Fireworks Fly as Big Train Sparkle in 8-2 Juneteenth Win over Giants

by Alex Rubinson

Fireworks light up night sky by Owen Meyer

ROCKVILLE, Md. - The Bethesda Big Train returned to action for the first time in a week with their 8-2 victory against the Gaithersburg Giants.

After a rain delay of an hour and a half, Big Train fans flooded through the gates and collected their Clarence “Pint” Isreal bobblehead in honor of the Big Train’s celebration of Juneteenth.

A crowd of 640 celebrated the holiday on Thursday. In the middle of the sixth inning, fireworks lit up the sky in right center as part of the Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival . The light show lasted through the end of the frame into the seventh inning. Having fireworks blast during play of a baseball game is certainly an experience one doesn’t see everyday.

The community hero was Maryland House of Delegate member Greg Wims. The politician is a seventh generation Montgomery County resident. Wims talked about that during segregation, all they had was the church.

“I learned from a young age to give back,” Wims said. “All we had was the church and baseball.”

Bruce Adams and Greg Wims by Mark Thalman

LaTisha Gasaway-Paul is the leader of the Scotland Juneteenth Heritage Festival. She explained that baseball was one of the few inclusive sports during segregation.

“Baseball brought unity. Baseball brought inclusiveness,” Gasaway-Paul said. “It’s something about the spirit of togetherness that baseball brought.”

Wims, who has given out over 50 scholarships, is now a legislature and is most proud of the GED Act. The bill made sure that the entire test could be taken in Spanish instead of solely English.

“It gave thousands of kids who speak Spanish a chance to get their diploma,” Wims explained. “To me, that is the biggest thing I’ve done legislatively.”

Although Gasaway-Paul runs the show, she knows it takes more than just her work that goes into the festival.

“It takes a village,” Gasaway-Paul said. “It takes a strong team, dedication [and] understanding that it’s work that must be done.”

LaTisha Gasaway-Paul and Bruce Adams by Nora Kelley

The 75-year old Wims started volunteering in high school. Wims is now in a position to help and inspire the next generation of aspiring politicians, who are trying to make a difference in their communities.

“To have a true meaningful life…when you give back, that really gives you joy,” Wims said. “I want to be remembered as a community server and to say that I loved people.”

Gasaway-Paul explained why the work needs to be carried on and its significance.

“I want to continue making sure that we are telling the story of Scotland and the other remaining black historical communities,” Gasaway-Paul said. “It’s important because my heart is full. Juneteenth is freedom day.”

Due to Thursday evening’s storms, the regular pre-game first pitch ceremony was held without the pitches in the Davis Family Picnic Pavilion. The pavilion was jam packed with our annual Juneteenth catered supper for leaders in Montgomery County’s African American community. After a spectacular supper, Boy Scout Troop 96 from People’s Community Baptist Church presented the flags before a stirring rendition of the National Anthem by Chuck Williams of the Scotland AME Zion Church. Diners heard from Pastor Tim Warner of Emory Grove United Methodist Church, County Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Andrew Friedson, and County Executive Marc Elrich about the importance of the Juneteenth holiday. Big Train founder Bruce Adams spoke about the magnificent resilience, entrepreneurship, and excellence of Montgomery’s Black Sandlot teams in the Jim Crow era. Adams thanked Big Train Historian Bill Hickman for his research, documenting the career of Pint Isreal, Montgomery's greatest Negro League player, and for making it possible for the Big Train to give all fans an Isreal bobblehead. Historian Don Conway spoke about the memorabilia to be displayed by the Simmons Museum of Negro Leagues Baseball. The pre-game ceremony ended with a presentation of the Big Train Community Hero Award to Delegate Greg Wims by Adams.

Troop 96 by Mark Thalman

The Big Train will be back in action today against the Alexandria Aces at 6:30 p.m. The Big Train will return home for a double-header on Saturday June 21 to take on the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts with game one starting at 4 p.m. Tickets from June 15 will be valid for both contests.