NEWS

By Brandon Schwartzberg

When the Big Train and the Giants met at Shirley Povich Field on June 13, Bethesda dominated en route to a mercy-rule victory in seven innings.

Monday’s rematch had a different feel. The two clubs battled closely all night long, with neither side leading by more than a single run at any point.

But like last week, the Big Train (11-4) came out on top, narrowly defeating the Giants (4-9), 3-2.

Both starters had to wait nearly two hours to throw their first pitches after a weather delay. Once they did, they were locked in from the start.

Brandon Cassedy (Christopher Newport) received nod for the Big Train, his third start of the season and his second against the Giants. Cassedy had struck out five across three scoreless innings versus Gaithersburg in the clubs’ last matchup.

The 6-foot-1 right-hander dazzled the Giants’ bat once again on Monday. Cassedy struck out at least one batter in all of his four innings of work, finishing with six punchouts overall. Only two Giants reached base against him.

Joe Bladel (University of Maryland) relieved Cassedy to start the fifth inning. That’s when Gaithersburg scored its first run of the night.

Left fielder Alex Knapp (George Mason) led off the top of the fifth with a walk, advancing to second two at bats later. Knapp then came across to score on a Joshua Wilson (Frederick Community College) two-out single up the middle to tie the game at one.

Wilson has played sparingly — entering the contest having appeared in only half of the Giants’ contests — but registered his ninth hit of the year on his run-scoring base knock, good enough for the team-lead.

The Giants loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth as they had a golden opportunity to take the lead in a 2-1 deficit. But they could only tie.

Singles from Matthew Williams (Millersville), Bennett Shealor (George Mason) and Noah Leib (Denison) loaded the bases with no outs for Zach Martin (University of Maryland). Martin grounded a 2-0 pitch through the right side of the infield for a base hit, scoring Williams from third. But an excellent throw from Jason Schiavone (James Madison) in right field nailed Shealor at the plate, limiting the damage to one.

“As soon as we got bases loaded there … I just told myself ‘Hey if you’re getting the ball here, a ground ball or in the air, you’ve got a good chance of throwing someone out’,” Schiavone said.

The Giants had a chance to force extra innings with runners on first and second in the top of the ninth. But Wilson struck out swinging for out number three to end the game.

Gaithersburg starter Patrick Bauer (Catonsville CC) matched Cassedy pitch-for-pitch over the first three innings. The lengthy 6-foot-6 left-hander struck out seven in that span, finishing his start with eight punchouts over four frames in his longest outing of the season.

The lone damage against Bauer came in the bottom of the fourth when Bethesda struck first.

First baseman Carter Cunningham (East Carolina) reached base on a one-out single to right, later stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch in the ensuing at bat. Jack Guerrero (UNC Wilmington) then drove Cunningham home on a sacrifice fly to left two at bats later.

Cunningham finished the night a perfect 3-for-3 alongside a walk, pushing his OPS over 1.000.

Mitchell Bramsway (Gwynedd-Mercy) started the bottom of the fifth on the mound for Gaithersburg, getting taxed for a run as Jacob Orr (University of Maryland) drove home center fielder Harland Ruddell (Louisiana State) on a double play with the bases loaded.

Bethesda’s third run of the night came courtesy of Schiavone, as he walked in a run in the bottom of the seventh to put the Big Train back in front, 3-2, in what resulted as the deciding run.

Schiavone had an excellent game at the plate, reaching base four times — all on walks — in the win.

“Just going up there, trying to do whatever I can for the team,” Schiavone said of his mentality. “Obviously getting on base today was helpful for us. Coming off the past couple games it has been rough for me so honestly just trying to get up there and help them out as much as I can was important.”

Both clubs return to action on Wednesday after Tuesday’s off day. The Big Train remain home to host the Grays, while the Giants head to Silver Spring to face the Thunderbolts.