Through Power and Patience, Big Train Scored 11-runs in Shootout Loss

Matt Westley by Jacob Wexler

ROCKVILLE Md.--  Three balls, two strikes, bases loaded and down by four runs. With the Big Train down to its final five outs, Logan Ponnett stepped to the plate with the opportunity of a lifetime. As Jace Szaflarski delivered the full count offering for the D.C. Grays, Ponnett took the swing of his career. A thunderous boom into the left field night sky. In a blink of an eye, a deficit that had peaked at 9-3 was all of a sudden a brand new ballgame at 11 all. 

Remaining fans from the sold-out Opening Night crowd erupted, while others stood in stunned silence. An energy shock was shot through the field with Ponnett tapping helmets with the rest of his teammates that had just crossed home plate. Coming into the at-bat, Bethesda had only recorded five hits until Ponnett’s big game-tying blow. 

“He didn’t have a lot of at bats in the spring,” Manager Sal Colangelo said. “[Ponnett] is getting used to getting comfortable, and he was able to square one up.”

Ponnett worked the count full, which was a theme throughout the night for the Bethesda Big Train. Although the Big Train dropped its opening night matchup 12-11 to the D.C. Grays on Wednesday, Colangelo’s offense drew 13 walks. The Big Train’s patient approach at the plate allowed themselves to claw back into the contest. 

Despite the early deficit, Bethesda forced Grays’ starter Brady Meyers to throw 63 pitches over three frames. Meyers issued five free passes to the Big Train over the course of his outing. Even though the Grays gave Meyers a lead, Bethesda got into D.C.’s bullpen early. 

“We talk about quality at bats and what a quality at bat looks like,” Colangelo said. “We try to discuss tendencies with what the pitcher is doing, with what you’re doing and what you’re trying to accomplish.”

Ponnett displayed the power, but Matt Westley was one of the key contributors to help jumpstart the Big Train. The Virginian native smacked a double into the gap to plate the first run of the season. Later in the game, Westley continued the patient approach at the plate by Bethesda and worked three walks. In the fifth inning, the junior walked to load the bases, setting up a run on an error against the next batter.

Two frames later, in the seventh inning, the first four Big Train hitters reached base. Emilo Gonzalez and Westley walked around a Brett Ott single. With the bases juiced, Jacob Hauk and Brennon Wright both forced ball four to force in two more runs. 

Josh Skowronski by Josh Babby

In addition to Westley, Josh Skowronski had a successful night at the dish. Although he was held hitless, the cleanup hitter worked three walks of his own and was hit by a pitch to reach base four times in the Big Train’s 11-run effort. The Winthrop University junior came around to score in the eighth. Westley worked his third free pass of the night later in the frame. Both Westley and Skowronski were just a microcosm of the patient approach that the Big Train demonstrated on opening night of their 26th season. 

In an era where on-base and slugging percentage is highly valued, the Bethesda Big Train had a clear approach at the dish where they were able to work deep into counts, took their walks and drove up the opposing pitcher’s pitch count to get in the opponents’ bullpen early. As Ponnett supplied the power, Wednesday was the perfect recipe for an all-around offensive showing for the Big Train. 

The Big Train will turn their attention to later today when they face the Olney Cropdusters at 6:30 p.m. Bethesda will return home to take on the Metro South County Braves on Sunday June 8 at 10:00 a.m.