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A Comeback 13 Days in the Making: Big Train Rally Past Thunderbolts in 11-9 Win
Bethesda Big Train Infielder Cal Johnson (9) gets a hit during the completion of a game suspended June 11, the first game of a doubleheader against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts at Blair Stadium on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 in Silver Spring, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
SILVER SPRING, Md. — First baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern) stepped into the batter’s box at Montgomery Blair High School with the bases loaded. 13 days ago, the Bethesda Big Train started a showdown against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts. As dark clouds rolled through the area, the game was suspended in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Bethesda was down 6-1 when the game resumed. Now in the top of the eighth inning and tied at 8, Gonzalez had a chance to turn the matchup in the Big Train’s favor.
A leadoff walk from second baseman Julius Bagnerise (George Mason) was followed by a single from third baseman Logan Ponnett (George Mason) and shortstop Daniel Machado’s (Florida Atlantic) hit-by-pitch to load the bases.
Gonzalez then lined a ball to the gap in left field, bringing in Ponett and Bagnerise to give the Big Train their first advantage of the game. The two runs helped Bethesda defeat the Thunderbolts 11-9 and complete a five-run comeback.
“We did the little things,” Big Train head coach Sal Colangelo said. “They moved guys over, we drove guys in with runners in the scoring position, two strikes, had great two strike approaches, and we did what we needed to do.”
When the game restarted, right-handed pitcher Austin Monahan (State College of Florida) took on the mound. Monahan moved through the new-look Silver Spring-Takoma lineup, facing five batters. The righty struck out two Thunderbolts in the frame and finished his outing with three punchouts.
Bethesda Big Train Pitcher Joseph Chiarodo (32) pitches during the completion of a game suspended June 11, the first game of a doubleheader against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts at Blair Stadium on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 in Silver Spring, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
Monahan finished his appearance after only 1.2 innings and 53 pitches, giving up two hits and two runs to the Thunderbolts. After taking Monahan out of the game, Bethesda turned to right-handed pitcher Joe Chiarodo (Alabama) for his Big Train debut.
Chiarodo finished his outing in 2.1 innings, striking out a team-high four opposing hitters. The Edwardsville, Illinois, native threw 53 pitches, giving up two hits and zero runs for the Thunderbolts.
Right-handed pitcher Kyzer Smith (Florida Atlantic) finished the contest for the Big Train on the mound. Smith gave up his second earned run of the season, but tacked on two strikeouts to his Ripken League total of 24. Smith closed the game and his two innings pitched with a flyout to left field.
The Big Train was able to tie the contest at 8 in the seventh inning. Machado started the inning with a single to right field. Machado was then brought home by center fielder Will Haacke’s (James Madison) bloop single to left field.
Right fielder Zachary Malvasio (UCF) then moved Haacke to third base with a single through the Thunderbolts’ left side of the infield. Johnson tacked on another RBI to his 3-RBI day with a sacrifice fly deep down the left field line, scoring Haacke and tying the contest.
Bethesda’s final score came in the top of the ninth inning. Bagnersie hit an RBI single to right field to score Johnson and add the Big Train’s 11th run of the game.
The Big Train crawled back into the game with a 2-run top of the fifth inning. Catcher TJ Gramesty (Florida Atlantic) was the first baserunner for Bethesda after launching a ball to the right field wall. Second baseman Bagnerise followed with a single to left field, bringing in Gramesty.
Bagnersie advanced to second on a throwing error from the Thunderbolts’ left fielder. The Woodbridge, Virginia, native then stole third uncontested. Bagnersie scored off a single to right field from third baseman Ponnett — who finished the game 4-for-6 from the plate — to reduce Bethesda’s deficit to three runs.
After giving up two runs to the Thunderbolts in the bottom of the fifth inning, The Big Train slowly battled back. Gonzalez singled to start the frame before Bethesda amassed two outs.
Bethesda Big Train Shortstop Julius Bagnerise (3) slides into home plate during the completion of a game suspended June 11, the first game of a doubleheader against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts at Blair Stadium on Wednesday, June 24, 2026 in Silver Spring, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
“I'll say it all the time, we're never going to give up,” Colangelo said. “We're going to play the entire game.”
Left fielder Cal Johnson (Maryland) then stepped into the batter’s box for his second at-bat of the restarted game. Johnson was substituted into the lineup for Ryan Foscolo (Kentucky). The Tampa, Florida, native then slugged a ball into left field for a two-run home run.
Bethesda’s offense kept humming during the frame, as Gramesty and designated hitter Brennon Wright (South Alabama) walked. Bagnersie also reached base due to an error by the Thunderbolts. With bases loaded, Ponnett hit a bouncing groundball over the Thunderbolts' third baseman. Gramesty safely scored, but a quick throw from left field caught Bagnersie out at home plate.
Left-handed pitcher Charlie Hoagland (East Carolina) started the game on the mound. After giving up four runs in the first inning, Hoagland finished the outing after 2.2 innings. The Dayton, Ohio, native struck out three Thunderbolts while giving up four walks.
Right-handed pitcher Jordan Capuano (Youngstown State) faced two hitters before the game was postponed. Capuano gave up a RBI single before forcing a groundout to end the third inning.
Bethesda started the game with a run in the top of the first inning. Wright was the first baserunner for the Big Train, being moved to third by a single from Ponnett. Machado drove Wright home with a hit to the Thunderbolts' shortstop, who was slow to throw the ball to first to give Machado an RBI single.
Bethesda will now prepare the second game of Wednesday’s doubleheader. The second contest is scheduled for seven innings of play.
After three straight days on the road, the Big Train returns to Shirley Povich Field for a doubleheader against the D.C. Grays. 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 purchased on the Big Train’s website.