Tennessee Big Train

By Jason Davis
Sports Editor for www.themountainpress.com

Two seasons ago they were the two biggest high school baseball stars in Sevier County. Tuesday night they were at it again. Former Pigeon Forge Tigers’ ace Justin Carter and former SCHS slugger Zach Flynn were both huge pieces in the Smoky Mountain Big Train’s doubleheader sweep of the visiting West Virginia Wild.

The Big Train is a wooden bat collegiate league team plahing its home games at Pigeon Forge High School. The squad is made up of college players looking to improve their games in the offseason and catch the eye of scouts from Major League Baseball.

Carter who played last season at Tusculum College, pitched the second game of the doubleheader, striking out five Wild hitters en route to a 9-5 win over the visitors.

Flynn, who’s on the roster at Tennessee Tech was 4 for 7 over the two game stretch and as he was known for with the Smoky Bears, left the yard twice while driving in five of the teams 18 runs.

Over the three seasons the team has been in existense, nine Big Train players have been selected All-American, while eight players have signed Minor League Baseball contracts.

The Big Train is currently competing in the eight member Carolina Virginia League with teams located in Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.

In game one against the Wild, the Big Train rode the arm of Hunter Brister (Gadsen State) to a 9-7 win. Brister recorded seven K’s and got offensive support from Bryant Noteboom (Western Carolina) woh went 3 for 4 with three RBI’s, and Wesley Jones (Milligan) whoe was 2 for 4 with three RBI’s and two steals.

In game two Carter got support from Flynn’s four RBI’s and Jones’ 2 for 4 night, which added three more RBI’s. The team is on a road trip for the next few days in Kernersville, NC. There it will face the Kernersville Bulldogs, Roanoke Rails, and Virginia Marlins. The Big Train returns to Pigeon Forge on Tuesday to face the Tennessee Styx of Chattanooga.

HICKORY, N.C. – The Smoky Mountain Big Train won its opening game of the 2011 Summer season  7-5 against the Catawba Valley Stars in the Big Trains first game ever in the Carolina-Virginia League. Frank Suarez put together a 3 hit night. Dustin Moon had a 2 hit performance at the plate including a solo home run in the fifth. Bryant Noteboom placed 2 hits, 2 runs scored, and 1 RBI. Nick Loughry and Hunter Brister grabbedone hit each. Starting pitcher Hunter Brister pitched 5 complete innings including 4 innings of 3 and out. Clancey Hall pitched inning 6 and 7 giving up only one run. Caleb Coker gets the win for the Big Train coming in the 8Th and closing out through the 10Th to seal the win. The Big Train will be in action again Saturday June 4, in Bluefield W.V. starting a doubleheader at 4 PM eastern time, and you can listen to the action live on TEAMLINE.

HICKORY, N.C. – After playing three successful years in Alabama (72-33) the Big Train now will begin a new era on the baseball diamond on the road in Hickory, N.C. against the Catawba Valley Stars, with a starting time of 7:00 PM. Fans, family. and friends of the Big Train can catch all the Memorial Day action live by going to smokymountainbigtrain.com, and clicking on the TEAMLINE logo that reads “CLICK TO LISTEN”.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — After averaging more than two RBI per contest last week, Alabama-Huntsville baseball junior right fielder Eric Deese (Tuscaloosa) has been named Gulf South Conference East Division Player of the Week as announced on Tuesday.

Posting a .500 average for the week at the dish, Deese drove in nine runs for the Chargers last week behind a .939 slugging percentage. The junior a pair of doubles, a triple and a home run over the course of the week to become the first Charger to pick up GSC Player of the Week honors this season.

The Chargers wrap up the 2011 regular season this weekend at home hosting North Alabama on Saturday and Sunday at Charger Park. Saturday’s doubleheader begins at Noon followed by a 1 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. Students eighth grade and below will receive free admission to Sunday’s contest when they wear their team uniform to the park.

PIGEON FORGE, TN.- The 2011 Smoky Mountain Big Train Golf Tournament will be held Tuesday, June 7 at The Sevierville Golf Club located in Sevierville, Tn., with a shotgun start at 8:30 am. Awards Lunch to be severed immediately following the golf tournament. Entry fee of $100. per player includes; Greens Fee, cart, lunch, and opportunity to win many prizes. Men, women, and teens are welcome to play. All donations welcome by those who cannot participate.
Hole Sonsorship available at $250., for company, or individual. Cost includes custom sign with your message, as well as a listing in our tournament program and Big Train website.
For more information contact Curtis Bumgarner at 404-379-4729.

PIGEON FORGE, TN.- Smoky mountain Big Train has contracted with TRZ to transmit, via the internet, the complete live audio of the 2011 Summer schedule. The Summer schedule includes 38 Carolina-Virginia League games, 12 non-league games, and the end of year league tournament played in Mocksville, N.C. to complete the 2011 Summer season. To listen to Big Train broadcast just click on the Teamline logo 10 minutes prior to the game start time. Thirty second advertising and game sponsorship available please call 404-379-4729.

March 22, 2011

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Samford junior first baseman Saxon Butler was named the National Hitter of the Week by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers’ Association on Tuesday.

This marks the second award Butler has received for his performance last week. Butler was named the Southern Conference’s Player of the Week on Monday.

Butler batted .429 (9-for-21) with two doubles, two grand slams and 10 RBI in helping lead Samford to a 4-1 record in five games last week. Butler was a combined 6-for-13 with a double, two grand slams and eight RBI in the Bulldogs’ Southern Conference series win over Georgia Southern. He also went 3-for-8 with a double and two RBI in two midweek wins over UAB.

Friday’s grand slam proved to be the game-winner as it came in the bottom of the eighth inning with Samford trailing GSU, 4-1. Butler’s Saturday grand slam came in the second inning and helped Samford jump out to a 5-0 lead before eventually winning, 9-2. The Bulldogs ran their winning streak to seven games before falling to the Eagles in Sunday’s series finale.

For the season, Butler is third on the team with a .367 batting average. He leads the team in RBI with 24, and he is tied for second on the squad in home runs with four.

Butler and the Bulldogs will next be in action tonight when they play at Ole Miss. The game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start from Oxford, Miss.

Pigeon Forge, Tennessee- The Smoky Mountain Big Train opens its 2011 season Memorial Day Monday May 30th. on the road in Hickory, N.C., with anticipated fireworks. L.P. Frans Stadium (capacity 5,100) home of the Texas Rangers Single A minor league team will serve as the venue for all the game day activities. The Catawba Valley Stars, and Smoky Mountain Big Train will face off at 5:30 est. for their 1st. of 8 games over the 2011 Summer. The Memorial Day event will also represent the first Carolina-Virginia League game of the 2011 league season.