June 27, 2007 - Big Train show Military Stars Who's in Charge - By Will Sisco (www.bigtrain.org)
Big Train show Military Stars Who's in Charge
By Will Sisco
www.bigtrain.org
On Tuesday night, the Big Train faced off against the US military All-Stars as part of the Red, White, and Blue Tour of America. The Big Train won the exhibition game 8-3, their seventh consecutive win.
In the second inning the US Military All-Stars got on the scoreboard first, scoring three runs in the top of the inning. Ray Judy (Navy) drove in the first run for the All-Stars with an RBI single. Will Zavalla (Navy) then scored from third on a wild pitch by Big Train starting pitcher Evan Frederickson (Virginia Tech). Later in the inning, Judy came in to score on a Big Train fielding error to give the Military All-Stars a 3-0 lead.
The game's starting pitcher for the Military All-Stars Jahsan Page (Air Force) played for the Big Train in both 2001 and 2002. Page started the game by retiring the first eight Big Train batters before third baseman Mike Matta (Mount St. Mary's) reached base on a walk. Matta then scored on an RBI single by second baseman Greg Lemon (Salisbury) to narrow the deficit to 3-1. Lemon currently serves under Sal Colangelo as the Big Train bench coach. He previously played for the Big Train in 2003 and 2004. He was allowed to play tonight because it was an exhibition game.
The Big Train cut in to the lead once again in the bottom of the fourth. Right fielder Andrew Foster (Bowling Green) reached base on a throwing error. After he reached third on a wild pitch, DH Clay Whittemore (Jacksonville State) drove him in on an RBI groundout to short.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Big Train took the lead for the first time. Catcher Travis Owens (Bowling Green) and first basemen Evan Friedland (Michigan State) both singled and center fielder Pat Minogue (Northern Illinois) walked to load the bases. Left Fielder Eli Boike (Michigan State) drove in Owens on a sacrifice groundout to second. Friedland and Minogue then both scored on a single into center field.
In the seventh, the Big Train tacked on two more insurance runs. Shortstop Steven Leach (Jacksonville State) and Whittemore both scored on a US Military All-Stars throwing error. The Big Train scored once again when Matta walked and scored on an RBI single to center by Whittemore to make the score 8-3.
Frederickson settled down after the three run second inning and pitched well for the Big Train. Frederickson didn't allow any more runs after the second and struck out four through his five innings of work.
The relief pitching also was solid for the Big Train. Brett Smalley (Middle Tennessee State), Derek Caldwell (Rider), and Collin Cargill (Southern Mississippi) all came in from relief, not allowing a single run in a total of four innings. Tonight was Derek Caldwell's first game back from Tommy John Surgery. He had not pitched prior to this in 14 months.
The Big Train will try to win their seventh consecutive regular season game when they take on the College Park Bombers at home tomorrow night at 7:30.
