Full House Celebrates Opening Night

Seven hundred fans packed into Shirley Povich Field on Wednesday night in celebration of the 26th season of Big Train baseball. American Legion Post 86 donated a United States flag and presented a Flag Raising Ceremony just before a spirited rendition of the National Anthem by the Wood Acres Elementary School Chorus.

Two-time MLB All Star Gio Gonzalez was in the house supporting his boys Enzo and Gabriel as they threw out ceremonial first pitches along with Wood Acres student Lucas Garcia, County Councilmember Andrew Friedson, Big Train fan Abby Korman, Peter Atwill of our Community Heroes group Nourishing Bethesda, and Montgomery Parks Deputy Director Darren Flusche. Big Train founder Bruce Adams welcomed seven members of the Montgomery County Delegation to the Maryland General Assembly and thanked them for securing a state bond bill that will provide a world class irrigation system for Povich Field. Senator Brian Feldman and Delegates Marc Korman, Lily Qi, Linda Foley, David Fraser Hidalgo, Sarak Wolek, and Teresa Woorman threw out first pitches to a row of Big Train players all at the same time. Ripken League president Brad Rifkin welcomed the crowd and set the season in motion with a resounding “Play Ball!” 

Players from two youth teams -- BCC Baseball Nationals and BCC Baseball Bears were introduced by name to stand with the players for the National Anthem. The Kids Fun Zone with a moonbounce provided by Talk of the Town was fully engaged all night.

All fans received a 2025 Big Train schedule magnet provided by game night sponsor Lafayette Federal Credit Union and a hand fan honoring our new director of operations Raquel Ordonez. 150 Big Train posters by artist Joseph Craig English were distributed to fans as they left the game. We welcomed two new vendors to Povich Field on Wednesday. Saints Row Brewery which in addition to selling beer has created a Big Train Root Beer that will be sold at our concession stand all summer. Max’s Best Ice Cream will open in downtown Bethesda later this month so it was Big Train fans who were the very first to purchase their tasty treats provided in partnership with Best Buddies. There was Kona Ice as well as pizza from Gregorio’s. Catalyst Hot Dog’s owner Chris Van Jura shot hot dogs wrapped in Catalyst t-shirts into the stands with his t-shirt launcher.

Generous Big Train fans donated $2,738.75 to support Nourishing Bethesda in our annual Hot Dog Fundraiser. Catalyst sold 305 hot dogs Wednesday night to make the fundraiser a big success for Nourishing Bethesda’s vital work providing food to our neighbors in need. Again this summer, Big Train’s Community Heroes program supports one or two of Montgomery County’s nonprofit community organizations with 25 free reserved seat tickets and meals at each home game. The Community Heroes program is supported by the Trawick Foundation, Kiplinger Family Foundation, and Sandy Spring Builders.