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High Scoring Clash Suspended in Eighth Inning with Bethesda Leading 27-13
Bethesda Big Train center fielder Will Haacke (15) swings the bat during a Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League game between the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts and the Bethesda Big Train on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Blair Stadium in Silver Spring, Md. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
BETHESDA, Md. — With the first two batters of the seventh inning retired, shortstop Cal Johnson (Maryland) settled into the batter’s box with the Big Train needing runs.
Two innings ago, the Big Train entered the bottom of the fifth inning leading 11-4, capitalizing on defense mistakes by the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts. Three outs later, Bethesda gave up nine runs and the lead.
13-11.
Johnson knew Bethesda needed runs. He then took four pitches for balls, giving Bethesda its first baserunners of the innings. Little did he know that he had started a streak of 14 consecutive batters reaching for the Big Train.
Bethesda finished the top of the seventh frame scoring 12 runs on four hits. The Big Train used the two-out rally to fly past the Thunderbolts into a 27-13 advantage Sunday night. However, the game will have to be completed at a later date due to the Montgomery Blair baseball field's light restrictions.
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After Johnson’s first walk of the seventh inning, left fielder Logan Ponnett (George Mason) and designated hitter Daniel Machado (Florida Atlantic) reached safely to load the bases for first baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern).
Gonzalez then took five pitches — four of which were balls — to draw a walk to bring Johnson home.
Center fielder Will Haacke (James Madison) then stepped into the batter’s box. He launched a ball towards left center field, bouncing off the wall. Haacke cleared the base runners to reach third base safely before an error on the throw let him score.
“I thought I got it, but it stayed in,” Haacke said. “It was definitely good. Two outs, and then we kept rallying, and I think we scored 12 in that inning, so it definitely felt good.”
Bethesda followed with three consecutive walks to load the bases for the second time in the inning. Right fielder Ryan Foscolo (Kentucky) scored on the following at-bat off a wild pitch before second baseman Julius Bagnerise (George Mason) was hit in the hand, which loaded the bases again.
Johnson finally returned to the batter’s box and found the same result as last time: four pitches, four balls. The walk allowed catcher TJ Gramesty (Florida Atlantic) to touch home plate and add another run to the Big Train’s total. Ponnett followed behind with another bases-loaded walk, then Bagnerise scored from a wild pitch.
Gonzalez ended the scoring in the top of the seventh inning with a single that brought home Machado, Ponnett and Johnson.
“Sal just told everyone when we got back in after that long inning, just kind of stick together,” Haacke said. “We still got a lot of ball game left, and just keep swinging well, and that's what we did, and we came back.”
Bethesda Big Train outfielder Jackson Mirza (2) pitches during a Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League game between the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts and the Bethesda Big Train on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Blair Stadium in Silver Spring, Md. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
Sunday’s game saw the debut of two new pitchers on the mound for the Big Train. Jackson Mirza (South Florida) played three games as a fielder for Bethesda this season, but the left-hander threw 1.2 innings. In his 45 pitches, Mirza gave up one hit and three runs, while striking out one opposing hitter.
Right-handed pitcher Bryce Dolby (Louisiana Tech) delivered two innings of scoreless pitching to start Sunday’s game. He finished both frames as 1-2-3 innings, only facing six opposing hitters. Dolby struck out two Thunderbolts in his second outing of the season.
Bethesda struck early for the third consecutive game, scoring one run in the top of the first inning. Bagnerise started the contest with a walk.
The Woodbridge, Virginia, native leveraged his leadoff walk by stealing second base. Bagnerise scored after the Thunderbolts pitcher attempted a pickoff attempt lifted above the first baseman’s head and into foul territory, giving the Big Train an early 1-0 advantage.
Bethesda kept bats hot in the third inning too, batting around the order while adding six runs for a 7-0 lead.
Bagnerise led off with a double to left field, which was followed by walks from Johnson and left fielder Ponnett to load the bases. Machado drove in two runners with a double down the first base line to the outfield.
Gonzalez then roped a ball out to right-center field, which the Thunderbolts lost in the sun. The fielding mistake helped Gonzalez to be in for a stand-up double, which scored two additional runs.
Gonzalez scored three batters later after Gramesty flew out to right field on a sacrifice fly. On the following at-bat, third baseman Casey Carpenter (UNC Wilmington) swung at a strike-three pitch. However, the ball bypassed the catcher’s glove, reaching the backstop. The error allowed Carpenter to reach first base, and Haacke to come in for the last run of the inning.
Bethesda Big Train infielder Cal Johnson (9) swings the bat as Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts catcher Wade Hartrick (38) defends during a Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League game against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Blair Stadium in Silver Spring, Md. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
Haacke then showcased his speed in the fifth inning to create a close play at first base, forcing a throwing error by the Thunderbolts' second baseman. Foscolo then laced a single to right field in the following at-bat. However, Haacke was thrown out at home.
Foscolo ultimately scored three Big Train hitters later from a wild pitch with Bagnerise up to bat. Bethesda poured in another run after Johnson drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Gramesty.
After gaining the second out of the inning, Carpenter scored from a fielder’s choice knock from Machado. However, the Thunderbolts did not get any Big Train baserunner out on the throw, as the ball struck Bagnerise on the helmet. With the ball ricocheting into foul territory, Bagnerise advanced to score and give Bethesda an 11-4 lead.
Bethesda will have Monday off before heading back on the road to the Olney Cropdusters Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
“I think we're starting to gel as a team,” Haacke said. “And I think we're all starting to really bond together. So, just continuing to play together as a team, situational baseball, and I think we'll be good.”