Preview: Big Train Looks to Pick Up Wins During Second Week of Ripken League Play

Terry Kaler by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club

Bethesda ended the first week of Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League games with a 2-3 overall record. The Big Train sits in a tie for second with the Cropdusters in the North Division.

Entering the second week of games, the Big Train is looking to continue picking up wins. Bethesda will match up against the Braves and Aces for the first time this season.

Here’s what to look for in the Big Train’s upcoming games this week:

Tuesday, June 9: at Olney Cropdusters

The Big Train starts the week aiming to defeat the Cropdusters for the first time this season. Bethesda lost to Olney 13-7 on June 3 after a 10-hit performance could not be capitalized on. In the performance, Cal Johnson (Maryland) hit the Big Train’s first home run of the season, and Kenneth Nickerson (Trinity College) pitched two innings of no-hit relief.

The Cropdusters ended the first week of the season 2-3, rattling off wins against the Big Train and Thunderbolts. Olney now sits tied for second in the North Division.

Center fielder Andrew Duncan, second baseman Logan Baratta and outfielder Cade Walter all lead the team with a .313 batting average among qualified hitters. Baratta ranks second in the Ripken League with nine RBIs, while Walter and Ducan rank fourth and ninth, respectively. Walker is also tied for second in the Ripken League with four stolen bases.

On the mound, right-handed pitcher Clark Green has thrown the most innings for Olney with five. Right-handed pitcher Sean McCabe has produced seven strikeouts in two appearances, an amount that is tied for second in the Ripken League. McCabe struck outsix against the Giants on June 2.

Wednesday, June 10: vs. Metro South County Braves

Bethesda will turn its attention to the first South Division opponent of the week. The Braves enter the second week of play with a 4-2 record, picking up victories in four consecutive games. Metro South County is tied for first in the South Division.

Infielder Christopher Krese Jr. leads the Ripken League with a .529 batting average. In six games this season, Krese Jr. has produced nine hits, including two three-hit performances. Three other Braves rank inside the top 10 of the batting average rankings in the Ripken League.

Infielder Robert Kelly has a team-high five RBIs. Even with the hot hitting performances, the Braves sit at seventh in the Ripken League with 38 runs. Metro South County is also the only team to not hit a home run yet this season. The Braves rank first in the league with .303 team batting average.

Infielder Ayden Albright has a team-high four stolen bases, a tied-for-second-best total in the Ripken League. 

Metro South County’s pitchers have combined to produce a 4.75 ERA, the third-best figure to start the season. Right-handed pitcher Tommy Blackburn has a team-high eight innings pitched. Blackburn tossed four innings against the Aces on June 2 and June 7, combining for eight strikeouts and six hits given up. 

Thursday, June 11: at Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts

The Big Train will return to Montgomery Blair Baseball Stadium at 7 p.m. Thursday. Bethesda matched up against the Thunderbolts on Sunday, with the Big Train’s offense exploding for 13 hits and 27 runs. However, the contest was suspended in the eighth inning due to the field’s light restrictions.

Bethesda also took the Opening Night showdown at Shirley Povich Field on June 2. First baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern) singled to left field to bring home second baseman Brennon Wright (South Alabama) for the game-winning run in a 12-11 showdown.

Center fielder Caleb Sturtevant has a team-high .462 batting average among qualified hitters. Sturtevant produced four hits in his two games against Bethesda this season. He and center fielder Gabriel Pegues have been the only two Thunderbolts to hit a home run this season.

Shortstop Jonathan Acosta has produced four stolen bases in his four games played this season. Acosta ranks tied for second in the Ripken League with the total.

However, the Thunderbolts have not been good enough to overcome a 12.41 combined ERA from their pitching staff, the worst total for any team this season. Silver Spring-Takoma has given up 89 runs, which ranks first by 33 runs. Left-handed pitcher Michael Preske and right-hander EJ Youngling have both thrown a team-high four innings.

Friday, June 12: vs. Alexandria Aces

The Big Train returns to Shirley Povich Field for a three-game homestand, starting with a matchup against the 3-3 Aces. Alexandria holds third place in the South Division to start the season. The Aces have strung together victories over the Braves, Grays and Giants.

Left fielder Daniel McGinnis has the third-highest batting average in the Ripken League, producing a .522 mark in six games. McGinnis is 12-for-23 in 28 plate appearances with five walks and seven RBIs. First baseman Hunter White paces Alexandria with nine RBIs.

White, catcher Matthew Pazak and second baseman Jack Warner have hit a home run for the Aces. Alexandria is second in the Ripken League with 60 team hits and tied for fourth with 46 runs scored. The Aces .294 combined batting average is also third-best this season.

Right-handed pitcher Justin Borger leads the Aces with six innings pitched. Borger made his only appearance this season against the Grays on June 3, giving up four runs while striking out five opposing hitters. In two appearances and 5.1 innings pitched, right-hander Will Vieira has struck out a team-high seven hitters, tied for second most in the Ripken League.

Saturday, June 13: vs. Gaithersburg Giants

Bethesda starts the weekend with a showdown against the Giants at Povich Field. Gaithersburg ended the first week of games with a 4-1 record, including a 5-3 win over the Big Train on June 4. The Giants' only loss of the season came in a 5-3 defeat to the Aces on Friday.

Shortstop Cole McKenna ranks second in the Ripken League with a .524 batting average in five games played. Catcher Ryan Strnad is tied for 11th at .385, and Dominic Trolio is tied for 15th with a .364 average. McKenna has also produced four RBIs and one homer.

Third baseman Ayden Phillips and center fielder Dylan Anderson have both totaled seven RBIs this season, which is tied for fourth in the Ripken League. As a team, the Giants have produced the second-most RBIs (46) and the second-best batting average (.297) in the first week. 

On the pitching side, Gaithersburg has allowed the fewest runs against at 27. However, the Giants have the second-best team ERA at 4.60, with the Aces edging them out with a 3.53 ERA. Right-handed pitcher Jake Yeager has thrown a team-high five innings pitched, all of which came in a start against the Cropdusters on June 7. Righty Peter Bashore gave up no runs in a four-inning performance against the Big Train.

Sunday, June 14: vs. Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts

Bethesda will look to pick up another win over its North Division rival to close out the second week of Ripken League games.

First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. at First Responder Field at OBGC Park for Tuesday’s showdown against the Cropdusters. The Big Train is back at Povich Field against the Metro South County Braves at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets can be found on the Big Train website.