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The game got off to a quick start as the Grays brought in two runs in the top of the first. The bats were swinging as a hard hit double and error brought in the first run for D.C. Another single would bring in the second run, the Grays leading 2-0.

Bethesda wouldn’t see any action on the scoreboard until the bottom of the second. The Big Train would cut D.C.’s lead by one run. Keith Torres III (Sacramento State) would find his way to second after smacking a double off the wall. He advanced to third on a passed ball, closer to his destination. Darius Foster (San Francisco) would bring in Torres on a sac fly, the Big Train closely behind at 2-1.

D.C. didn’t give any slack to the Big Train in the top of the third. The Grays would bring in two more runs, increasing their lead to 4-1 on a two-run homer by first baseman Austin Deming. The Grays would cement Bethesda’s fate in the top of the fourth, adding three more runs to the lead to put Big Train behind 7-1. A few hard hit singles would do the trick for the opposing team. One final run would be scored for the Grays in the top of the fifth. After  a double, a wild pitch would allow a Grays’ player to find his way home.

The bottom of the seventh found some leeway for Bethesda. The Big Train would score one run, cutting the Grays down to 8-2. Gio Diaz (St. Mary’s CA) would make his way to first on a walk, quickly stealing to second. He made his way to third on a fly out by teammate Christian Jayne (East Carolina). A quick single over to left by Kobe Kato (Arizona) would bring Diaz home for the second run of the game.

Bethesda brought in their final two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Torres reached base on a walk, making his way almost directly to third after Tate Soderstrom (Arizona) smacked a double. Both Torres and Soderstrom would score on an error committed by the Grays’ right fielder, making it 8-4. 

Though the team may have faced a tough loss, it was all smiles in Shirley Povich Field on the cool summer evening. The Big Train celebrated the backbone of the organization, the host families of the players. Big Train would not be able to field such a successful team if it wasn't for the never-ending generosity of those that open their homes.

Torres is one of the many players who stays with a host family, as his own home is Kapolei, Hawaii. “They’re pretty amazing, they’ve showed me a lot around the area. It’s my first time out here. I’ve got to see D.C. for a change. They showed me a lot around Maryland, parts of Bethesda and Maryland I probably wouldn’t have ever seen,” Torres said of his host family this season.

The Big Train will be heading to Silver Spring tomorrow evening for a weather reschedule game against the Thunderbolts. Look out for updates on the Big Train Twitter.