ Gramesty (Florida Atlantic), second baseman Brennon Wright (South Alabama) and designated hitter Kieran Coleman (Clarion) all having 2-RBI performances.

Coming into the title showdown, the Big Train own a 4-3 record in the season series against the Cropdusters. Bethesda is also 2-2 at First Responder Field and 2-1 at Shirley Povich Field.

The first matchup between the two teams took place on June 3, when Olney defeated Bethesda 13-7. The Big Train then avenged the loss with an 11-4 victory on June 9. Third baseman Logan Ponnett (George Mason) produced a 3-for-4 day at the plate with a home run and 3 RBIs.

Olney then took the first completed matchup at Shirley Povich Field 9-3 on June 17. The teams played a June 6 showdown that was suspended when the lights went out. Bethesda then won 5-3 at Povich Field to open the second month of play on July 1. Right fielder Zachary Malvasio (UCF) produced a two-home-run, 3-RBI performance at the plate.

Bethesda Big Train Pitcher Austin Monahan (29) pitches during the game against the Olney Cropdusters at Shirley Povich Field on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)

Bethesda then rattled off 4-1 and 7-4 victories on July 3 and July 12 before the regular season finale loss.

Olney comes into the championship series after a two-game sweep over the Metro South County Braves in the semifinals.

The Cropdusters have a potent offense with the second-most runs (311), total bases (505) and hits (340) in the Ripken Sr. League this season. The good news is that all those numbers play second fiddle to the Big Train.

Outfielder Cade Walter leads the Cropdusters with a .351 batting average among players with over 20 games played. Second basemen Patrick Gozdan and Logan Baratta follow closely behind with .321 and .318 marks, respectively.

In addition to his on-base abilities, Walter also has a team-high six home runs. Three came against the Big Train on July 22, and five of them have come in the last 10 days. Catcher Landon Springmeyer and third baseman Ryan Bouma are tied with a second-best five homers.

As a team, the Cropdusters own a third-best in the Ripken Sr. League .425 on-base percentage — Bethesda is first with .438. After getting on base, Olney creates chaos with a league-leading 118 stolen bases as a team.

Shortstop Zakye Hawkins has the third-most stolen bases in the league with 20. Walter and center fielder Andrew Duncan follow closely behind with 15 and 13, respectively.

On the pitching side, the Cropdusters own a league-best 5.08 ERA. Olney is only one of two teams — with the Braves — to give up fewer than 300 hits and the only squad with fewer than 200 runs. 

Right-handed pitcher Mac Crismond leads the team with 24 strikeouts across 15.2 innings pitched. In total, the Cropdusters are four behind the Big Train league-leading 305 strikeouts this season. Right-hander and All-Star Logan Hartman follows closely behind with 23 strikeouts in 27 innings.

Hartman has started seven games for the Cropdusters this season, with his last start coming at the Gaithersburg Giants on June 18.

Left-handed pitcher Nolan Ross follows with 23 innings pitched, while righty Marco Levari and lefty Landon Edwards have compiled 20 innings. Levari also has a team-low 2.25 ERA among pitchers with 16 or more innings.

Bethesda Big Train Center Fielder Ryan Foscolo (30) swings his bat during the game against the Olney Cropdusters at Shirley Povich Field on Wednesday, July 1, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)

Game 2 is set to take place at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Shirley Povich Field, before the series returns to First Responder Field for a winner-take-all Game 3, if necessary. The finale is scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday.

Tickets can be found on the Big Train website.