For the second consecutive summer, the fine people associated with the Bethesda Big Train invited me to throw out the 1st pitch before a home game, so this past Sunday evening before their game against the Herndon Braves, I made my return to the mound. The Big Train is one of the ten franchises in the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League, a premier wood bat college summer league located throughout Maryland, Washington D.C., and Virginia. In spite of Mother Nature’s best efforts to torture us with insufferable humidity and torrential rains two hours prior to game time, the fans were treated to an outstanding contest, seeing the Big Train come from behind in the bottom of the 9th on a walk-off double by Tim Yandel to win 8-7.
However, before the game could get started NBC Washington’s Chief Meteorologist Doug Kammerer, four other individuals and I needed to get the pregame festivities started with the ceremonial 1st pitch. As I walked out onto the field in preparation of throwing out my pitch, my immediate thought was “Wow, it’s really far to home plate” and then it got me thinking, “How do pitchers’ command the strike zone so well from so far away” – It definitely gave me a greater appreciation for how consistently good college and professional pitchers must be accurately throwing a baseball.
Then the nerves came, as I realized it was my time to pitch AND I might be expected to give a small speech introducing NatsGM, THE NatsGM Show, and my various other Podcast projects. Thankfully a truly eloquent intern from the Big Train gave my introduction, which made Michael Buffer sound like an amateur, and managed to make me sound rather important.
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As for the game, I was incredibly impressed with the overall talent level from both teams, but especially the home Bethesda Big Train. The team has several major league draft prospects for next summer, specifically Virginia Commonwealth’s Logan Ferrar and North Carolina State’s Ryne Willard. Not to mention their pitchers were all sitting mid-to-upper 80s with their fastballs and each seemed to have a strong breaking ball as well. I will have in-depth scouting reports of several Ripken League players later this summer, but I cannot stress how impressive the overall collection of talent is in this local summer league.
In conclusion I wish to thank Eddie Herndon, David Schneider and the entire Bethesda Big Train organization for graciously allowing me to again experience a child-like thrill of throwing a 1st pitch. If you are seeking a relaxing, family-friendly way to spend an evening outdoors this summer, I highly encourage you to attend a Bethesda Big Train game at Shirley Povich Field. And you never know, you might just watch the next great major league prospect in the process, like former Big Train stars Hunter Renfroe and Brandon Lowe.
Hunter Renfroe Bethesda Big Train 2012