Bethesda Big Train brings baseball to the 'burbs

The crack of the ball off a wooden bat, the soft thud of the ball into an outfielder's outstretched glove and cheers as a home run sails out of the park. The sounds of baseball are as much a part of summer as evening thunderstorms and July Fourth fireworks.

But forget for a minute about major league millionaires and minor league hopefuls -- if you want to see baseball in its purest form then you have to head to the suburbs and watch the Bethesda Big Train.

Tucked in a far corner of Cabin John Regional Park, Shirley Povich Field offers an intimate setting to watch a college-level game. The red-brick club house -- with its arched entrance reminiscent of Cooperstown, N.Y.'s Doubleday Field -- last year welcomed an average of 750 fans per game. In the tree-lined outfield an old-fashioned scoreboard requires volunteers to manually update the ball-and-strike count and score.

Such details were conceived by co-founder Bruce Adams, who, along with his wife, spent summers traveling across the country writing about baseball destinations for Fodor's Travel Guides. By paying attention to what worked for other teams, Adams, his staff and volunteers have not only made the team thrive for 11 seasons but have also raised $500,000 for area softball and baseball teams.

Just like in the big leagues, Big Train games start with a ceremonial first pitch. On a recent night one of the guest pitchers was 8-year-old Owen Gilman, who was celebrating his birthday by making a solid throw over home plate.

Though seating is general admission, you will find the regulars, including Brent Weingardt and his wife, Danielle Srour, sitting in their usual spots. Weingardt, 53, prefers seats along the first base line.

"We look forward to this as our summer family," Weingardt says.

The couple grew into such big fans that they became a host family, most recently opening their home to catcher Mason Morioka from California.

Of course a good show on the field matters, too, and the Big Train delivers. Last season the team was the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League champions and was ranked ninth nationally. Five players in the team's history have played in the majors. As of Tuesday, the team was 7-5 this season.

Don't head out without stopping by the shrine near the entrance dedicated to the franchise's namesakes: Shirley Povich and Walter "The Big Train" Johnson. Povich covered sports for The Washington Post for 75 years, and Johnson was a Hall of Fame pitcher who spent his career in Washington.

"We fell in love with Povich Field right from the start," Weingardt said. "We go to every home game because it is, to us, what baseball should be."

-- Amy Orndorff

WHEN IS IT? The next game is Friday at 7:30 p.m. against the Youse's Orioles.

WHERE IS IT? Shirley Povich Field, 10600 Westlake Dr., Bethesda.

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? $4-$7, $2-$3 ages 6 to 12. Free for age 5 and younger and kids in baseball or softball uniforms.

WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION? Call 301-983-1006 or visit http://www.bigtrain.org.

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW? Friday is the annual summer Halloween night. Kids wearing costumes get in free. There will be a chance to trick-or-treat and compete in costume contests.