Results

Tue. July 26, 2022

Giants Close Out 2022 Season

By: Ben Strober

The Gaithersburg Giants saw its season come to a close as they were bested at home by the Bethesda Big Train, 12-3.

The Giants fought hard, but lack of depth proved to make things challenging for the Giants.

Giants’ starter Andrew Neff (senior, Concord) allowed a leadoff single and the runner stole second then advanced to third on a grounder. With two outs, the Big Train executed a double steal to score the run, as the runner from third was able to score before the other runner in a rundown was tagged out.

Neff’s second was much better, as he posted a three-up-three-down on nine pitches.

Ethan Harden (sophomore, Belmont) led off the second with a walk for the Giants, but that was all they’d get, as Big Train starter Nicholas Del Prado (junior, Florida Atlantic) mowed through the Giants’ hitters.

Neff was great again in the third, retiring the Big Train in four batters.

Joe Quelch (sophomore, Georgia Gwinnett) notched the Giants’ first hit of the day, ripping a double down the line. However, he was stranded there after Dylan Wilkinson (junior, Longwood) struck out to end the inning.

Neff was dealing — he quickly retired the Big Train in the fourth, including two strikeouts.

Del Prado, however, was dealing as well. Another 1-2-3 for Del Prado in the fourth featured two strikeouts. Through the first four, he had a whopping seven strikeouts.

Robert Lee (freshman, Denison) came into pitch for the Giants and immediately struck a man out. He then gave up back-to-back singles, which then became runners in scoring position due to a wild-pitch. Big Train left fielder Garrett Felix (junior, Nicholls) then extended their lead with a bouncing single over the head of second baseman Josh Wilson (junior, Frederick CC). The Giants then saved themselves from going down three when Wilkinson gunned down a runner trying to score on a double steal.

Believe it or not, the same exact thing happened in the top of the sixth. Lee gave up two-straight one-out singles, who both advanced to scoring position on a wild-pitch. Lee walked the bases full then hit a man with his fastball, putting the Giants in a three-run hole. Aaron Combs (junior, Salisbury) came in for Lee and instantly issued a four-pitch walk, then hit the next batter. In a snap, the Giants were down five. A fifth-straight free pass brought in the Big Train’s fourth run of the inning. It didn’t stop there — another walk by Combs was the fifth run to score via the walk. The Big Train piled on three more, putting a dagger into the Giants.

The Giants finally got on the board at the bottom of the sixth thanks to an RBI single by Jeremiah Jenkins (sophomore, Maine).

Evan Selmer (junior, UMBC) came in and settled things down for the Giants posting a 1-2-3 inning.

The Giants tacked on another two runs, but it was far too late as the Big Train finished them off, advancing to the Championship Series.

Mon. July 25, 2022

The Gaithersburg Giants ended up on the wrong side of an instant classic game, in which the Giants fell to the Bethesda Big Train, 13-12. The game saw numerous lead changes and dramatics, but ultimately, the Giants now will have to play with their season on the line.

In the top of the first, Giants’ shortstop Dylan Wilkinson (junior, Longwood) took a ball the other way for a one-out double and moved to third on a sacrifice-fly. The Giants couldn’t capitalize however, as Ethan Harden (sophomore, Belmont) flew out.

Michael Standen’s (sophomore, Bloomsburg) first started off unfortunately. After a leadoff single, Standen induced a routine grounder that should have been a chance for two. Matt Ryan (sophomore, UMBC) however airmailed the throw to second and it trickled all the way into right field, allowing a run to come across. The next batter then hit an RBI grounder, putting the Giants already in a two-run hole.

Standen bounced back in the second — posting a scoreless frame — even after a leadoff walk.

Trailing by two, Joe Quelch (sophomore, Georgia Gwinnett) singled and moved to second, giving Jeremiah Jenkins (sophomore, Maine) a chance to chip in the lead. Jenkins did the Giants one better, crushing a mammoth game-tying blast into the trees.

The Giants’ big blast tied the game, but the Big Train’s first baseman Sean Lane (sophomore, Maryland) matched Jenkins’ blast, crushing one out to center for a go-ahead blast.

The homers continued to pile on. In the top of the fourth, the Giants accumulated two-straight walks with one-out. Josh Wilson (junior, Frederick CC) then sent the stadium into silence, crushing a three-run blast over the tall wall in left-center. The Giants continued to rally through the inning. After a couple of hits and a walk, Brendan Kleiman (junior, Frederick CC) came in to score on a wild-pitch. The Giants were going crazy and they weren’t done. Harden, with the bases juiced, smoked a ball into the gap for another two-runs. It was six-runs in the fourth, and the Big Train were stunned.

The Big Train responded with a sac-fly for a run off Standen, but that was all they’d get.

With the bases loaded in the top of the fifth, Jenkins continued his postseason fire, looping in a broken-bat single that scored the Giants’ ninth run of the night.

Evan Selmer (junior, UMBC) was summoned to relieve Standen, and got into a jam quickly. Selmer issued a bases-loaded walk, then a ground ball fielded by Wilkinson wasn’t able to be picked at first by Jenkins, and as a result, a second runner raced home. Just like that, it was a two-run game. The next batter then laced a ball up the middle but Wilson made a gazelle-like catch, and stepped on second for a crucial unassisted, inning-ending double play.

The Giants got a crucial run in the sixth. With two outs and runners on the corners, a ball got past the Big Train catcher, and Ryan elected to come home from third. The catcher had Ryan beat, but an incredible swim-move from Ryan helped him sneak his hand around the tag. The Giants dugout erupted as the umpire signaled Ryan was safe.

Caleb Guisewite (sophomore, Belmont) came in and started to struggle in the seventh, walking in a run, then surrendering a two-run game-tying single. Guisewite then had a ball plucked into the gap that scored two-runs and put Bethesda in front.

The Giants got one of those runs back in the eighth when Jenkins raced home from third on a wild-pitch. The game was nuts and it got even nuttier thanks to a Ryan sac-fly that tied the game.

Guisewite recorded two outs at light speed but he then began to fatigue, walking two-straight then giving up a go-ahead two-out single, putting the Big Train ahead by one.

The Giants went down 1-2-3 in the ninth to complete their heartbreaking loss.

Sun. July 24, 2022

Giants Dominate Play-in 7/23/22

By: Ben Strober

The Gaithersburg Giants exercised its demons, knocking off the DC Grays in the play-in game at home in a dominant performance, 10-1.

Giants’ starter Noah Covington (senior, Maryland Eastern Shore) paved the way for the Giants with a remarkable, complete game performance, in which he walked no batters.

The Giants now have a fighting chance, as they will start a postseason series with the Bethesda Big Train.

Covington made his opponent swing and miss for his first two outs of the game, but two base knocks put runners on the corners with two down. Covington was able to force a grounder to end the Grays’ threat.

The Giants escaped the jam and began to build off that momentum. Joe Quelch (junior, Georgia Gwinnett) led off with a walk, then an easy stolen base. Dusty Mercer (junior, Murray State) then gave the Giants the lead with a single through the vacated right side of the infield. Jeremiah Jenkins (sophomore, Maine) followed up Mercer’s single with a run-scoring double of his own, putting the Giants ahead by an early two. Ethan Harden (sophomore, Belmont) continued the rally, notching a double of his own, bringing home another run. Seven batters came to the dish in the first and it was plenty for the Giants, as they posted those three runs.

Covington’s second inning featured zero drama, as he posted a quick three-up-three-down frame.

Covington got into trouble in the third after two-straight hits and a wild-pitch, but he was able to get a big strikeout on the Grays’ cleanup hitter Dane Camphausen (senior, Wooster) to end the inning.

Jenkins crushed his second double in as many at-bats in the third but that was the only noise out of the Giants’ bats for that time around.

Speaking of Jenkins, not only was he having a good day at the dish, but his fielding was exceptional. With one down in the bottom of the fourth, Jenkins snagged a sharp grounder, which he turned into an inning-ending 3-6 double play.

The Giants’ offense was electric again in the fourth. Two-straight hits to start the inning made way for a Bryce Demory (sophomore, VMI) RBI single. The throw home helped the two Giants’ baserunners get into scoring position. This made it simple for Matt Ryan (junior, UMBC) who lifted a sacrifice-fly to extend the Giants’ lead to five.

Covington allowed a leadoff infield-single in the fifth and that was all they’d get, as Convington continued to deal his way through the Grays’ hitters.

The Giants loaded the bases in the fifth and Easton LaPlaca (sophomore, High Point) added to the damage, ripping a run-scoring single up the middle. Demory padded the Giants’ lead with an RBI groundout, but the Giants weren’t done yet. With two outs and two on, Ryan plucked the gap in right for another two-run double, further breaking open a wide-open game. Next up, Quelch, hit a towering fly-ball that appeared routine. However, Grays’ right fielder Aaron Thomas (junior, Wofford) lost the ball in the lights and let it drop. Ryan scored as a result, putting the Giants up double digits.

Covington was in a zone. In his sixth inning of work, Covington dominated once again, posting another 1-2-3 inning.

Covington’s pitch count was low so he continued into the seventh, and he continued to dominate. Another 1-2-3 for Covington only took 9 pitches.

Sat. July 23, 2022

By: Ben Strober

The Gaithersburg Giants suffered a tough loss in the first game of a two-game day, falling apart late, and losing to the Alexandria Aces, 9-5 in seven innings.

The Aces’ win also marked the team’s first regular-season league title in history.

The Aces only notched six hits on the day, but far too many walks by the Giants propelled the Aces to a nine-run performance.

It was quick work for Aces’ starter CJ Boyd (junior, Appalachian St) in the first, sending the Giants down in order on just six pitches.

Giants’ starter Quinn Holt (junior, Bloomsburg) hit a man on a two-out pitch, which sounded like it actually hit the batter’s bat, but nevertheless the Aces next batter was fanned by Holt to end the inning.

Matt Ryan (junior, UMBC) dropped in a two-out knock, but that was all the Giants could produce in the top of the second.

Holt’s second inning of work was even better than his first, setting the Aces’ hitters down 1-2-3, including a strikeout looking.

The Giants finally got at Boyd in the third. It had been a while since Zach Saryeldin (senior, Concord) notched a clutch hit, but that streak ended today, as Saryeldin crushed a double off the wall, scoring two. The next batter, Bryce Demory, (sophomore, VMI) took the next pitch back up the middle for a single that scored Saryeldin and padded the lead to three.

Pitching with a lead now was Holt, and he began to show some fatigue. Holt loaded the bases after a pair of walks, then an infield-single put the Aces on the board. An error at third then became the second run of the inning for Alexandria. A sac-fly, then a double steal put the Aces up by one in a matter of seconds. That three-run cushion for the Giants was gone, and now, they trailed.

After a leadoff HBP for Ryan, JT Amaral (sophomore, San Francisco) put a great swing on a ball that he smoked to right-center. However, a terrific catch stole a hit away, and even worse, the hit-and-run was on, so it was an easy throw to first to double off Ryan.

The Aces added another run off Holt in the fourth after they loaded the bases.

The Giants had a golden opportunity with runners on the corners and no one out. A runner was caught stealing, then Ethan Harden (junior, Belmont) struck out. The inning appeared potentially lost, but it was salvaged thanks to a wild-pitch that brought home Josh Wilson (junior, Frederick CC).

Matt Vernieri (junior, Bloomsburg) entered the game and issued a leadoff walk. The next batter ripped a ball that was heading for the gap, but an incredible Demory sliding-catch likely saved a run. The next pitch was a fastball that Giants’ catcher Brendan Kleiman (sophomore, Frederick CC) threw to second from his knees, gunning down the runner taking off for second. Vernieri was able to end the inning three pitches later with a big strikeout.

Jeremiah Jenkins (sophomore, Maine) led off the sixth with a double plus an error that put him on third. On a 3-2 pitch, Ryan delivered a clutch game-tying single through the middle.

Vernieri’s sixth inning started off troublesome after a walk, then an unlucky bounce off of first base put runners on the corners with no one out. Vernieri surrendered a second-straight hit, putting the Aces in front with just three outs to get. The Aces then continued to pile it on the Giants, adding another three.

The Giants were then finished off by the Aces in the top of the seventh.

Sat. July 23, 2022

Fri. July 22, 2022

By: Ben Strober

The Gaithersburg Giants locked up a home play-in game, as they defeated the DC Grays in a nail-biting finish, 5-4.

Joe Quelch (Junior, Georgia Gwinnett) blistered a ball down the line for a leadoff single. A bad pickoff throw then moved Quelch all the way to third. With the Giants only needing any ball in play to take the lead, it seemed almost impossible that they wouldn’t score. However, the next three Giants’ batters all sat down on strikes, evaporating the chance of an early lead.

Giants’ starting pitcher Ethan Harden (sophomore, Belmont) was electric in the first, striking out the first two, then forcing a grounder to end the inning untouched.

Bryce Demory (sophomore, VMI)  laced a one-out single in the top of the second but he was stranded at third after a groundout then a strikeout.

Harden once again had to return to the bump without a lead, but that was no issue for the left-hander, who shut down the Grays’ hitters after a leadoff single.

The Giants’ offense finally broke through in the third. Two-straight singles to start, then an error on a bunt loaded the bases for Dusty Mercer (junior, Murray State), who popped a ball up that just barely nestled into green grass in left. The runner on third scored, but the throw to the plate was off the mark, so Quelch was able to sprint his way into home as well. Harden then helped out his own cause, padding his run support with a sacrifice-fly

Finally, Harden was pitching with a lead and remained poised in the third even after a leadoff single and a wild-pitch. Harden kept the Grays scoreless, finishing his day just allowing two hits and most importantly, not walking a single batter.

After Caleb Guisewite (junior, Belmont) entered the game and posted a scoreless frame, Mercer launched a ball out of the park for a solo-shot, extending the Giants’ lead to four.

The sixth wasn’t what the Giants had hoped for. Guisewite allowed a hit, then walked a man, so manager Jesse Frawley turned to Aaron Combs (sophomore, Salisbury) to get the Giants out of the jam. Combs loaded the bases with a walk, then gave up two-straight two-out singles, shrinking the Giants’ lead to just one-run in a flash. Combs then uncorked a wild-pitch that tied the game for DC. Combs ended the inning with a K, but the damage was done, and the game was tied.

With it only being a seven-inning game, the Giants just needed one run to have a chance to shut the door on DC. The Giants got that run, when two hits and a throwing error put two in scoring position with one out. Remember the name Ethan Harden from earlier? Good, because Harden delivered a clutch single through the hole, putting the Giants back  in front.

Frawley then called upon Andrew Neff (senior, Concord) to seal the deal. Neff got the first out quick thanks to an incredible catch behind the plate by catcher Brendan Kleiman (junior, Frederick CC)  The next batter, however, doubled down the line, putting the tying run in scoring position. Neff didn’t seem to be bothered, as it only took him four pitches to record the final two outs, sealing a home play-in game for the Giants.

Wed. July 20, 2022

By: Ben Strober

The Gaithersburg Giants’ offense came alive in a big way Wednesday, posting 16 hits and 11 runs en route to an 11-8 road victory over the Metropolitan South County Braves.

With the win, the Giants officially punched its ticket to the postseason.

Joe Quelch (junior, GGC) was ready to go from the opening pitch. The first pitch of the game saw Quelch attacking, ripping a double into the gap in right-center.  A walk then a productive grounder made way for Easton LaPlaca (sophomore, High Point), who lined a ball over the head of the Braves’ second baseman, driving in the first two runs of the evening. With two outs, Jeremiah Jenkins (sophomore, Maine) added to the Giants’ lead with an RBI double down the line. 

Noah Covington (junior, Maryland Eastern Shore) started off his first inning with a strikeout on three pitches. Covington hit the next batter, leading to later trouble. An error put the Braves in position to chip back into the game. They did more than just that. With two outs and two on, Covington surrendered a towering game-tying three-run moonshot, evaporating the Giants’ lead.

The Giants got a man in scoring position in the top of the second, but the bats couldn’t come through, as the Braves retired three-straight in just 6 pitches.

The Braves put runners on the corners with two outs in the second and Covington escaped unscathed after picking off the runner on first.

Ethan Harden (sophomore, Belmont) then put the Giants back in front in the third, lifting a two-run shot into center.

The Giants nearly added another run in the fourth, but a major controversial call kept the Giants only ahead by two. With the bases loaded and one out, Dusty Mercer (junior, Murray State) lifted a fly-ball to left. On third was Josh Wilson, (sophomore, Frederick CC) who elected to tag and attempt to score. The Braves’ left fielder came up throwing — it was a good throw — beating Wilson to the plate, but Wilson appeared to have gotten under the tag. However, the umpire said Wilson missed the plate and was tagged out as a result. The Giants’ bench erupted in frustration, as they couldn’t believe the questionable call. As a result, the Giants went scoreless in that inning.

With a two-run lead, in came Michael Standen (junior, Bloomsburg), who retired the first two quickly, but two straight walks put him in a pickle. The Braves then executed a double steal, putting Standen into hotter water. Standen, though, got out of the jam, flagging down a grounder back at him.

The Giants’ offense broke through again in the fifth. Harden led off with a single, then an error on an infield-pop-up added another runner with no one out. JT Amaral (sophomore, San Francisco) took advantage of the Braves’ miscue, ripping a run-scoring double into left. Dean Mercer (junior, Wilson) then ripped a ball up the middle, which ricocheted off two Braves defenders, allowing two runs to come. The inning came to an end though on a baserunning gaf by Mercer, as he was unaware there was only one out on a pop-fly. Mercer was doubled off as a result, ending the inning.

Standen had the Giants’ back, posting a clean frame in the fifth, striking out two.

Standen then found himself in a small hole, walking a man then allowing a single through the vacated right side of the infield. Standen then surrendered a second-straight single, cutting the Giants’ lead to four. Manager Jesse Frawley decided to call upon his incoming-freshman star Robert Lee (Denison) to finish off the frame. Lee came in, saw one batter, and sat him down on four pitches to end the Braves’ threat.

Lee came out for the seventh and gathered a quick out before giving up a solo-shot to the next batter. Lee was able to re-gather himself and escape the inning after allowing another runner.

The Giants got some much needed insurance in the eighth when Wilkinson ripped a ball into the gap, bringing home Wilson to score all the way from first. Two pitches later, Dusty Mercer extended the Giants’ lead with an opposite-field single that scored Wilkinson. An already good day for Harden became a great one when he singled through the right-side, bringing home another run. It was a three-run eighth for the Giants, putting them in control.

Lee was back for the eighth and a leadoff double then a softly-hit single gave the Braves one of those runs back. Lee loaded the bases, so Frawley put the lead in the hands of Aaron Combs (junior, Salisbury), who walked the first batter he faced, decreasing the Giants’ lead to four. A wild-pitch then made it just a three-run game. Combs did escape however with a big strikeout to end the bases-loaded jam.

Combs then settled in for a strong ninth inning, finishing off the Braves.

Tue. July 19, 2022

Giants Fall to Big Train 7/19/22

By: Ben Strober

The Gaithersburg Giants fell apart in the late innings as they suffered its third loss in a row, falling to the Bethesda Big Train, 8-4.

The top of the first almost went perfectly but misfortune bit the Giants hard. With one out, Big Train outfielder DM Jefferson (sophomore, Notre Dame) reached base and then took off to steal. Emilien Pitre (sophomore, Kentucky) tried to pull off the hit-and-run but his liner flirted with disaster heading right for short. Dylan Wilkinson (junior, Longwood) leaped to make a play but it just barely deflected off the tip of his glove and away. What would have been an inning-ending double play for the Giants, instead set up the Big Train with the chance to score, and they did so. Following the near disaster, the Big Train put two across to take the lead.

Quinn Holt (junior, Bloomsburg) put another runner on, who advanced to second in the top of the second, but Giants’ catcher Brendan Kleiman (sophomore, Frederick CC) started a rundown that caught him on a terrific throw that came amidst a walk. Holt then fanned a man to end the frame.

Just like the bottom of the first, the second went the same for the Giants. Three batters up, three batters down.

Holt loaded the bases after a pair of walks in the third, but he was able to only allow a sacrifice-fly to limit the damage to just one run.

Big Train starter Nicholas Del Prado (junior, Florida Atlantic) didn’t allow a single base runner his first time through the Giants’ lineup.

The bottom of the fourth saw a major turning point. Joe Quelch (junior, Georgia Gwinnett) became the first Giants bas runner of the day, walking on four pitches. Then the first hit of the day came on the very next pitch by Wilkinson. With a chance to get the Giants on the board, Dusty Mercer (junior, Murray State) looked to provide a spark. Mercer didn’t light a spark, he lit the match, lifting a game-tying three-run blast to the opposite field. After being blanked through the first three, it only took three batters to make it a new game. Brendan Kleiman (sophomore, Frederick CC) then notched his first hit as a Giant, giving the Giants a one-run lead. Quelch then came up with the bases-loaded but he stuck out to end the Giants’ momentum-shifting inning.

Two-straight walks to start the fifth put the Giants in a jam. Manager Jesse Frawley called upon Andrew Neff (senior, Concord) to hold the lead. Neff was exceptional out of the pen, striking out the first two batters he saw, then inducing an inning-ending pop-fly, preserving the lead.

Neff then continued his excellence, posting another 1-2-3 in the sixth.

Things were moving smoothly for Neff until the seventh, where he walked the first two batters. Neff got one out on a sac-bunt, then a big strikeout had him in position to escape the jam. With two strikes and two outs, Big Train right-fielder John Kramer (sophomore, Mississippi) lifted a clutch three-run shot over the wall in right, putting the Big Train back ahead by two.

Jake Pendergraft (sophomore, Denison) came in for the eighth and had issues with his control, walking the first three batters he faced. Pendergraft then fanned one for the first out but then walked in a run, giving the Big Train their second three-run lead. Following the walk, a sacrifice-fly padded the Big Train’s lead. 

The Giants’ offense went down 1-2-3 seven times and 13 walks by the Giants’ staff stand out as the faults, as the Giants fell to the Big Train.

Sun. July 17, 2022

By: Ben Strober

A seemingly never ending weekend of baseball for the Gaithersburg Giants closed on a road loss to the DC Grays, 5-1. The Giants fought hard and gave themselves a chance, but fatigue set in late, allowing the Grays to take advantage.

The Giants’ first at-bats were productive, accumulating two runners on and only one out. However, a flyout and a strikeout sent Giants starter Matt Kahn (sophomore, Indian River State) to the mound to start without a lead.

It was quick work in that bottom of the first for Kahn, sending all three Grays’ hitters back to the dugout.

In the second, Kahn got another two quick outs then allowed his first base runner of the day on what was also the Grays’ first hit of the day. It was no issue for the Giants’ defense thanks to a diving snag by Matt Ryan (sophomore, UMBC) ended the inning.

For the third, an infield single then stolen base put Kahn in trouble with one down after the runner tagged third on a foul-out. Kahn wasn’t fazed — he forced a hard-hit grounder, then a weak pop-up to end the inning — keeping the game scoreless.

The Giants’ bats were silent through the first four as the Giants were still without their first hit following a 1-2-3 inning.

While the bats were silent, Kahn’s pitching was loud. Kahn fanned the first two of the fourth, then induced an infield-pop-up to finish off yet another 1-2-3 inning for the all-star pitcher.

The Giants’ first hit of the day came in the fifth on a booming double by Ryan. The Giants looked to be in business, one down, one in scoring position for Joe Quelch (sophomore, Georgia Gwinnett). Quelch then delivered, taking a slider the other way for a second double in a row. However, Ryan was picked off at second just moments before…The next batter then popped out, ending the Giants’ best chance thus far.

Kahn surrendered his first run in the fifth on a run-scoring grounder that came after back-to-back hits put a man in position to score. Kahn then proceeded to load the bases with two outs but he bounced back and forced an inning ending fly-out.

Caleb Guisewite (sophomore, Belmont) entered the game and the Grays got at him in a flash. A leadoff hit, then a walk got Guisewite into trouble, and that trouble led to a greater deficit, as a single up the middle padded the Grays’ lead to two. 

The Giants finally got on the board in the seventh on a Bryce Porter (junior, Bloomsburg) RBI double that plucked the gap in right-center. With a runner on second and two down, Quelch flew out to the deepest part of the park, ending the potential rally.

Guisewite got two quick outs in the seventh, but disaster soon ensued. A two-strike pitch resulted in a single up the middle. The next batter, Grays’ third baseman Dane Camphousen (senior, Wooster), crushed a ball to the opposite field for a pivotal two-run blast. The very next pitch was sent over the wall by the Grays’ right fielder Aaron Thomas (junior, Wofford). In a matter of two pitches, a one-run ballgame morphed into a four-run mountain for the Giants to climb.

A leadoff walk to Dylan Wilkinson (junior, Longwood) gave the Giants a sign of life but that was quickly dashed, as Jenkins grounded into a 3-6-3 double play. 

The Giants notched their fourth double of the day in the ninth, also their fourth hit. Extra-base-hits weren’t an issue today, that’s for sure. Nevertheless, the Giants’ offense withered in its final at-bats as the Grays finished them off.

Sat. July 16, 2022

Fri. July 15, 2022

Fri. July 15, 2022

By: Ben Strober

The Gaithersburg Giants picked up momentum on Friday, with a clean sweep of the Silver Spring Takoma Thunderbolts.

Giants’ starter Robert Lee (freshman, Denison) put two men on base, thanks to an error by the infield, but he remained poised and struck out two to hold the T-Bolts scoreless.

The Giants quickly loaded the bases in their first appearance at the plate. Then Matt Ryan (sophomore, UMBC) walked after a lengthy at-bat, giving the Giants the lead. Bryce Demory (sophomore, VMI) extended the Giants’ lead with an RBI single four pitches later. Bryce Porter (junior, Bloomsburg) ended the Giants’ rally, striking out looking on a 3-2 pitch with the bases loaded.

Lee walked a man, but he stayed put at first, as Lee retired the other three men to end the second.

The Giants struck again in the bottom of the second. With runners on the corners and two gone, Jeremiah Jenkins (sophomore, Maine) singled to the vacated left side of the infield, scoring one. Then the next batter, Ryan, joined the party, singling through the left as well, bringing in another Giants’ run. Unfortunately the third base umpire called runner interference, which wiped out the run.

The T-Bolts took that momentum into the top of third, as Eli Putnam (freshman, Davidson) delivered an RBI single to put the Bolts back within two. That was all they’ll get though as Lee bounced back to retire the side.

Lee got some help from his defense in the fourth when a leadoff single didn’t end with a runner on base because Josh Wilson (sophomore, Frederick CC) delivered an absolute strike from right field to gun down the runner trying to stretch his single to a double.

Lee came out for a fifth inning and he got into trouble after a throwing error on a bizarre play. Lee wasn’t fazed — he held the T-Bolts scoreless with a big inning-ending strikeout.

Evan Selmer (junior, UMBC)  surrendered a leadoff walk, but he struck out the next batter, then a soft liner was snagged down by Wilson, who flipped to first to end the inning.

Selmer then shut the door on the T-Bolts’ bats once more in the seventh, completing the sweep.

Thu. July 14, 2022

By: Ben Strober

The Gaithersburg Giants were dominant on the mound on Thursday, and an explosive second inning was all that was needed to pick up a momentum building, 9-1 victory over the Metropolitan South County Braves.

Andrew Neff’s (senior, Concord) start was a bit shaky. Neff’s first pitch of the game was sent down the line in left for a leadoff double, then, as the runner took off to steal third, Easton LaPlaca (sophomore, High Point) threw the ball past third and into left, bringing the runner home. Neff then allowed two more base runners, one on an error, one on an infield-single. Neff then induced a pop-out to end the inning.

The Giants’ bats only mustered three weak ground balls in the bottom half of the frame,  and went down 1-2-3.

Neff bounced back in the top of the second with an almost immaculate nine-pitch inning, retiring all three in a flash.

The Giants’ offense awoke from the dead in the bottom of the second. Back-to-back singles to start the inning gave JT Amaral (sophomore, San Francisco) a chance to tie the game with a ball put into play. Amaral did one better, dropping in an RBI single to tie the game. A base hit by the next batter made it four straight hits for the Giants. The hits kept on coming. Bryce Porter (junior, Bloomsburg) notched a two-run single then Matt Ryan (junior, UMBC) annihilated a first-pitch fastball over the wall in left. Six straight hits had put the Giants in front by five. The streak of non-stop hits ended after the eighth batter of the inning marked the eighth hit of said frame. An incredible eight hits in a row led the way to a seven-spot in the bottom of the second for the Giants.

Neff surrendered a leadoff double in the third but he recovered to retire the Braves without allowing a run.

Neff continued to deal through the fourth, striking out the side, seemingly almost effortless for him.

Joe Quelch (junior, Harford) notched his second hit of the game to lead off the fourth, eventually coming around and scoring on a wild-pitch.

There was no question that Neff was dialed in. Neff struck out the first two batters of the fifth, which also marked five-straight K’s for the right-hander. Neff then induced a weak fly-out to finish his day with a miraculous seven batters retired in a row.

The Giants’ offense added its ninth run of the game when Bryce Porter (junior, Bloomsburg) came home to score as Quelch was stuck in a run-down between first and second.

Caleb Guisewite (Junior, Belmont) had big shoes to fill coming in for Neff, but his night started off strong, posting a clean frame which was highlighted by an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.

Guisewite then struck out two of three batters he faced in the seventh, as the Giants’ pitching dominance continued to reign over the Braves.

Guisewite loaded the bases in the eighth inning, but he was able to escape unscathed, forcing an inning-ending fly out.

After the Giants were held scoreless in their last at-bats of the night, Guisewite blew away all three men he faced, completing a big win for the Giants.

Wed. July 13, 2022

Wed. July 13, 2022

By: Ben Strober

The Gaithersburg Giants hit the road in Bethesda for a doubleheader, and things once again were less than promising for the Giants as they were trounced twice by the league-leading Bethesda Big Train.

The bottom of the first saw insanity. After a leadoff single by the Big Train, the runner moved to second on a wild-pitch, then the chaos ensued. The next batter hit a grounder, which was flagged down by pitcher Evan Selmer (junior, UMBC) who then elected to go for the runner breaking for third. The rundown began, which eventually ended in the hands of shortstop Drew Vogel. (junior, Murray State). Vogel appeared to have the runner dead-to-rights, he did, but Vogel dropped the ball trying to apply the tag. The ball then was thrown away by Vogel and the runner took off for home. What looked to be a disaster start for the Giants was saved by left-fielder Easton LaPlaca (sophomore, High Point) who was backing up third. LaPlaca scrambled to grab the ball then he delivered a bullet to the plate to gun the runner down, saving the run.

Leading off the top of the second inning was Ehi Okojie, (sophomore, Harford) and he T’d off on a first-pitch fastball, sending it into the trees behind the wall in left.

Selmer got into a jam in the next inning. A walk, then two bunt base-hits loaded the bases with no one out. Selmer induced a 4-2 grounder that nailed the lead-runner at home, but the next groundball was perfectly placed, allowing for no play anywhere and tying the game. Matt Verineri (sophomore, Bloomsburg) came in, relieving Selmer, and instantly surrendered a two-run single. Verineri then walked in the fourth run of the inning.

The Giants’ bats went down in order to follow, then Verineri surrendered another run on a single that found a vacant area of the infield. Verineri then uncorked a wild-pitch that added another Bethesda run. The same batter then launched a rocket off the bat for a run-scoring double.

Gaberiel Barrett (San Francisco) provided a solid stunt out the bullpen, posting two scoreless innings, including four strikeouts.

The Giants then were held to one hit all game long as the Big Train completed the twin-bill sweep of the doubleheader.

Mon. July 11, 2022

Pitcher’s Duel 7/11/22

By: Ben Strober

A pitcher’s duel against the red-hot Alexandria Aces saw the Gaithersburg Giants struggling to produce offensively, as they were edged by the Aces, 2-1.

In the bottom of the first, Joe Quelch (junior, Harford CC) practically produced a run completely himself. Quelch reached base on an infield single then proceeded to swipe second and third with ease. Quelch’s aggressive baserunning paid dividends, as Dusty Mercer’s (junior, Murray State) fly-ball was deep enough to give the Giants a 1-0 lead.

Giants’ starter Noah Covington (University of Maryland Eastern Shore) showcased electric stuff in the second. Covington fanned the first two batters he faced on a pair of nasty breaking balls, then he induced an inning-ending fly-out following a single.

Covington’s strikeout total reached five after the third, as he made another two whiff on strikes.

The fourth was more shaky for Covington — walking two and putting himself in a jam.

Aces’ second baseman Brandon Harrity (junior, Western Michigan)  then notched a game-tying double that was just too far from the diving Mercer.

The very next pitch was a liner to right that, this time, Mercer dove and actually brought in for a run-saving grab.

Unfortunately for the Giants, a high chopping grounder was too much for Giants’ third baseman Matt Ryan (sophomore, UMBC) and the Aces took the lead. 

Gaithersburg saw a prime opportunity to tie the game and even potentially take the lead, but JT Amaral (sophomore, San Francisco) flew out to the deepest part of left field with the bases loaded.

The Giants’ pitching was nothing short of stellar and that continued when Quinn Holt (sophomore, Bloomsburg) came in to relieve Covington.

Holt posted a 1-2-3 to start his night, then the next inning, Holt’s arsenal of pitches proved special.

Holt saw three batters in the top of the seventh — all three of them walked back to the dugout — whiffing at Holt’s offspeed-stuff.

While the pitching was dominant — the offense was cold. 

After its run back in the first, the Giants went quiet — stranding ten on base — holding the Aces promptly in the lead.

Holt was magnificent in his first two but it looked like his magic may have been exposed in the eighth. It wasn’t — Holt gave up two straight hits, including a double that nearly left the yard. With runners on second and third and no one out, Holt pulled a Houdini — striking out two straight — then inducing the inning-ending fly-out, holding the Aces scoreless in a pivotal spot.

The Giants’ bats had been quiet since the first and they stayed that way.

Jeremiah Jenkins (sophomore, Maine) led off the ninth with a walk but the next three at-bats were lackluster, featuring two straight strikeouts and a pop-out to end the Giants’ night.

Sun. July 10, 2022

Fri. July 8, 2022

By: Ben Strober

For the second game in a row, the Gaithersburg Giants suffered a devastating loss, as the Silver Spring Takoma Thunderbolts roared back from a seven-run deficit to shock the Giants, 10-8.

The Giants were blanked 1-2-3 in the top half of the first, but all-star pitcher Matt Kahn (sophomore, High Point) started his day off strong, fanning two T-Bolts in the first.

After going down in order in the first, the Giants’ bats responded well in the second, as the first two batters of the inning produced the Giants’ first run.

Drew Vogel (junior, High Point) doubled down the line, past the diving third baseman. Then Ehi Okojie (sophomore, Harford CC) dropped in a bloop-single that scored Vogel.

The Giants then loaded the bases and Josh Wilson (sophomore, Frederick CC) hit what appeared to be a tailor-made double play ball. However, the T-bolts botched it, as the throw to second sailed away and rolled towards first.

Okojie and JT Amaral (sophomore, San Francisco) raced around and scored.

The next batter was hit, then Dylan Wilkinson (junior, Longwood) dropped in a two-run double that the T-Bolts’ left fielder just missed with a diving attempt.

The next batter, Dusty Mercer, (junior, Murray State) singled past third on the very next pitch, bringing across another two.

For the second straight game, it was a seven-spot in an early frame for Gaithersburg.

The Giants put two on again in the fourth but both runners were stranded.

The bottom of the fourth was a series of unfortunate events.

Three weakly-hit balls induced a bases-loaded jam for Kahn.

Up seven runs, instantly reduced to a three-run lead when a double down the line in left cleared the bases, then an interference call brought home the runner for a little-league grand slam. Then three more hits added another run, then oddly enough, another interference at third brought home the fifth run of the inning for the T-Bolts. Manager Jesse Frawley couldn’t believe the calls, as he came out to question the umpires. Nevertheless, it was a disastrous inning for the Giants and the seven-run lead had evaporated into a measly two. 

In the 5th, the T-Bolts’ offense struck again after a leadoff walk led to a productive out, then eventually, another run coming home on a wild-pitch. The runs just kept on coming.

After struggles with control, Ethan Harden (sophomore, Belmont) entered the game. 

A grounder looked like it may end the inning but a costly error at first kept the inning alive.The next batter ripped yet another bases-clearing double, pushing the T-Bolts ahead by two runs.

A 7-0 lead for the Giants morphed into a 9-7 deficit in just a three inning span.

The Giants’ offense finally broke through in the seventh. Vogel singled with one out, then Amaral wound up driving him home with a single.

The T-Bolts got that run right back with an RBI single of its own in the seventh.

Down by two in the ninth, the Giants began to battle once again. Mercer and Vogel walked, bringing Okojie into a crucial at-bat with two on and no one out.

Okojie struck out on three pitches for the first out, then JT Amaral was sat down on strikes as well. Up next came Jeremiah Jenkins, (sophomore, Maine) and, just like last game, Jenkins recorded the final out, ending the possibility of a miraculous rally.

Thu. July 7, 2022

By: Ben Strober

The Gaithersburg Giants dropped below .500, as they suffered a tough loss against the DC Grays, 13-11.

Robert Lee (freshman, Denison) started his day off giving up a base knock, then a tailor-made double play ball was botched by the Giants’ defense, allowing a triple down the line to give the Grays a lightning-fast lead. A wild-pitch by Lee then brought home a second run before the inning’s conclusion.

The Giants’ offense had Lee’s back in the bottom of the first. The Giants’ first two reached and eventually moved over for runners on the corners and no one down.The Giants then executed a perfect double-steal, bringing in Joe Quelch (sophomore, Harford CC) from third. Drew Vogel (junior, Murray State) and Zach Saryeldin (junior, Concord) then notched back-to-back singles, scoring the tying, then go-ahead runs. After the Grays finally recorded their first out of the frame, Dean Mercer (junior, Wilson) added to the damage, ripping a two-run single past the diving third baseman. A couple batters later, Dylan Wilkinson (junior, Longwood) continued the nightmare of an inning for the Grays, driving in another two on what was the Giants’ seventh hit of the inning. Twelve batters came to the dish in the first, and the Giants put up an astonishing seven runs.

Lee then loaded the bases in the third with no one out. A run-scoring groundout then a sacrifice fly made it a three-run ball game, but Lee limited the damage well enough to keep the Giants in a comfortable spot.

Quelch led off the third with his third hit of the day, then he advanced to second on a Wilkinson bloop single. Quelch then took off for third, but appeared picked off, as he got into a rundown, but then the ball was thrown away and Quelch raced around to score.

Gabriel Barrett (sophomore, San Francisco) came on in relief and had some issues with his control. Those control issues were costly, as he walked in a run but he got out of the jam with a big strikeout to end the inning.

Barrett fanned the first two batters of the fifth but a two-out walk led to another RBI single for the Grays, as they suddenly were down just two.

Dom Valis (sophomore, Towson) came out to pitch the sixth and once again, the Giants saw themselves in trouble. Valis loaded the bases, then got a huge strikeout for the second out of the inning. Unfortunately for the Giants, the next batter, Cam Bufford  (Grambling) ripped a two-run single into the right-center gap, and what once was a 7-2 Giants lead, was now a tie game at eight. The next batter hit a routine ground ball that Vogel let under his glove and allowed the go-ahead run to score for DC. The damage had been done and it wasn’t finished yet. Following another walk, a big two-run double pushed the Grays ahead by three. The nightmare inning for the Giants saw the Grays come across to score five times.

The Giants’ offense brewed up runners in scoring position in the sixth and seventh, but they weren’t able to convert. Since that phenomenal first, the Giants’ offense had cooled dramatically.

The top of the eighth saw another rough moment for the Giants, as Evan Selmer’s (sophomore, Maryland Baltimore) first-pitch of the inning was blasted over the wall in left by Dean Camphausen (senior, Wooster). Selmer settled in and retired the next three batters.

Quelch led off the eighth with a double but the next three Giants were retired in order.

The Giants battled hard in the ninth, scoring three runs, then having the bases loaded with the winning run standing on first base. Mercer and Jeremiah Jenkins (sophomore, Maine) both struck out, crushing the Giants’ hopes of a miracle comeback.

Sun. July 3, 2022

Thu. June 30, 2022

Magic in the Top of the Eleventh

By: Ben Strober

The Gaithersburg Giants picked up its second win in a row, and moved back over .500 on Thursday, as they knocked off the South County Braves in a grueling, extra-inning battle, 12-6.

The Giants loaded the bases in the first, but two strikeouts from Braves’ pitcher Nick Frazier (sophomore, Virginia Commonwealth) negated a potential big inning.

In the top of the second, an error then a bunt base hit gave another prime chance for the Giants. After a sacrifice-bunt, then a walk, suddenly the bases were juiced against Frazier once again. Frazier responded, striking out a man, then inducing a fly-out to escape the jam for the second time.

The Braves then broke through and took the lead in the second.

The Giants offense responded with a break through of their own against a new pitcher in the third.

After Easton LaPlaca (sophomore, High Point) reached base, Bryce Porter (junior, Bloomsburg) doubled down the line, tying the game.

The very next inning, LaPlaca came through again, blooping a two-out RBI double down the line, pushing the Giants in front by one.

Matt Kahn (sophomore, High Point) got into trouble in the fourth, but a diving stop by Dylan Wilkinson (junior, Longwood) saved the tying run from scoring.

Matt Ryan (sophomore, UMBC) saw a first-pitch fastball, and he didn’t miss the opportunity. Ryan crushed it for a no-doubter over the left field wall, extending the Giants’ lead.

Kahn came out again for the fifth and saw himself get into a bases-loaded jam. However, Kahn remained poised, forcing a grounder to end the threat, and hold the Giants’ two-run lead.

It was an already big day for LaPlaca, and he just kept on giving.

Drew Vogel (junior, Murray State) started the 6th with a leadoff double, then LaPlaca came through again — lacing yet another RBI knock up the middle, extending the Giants’ lead to three.

The Braves showed life in the bottom of the sixth and seventh, scoring one each inning and putting the pressure on the Giants in the late innings.

In the bottom of the ninth, heartbreak shook the Giants.

After Caleb Guisewite (sophomore, Belmont) recorded the first two outs quickly, he was one out away from the save.

The next batter, Quinn Madden (junior, Harford CC), crushed a hanging slider from Guisewite, which was the game-tying blast, dashing the hopes of a win in regulation. For the first time all season, the Giants had to battle in extras.

Vogel got things off on the right track in the top of the tenth, walking then stealing second. The throw into second was a bad one, so Vogel advanced to third with one down. This left LaPlaca with a crucial chance. LaPlaca hit a pop-up, relatively shallow and Vogel decided to attempt to tag and grab the lead. The throw home was on the mark, and on an extremely close play, the umpire yelled that Vogel was out, and the inning was over in a flash.

The Giants found its magic in the top of the eleventh.

Ehi Okojie (sophomore, Harford CC) started things off with his first hit of the season, a swinging-bunt that Okojie had to dive into first to beat out. Matt Ryan then walked, setting up a pivotal at-bat for Wilkinson, who rose to the occasion, lining a ball up the middle and scoring the go-ahead runner plus an extra via a throwing error by the Braves’ defense. Joe Quelch (sophomore, Harford CC) then hit a bullet past third to add the Giants’ third run of the inning. A wild-pitch added insult to injury for the Braves, then LaPlaca continued his dominant day, ripping another run-scoring single into center.

If you thought things couldn’t get any better, they did.

The man who started the rally, Okojie, got his second at-bat of the inning. This time, instead of a swinging-bunt, Okojie destroyed the ball out of sight for a three-run blast.

An eight run inning electrified the Giants to new levels. The Braves battled back for two more runs in the bottom half of the frame but ultimately the Giants shut the door and closed out a morale boosting victory.

Wed. June 29, 2022

Giants Set Off Offensive Explosion

By: Ben Strober

 An offensive explosion by the Gaithersburg Giants was just what the doctor ordered, as the Giants’ bats found a major breakthrough, propelling them to a crucial, 9-1 victory over the DC Grays. The win puts the Giants back at .500 after dropping below the mark on Monday.

 Giants’ starter Robert Lee’s (Freshman, Denison) day got off to a magical start, retiring the Grays 1-2-3 on just seven pitches.

Just like on Monday against the Aces, Joe Quelch (sophomore, Harford CC) started the game off with a loud crack of the bat. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Quelch tomahawked the high fastball over the left field wall, giving the Giants the early lead.

Lee got into a jam in the second, putting runners on the corners with no one out.

Lee caught a sigh of relief when Dylan Wilkinson (junior, Longwood) gunned down the DC runner heading to the plate. Lee forced the next batter to ground out, ending the inning with no one coming in to score.

Following the masterful escape from the jam, the Giants’ bats exploded. Three-straight walks loaded the bases for JT Amaral, (sophomore, San Francisco) who was plunked in the back, scoring one. Dusty Mercer (junior, Murray State) then extended the lead to three with an RBI groundout. Next batter, Jeremiah Jenkins, (sophomore, Maine) opened the floodgates by ripping a liner into the right-center gap for a two-run triple.  Jenkins’ triple was the only hit of the inning for the Giants, but nevertheless, it was a five-run inning for the Giants, putting them in a position they so desperately desired these past few weeks, the chance to play with the lead.

Quelch continued to torch the Grays in the third, as he blooped an RBI single, extending the Giants’ lead to 7-0.

Two innings later, Quelch came through for the Giants again — delivering a sac-fly for his third RBI of the night.

Lee came out for his sixth and final frame and posted yet another scoreless one. Lee’s six innings of work held the Grays scoreless on six hits, four walks and two strikeouts.

The Grays finally got on the board with a run-scoring grounder in the seventh.

The Quelch show didn’t end — After Quelch’s third hit, he advanced to second, then took off to steal third. The Grays catcher’s throw was off the mark, allowing Quelch to race in for his third run of the day.

Ethan Harden then shut the door on the Grays in the ninth, sealing the victory.

Mon. June 27, 2022

Aces vs Giants  6/27/22
By: Ben Strober

The Gaithersburg Giants dropped its seventh game in a ten-game stretch, falling to the Alexandria Aces, 9-7.

After Giants’ starter Chris Baumann (sophomore, Wilson) posted a scoreless first inning, Joe Quelch (sophomore, Harford CC) gave the Giants a leadoff spark, crushing a moonshot over the center field wall.

Baumann then gave the lead right back, walking two to load the bases, then Aces’ left fielder Drew Collins (sophomore, Oakland) roped a two-run single. Next batter, Eddie Hacopian (sophomore, Maryland), lifted a sac-fly to make it a two-run Alexandria lead.

The Aces struck again in the top of the third when first baseman Cade Sullivan (junior, Western Michigan) launched a solo shot, extending the Alexandria lead to three.

Hacopian tortured the Giants again in the next inning, roping an RBI double in the gap in right.

Bryce Demory (sophomore, VMI)  helped cut into the Giants’ deficit, lacing an RBI single through the left side of the infield.

In the top of the sixth, the Aces threatened again, but pitcher Noah Covington (senior, Maryland Eastern Shore) flagged down Hacopian’s grounder, and turned a 1-4-3 double play, ending the threat.

Errors were an issue for the Giants today, as the Giants committed its fifth error of the day by the eighth inning.Those errors proved costly. 

With the bases loaded and one down, Hacopian looked to break the game open for the Aces, and he did. Hacopian cranked a ball that one-hopped the right-field fence, clearing the bases, and making it a six-run deficit for Gaithersburg. A throwing error, the sixth of the game for the Giants, added another run just moments later.

The Giants battled in the bottom of the ninth, scoring five, including a mammoth grand slam by Jeremiah Jenkins that cleared the tree-line past the wall. Unfortunately, the next two batters grounded out, ending the game, and dropping the Giants to 8-9 on the season.

Sun. June 26, 2022

Sat. June 25, 2022

Sat. June 25, 2022

Fri. June 24, 2022

Thu. June 23, 2022

Mon. June 20, 2022

Sat. June 18, 2022

Giants vs Big Train 6/18

By: Ben Strober

Seven days in a row of games ended on a sour note for the Gaithersburg Giants, as they suffered their third straight loss, falling to the Bethesda Big Train, 12-0 in seven innings.

The Giants went down 1-2-3 in the top of the first, then disaster struck in the bottom half.

Giants’ starter Michael Standen (sophomore, Bloomsburg) appeared to be on his way to a 1-2-3 frame. After the second out, Standen surrendered an unlucky infield hit, which started a Big Train rally. The next batter singled, then Standen walked the bases loaded. The next batter, Sean Lane (sophomore, Maryland) was 1/24 on the season before this at-bat.

Lane ended his cold streak, hitting a towering pop-fly that JT Amaral (sophomore, San Francisco) lost in the wind. The ball dropped, and by that point, everyone that had been on base had already crossed the plate.

The Big Train added to its lead in the third with an RBI groundout by Garrett Felix (junior, Nicholls St).

Innings two, three and four were a familiar feeling offensively as of recent, as they were held to a single hit.

Despite the unfortunate events that took place in the first, Standen settled in nicely.

Standen struck out the side in the fourth and the fifth, concluding a more than solid, eight strikeout outing for the left-hander.

The Giants surrendered another two runs on a bases-loaded grounder that induced miscommunication on the infield, and the ball trickled away into the outfield.

A balk followed by two wild-pitches added to the damage, as the Big Train continued to break the game further open.

The Big Train posted a six spot in the bottom of the six, while only notching a single hit.

A positive sign for the Giants; Joe Quelch’s (sophomore, Harford) first at-bat in nine days was what most people thought was a hard-hit single, the Giants’ second hit of the day. However, it was scored as an error.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Big Train scored another two runs to complete the mercy victory over the Giants.

Fri. June 17, 2022

Giants’ Offensive Woes Continue
By: Ben Strober

On the road in Virginia, the Gaithersburg Giants’ offensive woes continued, as they only mustered up four hits and suffered a demoralizing 8-1 loss to the Alexandria Aces.

The Giants’ offensive struggles appeared to be nearing a breakthrough in the top of the second. Dean Mercer (junior, Wilson) walked, then Joshua Wilson (sophomore, Frederick Community College) singled on the next pitch. Unfortunately for Gaithersburg, the next pitch was a liner off the bat of Ethan Harden, (sophomore, Belmont) which was snagged by Alexandria’s second baseman, who then flipped to second to double off Mercer, ending the top of the inning. The Aces Matt Wolfe (freshman, Vanderbilt) then crushed Andrew Neff’s (senior, Concord) first-pitch fastball for a leadoff blast.

Neff bounced back in the third with a 1-2-3 frame.

The Giants’ once again wasted a scoring opportunity in the fourth. Dylan Wilkinson (junior, Longwood) led off the inning with a double and then moved to third on a grounder. With the runner on third and one out, all the Giants needed was some solid contact and the game would be tied. Instead, Mercer struck out looking, then Wilson grounded out, ending the hopeful chance.

The Aces added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single by Wolfe. The next batter, Cade Sullivan ripped a ball down the line that appeared foul, but was called a fair ball by the third-base umpire. Wolfe raced around, looking to score but the relay throw from Wilkinson was a great one — beating Wolfe to the plate by two steps — However, catcher Easton LaPlaca (sophomore, High Point) couldn’t corral the ball as he tried to apply the tag. Neff hit the next batter, and the damage continued. Mike Eze (junior, Georgetown) then ripped a two-run triple to the wall, extending the Aces’ lead to five after four innings.

JT Amaral (sophomore, San Francisco) ended the Giants’ twelve-inning scoreless streak with an RBI groundout in the fifth.

The Giants have experienced a multitude of unfortunate events recently, but in the top of the seventh, the bad luck hit a high peak. Looking for his first hit of the year, Brady Andre (junior, Wilson) looped a ball tailing toward the line in left. What would have been extra-bases and likely an RBI, ended as a web-gem diving catch for Aces’ left-fielder Dylan Koontz (sophomore, Campbell)

The Aces then added another run in the bottom of the seventh on a sac-fly.

The Giants’ offense continued its struggles in the last two innings, with only one batter even reaching base. With that, the Giants were shut down, officially marking twenty one straight innings in which the Giants have failed to score a run from a base-hit.

Thu. June 16, 2022

Wed. June 15, 2022

6/15/22 The Gaithersburg Giants Historic Start Continues to impress.
By: Ben Strober

For the second time this season, the Giants battled with the DC Grays.

The Giants’ offense was alive and well, posting a six-run fourth inning, which was enough to squeak past the Grays for a second time this season, 9-7.

Tyler Russo’s (senior, Towson) first inning started off shaky when a routine ground ball was bobbled by Bryce Porter (sophomore, Bloomsburg). Russo then walked a man, then balked, moving runners to scoring position. A deep sac-fly then gave the Grays an early lead. Russo surrendered his second run of the inning when his off-speed pitch couldn’t be handled by catcher Easton LaPlaca (sophomore, High Point).

Matt Ryan (sophomore, UMBC) was the first Giant to reach base, being hit in an 0-2 count. The next batter, LaPlaca, broke up the no-hitter in a big way.  LaPlaca’s towering drive hit off the top of the fence in right, scoring Ryan and bringing the Giants within one.

Russo surrendered a single in the second, but Jeremiah Jenkins (sophomore, Maine) helped out his pitcher, turning an inning-ending 3-6 double play.

Drew Vogel (junior, Murray State) nearly tied the game in the third, but Grays’ right-fielder Aaron Thomas (sophomore, Wofford) made an incredible diving catch to rob Vogel.

Russo got into trouble again in the bottom of the third. Russo gave up a double then walked a man. With two down, Thomas then roped an RBI double, adding to DC’s lead. Porter then bailed out Russo, making an all-out dive to make the inning-ending catch.

Oddly enough, the top of the fourth was a familiar situation for the Giants’ offense. 

Ryan was hit by a pitch for the second time in as many at-bats. Ryan then swiped second, and then LaPlaca delivered again, singling through the right side, bringing in Ryan. The rally continued. LaPlaca stole second, then advanced to third on an error. Manager Jesse Frawley then put on the double steal — a smart decision — as it allowed LaPlaca to swipe home and tie the game. The Giants weren’t done yet. After putting another two in scoring position, Dylan Wilkinson (sophomore, Longwood) hit a grounder that was mishandled, and some aggressive baserunning allowed two to cross the plate. Vogel came up next, and a very loud sound ensued. Vogel destroyed a ball into the sunset, putting the Giants up four.

The Grays responded with a run of its own in the bottom half of the inning.

The Giants added two more runs in the fifth on back-to-back wild pitches from the Grays.

The Grays trailed by four in the eighth and they began to claw their way back, scoring a quick two runs. The Grays then loaded the bases but the Giants escaped the threat.

After a stressful few late innings, Ethan Harden (sophomore, Belmont) entered the game, attempting to seal the deal. Harden was brilliant, striking out the side to seal the sixth victory of the year for the Giants.

Tue. June 14, 2022

Mon. June 13, 2022

After a historic first week of the season for the Gaithersburg Giants, they finally got their first taste of defeat, falling to the Metropolitan Braves, 6-3.

It was one of those nights for the Giants, as they struggled offensively all night long, and were even held hitless for seven and two-thirds innings.

Michael Standen (sophomore, Bloomsburg) gave up a single on the first pitch of the game, but a liner right back at him turned into a convenient, 1-3 double play. It then only took Braves’ starter Kristian Asbury (junior, Troy) nine pitches to retire the Giants’ top of the order.

Asbury continued to stifle the Giants, striking out five and held them hitless through the first three innings.

In the top of the fourth, Justin Carden (sophomore, Concord) came in, relieving Standen. The Braves then struck first blood. With runners on the corners, the Braves attempted to swipe second, and John Amaral’s (freshman, San Francisco) throw was a poor one, sailing into center field and allowing the Braves’ runner to trot home. The next batter, Quinn Madden, (junior, Harford CC) ripped a single into left, extending the lead. Things then got worse for Carden. After walking the bases loaded, the game was blown wide open when Blake Marrs (sophomore, Lander) took the ball to the opposite field and over the tall wall in right-center field for a grand slam. The Braves batted around and posted a six spot in a brutal fourth inning for Carden.

Asbury was relentlessly blanking the Giants. Still yet to record a hit, the Giants’ batters once again were blanked 1-2-3.

Through five, the Giants trailed by six and hadn’t yet put a hit in the books.

After his six-run blow-up, Carden settled down, posting two-straight scoreless frames.

The Giants went quietly again in the sixth, going down 1-2-3, keeping Asbury’s hopes at a no-hitter alive.

Asbury hit Amaral to start the bottom of the seventh. Amaral then advanced on a wild-pitch. Amaral wound up being stranded, as Asbury notched strikeout number 10 and 11, and kept the Giants hitless for the seventh-straight inning. Due to the league’s pitch limit, Asbury’s day was done after seven. Through seven innings, Abury threw 97 pitches, allowing no hits and striking out 11 with only one walk.

Dylan Heil (sophomore, Marymount) came in with a tall order on his hands, Keeping the no-hitter alive. Finally, with two down in the bottom of the eighth, pinch-hitter Jeremiah Jenkins (sophomore, Maine) beat out a grounder on the infield for the Giants’ first hit. After a walk loaded the bases, Heil plunked Amaral, which brought in the long-awaited first run for the Giants. Dusty Mercer (Murray State) came to the dish next with a chance to get the Giants back in the game, but a lengthy at-bat ended with Mercer caught swinging to end the inning.

The Giants were just three outs from their first defeat. The Giants began to battle, scoring two and even bringing the tying run to the plate.

Even though the effort toward the end was valiant, the Giants fell short and left the diamond in defeat for the first time this season.

Sun. June 12, 2022

It was a solid day all around for the Gaithersburg Giants, featuring timely hitting and a strong performance from its pitchers, as they derailed the Bethesda Big Train, squeaking past them, 6-3. The Giants’ victory leaves them as the last undefeated team of this summer.

Big Train starter Brandon Clarke (sophomore, Alabama) dug himself an early hole, walking the first two Giants’ batters. Dylan Wilkinson (junior, Longwood) stole third but was caught in a rundown two pitches later when John Amaral (sophomore, San Francisco) stole second, and Wilkinson crept toward home. Jeremiah Jenkins (sophomore, Maine) then grounded out, ending what was initially a promising inning.

Giants’ pitcher Andrew Neff (senior, Concord), just like Clarke, put the first two batters on. Neff then balked, moving both runners to scoring position. Bethesda’s Sean Lane (sophomore, Maryland) then lifted a sac-fly into right to push the Big Train ahead. Neff was able to settle down, limiting the Big Train to just one first-inning run.

Neff then posted a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the second.

The Giants’ offense broke through in the third. A leadoff walk then a passed ball put a runner in scoring position. Amaral came to the dish and ripped a ball down the line in left, which wound up getting lodged in the fence. The tying run scored and Amaral rounded the bases for what was momentarily an inside-the-park homer. The umpires eventually ruled that it was a ground-rule double and sent Amaral back to second. Nevertheless, the Giants tied the game.

The Giants’ bats stayed hot in the fourth. A single, walk, then hit by pitch, loaded the bases for Joshua Wilson (sophomore, Frederick CC), who got his first hit as a Giant, and it was a big one. Wilson’s liner found a gap in left-center, scoring the go-ahead run. Bryce Demory (sophomore, VMI) tried to race home as well, but the Big Train’s relay throw was good enough to gun him down.

In the bottom of the fourth, Sam Alswang (sophomore, Central Connecticut St) came on in relief. After a strikeout to start, Alswang put runners on the corners with one down. Alswang responded with another strikeout, then Easton LaPlaca (sophomore, High Point) ended the threat, gunning down the Big Train base-runner attempting to swipe second.

The first batter in the top of the fifth was Wilkinson, who crushed a moonshot into the forest behind the right-field wall, extending the Giants’ lead to two.

The Big Train deleted the Giants’ lead, as Garrett Felix (junior, Nicholls State) cranked an RBI double into right, then Alswang uncorked a wild-pitch, scoring Felix, the tying run.

For the fourth straight inning, the Giants broke through. After a Demory single and a couple walks, Wilkinson came to the dish with the bases full. Wilkinson hit one back up the middle. Big Train second baseman TJ Rogers (sophomore, Austin Peay State) fielded it cleanly, but his flip to second was dropped, allowing the go-ahead run. The next pitch for Evan Marcinko (sophomore, UNC Wilmington) was one that got away. LaPlaca raced home, giving the Giants their second two-run lead of the day.

After two scoreless frames from Matthew Vernieri, (sophomore, Bloomsburg) Dominic Valis (sophomore, Towson) made his first appearance and posted a 1-2-3 eighth, which included an incredible leaping grab at the wall by right-fielder Dusty Mercer (junior, Murray State).

The Giants added some insurance in the ninth. Amaral notched his second double, then Mercer followed up with a single. Jenkins then lifted his third sac-fly of the season, scoring Amaral and extending the lead to three.

Valis came out for the ninth and struck out two of the four batters he faced, finishing off the Big Train and improving the Giants to 4-0 on the season.

Fri. June 10, 2022

Giants Spoil Cropdusters’ Home Opener, Improve to 3-0 for First Time in History

By: Ben Strober

Cropdusters’ starter Brett Seils (sophomore, Towson) had a strong start to his outing, retiring the first two Giants’ batters, then inducing a long fly-out from Jeremiah Jenkins (sophomore, Maine Orono).

Gabriel Barrett (sophomore, University of San Francisco) got into a massive jam in his first inning as a Giant. An error, hit, and walk left the bases loaded and no one yet gone. What looked to be a routine 6-3 double play for the Giants ended up seeing two runs come across for the Crops, as Jenkins dropped Dylan Wilkinson’s (junior, Longwood) throw. Barrett settled down, striking out one, then inducing a pop-out to end the inning, but the two Giants’ errors put them in an early deficit.

The Giants put two on with one out in the second but Ethan Harden (sophomore, Belmont) who’s typically a pitcher, grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

The Giants got on the board in the third when Dusty Mercer (junior, Murray State) roped an RBI double into right. Jenkins then grounded out, but it was slow enough to tie the game, as John Amaral (sophomore, San Francisco) trotted home. The next batter was Michael Marrale (senior, Wilson College), who blasted a double into the gap in left-center, bringing in the go-ahead run.

Max Simpson (sophomore, Towson) entered the game to pitch for the Cropdusters and the Giants found success. After the first two reached base for the Giants, Amaral layed down an almost perfect sac-bunt, setting up a big moment for Mercer, who wound up hitting an RBI groundout, extending the Giants’ lead to two.

Relieving Barrett was put into the hands of Quinn Holt (sophomore, Bloomsburg University), who got the job done, holding the Cropdusters scoreless for three innings.

The Giants loaded the bases in the top of the seventh but Simpson sat down Harden on strikes to end the threat.

As the Gaithersburg Giants’ first road battle progressed into the seventh-inning-stretch, the Giants held a minuscule two-run lead over the Cropdusters.

Following the interesting performance of the “Cotton Eye Joe” by the Cropdusters players during the 7th inning stretch, the Giants rallied in the eighth.

Mercer drove his third run of the game, and Jenkins hit a very untraditional sac-fly.

Jenkins popped up into foul territory adjacent to the Giants’ dugout. The catcher and third baseman each raced over to try to make a play. Cropdusters’ catcher Ryan Shieh (sophomore, Liberty) made the catch, and Wilkinson made a heads up decision to tag-up and score. The Giants’ three-run surge gave them a five-run lead with six outs to get.

The Crops chipped away with a run in the bottom half of the eighth, but still trailed by four heading to the final inning.

With an already comfortable lead, Amaral added insult to injury for the Cropdusters, destroying a three-run blast into the sunset.

Noah Covington (senior, Maryland Eastern Shore) pitched the final frame and quickly finished off the Cropdusters.

A battle that started as a pitcher’s duel, concluded as a convincing victory for the Giants, as they spoiled the Cropdusters’ inaugural home opener, defeating them, 10-3.

The win also marked the team’s first ever 3-0 start.

Thu. June 9, 2022

This is a test of the recap space.

Tue. June 7, 2022

Season Opens with a Bang
by: Ben Strober

On a wet opening night in Gaithersburg, the Giants started its 2022 campaign with a bang, mercying the Grays in seven innings, 12-0.

After two innings of nothing against DC Grays’ pitcher Tyler Allen (senior, Xavier (LA)), the Gaithersburg Giants saw a prime opportunity fall into its arms. Still with no hits yet in the game, returning player Dusty Mercer (junior, Murray St Col) stepped into the dish with the bases juiced. Mercer got the Giants offense rolling, lining a missile down the left field line that cleared the bases.

Mercer’s big-time knock lit the match for a big day by the Giants’ offense, as the flood gates were open from there on out.

After Michael Standen (sophomore, Bloomsburg U) sat down the Grays’ first three in order, the Giants threatened to strike early as Dylan Wilkinson (junior, Longwood U) walked on four pitches to lead off. Wilkinson then moved over on two groundouts, but Joe Quelch (sophomore, Harford CC) grounded out, ending the threat.

The Giants saw a prime opportunity fall into their arms. With runners leading off first and second, Allen attempted to pick off Bryce Demory (sophomore, Virginia Military Institute). Allen’s throw was atrocious – sailing well over the head of Patrick Vandenberg (senior, Lafayette). Allen then walked Zach Saryeldin (junior, Concord U) and was pulled in favor of Nick Fletcher (junior, Holy Cross). Following the base on balls, returning player Dusty Mercer came to the dish in a crucial spot, and delivered a bases-clearing triple to open the scoring for Gaithersburg. The following batter was Quelch, who hit a slow grounder to third, and it was all Mercer needed to trot home and extend the Giants’ lead.

Through three innings, the Giants had only notched one hit but broke out to a 4-0 lead.

In the fourth, Giants’ pitcher Justin Carden (sophomore, Concord U) made his first appearance. After a quick two-outs, Carden ate a line drive directly off his leg. Carden recovered and shoveled the ball to first, completing a 1-2-3 inning.

The Giants continued to find success against Fletcher in the fourth. 

Michael Marrale (senior, Wilson College) lined a double into the gap to lead off, then two batters later, Demory delivered with an RBI single into right, scoring Marrale.

Carden surrendered two-straight singles to start the fifth. Following a pop-out to short, Carden induced a hectic double play. Grays’ right-fielder Donovan Frayer (junior, Shorter U) lined a missile that nearly took the head off of Carden. The ball deflected off of Carden’s glove and right into the mitt of Saryeldin. With the runners moving on contact, Saryeldin slowly walked to second, completing the double play and ending the inning.

The bottom of the fifth was the third straight inning that the Giants scored. Jeremiah Jenkins (sophomore, Maine Orono (U of)) came through with an RBI Sac-fly, then Marrale delivered, roping an RBI single through the right side.

After five, the Giants lead had grown to a whopping seven.

Carden continued his stellar outing, striking out the side in the sixth.

The Giants’ offense couldn’t cool off, adding another three in the bottom of the frame.

After Caleb Guisewite (sophomore, Belmont U) pitched a scoreless frame, the Giants reached the mercy rule on a dramatic play. After a lengthy at-bat, Matt Ryan (sophomore, Maryland Baltimore (U of)) struck out swinging, but the ball was dropped by Grays’ catcher Logan Scully (sophomore, GMU), who then threw the ball away as he attempted to complete the strikeout. Wilkinson and Porter raced around to score the game’s ending runs..

After a slow start, the Giants scored in five straight innings closing out and walking away with a mercy rule victory.