Nine Strikeouts By Hoagland Elevate Big Train 4-1 Over Giants, Extend Win Streak To 9 Games

Big Train Head Coach Sal Colangelo before the game against the Southern Maryland Senators at Shirley Povich Field on Friday June 5, 2026 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo by Matthew Lewyn/Bethesda Community Base Ball Club)

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GAITHERSBURG, Md — The Bethesda Big Train (19-8) avoided dark storm clouds for the majority of Monday evening as they traveled to Criswell Automotive Field at Kelley Park in Gaithersburg for a weather-shortened seven-inning matchup against the Gaithersburg Giants (13-16).

The Big Train took the lead in the North Division — and the league — with its home run-filled victory over the Olney Cropdusters on Sunday evening. The result extended Bethesda’s win streak to eight games, beginning on Thursday, June 25 with an 8-6 win over the Alexandria Aces and including a 10-0 away shutout victory over the Giants the following day.

Since their last game against the Big Train, the Giants have a 4-3 record, getting above .500 with a 6-0 win at home in a seven-inning game against the DC Grays on Sunday, July 5.

The Big Train wasted no time getting on the scoreboard in Monday evening’s game. Infielder Kieran Coleman (Northeast Mississippi Community College) made his fourth appearance this season for Bethesda, hitting a single into right field.

First baseman Emilio Gonzalez (Nova Southeastern University) and outfielder Zachary Malvasio (University of Central Florida) followed Coleman on base with back-to-back walks, loading the bases for the Big Train.

Up stepped outfielder Ryan Foscolo (University of Kentucky), who delivered a deep ball into center field to the warning track, scoring Coleman on a sac fly and giving Bethesda the 1-0 lead. 

The Big Train then doubled their lead in the top of the second inning. Infielder Casey Carpenter (UNC Wilmington) fired a ball deep off of the left field walk for a double. Outfielder Will Haacke (James Madison University) came right behind Carpenter, drilling a ball to first base for a single and putting Carpenter on third. 

Catcher Jack Gagen (Tusculum University) drove the run in on a fielder’s choice, but Carpenter’s score gave Bethesda the 2-0 lead. Starting lefty pitcher Charlie Hoagland (East Carolina University) also delivered efficient pitching from the mound, striking out four batters through the first two innings and only giving up one hit.

Bethesda worked its way into another bases-loaded situation in the top of the third inning. Foscolo and Haacke stayed patient for walks, while infielder Logan Ponnett (George Mason University) skipped a ball past the third baseman and shortstop for a single. The Big Train were unable to score any runs.

The bats came back alive for Bethesda in the top of the fourth. The inning started slow for the Big Train, as Johnson and Coleman struck out in the top of the order, bringing Gonzalez up to the plate with two outs. 

The Cape Coral, Florida native got the Big Train going with a well-hit ball off of the center field wall for a double. He then advanced to third base on a passed ball. Malvasio took his time in his third at-bat of the game, staying patient for a full-count walk, putting runners at the corners. 

Malvasio then stole second base to put both runners in scoring position, and both came home on an infield single, bringing the Big Train to a 4-1 lead thanks to Malvasio’s hustle.

Hoagland continued to show why he leads the Big Train in strikeouts, delivering five more K’s in the third and fourth innings to bring his total to nine through four innings. The Dayton, Ohio native came off the mound in the top of the fourth to end his evening with 73 pitches pitched through four innings pitched for 47 strikes, four hits, one run and a season-high nine strikeouts.

Right-handed reliever Aiden Parker (George Mason University) made his second appearance for the Big Train this season. He started his night off with a strikeout, and after giving up a single, he forced back-to-back popouts to take the game into the sixth inning with the Big Train still up 4-1. 

The 6-foot-7 pitcher continued forcing outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, logging two popouts and a groundout. He found himself in a jam in the bottom of the seventh, after forcing back-to-back popouts in the first pitch of the at-bat, Parker gave up a single to center field. 

The Giants hit another single on an error, and a walk loaded the bases for Gaithersburg. Parker stepped up after going down 3-0 in the count, filling the count and eventually forcing a deep fly out to end the inning without giving up a run.

Unknown to Parker or the Giants, that would be the last pitch of the game, as nearby lightning storms would force the game to end after seven innings. The game is considered complete, extending the Big Train’s lead at the top of the standings and bringing the win streak into the double digits at 10-straight wins. 

The Big Train heads into the All-Star break 1.5 games ahead of the pack, and will get a day of well-deserved rest before returning to action at Shirley Povich Field on Wednesday, July 9 for a game against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

Some of the Big Train players, however, will not see that break, as they were selected to play in the All-Star game based on their performances this season. Gonzalez, Johnson and Malvasio will feature in the contest alongside their teammates, second baseman Brennon Wright (University of South Alabama) and right-handed pitchers Bryce Dolby (Cal St. Bakersfield) and Kyzer Smith (Florida Atlantic University).

The All-Star game will be contested between the Ripken League All-Stars and the Valley League All-Stars, and will be hosted at Shirley Povich Field on Tuesday, July 7. First pitch ceremony is scheduled for 7 p.m.