NEWS

Written by Mahaley Wise

The Cropdusters hosted their home opener Thursday with a new season, an upgraded ballpark, and a new win after Wednesday's season opener. Before the game, Head Coach Adam Leader reminded the players, “We talk about coming here, getting better, and working hard.” They competed against the Bethesda Big Train, the reigning champions from the previous year. The Cropdusters marked their home stadium debut in style, blowing past their opponents in a 10–4 triumph.

 

A strong wind settled in from right field as the game began, creating an irritating challenge for both teams to keep their hits within the foul lines and their pitches on track. Despite action on the basepaths, neither team scored in the first. 

 

The Cropdusters broke the tie with three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Zayke Hawkins (University of Utah) initiated the inning with a walk, followed by a hard base hit from Angel Santiago Cruz (University of Richmond), which was stopped by a diving catch from Big Train’s second baseman to hold the runners at first and third. Hawkins scored off a groundout by Cadeym Ahearn (University of Lehigh). 

 

Brian Scott (Frostburg State University) took a few daunting practice swings at the plate before he threaded the ball past the second baseman and shortstop to get to the outfield and score the second run of the game. With one runner on base, Ayden Frey (University of Delaware) lofted a ball to left field, scoring another run for a 3-0 lead. Big Train was unable to match the Cropdusters' power and was retired in the third inning without a single run scored. 

 

The Big Train saw some action in the top of the fourth inning, stringing together singles by Emilio Gonzalez (Florida Atlantic), Logan Ponnett (UNC Charlotte), and Dylan Murphy (Florida Atlantic), and a walk by Matthew Westley to get their first run of the game. 

 

In the bottom of the fourth, the Cropdusters answered back. Two men reached on a walk and a hit by pitch, and real trouble struck on a hard-hit ball to third by Koy Swanson (Gaston College). The third baseman threw the ball away, allowing two runners to score while Swanson landed on second. Big Train replaced their pitcher, but the Cropdusters continued to rally. Austin Stalker (West Chester) crushed a ball to left field for a single, creating time for two more runs to score. The inning ended with the Cropdusters leading by 6 runs, 7-1. 

 

The Big Train began chipping away at the deficit in the fifth inning, scoring a run off a walk by Parker Corbin (Maryland), a fly out from Gonzalez that advanced the runners, and singles by John Martinez (Florida Atlantic) and Josh Skowronski (Winthrop). Another run scored for Bethesda in the sixth inning with bases loaded, when Corbin sent a sacrifice fly to left field to score Westley. The Cropdusters managed to work their way out of the threatening situation with new pitcher Mac Crismond (University of Charleston) forcing Gonzalez into a groundout at first.

 

The Cropdusters weren’t held off for long as they remained heavy and hungry on the basepaths, scoring two more runs in the bottom of the sixth on errant pitches to the backstop. Despite continued pressure from aggressive Cropduster baserunning, Big Train managed to escape the eighth inning having allowed just two runs, now trailing 9-3.

 

The Big Train gave it one last push at the top of the eighth, piecing together a single by Brennon Wright (Meridian Community College) and a sacrifice fly by Gonzalez after a hit by pitch and a fielder’s choice. However, it didn’t prove to be enough as Skowronski broke his bat on a groundout in the final out of the inning, still leaving Big Train five runs behind. 

 

Olney added another run in the eighth. After two walks and a hit by pitch loaded the bases, a run came home on a double play to make it 10-4. 

 

The Cropdusters sealed the deal with a double play in the ninth inning, leaving the field with smiles and another win on their record. “If we come out and get a little better every day, it's going to be a really great summer,” Leader concluded after talking with his players about tonight's game.