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Big Train Mounts Comeback With Six-Run Inning, Defeats Thunderbolts 10-7
Bethesda Big Train Right Fielder Zachary Malvasio (37) stands in the batter's box during the game against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts at Shirley Povich Field on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
BETHESDA, Md — Down 7-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning, the Big Train knew that they had to put some runs on the board if they had any chance of making a comeback and extending their win streak to 10 games.
“[Being down] did not feel good. We knew we were supposed to win this game,” catcher TJ Gramesty (Florida Atlantic University) said.
The team dug deep, putting together a six-run inning that saw them bat around the order and take the lead. Gramesty led off with a walk, but saw himself thrown out at second base on an attempted steal.
“I got myself thrown out [stealing second] and I thought I was gonna kill the rally,” Gramesty said. “But the team picked me up and we scored six more [runs] and got the win.”
Outfielder Will Haacke (James Madison University) and infielder Cal Johnson (University of Maryland) followed up with walks, putting Haacke in scoring position for infielder Brennon Wright (University of South Alabama) to drive him home to close the lead to two runs.
First baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern University) walked on four pitches to load the bases and outfielder Zachary Malvasio (University of Central Florida) stayed patient, walking on a full count to bring. Johnson home and put the Big Train within one run.
Outfielder Ryan Foscolo (University of Kentucky) stepped up, driving a ball into left field and delivering the lead for Bethesda on a 2-RBI single, putting the Big Train ahead by one with only one out on the board and two runners on base.
Infielder Logan Ponnett (George Mason University) helped to extend the newfound lead, hitting a sac fly into right field to score Malvasio. Infielder Kieran Coleman (Northeast Mississippi Community College) hit a ball to second base for a single, and Gramesty came around the order to lay down a precise bunt down the third-base line to bring Foscolo home. The inning — and eventually the game — ended with a 10-7 Big Train lead.
“[Hitting through the order] is awesome, it’s contagious,” Gramesty said. “When you see all your buddies getting hits, you just want to get up there and hit, and that’s what we did today.”
The Bethesda Big Train (20-8) returned to Shirley Povich Field after a three-game away stretch to take on the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (7-21) in a makeup game from June 28.
For some of the Big Train players, it was not the first time they took the field at Povich Field this week, as they competed for the Cal Ripken Sr All-Stars against the Valley League All-Stars on Tuesday night. Johnson, Wright, Malvasio, Gonzalez and Gramesty all competed on both Tuesday and Wednesday night.
The Thunderbolts also started an All-Star of their own at the lead-off position on Wednesday night, which proved to be no problem for the Big Train. Starting righty pitcher Kyle Hopper (Jacksonville University) made his second start of the season on the mound for Bethesda, using his quick reactions to scoop up a groundout for the first out of the evening.
Hopper followed that up with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning, but it was the Thunderbolts who struck first in the game. In the top of the second inning, Silver Spring-Takoma hit a home run to lead off and brought the score to 2-0 on an RBI single.
The Thunderbolts continued to build their lead through the third and fourth innings, extending the lead to three runs after hitting another home run in the top of the third. The Big Train responded with a new face in Bethesda, Right-handed reliever Landry Winter (East Central Community College).
“[My teammates] welcomed me just like a family, they’re [my] brothers already,” Winter said. “[Pitching Coach Craig Lopez] is awesome, he’s helping me become a better player, a better teammate and a better pitcher.”
Bethesda Big Train Pitcher Landry Winter (3) stands on the mound during the game against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts at Shirley Povich Field on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
Winter started the inning giving up a walk and a single to put a runner in scoring position, and the Thunderbolts capitalized by driving in a run on a fielder’s choice to make the lead 4-0. Winter and Gramesty recovered, combining to throw out a runner stealing second, and Winter notched his first strikeout of the season to end the inning.
Bethesda’s bats came to life in the bottom of the fourth, as Foscolo got the team going with a single into left field. Ponnett followed Foscolo on-base with a composed full-count walk.
Coleman loaded the bases, laying down a perfect bunt down the left-field line to give the Big Train the tying run at the plate. Gramesty stepped up, and placed a ball just over the head of the third baseman for a 2-RBI single.
Bethesda closed the deficit to one run as Johnson powered a single into center field, bringing Gramesty home and leaving the score after four with the Big Train down one run at 4-3.
The Thunderbolts responded with a bases-loaded situation of their own with two outs in the top of the fifth inning, and drove home three runs on a 3-RBI double to center field, bringing the score to 7-3 for Silver Spring-Takoma.
The Big Train did not back down, however. Gonzalez led off with a hard-hit single into right field, and advanced to second base to put himself on second with one out. The Cape Coral, Florida native made it around the bases for the score after Foscolo advanced to first on an error, closing the score to 7-4 for the Thunderbolts.
Bethesda Big Train Infielder Kieran Coleman (8) stands in the batter's box during the game against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts at Shirley Povich Field on Wednesday, July 8, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
Bethesda closed the gap – and even took the lead – on the six-run sixth inning, ending with a 10-7 lead, which they would maintain through the final third of the game to tally their 10th-straight victory of the season.
“We believe, we’re mentally tough and we’re a family,” Head Coach and General Manager Sal Colangelo said. “When you’re a family and you got each other’s backs, good things happen.”
The Big Train have a long stretch of games ahead of them, as they are set to play 12 games in the next 12 days, culminating in the season finale matchup away against the DC Grays on July 20.
The first step in that stretch is another matchup against the Thunderbolts on July 9 at Blair High School. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
“They’ll be coming out tomorrow firing,” Gramesty said. “We have got to be on our A-game.”
The next home game for the Big Train will be against the Southern Maryland Senators on Friday, July 10, when first pitch is also scheduled for 7 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased on the Big Train website.