Headlines
Big Train Win Thriller Against Aces, Clinch Championship Berth Ryne Willard hit his third home run of the postseason. The Big Train hosted the Alexandria Aces on Friday night, as both teams hashed it out for the chance to play the Baltimore Redbirds in the CRCBL Championship on Saturday night. Brock Larson (San Francisco) got the start for the Big Train, and gave the team six solid innings of one-run ball. Larson recorded four strikeouts, throwing 60 of his 92 pitches for strikes.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Big Train would draw first blood. For the third time in as many games, Ryne Willard (Tallahassee CC) came up with a clutch home run for the Big Train, this time a two-run shot that put the Big Train up 2-0.
In the fourth, the Big Train would extend their lead, as an RBI single from Mike Miedzianowski (High Point) scored Johnny Cole (Coastal Carolina) from second base to make the score 3-0.
Two innings later, the offense would add some cushion to the lead. With runners on second and third, Kevin Tatum (Cornell) hit an RBI single to push the lead to 4-0.
However, there's no such thing as a safe lead in the playoffs.
In the top of the seventh, the Aces would rally, scoring four runs off the Big Train bullpen to pull the score back even.
But the Big Train would answer in the bottom of the eighth. Johnny Cole would lead off the inning by drawing a walk, and would then advance to second base on a sac bunt by Mike Miedzianowski. After a walk to David Del Grande (Sacramento State), Ty France (San Diego State) would come up to the plate with runners on first and second and one out.
France would hit a single that was deep enough to give Cole a chance at scoring from second base. While Cole appeared to be out at the plate, Aces catcher Bobby Burns dropped the ball, allowing the run to score and the Big Train to take the 5-4 lead.
Will Resnik (High Point) would come on to pitch the ninth, and pitched his second no-hit inning to pick up the win and send the Big Train to the CRCBL Championship for the third consecutive year.
Friday night's victory sets the stage for a rematch of last year's league championship, as the Big Train will once against square off against the Baltimore Redbirds. Game 1 of the championship will be at 7:30 tonight at Povich Field, as Justin Hepner (San Diego State) takes the mound for the Big Train.
Because the CRCBL uses a double-elimination format, the Redbirds (3-0 in the playoffs) would clinch the championship with a victory, while the Big Train (2-1 in the playoffs) will have to win tonight and tomorrow night. Both games will be played at Shirley Povich Field, so come cheer on your Big Train at home for the final times!
Tickets can be purchased here or at the gate! |
Browse by Month »
November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 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 |
