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Big Train Steams Past Thunderbolts in 14-3 Victory
TJ Gramesty by Matthew Lewyn
BETHESDA, Md. — Bethesda Big Train (5-3) fans came out to Shirley Povich Field early on Sunday morning for a battle against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (1-7) on Homer’s Birthday, and were rewarded with a hard-fought 14-3 victory.
Sunday morning was the third complete matchup between Silver Spring-Takoma and Bethesda, and the Big Train currently leads the series 3-0, including an Opening Night walk-off winner.
“We did some good things, I know we got the ‘W’ but we have to clean it up,” Head Coach and General Manager Sal Colangelo said. “We want to be great.”
Right-handed pitcher Jack Sams (University of Kentucky) made his debut for Bethesda on the mound to start Sunday morning, knocking down the first three batters he faced in the top of the first inning, including his first strikeout for the third out.
Sams doubled his strikeout count in the top of the second inning and did not let up a hit through his first two innings with Bethesda.
After a quiet first inning for both sides, the Big Train got rolling in the bottom of the second inning, as outfielder Ryan Foscolo (University of Kentucky) was hit by a pitch. Foscolo then advanced to second base on a wild pitch and continued to third base on a groundout by third baseman Casey Carpenter (UNC Wilmington).
Catcher TJ Gramesty (Florida Atlantic University) came up to bat next, holding out for a walk and then stealing second to put two runners on base with two outs. 
Bethesda Big Train Catcher T.J. Gramesty (1) stands in the batter’s box during the game against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts at Shirley Povich Field on Sunday, June 14, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
Outfielder Zachary Malvasio (University of Central Florida) stepped up to bring the runners home, and an error by the Thunderbolt shortstop allowed Malvasio to reach first and brought both Foscolo and Gramesty home for a quick 2-0 Big Train lead.
Shortstop Julius Bagnerise (George Mason University) helped add on to the Bethesda lead, walking on a full count, before stealing second base and advancing to third base on an error by the Thunderbolt catcher, allowing Malvasio to score and extend the lead to 3-0 for the Big Train.
Sams allowed his first hit of the season on a single to right field in the top of the third inning, but recovered quickly, forcing a double play and punching his third strikeout of the morning for three quick outs.
Bethesda looked to extend the lead in the top of the fourth inning, and infielder Logan Ponnett’s (Gaston College) single to center field got the Big Train started. Catcher Franklin Pichardo Jr. (University of Maryland) took a hit-by-pitch to get on base, and outfielder Jackson Mirza (University of South Florida) loaded the bases with a walk with only one out.
Carpenter fired a sac fly into left field, allowing Ponnett to score and stretch the lead to four runs in favor of the Big Train. Bethesda was not able to bring the other runs home, keeping the score at 4-0 Bethesda after three innings.
After three consecutive fly outs in the top of the fourth inning, the Big Train came alive in the bottom of the fourth inning. The first three batters up to bat, Gramesty, Malvasio and Bagnerise, all got on base, loading the bases for shortstop Daniel Machado (Florida Atlantic University). Machado delivered, powering a sac fly at the right field wall, allowing Gramesty to score for the 5-0 Bethesda lead.
The Big Train did not stop there, as Pichardo Jr. singled on a fielder’s choice, bringing Malvasio home to extend the lead to six runs with two outs. Foscolo came up next at-bat and put the dagger in the game, launching a ball over the left-field wall for a 344-foot, three-run home run, scoring his first home run of the season.
“It was a good day at the plate,” Foscolo said. “But it was a team effort, everyone piled together quality at-bats that we needed to win.”
Left-handed pitcher Bradley Gagen (Eastern Kentucky University) relieved Sams, whose debut for the Big Train consisted of 56 pitches for 34 strikes, three strikeouts and only two hits allowed through four innings.
“Sams’ debut was a bright spot for sure, the pitchers did a great job,” Colangelo said. “He set the tempo, it was unbelievable and we’re glad to have him.”
Bethesda Big Train Pitcher Jack Sams (31) pitches during the game against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts at Shirley Povich Field on Sunday, June 14, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
Gagen started the morning hot, forcing three straight outs in the top of the fifth inning, but a defensive error allowed the Thunderbolts to get on the board, with the score 9-1 in favor of the Big Train. The Thunderbolts scored one more run as they loaded the bases with only one out, but Gagen recovered quickly, forcing back-to-back fielder’s choice outs to keep the score 9-2 for Bethesda.
In the top of the seventh inning, right-handed pitcher Tyrese Johnson (UT Martin) stepped onto the mound. Gagen finished Sunday morning’s game with 40 pitches pitched through two innings for 23 strikes, one strikeout, two hits and two runs allowed.
The Thunderbolts brought another run back in the top of the eighth inning to make the score 9-3 for the Big Train, but Bethesda matched it in the bottom of the eighth, as an error at first base brought Ponnett home and sent Foscolo to first base to make the score 10-3.
Back-to-back walks for Mirza and Carpenter loaded the bases with only one out, and Gramesty stepped up to drive the runs home. A wild pitch during Gramesty’s at-bat sent Foscolo barreling toward home plate, but he was ruled out on the play at the plate.
Gramesty would walk, keeping the bases loaded, and pinch hitter, outfielder Aaron Ritenour (East Tennessee State University) came up big on his first at-bat of the morning, doubling down the left-field line, bringing Mirza and Carpenter home and extending the lead to 12-3 Big Train.
Bagnerise continued the on-base streak, doubling into center field, scoring both Gramesty and Ritenour and ending the game at 14-3 for the Big Train.
Johnson closed out the game for the Big Train, striking out the first batter and forcing pop-outs from the second two to secure the victory.
“I just had to trust myself, trust my mechanics,” Johnson said. “It felt great to go out there, see some success against the competition. That’s why I’m here, to get better.”
Bethesda returns to Shirley Povich Field Monday evening for a makeup game against the Metro South County Braves (5-3), which was originally postponed on Wednesday, June 10. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Tickets can be purchased on the Big Train website.