By Scott Zolotorow
The Bethesda Big Train are alone in first place of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League (CRCBL) after their 7-1 win over the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts. With the win Bethesda improved to 4-0. The Big Train were lead by second baseman Stephen Alemais, a Tulane sophomore, who was 3-5 with two RBI in the win. The Big Train leadoff hitter also notched 3 stolen bases and scored two runs as he was a nightmare for Thunderbolt pitchers throughout the game.
The Big Train scored a run in the first inning when Thunderbolt starter Garrett Pearson (VCU), balked with two outs and two strikes to Andrew Brown. Then the Big Train scored three runs in the second as they quickly loaded the bases with nobody out. After a Stephen Alemais, two RBI double gave Bethesda a 4-0 lead, shortstop Ryne Willard (NC State) hit a fly ball to right field. Thunderbolt right fielder, Kyle Norman (San Francisco) caught the ball and threw it in to third where there was a big miscommunication on the basepaths. Alemais on second assumed that the ball was deep enough for catcher Josh Spano (High Point), the runner on third, to tag up and score. Spano faked his tag up, fooling Alemais at second who broke for third, forcing Spano to break for home. They both got tagged out for a triple play, scored 9-5-2.
With momentum on their side after the triple play, the Thunderbolts loaded the bases in the top half of the thirdrd, but only managed to score one run as Big Train starter Devon Loomis (San Francisco) got help from an inning-ending double play. That was the only hiccup of the game for the Big Train, who went to the bullpen for 6 scoreless innings. Reliever Josh Thorne (Stetson) came in during the 4th inning and threw 3 scoreless innings, allowing just 2 hits. He got the win, his first of the season.
For the Big Train, outfielder Cody Manzella (High Point) was 3-4 with 2 doubles in the game. The Thunderbolts only mustarded up seven hits in the ballgame, two of which came from infielder Jake Taylor (Flager), no not the Jake Taylor from the movie Major League. It’s a long season in the CRCBL, and the Big Train have a rich history as they’ve won 4 of the 16 championships, more than any other team.
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