Big Train Falls to Cropdusters 9-3

ROCKVILLE, MD - JUNE 17: Bethesda Big Train Shortstop Julius Bagnerise (3) stands in the batter’s box during the game against the Olney Cropdusters Thunderbolts at Shirley Povich Field on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)

BETHESDA, Md. — The Bethesda Big Train (6-5) returned to Shirley Povich Field on Wednesday night for the fourth matchup of the season against the Olney Cropdusters (8-5). The head-to-head between the two sides was tied coming into Wednesday night’s game, as the teams could not finish one of the games, which was suspended in the top of the seventh inning.

The Big Train came in hot off of a 10-0 victory against the DC Grays on Tuesday night, while the Cropdusters looked to build off of a 13-0 win over the Alexandria Aces.

The game got off to an action-packed start, as the Cropdusters got two batters on base off of an error and a walk, and they hit a ball off the right-field wall for a double, scoring a runner to open the game with a 1-0 lead with one out. Olney then doubled their lead with a sac fly, but a groundout ended the inning.

Right-handed pitcher Austin Monahan (State College of Florida), who made his first start on Wednesday night, settled  into the game in the second inning, forcing a groundout, a fly out and striking out a Cropduster to end the inning without giving up a hit.

The Big Train ensured the lead did not last long, as shortstop Daniel Machado (Florida Atlantic University) got on base on an error to kick off the bottom of the second inning. Infielder Logan Ponnett (George Mason) followed with a single, and both runners advanced on a passed ball by the Cropdusters. 

Outfielder Will Haacke (James Madison University) brought Machado home on a sac fly, closing the scoreline to 2-1 for Olney. Outfielder Zachary Malvasio (University of Central Florida) built on his 2-home run day against the Grays , launching a ball over the left-field wall for a 371-foot, two-run home run, to make the score 3-2 for the Big Train.

Neither team scored until the top of the fourth inning, when the Cropdusters scored on a fielder’s choice to tie the game at three. Primary outfielder Jackson Mirza (University of South Florida) came into the game to pitch in the top of the fifth inning, ending Monahan’s night at four innings with 74 pitches, 45 strikes, including two strikeouts, only two hits and three runs. 

Olney, however, then extended the lead in the top of the fifth inning, hitting a three-run home run with only one out, to make the game 6-3. The Cropdusters scored one more run in the top of the fifth inning off of two hits, ending the inning at 7-3. 

Shortstop Cal Johnson (University of Maryland) blasted a ball into left field for a triple in the bottom of the fifth inning, but Bethesda was not able to bring him home.

To relieve Mirza, right-handed pitcher Kyle Hopper (Jacksonville (FL) University) made his second appearance of the season in the top of the sixth inning, going three-up, three-down, including a strikeout. He continued his hitless streak in the top of the seventh inning, giving up two walks but forcing three fly outs. 

The Cropdusters sent a two-run home run over the left-field wall, putting the game out of reach for the Big Train at 9-3. Hopper made sure to end the game on a high note, as he struck out the next three batters and forced a fly out to end the inning.  It closed his line at four innings pitched on 72 pitches, with four strikeouts, allowing two hits and two runs. 

The Big Train return to action Thursday night with a trip to North Point High School to face the Southern Maryland Senators for the second time this season. The last time the teams met, the game ended in a closely-contested 4-3 loss for Bethesda. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Bethesda will return to Shirley Povich Field on Friday for the Fifth Annual Clarence “Pint” Israel Juneteenth Classic. Be sure to arrive early, as the first 700 fans will receive a Heartbreaks t-shirt courtesy of Westfield Montgomery, and fans will have the opportunity to meet 13-season major leaguer Milt Thompson. 

The Big Train are also excited to show a firework display at 9 p.m., courtesy of the Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival. Friday night will also honor Community Hero Eddie Dove, a Legendary Ballplayer of the Scotland Eagles. 

During Friday night’s game, all Big Train players will wear the 1954 Scotland Eagles jerseys to honor Montgomery’s Black Sandlots. Memorabilia from the Negro Leagues Museum will be on display, and author Jason Green will sign his book Too Precious to Lose.

The national anthem will be performed by the Taylor Family Sings, and first pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.