Archive
Big Train stay undefeated with win at Baltimore![]() Justin Wylie, who homered to score Big Train's first run on Tuesday, waits in the on-deck circle as outfielder Jacob Westerman (San Francisco) bats. The Cal Ripken League’s perennial championship contenders clashed for the first time this season in Baltimore on Tuesday night, with Big Train defeating the Baltimore Redbirds, 7-4. Bethesda extended its perfect start to the 2018 season to 6-0 with the victory over the Redbirds, who they have played against in the Cal Ripken League championship each of the last nine years. “They’ve got quality players and it’s a good organization,” Big Train manager Sal Colangelo said of the Redbirds. “Our guys came out, they knew we were going to be in a dogfight.” Starting pitcher Carter Bach (Wake Forest) made his Big Train debut, lasting four innings and striking out five while allowing two runs. “Carter was great,” Colangelo said. “He worked ahead, threw 70-something pitches, and did a nice job… We’re going to try to reduce his pitch count a little bit through the four innings, but [it was] the first time starting for him in a while since school’s been out.” The scoring began for Bethesda in the second inning, when outfielder Justin Wylie (Arizona) hit a leadoff home run. The shot to left-center kept Wylie atop the league leaderboard in home runs, with 3. “I redshirted this past year [in college], so I really focused on my weight training, and I gained about 15 pounds,” Wylie said. “Playing these early games, I think it’s translating to a little bit more power for me.” Big Train would go on to score three more runs that inning thanks to five walks and a Baltimore error to go up 4-0. After second baseman Fox Semones (James Madison) drove in shortstop AJ Lee (Maryland) in the third, the Redbirds cut the lead back to four before Bethesda tacked on two more in the fourth inning, making it 7-1. Big Train’s bullpen would protect that lead for the rest of the ballgame, allowing three runs in five innings. Righthander Josh Nelson (Wayne State) pitched into the seventh, and his college teammate, Hunter Brown, sealed the win by finishing out the last two-plus innings. “[Josh Nelson] did a great job,” Colangelo said. “Sometimes when you don’t have your best stuff, you’ve got to find something that works, and he did that. And then, Hunter came in and was great.” Offensive production was well-balanced for Big Train on the evening, with no player registering more than one RBI. Six games into the season, the team is well ahead of its competition on the field, having won each of its games by an average of more than nine runs. “I think it’s just that we’ve got some talented guys on this team, and the coaches have done a great job of recruiting us and getting us all together,” Wylie said. “We’re pretty much a complete team with great pitching and great defense, and we can swing a little bit.” Big Train will continue its road swing on Wednesday when it travels to Virginia to face the FCA Herndon Braves (3-2) at 7:00 p.m. The Braves currently trail Bethesda by two and a half games in the Cal Ripken League south division. |
![]()
Browse by Month »
April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 December 2022 November 2022 September 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 March 2020 February 2020 October 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 November 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 September 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 November 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 December 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 December 2011 |