Westley Homers, Adetuyi Outduels Thunderbolts for Thrilling 2-1 Win

by Alex Rubinson

Matt Westley and Kide Adetuyi by Mark Thalman

ROCKVILLE, Md. - It was the bottom of the seventh in game one of a seven-inning doubleheader against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts. The T-bolts loaded the bases in a one-run game. Manager Sal Colangelo went to his bullpen to bring in Cole Ketchum (University of Mississippi). The count was even at 1-1. Ketchum’s third offering was wide and got by Dylan Murphy (Florida Atlantic University). After initially hesitating, Thunderbolts Bryce Curry sprinted home to try tie the game on the errand pitch. Murphy quickly made his way to the backstop and flipped the ball to Ketchum, who went to cover home plate. As Curry dove towards the plate, Ketchum caught the ball and quickly applied the tag for the out to breathe a sigh of relief and capture game one of the doubleheader.

“I immediately just ran to [the ball]," Murphy said. "It took a great hop [off the backstop], put a good toss on it, and Cole was there to make the tag.”

Despite the late game drama and a near comeback by the Thunderbolts, the Big Train prevailed to beat their division rival 2-1 in the first game of Wednesday’s twin bill.

Kide Adetuyi (Florida Atlantic University) turned in another fantastic start, as he outdueled the Thunderbolts’ Gabe Wheeler. The lefty retired the first 11 batters he faced, as he did not let a single Thunderbolt reach until the fourth inning. Adetuyi was in a great rhythm and kept the opposing hitters off balance throughout the afternoon. The college junior may have only recorded four strikeouts in the win, but his low total allowed him to work deep into the ballgame.

“Being able to land every one of my pitches for a strike [has been the key],” Adetuyi said. “That first pitch strike has been really huge for me.”

For the first three innings, the Big Train’s offense did not give Adetuyi any run support. The lineup had managed just two hits. In the fourth frame, with the middle of the Big Train’s order seeing Wheeler for a second time, they were able to break through. Peyton Steele (University of Alabama) got hit by a pitch to jumpstart Colangelo's lineup. Two batters later, Matt Westley (undecided) dug his heels in the right-hander’s batters box. Westley had already recorded one hit on the day but was looking to do damage his second time up. On the first pitch of the at bat, Westley let it rip. He hit a towering fly ball to deep left field that carried over the left field fence for his first home run of the year.

"[I've been] seeing the ball well the last two weeks or so," Westley said. "[I'm] just trying to get the barrel to the ball and see it deep."

Matt Westley by Mark Thalman

The long ball came just a game after the Big Train slugged three homers against the Metro South County Braves. Westley’s moonshot put the Big Train’s league-leading home run count at 11. Colangelo said last week he told Parker Corbin (University of Maryland) that Westley was due to go deep.

"I said 'he's going to hit one out,'" Colangelo said of his conversation with Corbin. "He's seeing the ball well."

After an easy fifth inning of work for Adetuyi, he seemed poised to challenge for a complete game. He quickly retired the first batters of the sixth frame. With just one out away from sending the game to the seventh, the Florida native lost his command. He issued two straight walks to bring the go-ahead run to the dish. After a meeting on the mound, Adetuyi found the zone once again. He forced Vance Bonior to fly out to right field to end the threat.

“[The mound visit] was just to slow me down,” Adetuyi said. “I was getting too ahead of myself, too worried about the runners on base. I was able to get the next guy out.”

Kide Adetuyi by Mark Thalman

Colangelo initially called on Tanner Kaler (University of North Carolina Charlotte) to close it out. Kaler surrendered a home run to Brady Grimes to open his outing. After getting the next two batters out, he loaded the bases via an infield single and two walks. Colangelo showed a high sense of urgency when he brought in Ketchum to shut the door. After Ketchum's pitch got away, Murphy made the play of the day to gun down Curry at home to end the thriller and secure game one for the Big Train.

Adetuyi finished his day with six shutout innings and four strikeouts. He allowed four baserunners for his entire six innings of work. His dominant outing lowered his season E.R.A. to 0.47 on the season. That ranks second in the entire Cal Ripken Sr. League among qualifiers.

"He threw three pitches in any count," Colangelo said. "He competed his [butt] off and gave us an opportunity to win."

The Big Train will go on the road to face the Olney Cropdusters today at 6:30 p.m. The team will return to Shirley Povich Field to host the Gaithersburg Giants on Saturday, July 5 at 7 p.m.

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