Big Train Advances to Championship Series with 10-3 Victory over Giants

Andrew Williamson celebrating hitting a double in the first inning (Esther Frances)

ROCKVILLE, Md. — With an emphatic 10-3 victory on Tuesday, the Big Train swept the Gaithersburg Giants in the League Semifinals. The Big Train poured on the runs and anchored its victory with strong pitching to earn its ticket to the Championship Series for the fifteenth consecutive season.

“We do it by running the bases and executing the fundamentals,” manager Sal Colangelo said. “Some nights it's just not your night and another guy steps up and picks you up.”

Hitters all throughout the lineup stepped up for the Big Train. All nine starters made it on base at least once, and seven of the nine recorded an RBI.

With the bats firing, the Big Train scored early and often, taking the lead in the first inning and never relinquishing it. Center fielder Andrew Williamson (Central Florida) and left fielder Jaden Bastian (Jacksonville) flexed their power with first-inning doubles, and third baseman Davin Whitaker (East Carolina) notched an RBI single on the first pitch he saw.

Timely hits coupled with smart, speedy base running kept the Big Train in control of the game. After second baseman Justin Nadeau (Florida) placed a perfect bunt single in the second inning, designated hitter Kenan Bowman (East Carolina) took advantage of the mayhem, scoring all the way from second base. Bowman continued his solid game, recording two RBIs with a sacrifice fly and a single.

Kenan Bowman (Esther Frances)

“The bats staying hot, producing 10 runs. As a pitching staff you can’t ask for much more,” closer Brandon Cassedy (George Mason) said.

Sam Mitchell (Alabama) started on the mound for the Big Train and dominated through five innings pitched. He allowed only one run in the first inning. Once he found his groove, the Giants couldn’t respond. Reliever Max Martzolf (Florida Atlantic) continued Mitchell’s scoreless streak, striking out five in two innings. The Big Train was squarely in the lead by the time Cassedy took over, and he closed out the victory.

“All three of them were just lights out,” Colangelo said. “It started with Sam. Sam set the tempo, good tone on the bump, keeping everyone off balance, pitching ahead, throwing strikes.” 

Sam Mitchell (Esther Frances)

Although the Giants only scored three runs, they were far from quiet at the plate, recording 11 hits. The Big Train pitchers continuously came through, though, scattering the hits and working through jams to strand runners.

Cassedy faced a different kind of jam in the ninth inning as he had to pitch through the rain. He was familiar with the predicament, however, and didn’t let it faze him.

“A majority of my outings at Christopher Newport were actually in the rain,” Cassedy said. “I don't preferably like throwing in the rain, but I guess I was used to it. It is what it is. You can't change the weather, so you gotta dig even deeper and deal with the playing surface and still get the job done.”

Cassedy got the job done with a final swinging strikeout in the rain to send the Big Train to the championship. The Big Train will face the Southern Maryland Senators Wednesday and Thursday night at Shirley Povich Field in the best-of-three championship series. First pitch is at 7 p.m. Purchase tickets here!

Notes: On Tuesday night, 374 fans attended the Big Train’s semifinal game that lasted two hours and 59 minutes.