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Malvasio Hits Two Home Runs as Big Train Shut Out Grays 10-0
Bethesda Big Train Pitcher Charlie Hoagland (14) pitches during the game against the DC Grays at Robert J. Talbot Field on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
WASHINGTON — The Bethesda Big Train (6-4) made one of their longest away day trips of the season Tuesday night as they traveled to Robert J. Talbot Field at Catholic University to take on the DC Grays (3-8).
Tuesday night was the first head-to-head matchup between the two teams, but both sides were looking for a bounce-back victory after the Big Train fell in a 15-6 battle with the Metro South County Braves, and the Grays found themselves mercy-ruled 13-1 by the Gaithersburg Giants.
Both teams saw a quiet start to Tuesday night’s game, as neither team managed to score through the first two innings, mostly thanks to Left-handed pitcher Charlie Hoagland (East Carolina University), who threw three strikeouts and induced a double play to end the second inning.
Bethesda broke the deadlock in the top of the third inning, as infielder Cal Johnson (University of Maryland) walked to lead off. Shortstop Daniel Machado (Florida Atlantic University) followed Johnson with a walk, and a balk by the Grays pitcher saw both advance.
First baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern) stepped up to bat with only one out, and a fielder’s choice brought Johnson home to give the Big Train the 1-0 lead. Outfielder Will Haacke (James Madison University) followed him up, but this time an error by the Grays allowed Machado to score, doubling the lead to 2-0.
The hitting cooled off for both teams, but the pitching heated up from Hoagland, as he notched two more strikeouts and picked off a runner, only allowing one hit through the next three innings. Right-handed pitcher Nathan Wines (East Carolina University) relieved Hoagland, ending his night after five innings pitched, with 84 pitches for 46 strikes, five strikeouts and only three hits.
Wines was relieved four batters later, tallying four walks and a pickoff. Right-handed pitcher Kyzer Smith (Florida Atlantic University) came in for the Big Train, getting off to a hot start by striking out the next two batters and holding steady through the bases-loaded situation.
Bethesda Big Train Pitcher Kyzer Smith (38) pitches during the game against the DC Grays at Robert J. Talbot Field on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
Bethesda got back to business in the top of the seventh inning, as Machado got the Big Train started with a single with two outs. Gonzalez followed up the Pembroke Pines, Florida native with a bomb down the right-field line, scoring Machado and getting himself to second base.
With the score now 3-0 in favor of the Big Train, Haacke looked to keep the momentum by holding steady through a four-pitch walk. Outfielder Ryan Foscolo (University of Kentucky) looked for the right pitch and filled the count on the next at-bat, eventually crushing a ball off the left field wall, scoring Gonzalez and Haacke, extending the lead to 5-0 for Bethesda.
Smith came up big again in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving up two hits and a walk to load the bases with no outs. But the Stonewall, Louisiana native fought back, striking out the next batter, forcing a pop-up and ending the inning on a swinging strikeout.
The Big Train looked to put the game away in the top of the eighth inning, as outfielder Zachary Malvasio (University of Central Florida) stepped up and hammered a ball over the left field wall 373 feet for a solo home run, bringing the score to 6-0.
With one out and Johnson on first off a walk, infielder Brennon Wright (University of South Alabama) singled into the left-field gap to put a runner in scoring position. Machado came up to the plate and crushed a ball into left field and off the wall to bring both runners in, bringing the score to 8-0 for Bethesda.
Malvasio did not stop there for the night, as he sent a ball to nearly the same spot over the wall in left field, scoring himself and Carpenter, who reached first base on a walk. The shot put the game fully out of reach for the Grays, and capped off a nine-hit, 10-run shutout for the Big Train, the first of the season for Bethesda. 
Bethesda Big Train Right Fielder Zachary Malvasio (37), left, and Bethesda Big Train Catcher T.J. Gramesty (1), right, celebrate Malvasio’s home run during the game against the DC Grays at Robert J. Talbot Field on Tuesday, June 16, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)
The Big Train returns to action Wednesday night at Shirley Povich Field for a matchup against the Olney Cropdusters for Rotary Club and Commanders night. Commanders mascot Major Tuddy will also be in attendance, sponsored by Beacon Newspapers.
Bethesda is also excited to celebrate Sister Cities Night and to honor Maryland State Delegate Lili Qi of Spirit of America as a Community Hero.
Come early for Wednesday night’s game, as the Hung Ci Lion Dance Troupe and Taiji will perform a dance performance beginning at 6:20 p.m.