AA Baseball: The Big Train
The Big Train, a local 13 and under AA traveling baseball team, competed in the Alex Gordon Classic over the weekend in Shawnee and Olathe. The tournament had 24 teams from three states, including nine ranked in the top 10 from their respective states.
With lefty ace Brandon McKarnin unable to pitch with a knee injury and Ethan Godderz limited because of a sore arm, the Big Train turned to several players to pitch who generally do not including Carter Hutton, Trey Sommer and Maddox Johnson.
The Big Train opened pool play on Saturday with a 19-8 win over Olathe. Trey Sommer and Godderz pitched in the game to get the win.
In the nightcap of pool play on Saturday, the Big Train beat Eudora 4-3, with Hutton and Eli Adams combining for the win on the mound.
Sunday morning brought bracket play.
The Big Train opened against Complete Game Baseball Academy out of Olathe and won 2-1 in 8 innings. Sommer pitched a gem, going a strong six innings followed by Jamon Beck in the last two for the win.
In the quarterfinals, they played The Natural Baseball Academy from Kansas City who brought a top 10 ranking into the tournament. Adams, a veteran righty, went the distance against a solid academy team getting his team a 12-8 win.
In the semifinals, they played the Wichita Kansas Kings who were ranked third in Kansas AA. Hutton got the starting nod and was superb getting 4-2 6 inning win.
In the championship game, the Big Train went against the Leavenworth Pioneer Baseball Club, who is currently ranked number 1 in the state of Kansas and 12 in the nation in 13AA baseball.
Johnson got the start and went four innings, followed by Gavin Page and Beck, before losing 9-8 in the bottom of the seventh inning and taking second place in the tournament.
The Big Train is 5-1 after its first tournament of the season (the first two tournament were canceled due to weather). They currently are ranked 12th out of 64 teams in Kansas.
Up next, The Big Train will compete in The Big 24 Invite in Shawnee featuring teams from four states and some of the best 13AA teams in the quad-state area.
