Big Train blasts Grays

​6/8/14

By: Anna Dunlavey

Bethesda Big Train stopped the DC Grays in their tracks on Sunday afternoon at the Nationals Youth Academy, besting the home team 14-3. Big Train remains undefeated in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League,improving their record to 5-0. The Grays suffered their second loss in a row, bringing their record to 1-3 in the League’s first week of play.

The early innings were short and uneventful, and the game was scoreless through three innings.  Grays hurler Thomas Broyles (Drew) in his first start of the season, didn’t give up a hit in the first three innings.

​In the fourth inning, a home run and a series of Grays errors led to the Big Train taking a 5-0 lead. Ari Kaufman (Lafayette) was brought in to relieve Broyles but two more runsscored before the Grays could get out of the inning. In the bottom of the fourth, Michael Breen (San Jose State) hit a double and was driven home by Eric Urry (Brigham Young), but it was the only run the Grays could muster in the inning.

In the top of the fifth, the Grays gave up back to back home runs, the second a two-run shot. Kaufman was replaced by Joe Tietjen (UNC-Ashville), and the Grays continued trying to fight back. Trae Sweeting (Georgia State) scored on a steal, and Sayvon O’Neal (Texas Southern) scored on Jamie Cooper’s (Holy Cross) base hit.  Peyton Fuller (Troy) pitched the eigth inning and got three quick outs, but a home run against Aaron Tovsky (Davidson) in the ninth cemented the Big Train win.

The DC Grays return to the Nationals Youth Academy tomorrow to play the Baltimore Redbirds, with Max Kaplow (George Washington) as the probable starting pitcher.