Big Train Crush Cropdusters 13-1 to End Regular Season in Style

by Alex Rubinson

Team celebrating win by Mark Thalman

ROCKVILLE, Md. - In a game that was resumed in the third inning after it was suspended nearly a week ago, the Big Train wrapped up their regular season with a 13-1 mercy-rule blowout win against the Olney Cropdusters on Tuesday.

“Anytime you step on the baseball field, it means something,” Manager Sal Colangelo said. “Our mindset is that it doesn’t matter if you’re down or up, [the game] matters. Everything matters in life.”

Kide Adetuyi (Florida Atlantic University) initially took the mound for the Big Train last Wednesday when the game started. He retired the side in order after Cade Walter was caught in-between first and second after reaching on an error. The Big Train’s offense put the pressure on early. Alex Peltier (East Carolina University) singled to lead off before going to third on Brennon Wright’s (University of South Alabama) double. With two runners in scoring position and nobody out, Cropdusters’ Zach Harris pulled off a Houdini act. He forced Josh Skowronski (Winthrop University) to pop out before striking out Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern University) and Peyton Steele (University of Alabama) to send the game to the second inning with it still scoreless.

Adetuyi got another quick inning. He worked around a hit-by-pitch to send down the Cropdusters. He struck out both Walker Zampella and Austin Stalker in the frame. The Big Train went down in order for a quiet second.

Adetuyi continued to mow down hitters in the third. Although he had faced the minimum in the first inning, the third frame was the first where the Cropdusters did not reach base. In the home half of the third, the Big Train broke through. Peltier singled and stole second to get into scoring position. Wright singled him home for his second hit of the contest and the first run of the ballgame. With the Big Train holding a 1-0 lead, the game was suspended before resuming yesterday. Josh Skowronski (Winthrop University) walked to resume play on Tuesday before Matt Russell induced an inning-ending double play.

Micheal Devenney (Tulane University) came in for the fourth inning for the Big Train. After a one-out walk, the pitcher induced a tailor-made double play to end the inning and protect the Big Train’s 1-0 lead. John Martinez (Florida Atlantic University) and Parker Corbin (University of Maryland) worked consecutive walks, but both runners were stranded.

James Beasley (Princeton University) relieved Devenney after one inning. The big right-hander dominated in the fifth. He struck out Cadeyrn Ahearn and Koy Swanson swinging to retire the side in order. Peltier led off the home half of the fifth with a triple off the centerfield wall. After Wright walked and swiped second, Skowronski collected the RBI on a sacrifice fly. Gonzalez added another run with a single over the second baseman’s head. Two batters later, Martinez belted the second triple of the inning to score the first baseman and give the Big Train a 4-0 lead.

“Alex is going to be a high-round draft pick one day,” Colangelo said. “Great player but most importantly, he’s a great human being.”

Alex Peltier racing home by Mark Thalman

Cole Ketchum (University of Mississippi) came in for the sixth inning. Andrew Kell secured the first hit of the day with the Cropdusters with a double over Steele’s head in right. Gonzalez couldn’t glove a one-hopper off the bat of RJ Cromartie, which got the Cropdusters on the board. Jimmy Kirk blasted a double off the wall. Will Henson got the wind mill at third. As he sprinted towards the plate, Peltier and Martinez executed the perfect relay home. The throw beat the runner in plenty of time to end the inning and maintain a three-run cushion.

Dylan Murphy by Mark Thalman

Peltier and Skowronski walked around a Wright infield single to load the bases to jumpstart a two-out rally. Gonzalez walked to keep the line moving and add another run for the Big Train. Steele lined a two-run single to center to break the game open and make it a 7-1 contest. Gonzalez then scored on a wild pitch to make it four runs in the frame and all with two outs.

Ketchum returned for the seventh. He worked around a hit-by-pitch to retire the side. He finished strong by forcing Swanson to swing and miss to send the game to the seventh-inning stretch. After Dylan Murphy (Florida Atlantic University) singled up the middle, he came all the way around as Peltier plugged the gap for his second extra base hit of the night. Wright lined a single to get the Big Train into double digits. After the Cropdusters booted a couple of grounders, Steele delivered another two-run knock for a 12-1 commanding lead. Brett Ott (Sacramento State) walked with the bases loaded for the mercy rule walk-off win.

Brennon Wright by Mark Thalman

The top of the Big Train lineup led the way. Both Peltier and Wright both finished with four hits and reached base five times. Peltier got a day off yesterday that was a key contribution to helping him get back in a groove. Steele had a multi-hit game and recorded five RBIs in the victory.

“I just tried to simplify everything at the plate,” Peltier said. “Try to be short [with my swing] and stay up the middle and through the ball.”

The Big Train’s 27-8 record was the best in the Cal Ripken Sr. League. They will have the number one overall seed and a first round bye in the playoffs. They will return to action to host game one of the second round on Thursday at 7 p.m.