Peltier, Ponnett Lead Offensive Explosion, as Big Train Soar Past Metro South County Braves 14-4

by Alex Rubinson

Big Train team huddle by Nora Kelley

ROCKVILLE, Md.- The Bethesda Big Train cruised to a dominant 14-4 win over the Metro South County Braves on Sunday. Alex Peltier (East Carolina University), Emilio Gonzalez (Florida Atlantic University) and Logan Ponnett (University of North Carolina Charlotte) led the way to secure the Big Train’s first home win of the season.

Austin Monahan (State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota) dug himself into an early jam. The starter allowed a leadoff single, which was followed with a walk. Braves leadoff man Sam Grube stole third and was 90 feet away from scoring. Monahan struck out Nich Francuzenko, but cleanup hitter Trent Adelman doubled to give the Braves the early 1-0 lead. With two runners in scoring position, Monahan induced a ground ball to first baseman Gonzalez, who threw home to get the out at the plate. Monahan forced Charlie Brinkman to fly out to limit the damage.

Catcher Jacob Hauk by Nora Kelley

Defensive fireworks sparked in the second inning with Peltier making an early bid for the catch of the year. The centerfielder bolted to his right on a ball that was destined to plug the gap. Peltier got a fantastic jump on the line drive. At the last second, the speedster laid out to make a remarkable full extension catch in mid-air, which prevented the Braves from getting the leadoff man into scoring position.

“Outfield is kind of my thing. I take pride in having good defense out there,” Peltier said. “I’ve had [the ability to get good jumps] ever since I started playing outfield. It’s what makes me stick out out there.”

In the bottom of the second, the Big Train’s offense exploded for a six-run frame. Peyton Steele (University of Alabama Tuscaloosa) and Matt Westley (undecided) started the inning with consecutive walks. With two on, Gonzalez recorded his first extra base hit of the season, as the first baseman drove in Steele. Two batters later, Jacob Hauk (University of Maryland) gave his team the lead with a sacrifice fly. Peltier continued his stellar day with a run-scoring single. After John Martinez (Florida Atlantic University) hit the second sacrifice of the frame, Ponnett delivered the big blow with a two-run double.

Monahan settled in and faced just two over the minimum across the next three innings before tiring in the fifth.

Tyler Brashear (undecided) came in relief with runners on second and third and exited unscathed. After a rough appearance on Opening Day against the D.C. Grays, Brashear bounced back in a major way. The Pennsylvania native allowed just one hit in over four shutout innings of work.

“Tyler has a great arm and is a great kid,” Sal Colangelo said. “The reason they’re here is to develop. What he did was pretty impressive.”

Up 6-4 in the sixth, Martinez knocked home Peltier to give the Big Train some breathing room. One inning later, Gonzalez recorded his third knock of the day. The slugging first baseman broke out of his early season slump after getting a day off yesterday. Brett Ott (Sacramento State) made a productive out by grounding out to second to plate another run. Hauk tallied one more in the inning with an RBI single to regain the five-run advantage.

Emilio Gonzalez by Nora Kelley

“[Gonzalez] didn’t have a lot of ABs this past spring, so it takes time to get your timing back and see the baseball,” Colangelo said.

The Big Train broke the game open in the eighth inning. Brennan Wright (South Alabama) led off with a double and Martinez was hit by a pitch. With two runners on, the power hitting Ponnett blasted a mammoth home run over the batter’s eye in center field for his league-leading third round-tripper of the season. The third baseman finished the day with three extra base hits and five RBIs. Colangelo’s lineup wasn’t done. Steele and Parker Corbin (University of Maryland) smacked back-to-back doubles. Four batters later, Peltier ended his day strong with an infield single to third to reach base for the fourth time. The run gave the Big Train a 10-run cushion.

Logan Ponnett by Nora Kelley

“I am working on being able to stay down through my swing and making sure my front shoulder doesn’t fly [open],” Peltier said.

The Big Train have scored 10 or more runs in three of their first five contests. The win marked the second time in three games the Big Train pitching staff has allowed fewer than five runs.

The Big Train will look to continue to ride the momentum when they go on the road to play the D.C. Grays today at 7 p.m. The Big Train will host the Olney Cropdusters on Thursday, June 12 at 7 p.m.