Big Train Complete Three-Peat, Destroy Aces 15-3 to Win League Championship

by Alex Rubinson

Sal Colangelo accepting championship trophy

ROCKVILLE, Md. - Owen Stewart (George Mason University) took the mound in the seventh inning. It was the reliever’s first appearance since he gave up the lead in the ninth against the Southern Maryland Senators in game one of the previous series. The Bethesda Big Train were up 12 and were on the verge of a mercy rule. They were three outs away from the three-peat. Stewart reverted back to the relief ace he was for most of the season. He struck out Trip Capers swinging with ease. The righty then forced Derek Almeda to hit a routine ground ball to John Martinez (Florida Atlantic University) at shortstop. Two outs. Stewart and the Big Train could smell it. After a walk, Gavin Degnan stepped in as the Alexandria Aces’ last hope. Stewart threw it by him for a called strike one. The reliever went right after him and forced Degnan to foul off the next pitch. The count was 0-2. The Big Train was a strike away. The next two pitches Degnan fouled off to stay alive. On the third 0-2 delivery, Degnan popped a high fly ball to left field. Josh Skowronski (Winthrop University) camped under it and squeezed it in his glove. That was it. The Big Train had won their third consecutive championship and were once again the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Champions.

“We stayed by our whole vision,” Manager Sal Colangelo said with tears in his eyes. “In summer baseball to [win] with a bunch of guys you don’t even know that just comes together as a family [and] as one team is pretty amazing. I’m just blessed to be a small part of it.”

Emilio Gonzalez hoisting trophy by Mark Thalman

The Big Train crushed the Aces 15-3 for their series-clinching win. Connor Lehman (University of Alabama) pitched five gusty innings on just one day of rest. The offense took advantage of four errors by the Aces.

“I just made a whole new family out here,” Lehman said.

After two shutdown innings by Aces’ starter Aidan Von Zuben, the Big Train broke through in the third. Matt Westley (undecided) was hit to start the inning. Parker Corbin (University of Maryland) hit a routine ground ball to second. The Aces tried to get the lead runner, but the throw went into the left field, allowing both runners to get into scoring position. Alex Peltier (East Carolina University) singled through the right side of the infield to give the Big Train a 1-0 lead. After Peltier advanced to second, Brennon Wright (University of South Alabama) hit a chopper up the middle and through the infield. Both Corbin and Peltier rounded the bases for two additional runs. Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern University) hit a ground ball to the second baseman. Brayden Huebner threw to the pitcher covering first but missed the moving target. The ball rolled freely, which plated Wright to hand Lehman a 4-0 cushion.

“I [wanted] to get back to being myself,” Peltier said of coming into the summer. “I think I achieved that.”

Alex Peltier by Mark Thalman

Lehman tossed one of his best starts of the season. He surrendered back-to-back hits to open the second inning. The lefty settled down, and showed off his swing and miss stuff. He struck out Michael Powell and DJ Scheumann to escape the threat.

“Winning is contagious,” Colangelo said. “He got better every time he went out there.”

After the second inning scare, Lehman mowed down the Aces’ lineup over the next two frames. He struck out Huebner and Cooper Hums swinging in the third. In the next frame, he recorded a double play and a swinging strikeout.

“I went to a lab just to clean up some mechanics,” Lehman said. “I felt like I had everything. I was throwing the ball a little harder, trusting my defense and had the offspeed to throw off the fastball.”

Connor Lehman by Mark Thalman

The Big Train added a run in the fourth. After Westley reached on an error, Corbin made the misplay hurt with a run-scoring single to extend the lead.

The Aces' sloppy defense continued two innings later when Peyton Steele (University of Alabama) reached on an infield hit with some help after a high throw by the shortstop. Martinez grounded one to the shortstop. Almeda flipped to second, but the ball was dropped, and everyone was safe. In the next at bat, catcher Ernie Echevarria tried to back-pick Steele at second but the throw was off target and both runners moved up 90 feet. Westley and Corbin knocked in both runners with a pair of singles. After another run scored on a fielder’s choice, Wright brought in run with a base hit of his own. When the inning was finished, the Big Train had scored five runs to break the contest wide open.

Parker Corbin by Mark Thalman

The Aces walked to load the bases in the very next frame to set the stage for the Big Train’s leadoff man. Peltier laced one by third for an RBI knock and solidified himself as the series’ MVP. Wright kept the line moving with another RBI knock. The Big Train continued to pour it on. After Skowronski drove in a run, Steele tallied a two-run single for the second straight five-run frame.

“My goals were to build off of my college season,” Peltier said. “[Winning MVP] is a testament to all the hard work that I’ve been putting in.”

Peltier with series MVP trophy by Mark Thalman

Wright led the Big Train with three hits and three RBIs. The middle infielder was very emotional after the win. After a stellar performance in game one of the championship series, Peltier clinched the MVP with a three RBI night of his own. The centerfielder also scored three times. Both Corbin and Steele joined Peltier and Wright in collecting multi-hit games.

“Someone stepped up every game," Colangelo said. "Someone did something great every game to help us win. We will always be here for them.”

Click HERE to read the recap of yesterday's championship victory!