Bethesda Big Train to Host Team Israel on Sunday, 7/18/21
Per Montgomery Parks:
Montgomery Parks and Bethesda Big Train Collegiate Baseball are gearing up for a milestone game on Sunday, July 18, 2021, with Israel’s national baseball team (Team Israel).
The friendship game is part of Team Israel’s exhibition tour in preparation for the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The game takes place at 9 p.m. at Shirley Povich Field, located in Cabin John Regional Park in Bethesda. (The late start time is scheduled in recognition of the Jewish day of mourning, Tisha B’Av, which ends at sundown.)
Team Israel is made up of Israeli natives as well as American-born Jews who have gained Israeli citizenship. Bethesda Big Train is made up of college players from across the United States who play in Bethesda during the summer.
WHO / WHAT: Team Israel and Bethesda Big Train Collegiate Baseball teams will play a friendship game in advance of Team Israel heading to Tokyo for the team’s Olympic debut.
WHEN: Sunday, July 18, 2021, 9:13 p.m. (tickets are sold out for this game)
WHERE: Shirley Povich Field, Cabin John Regional Park, 10600 Westlake Dr., Bethesda, MD, 20852
WHY: This game marks Team Israel’s final stop in the U.S. prior to its Olympic debut in Tokyo. Team Israel is the first team to represent Israel in the Olympics since its soccer team in 1976.
Montgomery County to Bethesda Big Train:
“Play Ball!”
Per Bethesda Big Train:
Montgomery County has approved the “2021 Return to Play Plan” submitted on April 28, 2021 by the Bethesda Community Base Ball Club (BCBBC) to allow up to 250 fans to attend Bethesda Big Train baseball games at Shirley Povich Field this June and July.
In making the announcement, Big Train Founder Bruce Adams thanked Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, County government staff, and County residents for making the sacrifices necessary to allow this reopening. “I particularly want to thank County Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Andrew Friedson for helping guide us through this process,” Adams said.
“With the county’s decision, we will be able to bring the fun back to Shirley Povich Field this summer,” Adams said. “After all the sacrifices our residents have made these last fourteen months, we all deserve the enjoyment of a summer’s night at ballgame.”
The Bethesda Big Train is a team of top level college players playing in the summer wooden bat Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League. The Big Train, named the best summer college baseball team in the nation in 2011, is an eight time Ripken League champion. Sixteen Big Train alumni have made it to the major leagues.
The Big Train Return to Play Plan provides for 250 fans to sit in pods of two, three, and four — socially distanced from other pods of fans. All fans will be masked except while eating or drinking in the picnic pavilion or in their assigned seating pod.
With the support of The Jim and Carol Trawick Foundation, the Big Train will honor a different group of 25 Community Heroes with free tickets at every game this season. “The nurses, community nonprofits, first responders, doctors, grocery store clerks, educators, and delivery personnel who have heroically helped our community through these challenging times deserve a night of fun,” explained Adams.
Adams thanked the leaders of the Ripken League and the members of the Covid-19 task force that produced the Big Train’s 27-page Return to Play Plan, especially BCBBC Vice President Eric Cole, Director of Baseball Operations and Manager Sal Colangelo, and General Manager Chris Rogers.
“Special thanks to Community Radiology Associates and Gelberg Signs for providing the resources we need to make sure we have the signage, protective equipment, sanitizers, and ballpark modifications necessary to protect our fans, players, staff, and volunteers this summer,” said Adams.
Information about buying tickets, scheduling picnics, and sponsoring games will be posted on the Big Train webpage shortly at www.bigtrain.org.
