Business Details
28 Years
experience
Bethesda Big Train Baseball Club: Premier Summer Collegiate Baseball in Rockville, MD
Founded in 1998 by John Ourisman and Bruce Adams, the Bethesda Big Train Baseball Club was established to improve youth baseball and softball fields through community partnerships. Our organization operates Shirley Povich Field in Cabin John Regional Park, hosting a summer collegiate baseball team competing in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. With over 26 seasons of operation, we have earned eleven league championships and developed 23 Major League Baseball alumni. Our mission extends beyond sports, focusing on community service through free ticket donations, food drives, and cultural celebration events like the Juneteenth Classic and Pride Night. We have raised over $600,000 for youth field improvements and collected 18,000 pounds of food for local charities.Our summer baseball camps, directed by award-winning coach Sal Colangelo, provide skill development for children aged 5-14 while offering access to professional-level instruction. The team returned to our original stewardship in 2020 after an eight-year partnership with Bethesda Chevy Chase Baseball, maintaining our commitment to affordable family entertainment and community engagement. Our history includes recognition as the top summer college baseball program nationally in 2011. We continue to build on our legacy through annual Roberto Clemente Community Service Day initiatives and multicultural outreach programs. Our operations combine athletic excellence with measurable social impact across Montgomery County.
Services
Summer Baseball Camps
Youth Skill Development
Community Service Programs
Cultural Events
Food Drives
Field Improvements
MLB Player Development
Details
- Year established: 1998
Highlights and features
- We have developed 23 Major League Baseball players through our summer program
- Our organization has raised over $600,000 for youth baseball field improvements
- We offer youth camps directed by award-winning collegiate coaches with MLB connections
- We host culturally significant events including the Juneteenth Classic and Pride Night
- Our team has won eleven Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League championships
Services
Summer Baseball Camps
Our summer camps provide baseball instruction for children aged 5-14 at multiple skill levels. Campers receive training in fundamental techniques, participate in live games, and interact with collegiate players. Specialized sessions focus on pitching, catching, and position-specific skills while offering flexible scheduling options.
Community Service Programs
We organize annual food drives, field improvement projects, and community outreach events. Our programs include free ticket donations for local heroes, multicultural celebrations, and volunteer opportunities for players and fans through our Roberto Clemente Community Service Day initiatives.
Cultural Events
Our special event nights celebrate diverse community heritage through themed games and programming. Events include Juneteenth Classic honoring Black sandlot history, Tribute to Latino Baseball, Jewish Baseball Heritage Night, Pride Night, and Sister Cities Night celebrations.
MLB Player Development
Our summer league team serves as a developmental platform for collegiate players aspiring to Major League Baseball. With 23 alumni reaching the MLB and over 162 drafted, our program offers professional-level coaching and competition during the summer season.
Field Improvements
We fund and implement baseball field enhancements across the region through our charitable initiatives. Our efforts have raised over $600,000 for infrastructure improvements benefiting youth baseball and softball programs from Germantown to Anacostia.
People
John Ourisman
Co-Founder
Business leader who co-founded the Bethesda Community Base Ball Club in 1998 with a vision to improve youth sports facilities through community partnerships and baseball programming.
Bruce Adams
Co-Founder
Former Montgomery County Councilmember who partnered with John Ourisman to establish the organization, bringing political and community connections to support youth baseball development initiatives.
Sal Colangelo
General Manager
Award-winning coach and director of baseball operations with 27 years of experience. Inducted into the CRSCBL Hall of Fame in 2019, he has led the team to eleven league championships and developed numerous MLB players.
Questions
What is the Bethesda Big Train's primary mission?
We combine competitive summer collegiate baseball with community development through field improvements, youth programs, and cultural events.
How can my child participate in baseball camps?
Our summer camps offer multiple sessions for ages 5-14 with flexible scheduling and specialized instruction in pitching, catching, and fielding.
What community initiatives do you offer?
We organize food drives, field improvements, cultural celebrations, and volunteer opportunities through our annual community service day.
How does the team develop professional players?
Our summer league program has produced 23 MLB players through high-level coaching, competitive play, and exposure opportunities.
Where are games played?
All home games are held at Shirley Povich Field in Cabin John Regional Park, Rockville, Maryland.
Reviews (5)
Richard Lipsky
Apr 24, 2021
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Just a great place to watch a ball game. Wonderful family-friendly entertainment! Try it once and youll be a Big Train fan forever!
Aaron Max
Sep 11, 2019
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I am a volunteer at the stadium and it's a blast. Even from a fans perspective it's amazing. It's field is like a smaller minor league stadium. You can get up pretty close to the players. Just don't bug them during the game. And you can host a player. The stadium is always clean, the field is nice, the hot dogs and burgers are grilled there, and of course there are great sponsors. Recommend taking young children to this place.
Aimee Smith
Dec 05, 2017
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Great family fun. Great way to spend an evening of baseball with the family. Some of the players go on to play in the MLB so kids have a great time gathering autographs and baseballs tossed to them from the players.
Benjamin Chaguzagh
Nov 23, 2017
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Excellent for family fun and watching the future of baseball develop. Tennis courts, walk ways and ice rink nearby.
Rory M.
Jun 15, 2017
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Fun little night out for a family to watch some amateur college baseball summer league. Good for a summer evening with the kids. Nice folding chairs for viewing with walkup music and announcers and concessions and player bios. Wooden bat league, that is pretty competitive.
