Written by Mahaley Wise

As the season progress; teams have grown more cohesive and defenses tougher, intensifying the game as they fight for every chance to score. The Olney Cropdusters have had a strong run this week, climbing to second place in the North Division standings behind the Bethesda Big Train, making Thursday’s game all the more crucial to their postseason hopes. However, the Big Train proved why they are the division leaders, and outperformed the Cropdusters in the tough battle, 6-3. 

Big Train Head Coach Sal Colangelo isn’t worried with the league standings; his focus remains on developing his team and playing solid baseball. He stated, “I’m just concerned about playing good quality baseball, executing three phases that we talked about and harp on. I’ll look at the standings right before the playoffs to see where we are at. When we are winning that is all that matters.”

Both teams' starting pitchers gave a strong performance, delivering multiple strikeouts and forcing groundouts or pop flies. Big Train was the first to break through with back-to-back singles in the top of the third to score the first run of the game. Alex Peltier (East Carolina) started off with a single and a stolen base to put himself in scoring position. Brennan Wright (South Alabama) followed with a hit to left field to score Peltier. 

The Cropdusters caused traffic on the basepaths, but they were unable to cause any damage to the Big Train’s one-run lead. A new pitcher came in the fifth for the Cropdusters as they attempted to hold the Big Train from scoring any more runs. 

On the first pitch, Logan Ponnett (UNC) started with a leadoff single. After two stolen bases and a walk to Wright, the Big Train had runners on the corners. Peyton Steele (Alabama) came to bat, worked a full count, and smashed a three-run home run. The ball took to the sky and traveled over the left fielder's head, right over the wall, sending out cheers from the dugout. Big Train expanded their lead with three more runs as the Cropdusters watched the close game become an uphill battle, 4-0. 

“Peyton has been hitting the ball well all year…just taking quality at bats squaring the ball up and good things are happening,” stated Colangelo.

In the sixth inning, Mathew Westley and Josh Skowronski (Winthrop) hit back-to-back singles to put a man in scoring position. A bunt by John Martinez (Florida Atlantic) advanced the runners to second and third. Ponnett got the job done with a sacrifice fly ball to right field to send Westley home and advance Big Train’s lead, 5-0. 

Big Train starter Connor Lehman (Alabama) dominated on the mound through the first 5.1 innings, striking out 5. 

“He mixed it up very well,” Colangelo said. “Executed his pitches when needed and competed.”

The Cropdusters came alive in the sixth. They worked two walks followed by two wild pitches to bring Zayke Hawkins (Utah) home. RJ Cromartie (Notre Dame) delivered a single to bring Will Henson (VCU) home, cutting the score to 5-2. 

In the ninth inning, the Cropdusters make their final attempt to overtake the Big Train. Cromartie was hit by a pitch with one out. He turned into a powerhouse on the bases, stealing second and third on consecutive pitches. He came home on a single by Tyler Cook (Troy University). However, with two men left on base the Cropdusters failed to come up with the rest of the runs, falling to the Big Train 6-3.