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Big Train Falls in Game 2 of Championship Series, Turns Focus to Title-Deciding Game 3
Bethesda Big Train Infielder Kieran Coleman (8) swings his bat during game two of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Championship Series Finals against the Olney Cropdusters at Shirley Povich Field on Thursday, July 30, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
BETHESDA, Md – The Bethesda Big Train missed an opportunity to clinch the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Championship in a Game 2 15-7 loss against the Olney Cropdusters.
The Big Train took Game 1 on Wednesday night on a go-ahead RBI double by outfielder Will Haacke (James Madison University) in the top of the tenth inning. Infielder Brennon Wright (University of South Alabama) and outfielder Zachary Malvasio (University of Central Florida) both finished the contest with two hits and two RBIs.
On Thursday night, the Cropdusters got going early and would hold onto a 3-0 lead established by the top of the first inning. The Big Train had the opportunity to put early runs on the board in the bottom of the second with the bases loaded and two outs.
Malvasio led off with a single into left field, and infielder Logan Ponnett (George Mason University) followed him up with an almost identical hit into left to put runners in scoring position for the first time of the evening. Infielder Cal Johnson (University of Maryland) walked to load the bases with two outs, but the Big Train was unable to bring any runners home.
Olney extended its lead to 6-0 in the top of the third inning, but the Big Train got going in the bottom of the third, as catcher TJ Gramesty (Florida Atlantic University) led off with a four-pitch walk. He then stole second base and advanced to third as Wright grounded out.
First baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern University) brought Gramesty home on a deep double into left field, putting the Big Train on the board. Ponnett brought Gonzalez home on a sac fly to double the Big Train’s score and trim the lead to 6-2 for Olney.
Both sides would trade runs in the fourth inning as Haacke would hit a sac fly to bring outfielder Ryan Foscolo (University of Kentucky) home and keep the game within four runs for Bethesda.
The Big Train would once again squander a bases-loaded opportunity in the bottom of the fifth inning. Wright led off with a walk, and Gonzalez put him in scoring position with a single to center field before Ponnett braved a hit-by-pitch to load the bases with one out. 
Bethesda Big Train First Baseman Emilio Gonzalez (46) points to the sky in celebration of his double during game two of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Championship Series Finals against the Olney Cropdusters at Shirley Povich Field on Thursday, July 30, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland.
However, the Big Train would only come away with one run on a Foscolo RBI single into left field that saw Wright come home before hitting a hard-hit line out into a double play that ended the inning.
Then, in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Big Train would load the bases for the third time of the night, but once again could only score one run. Malvasio persevered through a hit-by-pitch, bringing Johnson home and closing the gap to only two runs, with Olney ahead 7-5.
The Cropdusters would put the game well out of reach for Bethesda in the top of the seventh inning, scoring seven runs in the inning to stretch the lead to 14-5. The Big Train kept fighting, scoring another run to bring the score to 14-6 despite loading the bases for the fourth time of the night.
After trading runs in the ninth inning, the Cropdusters would come away with Game 2 and force an all-important Game 3. Olney only outhit Bethesda 14-12 on Thursday night, but managed to put runs on the board when it counted to tie the series up. 
Bethesda Big Train Pitcher Charlie Hoagland (14) delivers a pitch during game two of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Championship Series Finals against the Olney Cropdusters at Shirley Povich Field on Thursday, July 30, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
“We can’t play catch up, getting the bases loaded multiple times, leaving a lot of runners on base, not getting the big hits when we needed to get them,” Head Coach Sal Colangelo said. “But we’ll be all right, this group isn’t gonna quit. We're gonna have fun and make it exciting for Game 3.”
Thursday evening’s final results in a 1-1 series record heading into the winner-take-all Game 3, hosted by the Cropdusters at First Responder Field on Friday evening. First pitch is set for 6 p.m., and the game will be streamed on the Big Train Baseball Network YouTube channel.
“It’s a great thing for the league,” Colangelo said. “The two best teams are going at it, and someone’s gonna be left standing at the end of the night.”
Don’t miss the opportunity to watch the Big Train lift their fourth straight Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League title in this all-or-nothing matchup.