LCS Begins: Big Train Heavy Favorites Over Thunderbolts

Bethesda Big Train, the Cal Ripken League's top seed in the playoffs, utterly dominated their first round opponent, the Alexandria Aces. After the team fell down 4-0 early in the first game, Bethesda unleashed an onslaught that ceased to end, scoring a grand total of 35 runs against the Aces' 4 from then onward as they cruised to a quick-and-devastating 2-0 series sweep.

However, with a new team coming to town, the slate will wipe itself clean, and if Big Train wants to walk out of this season as champions, they will need to do it all again one last time. In the League Championship Series, Bethesda will face none other than the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts. On the season, Bethesda has feasted upon Silver Spring, boasting a healthy 7-1 record. The lone blip on the radar was the third game of the season, wherein Bethesda lost 13-4 due to a fourth inning the fans at Shirley Povich will not soon forget as the underdog Thunderbolts struck for an uncharacteristic 11 runs.

Outside of that anomaly, the Big Train have had the Thunderbolts' number all season. Still, it would be unwise to begin planning the figurative parade prematurely. While it may be true that Bethesda enters the series as heavy favorites, the last time they lost to the Thunderbolts another championship series had the nation's attention--that series, of course, saw the Toronto Raptors stun the Golden State Warriors in six games. It can happen--it does happen. All the time. A series is never over until that last bucket slides through the net; or in this case, until the last feet dash across home plate.

With that in mind, come on down to Shirley Povich Field Monday night at 7 p.m. for game one in this best-of-three series to crown a new CRCBL champion. If you can't join us in person, you can always find our wonderful broadcast, hosted by commentators Shaun Salehi and Alex Drain, on Mixlr.