Big Train Semifinal Opponent Preview: Southern Maryland Senators

Bethesda Big Train Associate Head Coach Galvin Morris, left, and Bethesda Big Train First Baseman Emilio Gonzalez (46), right, celebrate Gonzalez’s 2-run home run during the game against the Southern Maryland Senators at Shirley Povich Field on Friday, July 10, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)

It’s do-or-die time for the Bethesda Big Train.

For the second season in a row, the Big Train (25-12 regular season) is set to take on the No. 3-seeded Southern Maryland Senators in the semifinals of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League.

As the No. 2 seed, the Big Train earned a bye directly to the semifinals and earned the right to host the first game of their playoff campaign in a best-of-three, home-away-home series against the Senators.

Saturday evening’s opener will take place at Shirley Povich Field, with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.

Coming into the matchup, the Senators took down the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts 3-1 in the Wild Card round. Despite the Thunderbolts firing off eight hits compared to the Senators’ five, Southern Maryland took a 3-0 lead that they would not give up. 

The Big Train and Senators have faced off four times this season, with Bethesda only able to win one of those contests. The Big Train’s victory came on June 30 at Povich Field. Left fielder Ryan Foscolo (Kentucky) and third baseman Parker Corbin (Akron) both produced 2-RBI performances in a 5-1 victory.

The previous contest between the two squads was an 11-8 shootout loss for the Big Train on July 10. First baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern) homered in the bottom of the first, and ended the contest with two hits and three RBIs.

Catcher TJ Gramesty (Florida Atlantic) also had a productive evening, tallying three hits and three RBIs on five at-bats, and outfielder Zachary Malvasio (UCF) totaled three hits, two runs and two RBIs.

For the Senators, their biggest strength this season has been their offense. The team has the second-highest batting average in the league (.280) and third-most hits (336), RBIs (251) and home runs (23).

For that offense, the team has been led by infielder Chase Fulford, who leads in hits (43) and batting average with over 15 appearances (.350). Infielder Cole Rhame is also a key figure for the Senators, appearing in 35 games, a team high, and tallying 35 hits, 26 RBIs and a .324 average. 

Like most other teams in the Ripken Sr. League, the Senators were hit with an unfortunate departure of one of their best players: outfielder Bud Coombs.

The Mechanicsville, Maryland native only appeared in 12 games this season, going off for 20 hits, 19 RBIs, a .435 average and a team-high five home runs. The numbers earned him a spot on the Ripken Sr. League All-Star team, however, he hasn’t suited up for Southern Maryland since June 26.

On the other hand, the Senators have given up the second-most runs (354) and were caught stealing the second-most times (18).

Coombs was the only Senators hitter selected to the All-Star Game, but right-handed pitchers Brody Juntunen and Conlan Taylor were given the honor to play against the Valley League.

Juntunen has started seven games this season, producing a 4-1 record over his 33.1 innings pitched. He has also compiled a 3.24 ERA and 1.05 WHIP with 37 strikeouts. Juntunen did pitch six innings in Southern Maryland’s victory over the Thunderbolts Friday night, so the Big Train might not encounter him unless the series goes the distance.

Taylor’s first nine appearances this season came out of the bullpen, but he has started in his previous two games —producing five innings of work in both contests. This season, Taylor has pitched 24 innings with a 0.38 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 26 strikeouts.

Another key aspect to success in the playoffs is the home crowd. According to the Ripken League statistics, the Senators averaged the lowest home attendance.

Southern Maryland will switch from playing its games at North Point High School to Regency Furniture Stadium. The field usually hosts the ALPB’s Southern Maryland Blue Crabs, but Big Train fans will need to be loud to cheer on their team.

Game 2 is set to take place at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, before the series returns to Povich Field for a winner-take-all Game 3, if necessary. The finale is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday.

Tickets can be found on the Big Train website.