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‘Cardiac Kids’: Big Train Rallies Past Alexandria Aces 8-6 with Six Run 7th Inning
Bethesda Big Train outfielder Jackson Mirza (2) pitches during a Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League game between the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts and the Bethesda Big Train on Sunday, June 7, 2026, at Blair Stadium in Silver Spring, Md. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Time and time again this season, the Bethesda Big Train have bided their time in games. A deficit did not mean a loss to the Big Train. A mindset that has spread throughout the entire roster and was encapsulated with Thursday’s 8-6 win over the Alexandria Aces at Frank Mann Field.
“We’re a tough, scrappy team to play against,” two-way player Jackson Mirza (South Florida) said. “It's not going to be an easy game against us. I mean, obviously, we're hitting, and we got pitchers that can pitch. We’ve got dudes.”
Bethesda surged into the lead due to a six-run top of the seventh inning. Plate discipline and five timely hits helped the Big Train complete the comeback attempt.
Left fielder Brennon Wright (South Alabama) led off the inning with a single. Shortstop Cal Johnson (Maryland) followed with a hard-hit groundball to the Aces' second baseman, who bobbled the ball and allowed Wright and Johnson to be safe.
First baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern) then brought home Wright with a line drive single to right field. Gonzalez moved into scoring position on the throw before third baseman Casey Carpenter (UNC Wilmington) walked to load the bases.
Right fielder Zachary Malvasio (UCF) continued his strong hitting performances this season with a hard groundball through the infield, leading to Johnson scoring from third. Center fielder Will Haacke (James Madison) finally recorded Bethesda’s first out of the frame, however, his deep shot to left field was a sacrifice to bring home Gonzalez.
Catcher TJ Gramesty (Florida Atlantic) chased the Aces pitcher out of the game with a 2-RBI single to left field, which brought home Malvasio and Carpenter. With a new pitcher in the game, second baseman Julius Bagnerise (George Mason) reached base on a fielder’s choice.
Wright then came up to bat for his second time of the inning and delivered again, knocking a single to left field to score Gramesty and take the advantage. After Johnson walked to load the bases again for the Big Train, Gonzalez finished the six-run inning with a groundout to second base.
The resilient attitudes from the Big Train were also seen on the defensive side, especially on the mound.
Mirza entered the game in the top of the ninth inning with Bethesda leading by two. The left-handed pitcher is now up to five appearances on the mound this season, but before coming to the Ripken League, he last pitched in high school.
“I just kind of got stronger,” Mirza said. “Throwing a little bit harder, and now it's working. It's kind of making the ball do different things than it did in high school.”
The time off from pitching never wavered in Mirza’s belief in his abilities. Mirza started the bottom of the ninth inning by walking the Aces' leadoff hitter on four consecutive pitches. The baserunner then advanced to second after a wild pitch got by Gramesty.
Mirza was still confident in his ability to work the strike zone. And it paid off. He struck out the next three hitters swinging and propelled into the win and his first save of the season.
“He hasn't pitched a lot in college,” Big Train pitching coach Craig Lopez said. “But he's a two-way guy, and his progression throughout the summer was money, and that's what he's capable of doing.”
Bethesda scored its first run of the ballgame in the top of the fourth inning. Carpenter was the first baserunner for the Big Train in the frame after roping a single. Malvasio followed with a single past the Aces' left side of the infield.
With two runners on, Haacke then loaded the bases with a bloop single to right field. Gramesty showed his value on the defensive side — catching two runners out trying to steal — but his offense came through for Bethesda.
Gramesty grounded out to Alexandria’s second baseman, but the ball in play helped bring in Carpenter for the run. Designated hitter Parker Corbin (Akron) loaded the bases again on the Big Train’s next at-bat. Corbin finished the contest 0-for-1 from the plate, drawing four walks. However, a flyout from Bagnerise ended the inning with Bethesda only able to crawl back one run.
Right-handed pitcher Jackson Ketchum (Alabama) started Thursday’s contest in his Big Train debut. After getting out of the first inning, facing only five hitters, Ketchum ran into trouble in the bottom of the second.
The West Point, Mississippi, native gave up three runs and two walks in the frame. The Aces laid down an exceptional bunt with two runners on base. Ketchum tried to throw the hitter out at first, but the ball sailed wide, allowing two runs.
Right-hander Nathan Wines (East Carolina) came in to relieve Ketchum and get Bethesda out of the second frame. Wines then sat the Aces down in order to get the first three outs of the inning and limit the damage for Bethesda.
Wines finished his outing after three relief innings, striking out three opposing hitters. The righty also allowed six hits and three runs, which came in the fourth inning.
As a result of the runs, right-handed pitcher Kyle Hopper (Jacksonville) came in to calm the Big Train down on the mound. Hopper then produced two scoreless innings for Bethesda. He recorded three strikeouts and only gave up two hits in his fifth appearance of the season.
Righty Jordan Capuano (Youngstown State) followed Hopper’s quality performance with two innings of his own of two-hit and scoreless pitching. Capuano has been more consistent in finding the strike zone recently, generating two strikeouts in his 33 total pitches Thursday.
“I know you got to score runs to win it, but the presence and who puts the control and the tempo of the game are the pitchers,” Lopez said. “They came in there and kept their heads.”
After Capuano’s sound innings, the Big Train tacked on an additional run in the ninth inning. Gramesty started the frame with a single before Bagnerise hit a hard grounder up the middle for the RBI for the insurance run.
The Big Train continues its road trip against the Gaithersburg Giants on Thursday. They return to Shirley Povich Field for a doubleheader against the D.C. Grays on Saturday. Bethesda will honor the Montgomery County art scene and former player Kelli Jenkins (2019), the first and only female to play in the Ripken League.
Tickets can be found on the Big Train website.