Defensive masterclass powers Big Train past Cropdusters

by Calvin Kaplan

Peyton Steele by Nora Kelley

ROCKVILLE, Md. — With nobody out and an opposing runner on second in the top of the seventh inning, the Bethesda Big Train’s 5-4 lead was looking shakier by the minute.

Promptly, the glove of second baseman Brennon Wright (South Alabama) put all worries to bed.

Wright’s leaping, backhanded snag prevented a potential game-tying RBI on a hard liner toward shallow right-center. From there, the Big Train pulled away, defeating the Olney Cropdusters 8-4 at Shirley Povich Field.

“I can’t give enough credit to my team for allowing me to be in the position I was,” Wright said.

Wright’s spectacular catch was just the tip of the iceberg in a hard-fought contest featuring a number of fantastic Big Train performances. Four players had multi-hit days, including Wright, left fielder Josh Skowronski (Winthrop), catcher Dylan Murphy (Florida Atlantic) and center fielder Alex Peltier (East Carolina).

As a team, the Big Train committed no errors, making a number of stout plays in the field. Right fielder Peyton Steele (Alabama) made an unbelievable diving catch in the fourth to rob the Cropdusters of a hit. In the sixth, he tacked on a laser of a throw to beat Olney’s Austin Stalker on a play at the plate, stopping a potential run.

“We preach every day when we play: we want to pitch it, we want to execute the fundamentals and we want to play good defense,” Big Train head coach Sal Colangelo said. “You do that, a lot’s going to happen.”

The pitching staff was strong as well on Sunday. Hard-throwing right-hander Brett Renfrow (Virginia Tech) stifled the Cropdusters in his first start, throwing two innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts. From there, it was Michael Devenney (Tulane), Jordan Capuano (Frederick CC) and Owen Stewart (George Mason) who held down the fort.

It was an extra-special birthday victory for Colangelo, who guided the Big Train to its seventh victory in its past eight games.

“Couldn’t be any happier and prouder for these guys,” Colangelo said. “I know it’s a special day for me, but it’s just another day. It’s about the kids. It’s about the players getting better to help their universities win.”

Through 12 games, the improvement from all players has been evident. Team camaraderie also stands out in a big way.

“This team is one of the closest teams I’ve ever been a part of, which is really crazy to think about when we just got here a few weeks ago,” Wright said. “Just continue to keep that great energy, and we’re going to go a long way.”

With a big game on Monday against the red-hot Southern Maryland Senators, the Big Train will need all the firepower it can get.

“I definitely like our chances,” Colangelo said. “I’d go to battle with these guys anywhere. We’ve got good depth on the bench, we’ve got good depth in the bullpen and these guys are hungry. They want to win.”

The Senators matchup will take place on the road today at 7 p.m. The Big Train’s next home matchup is scheduled for Wednesday at 7 p.m. against the Gaithersburg Giants.