Grays Win Season Opener Against Defending Champs

BETHESDA, Md. — The DC Grays opened their 2025 season with a wild 12–11 victory over the defending Cal Ripken League champion Bethesda Big Train on Wednesday night at Shirley Povich Field.  The game featured a lot of offense and some late-game fireworks.

The Grays wasted no time getting on the board, as Ethan Nagy (Lock Haven) drove in Noel Rivera (Marist) with a sacrifice fly in the top of the first. DC exploded for four more runs in the second inning, highlighted by an RBI single from Joey Chitla (Wofford) and a two-run single up the middle by Rivera. A wild pitch later allowed Rivera to score, giving the Grays a 5–1 lead.

Starting pitcher Brady Meyers (Lock Haven) held the Big Train in check, tossing three strong innings and allowing just one run. Dean Qira (Stevens Institute of Technology) entered in the fourth and worked a scoreless frame, while the Grays offense kept rolling. A sac fly from Nagy and an RBI single by Ryan Soong (Washington University) pushed the lead to 7–1.

Bethesda responded with two runs in the fifth, trimming the deficit to 7–3, but the Grays answered right back with a two-run sixth to make it 9–3.

The game turned chaotic in the later innings. Bethesda chipped away, scoring three runs in the seventh to make it 9–6. DC added two more in the top of the eighth, to give some added insurance, but a Big Train grand slam by Logan Ponnett (UNC Charlotte) tied the game at 11–11 in the bottom half of the inning.

In the ninth, the Grays showed resilience. After putting two runners on via walks, DC broke the tie with a go-ahead RBI single. A tense bottom of the ninth followed, but a sharp play at shortstop, a strikeout, and a deep flyout to center sealed the victory.

The Grays play their home opener Wednesday, June 5 at their temporary home field Woodbridge High School, where they'll host the Metro SOCO Braves at 7 p.m.