Big Train Players Reflect on Childhood Baseball Memories During Father’s Day Game

George and TJ Gramesty by Matthew Lewyn

BETHESDA, Md. — Father’s Day is a special day for the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. Just look at the name. Baseball has ingrained itself in the Ripken family over the years, with Cal Sr., Cal Jr. and Billy all playing pivotal roles in MLB and with the Baltimore Orioles.

For the Big Train, Father’s Day provides an opportunity for fans and players alike to be thankful for baseball and their dads.

“I'm a Mets fan, so [my father] taking me and my brother to Citi Field for the first time was pretty cool,” Jack Gagen (Tusculum) said.

Jack and his brother, Bradley Gagen (Eastern Kentucky), are the second pair of siblings playing this season for Bethesda. Aaron Ritenour (East Tennessee State) and his older brother, Aden Ritenour (Sheppard), also share a sibling connection.

For others, Father’s Day is a moment to reflect on their dad’s influence on their baseball careers.

“He’s a big part of the reason why I'm here today,” Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern) said.

Gonzalez finished last season as the Ripken League’s Triple Crown winner, finishing first in batting average, home runs and RBIs. In 13 games this season, Gonzalez has produced a team-leading 14 RBIs and a .255 batting average.

“I would always remember that every time I would have a bad game or something,” Gonzalez said. “He would take me to hit after and kind of really let me know what he did and make some adjustments.”

Brennon Wright by Matthew Lewyn

Brennon Wright (South Alabama) echoed a similar statement.

“I think probably just the coolest thing is like growing up, taking me and my brother out to McKee Park,” Wright said.

The park in Starkville, Mississippi, played a pivotal role in Wright’s early baseball memories. Wright continued loving baseball throughout his four years at Starkville High School, where he twice earned First Team All-District and Perfect Game Preseason All-American Honorable Mention.

“We carried from the batting cage all the way to the field, and then me and my brother would just hit on the field for hours,” Wright said. “Felt like he would, he would take us out there a ton back in the day.”

The hard work has paid off for Wright during the 2026 campaign. Wright has produced a .364 batting average, which leads the Big Train. He has also compiled 6 RBIs and six stolen bases.

“My game is getting on base, kind of causing some havoc on the bases, and letting the guys, like (Emilio) Gonzalez and (Zachary) Malvasio, the guys behind me, to hit me in.”

Logan Ponnett (George Mason) took the reins as the Big Train’s power hitter Sunday. He launched his second home run of the season to left field in the fourth inning. Ponnett has contributed 8 RBIs and a .300 batting average to Bethesda in 14 games. His production can be credited to his father, Kevin, who played baseball at Misericordia University.

“My dad's actually a psychologist, so I mean, I pick his brain all the time,” Ponnett said. “I'm super thankful for everything he's done for me and always been there for me, so I'm super thankful for him.”

Jackson Mirza’s (South Florida) father, Erik, played baseball at Miami and Tampa, while Bryce Dolby’s (Cal State Bakersfield) dad, Lawrence, played at Maryland and spent the 1997 season in the Atlanta Braves organization.

Walk-off hero Cal Johnson (Maryland) had a special moment Sunday. Not only did Johnson smash a two-run home run over the right field wall in the bottom of the ninth, but his dad was also in attendance.

“We were hitting before the game, so he's always helped me through baseball,” Johnson said. “He's a huge part of everything with baseball.”

Abe, Homer, Bunt and George by Matthew Lewyn

For Big Train fans, Father’s Day provided a fun experience to play catch in the outfield of Shirley Povich Field. The Washington Nationals’ Racing Presidents, George and Abe, were also present for fans to take pictures with. George beat Homer and Bunt in the second inning mascot race.

The first 500 fans into Povich Field were also treated to a battery-operated hand fan, courtesy of FitBite Orthodontics.

Empowering the Ages was honored by Big Train President and Founder Bruce Adams during the second inning of Sunday’s game. The organization fosters “connections across generations to provide older and younger people with a sense of belonging and purpose,” according to the website.

The Big Train will be back in action against the Alexandria Aces Monday at Shirley Povich Field. The game is a continuation of the June 12th contest that was suspended after eight pitches in the top of the first inning.

Bethesda follows the makeup with a home contest against the Olney Cropdusters at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Big Train will celebrate School’s Out Night with a free scoop of Max’s Best ice Cream for the first 25 teachers and bookmarks for kids’ summer reading.

Tickets can be found on the Big Train website.

Read the recap of tonight’s game