Big Train’s Stars of the Week: Week 3

Team Photo by Matthew Lewyn

The third week of Ripken League play showed the ups and downs of baseball. The Bethesda Big Train lost three consecutive games, but followed by rattling off three straight victories. The red-hot play of Bethesda looks to continue with another week of games on deck.

At the end of every week, we will take a look back at the best performances from Big Train players:

Kyzer Smith #38 of the Bethesda Big Train pitches during the game against the Olney Cropdusters at First Responder Field at OBGC Park on Tuesday, June 9, 2026 in Olney, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)

3. Kyzer Smith (Florida Atlantic)

The right-handed pitcher shut down opposing lineups over the course of last week. Smith started the week by providing 3.2 innings of relief against the D.C. Grays on June 16.

In his 64-pitch appearance, he only allowed three hits and walked two other opposing hitters. Smith then locked down the Grays' offense by throwing seven strikeouts to complete the shutout for Bethesda.

Smith then provided the Big Train with an even more impressive performance in the first game of a doubleheader against the Metro South County Braves on June 20. The Stonewall, Louisiana, native limited the Braves to only one hit and faced the minimum in the last three innings of a 6-5 Bethesda win. Smith also compiled six strikeouts on his 36 total pitches.

Across five appearances this season, Smith leads the Ripken League in strikeouts at 22. He also leads the Big Train with 14.0 innings pitched, 0.64 ERA and 1.00 WHIP.

Bethesda Big Train Right Fielder Zachary Malvasio (37) stands in the batter’s box during the game against the Gaithersburg Giants at Shirley Povich Field on Sunday, June 21, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)

2. Zachary Malvasio (UCF)

At the plate, the outfielder lit up opposing pitchers during the third week of Ripken League play. Malvasio’s week was highlighted by launching a home run in three consecutive games between June 16 and 18.

Against the Grays, Malvasio hit a solo shot in the eighth inning and then followed it up with a 2-RBI home run in the ninth frame. The Southwest Ranches, Florida, native finished the ballgame 2-for-5 from the plate with 3 RBIs.

Malvasio then produced a 2-run homerin the second inning against the Olney Cropdusters on June 17. He then followed that performance with a 3-for-5 day at the plate with a 3-run shot in the top of the first inning against the Southern Maryland Senators.

“I pimped it right off the bat,” Malvasio said after the Cropdusters lost. “It’s just a great feeling. It’s been a while since I had those consecutive hits, so it’s just been a great feeling.”

Malvasio also tacked on 2 RBIs in the first doubleheader game against the Braves. This season, he has produced four home runs — which leads the Ripken League — and a league-second-best .703 slugging percentage. Malvasio is also tied with Will Haacke (James Madison) and Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern) for a Big Train high of 14 RBIs.

Bethesda Big Train Infielder Cal Johnson (9) swings his bat during the game against the Gaithersburg Giants at Shirley Povich Field on Friday, June 19, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)

1. Cal Johnson (Maryland)

Johnson came up big for Bethesda this week, capping it off with a two-run, walk-off home run in Sunday night’s 6-4 victory over the Gaithersburg Giants. On Sunday’s Father’s Day matchup, Johnson tallied two hits for two RBIs. 

“First pitch fastball, I was all over it,” Johnson said following Sunday’s game. “I know the [Giants] are a top team in the league, so it was a good win.”

He recorded the same stat sheet in the first game on Saturday’s doubleheader against the Braves, and pinch ran in a run for the Big Train during the second game. The Tampa, Florida native had his best hitting night as he went three-for-four against the Cropdusters, including a triple, but was not able to put runs on the board.

Johnson’s action-packed week propelled him to the top of the stat sheet for the Big Train, as he leads the team in runs with 19, ranks fourth in OPS with .933 and second in total bases with 24 through three weeks of action. 

The Big Train will now turn its attention to an away matchup with the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts on Wednesday. The teams will finish a June 11 showdown that was suspended in the fourth inning. Bethesda will return home Saturday for a doubleheader against the D.C. Grays. Tickets can be found on the Big Train’s website.