Big Train Come From Behind to Book 10th Straight Win, Hand Bolts 10-7 Loss at Povich
BETHESDA, JULY 8—Last night, the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (7-21) were tasked with derailing the rampant Bethesda Big Train (20-8). Bethesda was on a scorching hot nine-game winning streak, and their most recent loss came at the hands of the Thunderbolts on June 24. Shirley Povich Field hosted this year’s Ripken League All-Star game on Tuesday, and it was host to a thrilling Battle of Beltway last night.
In the bottom of the first, Brennon Wright (South Alabama) reached after a hard hit ball was bobbled by Aydin Prell (Dickinson) at second. However, Prell redeemed himself by corralling a grounder and stepping on second for the final out.
Big Trian pitcher Kyler Hopper (Jacksonville) made his sixth appearance of the year, but the righty marched into a minefield of thunder. In total, Hopper threw three innings, allowed five hits, struck out three, and surrendered three earned runs.
In the top of the second, Marco Pulizzi (Millersville) hit a tape measure shot over the left-center field fence for a solo home run. Griffin Puvel (Rider) kept the stampede coming after beating out a grounder to short. Gabe Pegues (Lynchburg) recorded an RBI single as a Ripken All-Star on Tuesday. Unsurprisingly, the righty continued his hot hitting at Shirley Povich Field last night. Pegues ripped an RBI single to right, and Puvel hustled home to score. After putting the TBolts up 2-0, the Pegues hit an imaginary stepback basketball jump shot at first base.
While sporting a new cotton arm sleeve, Nolan Kutney (UMBC) joined the home run derby with a solo shot to left-center. Kutney became the sixth TBolt to go yard this summer, and his wall scraper gave his team an early 3-0 lead.
Landry Winter (Euporta) relieved Hopper in the fourth, but the Thunderbolts kept the storm coming. After a Prell single up the middle, Pegues rifled another RBI with a fielder’s choice to second.
Thunderbolts pitcher Zach Bortner (Frederick CC) made his fifth start of the season, and he had an efficient first three innings. However, Bethesda added three runs in the fourth thanks to singles by All-Star’s TJ Gramesty (FAU) and Cal Johnson (Maryland). In total, Bortner threw three and two-thirds innings, allowed four hits, issued four walks, struck out two, and gave up three earned runs. Right-hander Josh Erd (East Stroudsberg) recorded the final out of the fourth with a strikeout swinging.
After his bases-clearing double on Monday, Aydin Prell continued his hot hitting last night. With the bases juiced in the top of the fifth, Prell powered a three-RBI double to left-center. Center-fielder Will Haacke (JMU) laid out full extension, but the ball still found grass. This allowed the TBolts to take a commanding 7-3 lead.
In the fifth inning, Bethesda added a run on an E6. Foscolo hit a tough hopper to Colin Gibbs (Deleware), who couldn’t get low enough to collect the ball. Much like Prell, Gibbs made up for his error in a huge way. In an electric 4-6-3 double play, Prell fielded a grounder to Gibbs, and Gibbs swung it to Kutney to end the inning.
Erd struggled to find the zone in the top of the sixth, and Bethesda drew three consecutive walks. This gave way for an RBI right-filed single by Wright to chop the lead down even further. After going down 0-2 in the count, Zach Malvasio (UCF) drew an RBI walk to cut the lead to 7-6; this run caused Erd to exit the game. In one inning and two-thirds, the righty allowed two hits, issued six walks, and picked up a strikeout in the fourth.
Franco Pistella (Oberlin) entered to pitch in Erd’s relief with the bases loaded. On Pistella’s first pitch, Foscolo fired a two-RBI single to right, and it allowed Bethesda to take an 8-7 lead. Logan Ponnett (George Mason) pieced a sac fly to right, and Gramesty cashed in once more with an RBI bunt. After a six-run sixth inning, the Big Train ticketed a 10-7 lead.
The next three innings did not prove to be as flashy as the first six. Pitching was far more composed, and both teams strung just one hit apiece. Big Train reliever Joseph Chiarodo (Alabama) faced the final 15 batters, allowed two hits, struck out four, and claimed his first win of the season. The TBolts were sent down 1-2-3 in the ninth, and it sent them to their 21st loss of the summer.
Both teams had 10 hits on the night, but the TBolts’ kryptonite was finding the zone. Silver Spring-Takoma tossed 80 balls compared to 88 strikes. In comparison, Bethesda threw 66 balls compared to 104 strikes. Big Train drew 11 walks, while the Thunderbolts worked six. Overall, Bethesda showed how well they are able to treat games like a marathon and not a sprint. Even while in a three-run hole in the sixth, they calmed the storm by exploding for six runs.
For the Thunderbolts, Aydin Prell, Griffin Puvel, and Marco Pulizzi all had multi-hit days. These players all batted in the bottom of the order, but proved to show their offensive value last night.
“Coming in, I obviously didn’t start too hot. But, I feel like I’ve been putting in enough work and I feel like I’m starting to click,” Pullizi told Patrick Moran after the game. “Hopefully the TBolts will start clicking and we can make a run in the playoffs.”
Silver Spring-Takoma is now 1-5 against the Big Train this season. The TBolts have a chance for redemption tonight, as they will face Bethesda at Blair Stadium. This will be the first time the Thunderbolts play an opponent on back-to-back nights this summer.