NEWS

Written by Jack Stashower

 

The Bethesda Big Train and Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts split Saturday’s doubleheader with a win apiece at Shirley Povich Field, bringing both teams’ records to 7-4.

 

The Thunderbolts came into Saturday’s contest following a 7-0 loss to the DC Grays in Woodbridge, VA on Friday. The Big Train’s last game was an 8-2 win over the Gaithersburg Giants at home on Thursday. 

 

With a 4:05 p.m. start time, game one got off to a quick start for the Big Train. Alex Peltier (East Carolina) started the night with a leadoff single to right field. Two consecutive steals quickly got Peltier to third. Logan Ponnett (UNC Charlotte) hit a ground ball to bring Peltier home and give the Big Train an early 1-0 lead. 

 

“I’m just waiting for him to get player of the week,” Big Train Head Coach Sal Colangelo said of Peltier after the game. “He understands his abilities, he’s the fastest guy in the league.”

 

A single from Peyton Steele (Alabama) brought Brennon Wright (South Alabama) home to increase the lead to two. Thunderbolts starter Josh Zuckerman (Emory) limited the damage with a successful pickoff at first.

 

The Big Train increased their lead in the bottom of the second when Emilio Gonzalez (Florida Atlantic) scored off of a throwing error by the pitcher. A single by Peltier brought home Dylan Murphy (Florida Atlantic), bringing the lead to 4-0. 

 

The Thunderbolts responded in the top of the fourth. A groundout by Bryce Curry (Hofstra) brought home Jack McCarthy (Marymount) to give the Thunderbolts their first run of the game. With the bases loaded, Josh Erd (Frederick CC) singled past the infield, bringing home Brayden Foster (Youngstown State) and Ryan Cuadros (Marymount), decreasing the deficit to one run. 

 

However, the Big Train would kill the Thunderbolts’ momentum in the bottom half of the inning. Peltier continued his superb day at the plate with a two-run double down the right field line, bringing home both Josh Skowronski (Winthrop) and Brett Ott (Sacramento State). Peltier led the team with three RBIs in the game. A second groundout from Ponnett brought home Murphy to make the score 7-3 in favor of the Big Train. 

 

In the top of the fifth, the Thunderbolts were able to find runs without recording any hits. Two consecutive walks put runners on early in the inning. A ground ball by Gabe Ruiz (UMBC) brought home Steve Thomas (Catholic), decreasing the deficit to three runs. An error by the third basemen on the next at bat brought home McCarthy, cutting the lead to two. 

 

Big Train pitcher Tanner Kaler (UNC Charlotte) came into relief in the top of the sixth and immediately made his mark on the game, striking out two batters and holding the Thunderbolts scoreless after the bases were loaded with one out. 

 

In the bottom half of the inning, Wright added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly to left, bringing Murphy home and making the score 8-5. Murphy led the team with three runs scored in the game.

 

Kaler finished the job in the top of the seventh, retiring the side in order and giving the Big Train the 8-5 victory, moving them to the top of the North Division for the time being.

 

Game two of the doubleheader started around 7:15 p.m. with an even larger crowd at Shirley Povich Field. Many Thunderbolts fans made the trip to Bethesda for the second game and they made themselves heard in the top of the second. 

 

With the bases loaded and only one out, a walk to David Vozzo (Moravian) started the damage, bringing home Brady Grimes (Millersville) and giving the Thunderbolts a quick one run lead. With two outs and the bases still loaded, Thomas was hit by a pitch to bring home Nathan Rodriguez (Mount St Mary’s). Next, Foster walked, bringing home Caleb Sturtevant (Millersville), giving the Thunderbolts a quick three-run lead. They did this without getting a hit. 

 

The Thunderbolts got back to work in the top of the third with a leadoff double from Vance Bonior (UMass Amherst). In the next at bat, Grimes hit a towering home run to left field, his first of the season, making the score 5-0. After a hit by pitch and a groundout got Sturtevant to third base, a single from Tyson Gill (Clarion) easily brought him home, increasing the lead to six. 

 

The Big Train finally got on the board in the bottom of the third, with Jacob Hauk (Maryland) coming home after a throwing error by the shortstop. A second run would have come in if not for an incredible throw by the left fielder Thomas, beating the runner home and recording the final out of the inning. 

 

Thunderbolts starter Josh Domaracki (Frostburg State) was dominant in his four innings on the mound, only giving up one hit and one run and striking out four in his appearance. 

 

The Thunderbolts added their seventh run of the game in the top of the sixth. After successfully stealing third, an errant throw from the Big Train catcher brought Vozzo home, giving the Thunderbolts a 7-1 lead.

 

However, the Big Train showed fighting spirit in the bottom half of the inning. With the bases loaded, Parker Corbin (Maryland) hit a double to deep center, bringing home John Martinez (Florida Atlantic), Steele, and Skowronski, giving the Big Train three crucial runs to lessen the deficit to 7-4. 

 

The Big Train needed three runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game. Pinch-hitting for Ponnett, Gonzalez hit a double to deep right field, bringing home Matthew Westley and making the score 7-5. But that was all the Big Train could muster up, dropping the second game of the doubleheader to the Thunderbolts, ending the team’s six-game winning streak. 

 

“They beat us the first two games of the season series, and just getting one of two tonight was a good step for us,” Thunderbolts Head Coach Brock Hunter said after the game. “This is a big win against a big rival. They're a very good team.” 

 

Both teams find themselves at the top of the North Division with 7-4 records. They will meet again on June 26 at Blair Stadium. 

 

But in the immediate future, both teams will be active on Sunday. The Thunderbolts will face the Gaithersburg Giants at Blair Stadium with hopes to maintain their impressive start to the season. The Big Train will host the Olney Cropdusters at Shirley Povich Field with the ambition of getting back to winning ways.