Big Train Win Home Opener! 10 Big Train Players Selected in MLB Draft

Big Train Beat Gaithersburg 4-1 in Home Opener    One night after Mother Nature cancelled the Big Train's originally scheduled home opener, the weather cooperated  on Saturday night as Bethesda hosted the Gaithersburg Giants at Povich Field. Danny Mooney (Davidson) - pictured above - got the start for the Big Train and put together six quality innings in his season debut. Mooney would give up just three hits and two walks while striking out seven. Three innings of one-run ball from the bullpen and four runs of offense would help to get Mooney his first win of the season. The majority of the runs would come in the third inning. Four consecutive Big Train batters would reach base. Kevin Tatum (Cornell) would double home two runners and then be singled home by Tucker Tobin (George Mason) to give the Big Train a 3-0 lead heading into the fourth. Following the big inning, Big Train pitchers Mooney and Will Resnik (High Point) would combine to pitch four shutout innings and keep the game at 3-0. Tobin would later add another run on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly. The Big Train gave up one run late, but Trevor Charpie (Tennessee) came on to pick up the save. "We've got a group of guys this year that just want to win, want to play, want to get better and more importantly, just want to have fun," said manager Sal Colangelo. "Just the little things. Taking care of batting practice, getting that set up, getting the tarp set up. This is a great group of kids. Very talented, top to bottom." The 4-1 win brings the Big Train to an even 1-1 on the season, and they'll look to get over .500 tomorrow night on the road at Blair Stadium in Silver Spring against the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts. The Big Train return home to Povich Field on Monday for a doubleheader against the DC Grays, and will host fireman, policeman, and active and former service members on Hometown Heroes Night! Get your tickets to both of those games here or at the gate! 10 Big Train Players Taken in 2013 MLB Draft! Hunter Renfroe wasn't the only Big Train player drafted this week. In fact, ten former Big Train players were drafted which set a franchise record for a single draft. Here is the full list of draftees along with their Big Train highlight: Hunter Renfroe (BT '11-'12 / Mississippi State University) #13 overall in the 1st Round by the San Diego Padres One of just two Big Train players to have a jersey number retired.  Jimmy Reed (BT '10 / University of Maryland) #185 overall in the 6th Round by the St. Louis Cardinals  Had the second most appearances of any Big Train pitcher in 2010.  Brennan Middleton (BT '10-'12 / Tulane University) #316 overall in the 10th Round by the Washington Nationals Won the 2012 Big Train Hustle Award.  Ben Griset (BT '12 / St. Mary's College (CA)) #398 overall in the 13th Round  by the Tampa Bay Rays Posted a 1.77 ERA and was a CRCBL All-Star.   Daryl Norris (BT '11 / Mississippi State University) #666 overall in the 22nd Round by the Detroit Tigers Helped the 2011 National Championship team as a pitcher and hitter.  Ethan Miller (BT '12 / San Diego State University) #672 overall in the 22nd Round by the San Francisco Giants Earned a win in the 2012 CRCBL LCS in a 3-2 must-win game.  Brenden Kalfus (BT '11 / St. Mary's College (CA)) #685 overall in the 23rd Round by the Toronto Blue Jays Batted .314 in the summer of 2011.  Michael Bass (BT  '11-'12 / University of North Carolina at Wilmington) #808 overall in the 27th Round by the San Diego Padres Stole 40 bases over two seasons and was not caught in 2012.  Joe Mantiply (BT '10 / Virginia Tech) #816 overall in the 27th Round by the Detroit Tigers Earned the win in the 2010 CRCBL Championship Game.  Cole Norton (BT '12 / St. Mary's College (CA)) #1159 overall in the 39th Round by the Colorado Rockies Named to the 2012 CRCBL All-Star Game.

Home Opener / Homer's B-Day on Saturday; Renfroe Drafted 13th; Big Train Fall in Towson

Tonight's Game Postponed, Home Opener / Homer's Birthday on Saturday Night!    Tonight's scheduled Opening Night game against the Youse's Orioles has beenpostponed due to the inclement weather. The game is rescheduled forTuesday, June 11th at 5pm. The Big Train will face the Gaithersburg Giants at 7:30pm on Saturdaynight in what will be their first regular season home game. The Big Train are also happy to celebrate Homer's Birthday with a whole bunch of mascotscoming from all over to celebrate. Make sure you show up to Povich Field early as seats are sure to go fast! Not only that, but the Washington Kastles will be out to hold a pregame tennis clinic! And due to the rainout of tonight's game, the first 750 fans will receive Opening Night T-Shirts sponsored by Grossberg Company and McDonalds. Click here to get your tickets now!  Hunter Renfroe Drafted 13th Overall in MLB Draft The Bethesda Big Train would like to congratulate Hunter Renfroe (BT '11-'12 / Mississippi State) for being drafted 13th by the San Diego Padres inThursday night's Major League Baseball Draft. Renfroe, a native of Crystal Springs, Mississippi, led the Big Train to many victories over the last two seasons. His power, speed, throwing arm, and sportsmanship are everything that the Bethesda Big Train strives to be. A member of the 2011 National Championship team, Renfroe was the team's Most Outstanding Hitter and set the team record for home runs in the summer of 2011. Renfroe returned to Bethesda in 2012 and set league records for home runs, RBI, runs scored, slugging percentage, and total bases. For his efforts, the Big Train retired his #11. "Hunter is the best five-tool player I have ever coached and the greatest position player ever to play in this league," said Big Train Manager Sal Colangelo. Renfroe's selection at #13 sets the record for the highest a player has ever been drafted who played in the CRCBL the previous summer. It is also the highest a Big Train player has ever been drafted. Renfroe was named a First Team All-American by Louisville Slugger this season at Mississippi State (along with many other honors). His season continues as they face the Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville in a best-of-three series in the Super Regionals of the College World Series.  Big Train Drop Season Opener in Baltimore, 0-2   The Big Train got their regular season underway last night in a rematch of last year's CRCBL Championship against the Baltimore Redbirds. While the Big Train ultimately lost the season-opener 2-0 in a weather- shortened game, there were certainly some positives that could be taken from the game. Big Train veterans Tucker Tobin (George Mason) and Mike Miedzianowski(High Point) each pieced together solid season debuts, collecting two hits apiece. Tobin also drew a walk and made two assists on defense. Starting Pitcher Zach Morris (Maryland) put together a solid start, bouncing back after Saturday's exhibition loss to the Mid-Atlantic Rookies. Morris recorded four strikeouts while giving up just three hits over 5.1 innings. Kit Scheetz (Virginia Tech) then came in to pitch the final two outs of the sixth inning, giving up no runs while striking out one.  For a box score of last night's game, click here.

BREAKING: Hunter Renfroe Drafted #13th Overall by San Diego in MLB Draft

The Bethesda Big Train would like to congratulate Hunter Renfroe (BT '11-'12 / Mississippi State) for being drafted 13th by the San Diego Padres in tonight's Major League Baseball Draft. Renfroe, a native of Crystal Springs, Mississippi, led the Big Train to many victories over the last two seasons. His power, speed, throwing arm, and sportsmanship are everything that the Bethesda Big Train strives to be. A member of the 2011 National Championship team, Renfroe was the team's Most Outstanding Hitter and set the team record for home runs in the summer of 2011. Renfroe returned to Bethesda in 2012 and set league records for home runs, RBI, runs scored, slugging percentage, and total bases. For his efforts, the Big Train retired his #11. "Hunter is the best five-tool player I have ever coached and the greatest position player ever to play in this league," said Big Train Manager Sal Colangelo. Renfroe's selection at #13 sets the record for the highest a player has ever been drafted who played in the CRCBL the previous summer. It is also the highest a Big Train player has ever been drafted. Renfroe was named a First Team All-American by Louisville Slugger this season at Mississippi State (along with many other honors). His season continues as they face the Virginia Cavaliers in Charlottesville in a best-of-three series in the Super Regionals of the College World Series.

The Most Nutritionally Dense "Food" On Earth

The Chinese Single This Out as the "King of Plants" — And Modern Science Calls it the Most Powerful Antioxidant Yet Found     It's nearly as hard as wood, resembles a lump of coal, and has the highest antioxidant value of any food on earth, as measured by the ORAC scale.     The Japanese call it the "Diamond of the Forest"… the Siberians have bestowed on it the dual accolades of "Gift from God" and the "Mushroom of Immortality"… and the Chinese dub it the "King of Plants" (despite their centuries-long love affair with an amazing number of medicinal plants).     Still, most Americans have never heard of it. In fact, many would associate it with the name of an infection called Chagas disease, not a source of "immortality"…keep reading for more. . . Continued below. . . How Carolyn Reversed Her Alzheimer's by Disobeying Her Doctor     An all-natural protein melts away the brain-clogging mineral that triggers memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer's — and cuts brain cell death in half! And yet this Nobel Prize-winning discovery is being ignored by 99% of doctors.     That's why I'd like to tell you about Carolyn.     Click here to see how she reversed her Alzheimer's without drugs — and in just a few weeks!     If you or someone you care about is suffering from memory loss, dementia or Alzheimer's, then you know how cruel these diseases can be. The emotional and physical toll they take on the patient — as well as on the entire family — can be devastating.     That's why the news of the breakthroughs I'm about to reveal could literally have a life-changing effect on you.     Best of all, these solutions are available and being used successfully right now — even while most doctors still throw up their hands when it comes to memory loss, dementia and Alzheimer's, using words like "hopeless" and "irreversible." It's hard to believe, I know. . .     So please click here to see how Carolyn reversed her Alzheimer's with this remarkable discovery! It's a Mushroom — Not a Disease!     Actually, the chaga I'm talking about has nothing at all to do with Chagas disease, which is named for a Dr. Chagas and is caused by a nasty microbe.     Chaga is a non-toxic, parasitic medicinal mushroom with anti-cancer properties. It grows in birch forests in harsh northern latitudes — the kinds of places we associate with freezing to death fast, not "immortality."     In China, Siberia, Finland, Japan, and Poland, ancient and native peoples have long known about the benefits of chaga.     Older Asians use it for healthy natural balance. It is thought to support the life force or life energy they call chi (also spelled qi and pronounced "chee"). They believe consuming this mushroom extends youthfulness, prolongs life, and enhances immunity.     To get more scientific, chaga (Inonotus obliquus) is unusual among mushrooms. Instead of gills or caps, the chaga has pores. And inside, it's a brownish-yellow cork-like mass with beige veins. Its use has been documented in the oldest surviving official list of medicinal substances — the Chinese book Sennong Ben Cao Jing, which is 2300 years old.     Call it folk medicine or traditional medicine if you will, but modern science suggests the ancients were on to an amazing secret.     Isn't it time you got in on it too? Let's take a look. . . A wealth of phytonutrients in one food     Chaga's potency may be directly linked to the harshness of the climate it grows in. Some people believe its properties arise from the trees it grows on, mostly birch.     Researchers have even inoculated sick trees with it, to make them healthy again. So what might it be able to do for you?     Chaga is a dense powerhouse of 215 potent phytonutrients — including B vitamins, flavonoids, phenols, minerals, and enzymes. It contains one of the world's densest sources of pantothenic acid, and high amounts of riboflavin and niacin. Pantothenic acid is especially useful for supporting your adrenal glands and digestive organs.     Chaga is also rich in a set of phenolic compounds called chromogenic complex. Don't let the term scare you. What you need to know is that it protects your tissues and skin. And it's only found in chaga.     Looking for a great natural source of minerals? Chaga shines here too. It is especially high in copper, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc, and iron.     One of the biggest claims made for chaga is that it's rich in a special substance called superoxide dismutase (SOD), which is available from very few sources.     SOD is a very potent enzyme that can stop oxidation in its tracks — especially the most dangerous type of free radical, called singlet oxygen, that causes rapid aging. (This is the same oxygen that makes nails rusty.)     Your body can make its own SOD — but by about the age of 30 your own levels may drop substantially. (Learn more about SOD in Issue #92.)     Chaga contains extremely high levels of SOD (about 10,000 to 20,000 active SOD units per gram). Generally, SOD taken by mouth is destroyed by stomach acid and the nutrient doesn't make it into the blood and tissues, but chaga's advocates believe the mushroom does deliver SOD to the body.     Besides SOD, chaga is the richest known source of polysaccharides, botulin and betulinic acid — and delivers them in a whole-food, bioavailable form. The Soviets declared chaga a national secret     Nobel laureate Alexander Solzhenitzyn is credited with informing the West about the health benefits of chaga in his book The Cancer Ward — where his character in the novel took it and was cured.     In the 1950s, chaga was endorsed by Moscow's Medical Academy of Science, and was widely used by their public. During these years, 1,200 of their most prominent scientists conducted more than 3,000 experiments involving 500,000 people to study the effects of adaptogens.     An adaptogen is a substance that has the ability to reduce your body's negative response to stress. Many studies suggest that up to 80 percent of ALL diseases have a root link to stress. So adaptogens can be critical to your health.     The findings from the Soviet research became a protected national secret for 40 years… one of the secrets behind the physical strength and power of people fortunate enough to get chaga, including cosmonauts and other members of the Soviet elite.     Russia fed its elite athletes chaga. And they were famously dominant in international competitions for decades. A secret of Chinese longevity     Chaga is a health food that can support your entire system.     The ancient Chinese held that it was a longevity factor. That's why they consider it the most complete of all foods.     In much of Siberia, Russia, and Eastern Europe it's considered an essential daily beverage, said to add years to lives of those who use it.     Many Japanese and Koreans reportedly prefer chaga to tea and coffee, because of its cleansing and adaptogenic factors. Some people describe its flavor as between tea and coffee. Protects against and kills cancer     Chaga is a natural cancer fighter — possibly thanks to betulinic acid. It prevents cancer from developing, and kills cancer cells without collateral damage to your healthy cells.     It is thought to work by indirectly activating various immune responses to cancer in your body that help kill cancer cells.     Chaga is also rich in beta glucans, which help support your immune system. Beta glucans allow your immune cells to identify cancer cells and deformed cells as "non-self".1 This enables the immune cells to go on the attack against them. Under normal circumstances, cancer cells are coated with a protein that masks them to immune cells, so the immune system has trouble identifying them.     Chaga is known to help protect against prostate, breast, ovarian, cervical, lung, stomach, spleen, brain and thymus cancers… and also leukemia, melanoma, and lymphoma. I'd call it an all-around cancer preventative.     Research in Seoul, South Korea2 found that chaga protects your cells from DNA mutations in the face of oxidative stress. In fact, chaga-treated cells experienced a whopping 40 percent reduction of DNA mutation, versus untreated cells.     The Japanese discovered that chaga offers higher levels of cell-protective antioxidants than other medicinal mushrooms in their study.     That's not to say you shouldn't eat a variety of medicinal mushrooms. You can discover more about the health benefits of beta glucans, which we reported on in Issue #177 and about the merits of maitake mushrooms in Issue #220.     As you probably know, radiation exposure can do irreparable DNA damage. But some research indicates that chaga can reduce radiation-related toxicity.     And wouldn't you know… Big Pharma wants in the game, now that these anti-cancer properties have come to light. Chaga is now being studied for use as a chemotherapy agent. Someday they'll probably introduce an "approved" version of chaga, at a very high price. Most powerful antioxidant known     The chaga mushroom sits high atop first place on the ORAC scale, a measure of antioxidant levels in your food. Goji berries aren't even close to chaga, yet they get more attention.     Besides being an antioxidant, chaga is known for its anti-cancer, anti-viral, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties.     There's one other benefit for you, if you're insulin resistant or have type 2 diabetes… Chaga can help normalize your metabolism, which can provide a cascade of other health benefits. (See section on Warnings if you're on diabetic medication.)     Oh… and the Russians managed to formulate a joint cream out of chaga. Tiny microcapsules allow chaga ingredients to easily penetrate the skin and soothe your joints. The topical remedy is said to relieve pain, end muscle spasms, stimulate toxic and salt removal from the joint, and slow cartilage deterioration. Two warnings before you use chaga     Chaga has been used without problems for thousands of years.     But given today's culture where millions are on pharmaceutical drugs, you should be aware of two possible drug interactions. If you're not on these drugs, everything we've found suggests clear sailing. Chaga magnifies the effects of anti-clotting drugs like aspirin and warfarin (so-called blood thinners). So if you're on those, consult with your doctor before using chaga. A wide range of supplements are blood thinners, including fish oil and digestive enzymes, so this is not a big deal. If your doctor is cooperative, he should be willing to let you reduce or possibly even eliminate the pharmaceutical blood thinner because the natural supplement will do the job. Chaga also interacts with diabetes medications like insulin. It thereby raises your risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), and could send your blood sugar levels into free fall. What's the best form of chaga? (There are many choices)     Chaga is bitter, so it's a bit tricky to find a way to enjoy it. But here are some ideas for you. Use raw chaga drops under your tongue. Enjoy a chaga birch bark tea. There are some that include milk and cinnamon. You can even enhance it with a teaspoon of raw honey and organic chocolate powder or a small square of organic chocolate bar. Some people enjoy adding chai tea to their chaga. Chaga is available as a face or body cream. Take it as a supplement, preferably made from mushrooms harvested the natural way and not lab-grown. Attempts to cultivate chaga reportedly yield a product that's doesn't have the same biological composition as the wild product.     The original chaga is truly wild — and free of chemicals and solvents.     Why not sooth yourself with your own personal wild, raw chaga experience? You just may decide you can feel the power of the wild forest… Footnotes: 1Caifa Chen WZ, Gao X, Xiang X, et al. Aqueous Extract of Inonotus obliquus (Fr.) Pilat (Hymenochaetaceae) Significantly Inhibits the Growth of Sarcoma 180 by Inducing Apoptosis. Am J Pharmacol Toxicol. 2007. 2(1):10-17 2http://www.naturalnews.com/036974_chaga_mushroom_anti-cancer_tonic.html

Health Disclaimer: The information provided above is not intended as personal medical advice or instructions. You should not take any action affecting your health without consulting a qualified health professional. The authors and publishers of the information above are not doctors or health-caregivers. The authors and publishers believe the information to be accurate but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. There is some risk associated with ANY cancer treatment, and the reader should not act on the information above unless he or she is willing to assume the full risk. Reminder: You're getting this email because you purchased a special report or book from us, or signed up for our free newsletter and gave us permission to contact you. From time to time we'll alert you to other important information about alternative cancer treatments. If you want to update or remove your email address, please scroll down to the bottom of this page and click on the appropriate link. We're an online cancer bookstore offering Outsmart Your Cancer, Cancer Step Outside the Box, Stop Cancer Before It Starts, Natural Cancer Remedies that Work, Adios-Cancer, Cancer Breakthrough USA, Missing Ingredient For Good Health, German Cancer Breakthrough, How to Cure Almost Any Cancer for $5.15 a Day and Keep Your Gallbladder!

Exhibition Game Cancelled; Get Tickets for Home Opener on Friday!

Tonight's scheduled exhibition game against the Industrial League Senators has been cancelled due to unplayable field conditions stemming from last night's weather. The Big Train will open their CRCBL schedule on the road in Towson against the Baltimore Redbirds at 6:30PM on Thursday night at Carlo Crispino Stadium at Calvert Hall High School. The next Big Train home game will be in on Friday, June 7th at 7:30 at Povich Field against the Youse's Orioles and the stands are sure to be packed. In honor of the 15th season of Big Train baseball, the first 750 fans will receive 15th season t-shirtssponsored by Grossberg Company and McDonalds! Ronald McDonald will also be making his way to Povich Field on this night to throw out a first pitch. The Big Train will also welcome the RTTs to play some live music on the concourse during the pregame and there will be a face-painter on sight to give some of our younger Big Train fans a makeover. Tickets are available online here or at the gate. We look forward to seeing you there!

Exhibition Continues TONIGHT; Big Day at CWS; CRCBL Opener on Friday!

Exhibition Continues TONIGHT with FREE Admission!   Come back to Povich Field tonight for another exhibition game! Tonight's game features the Big Train taking on the Industrial League Senators andadmission is once again FREE OF CHARGE! Also, all fans in attendance get free Big Train 2013 Season Magnet Schedules. Due to last night's unfortunate rain out, this will be only your second and final chance to come out for one of our great exhibition match-ups. Be one of the first to check out all of the improvements to Povich Field and to relive all the great things from years past!  And don't forget to buy your tickets to this Friday's home opener against the Youse's Orioles! Get your tickets here or at the gate on game day!    FAU Has Big Day at CWS, Thanks to Big Train Past and Present   Florida Atlantic advanced to play North Carolina in a winner-take-all game for their Regional at the College World Series yesterday as they were able to win two games in one day to stay alive. In the first game, the Owls faced Towson and were helped by Mitch Morales(BT '12) - pictured above #2 -as he went 2 for 3 and scored a run. But it was Hugh Adams (BT '06-'12) - pictured above #44 - who came up really big as he shut down the Tigers for the final two innings (0ER, H, BB, HBP, 3K) and allowed his team to win the game at the plate. Adams earned his third win of the season. Later that day, the Owls faced the Tarheels of North Carolina, who were the #1 seed in the region, needed a win to force a one-game playoff on Monday. Though they went down 2-0, Bo Logan (BT '12) kept one of the best teams in the country under control for five innings (8H, BB, 2HBP, 3K) as the Owls lurked in wait.  "He was the key to the game," FAU coach John McCormack said. "To be able to come into this atmosphere, and do what he did, he was fantastic. It was more than we anticipated." Though they had no hits at the time, Ricky Santiago (BT '13) made their first hit count as he hit a three-run homer to take the lead for Florida Atlantic. Refusing to be unavailable for the game, Adams reappeared from the bullpen to pick up the save in the ninth inning to seal it for the Owls. "He would not let us not make him available," McCormack said of Adams. "He's one of the greatest competitors we've ever had in my 21 years at FAU." The Owls and 'Heels will face off at 6:00PM today for the right to play in a CWS Super Regional. Here are how some updates on other Big Train players in the CWS: Hunter Renfroe (BT '11-'12 / Mississippi St.) - 3/13, R, 2RBI, 2B Tyler France (BT '13 / San Diego St.) - 3/7, BB, R, RBI, 2B Ethan Miller (BT '12 / San Diego St.) - 1.2IP, 0ER, 3H, 0BB, K Michael Bass (BT '11-'12 / UNC-Wilmington) - 3/12, 2BB, 3R, 2B, 2SB Drew Farber (BT '10-'11 / UNC-Wilmington) - 3/12, BB, RBI Kelly Secrest (BT '11-'12 / UNC-Wilmington) - 2.1IP, SV, 0ER, 2H, 0BB, HBP, K Harrison Bruce (BT '13 / San Francisco) - 1/3, SB Brandan Hendriks (BT '12 / San Francisco) - 1/1 Nate Fury (BT '10 / LSU) .2IP, 0ER, 0H, 0BB, 2K Get Your Tickets for the Regular Season Opener!     The Big Train will face the Youse's Orioles on Friday, June 7th at 7:30 at Povich Field and the stands are sure to be packed. In honor of the 15th season of Big Train baseball, the first 750 fans will receive 15th season t-shirts sponsored by Grossberg Company and McDonalds! Ronald McDonaldwill also be making his way to Povich Field on this night to throw out a first pitch. The Big Train will also welcome the RTTs to play some live music on the concourse during the pregame and there will be a face-painter on sight to give some of our younger Big Train fans a makeover. Tickets are available online here or at the gate. We look forward to seeing you there!

I've Had Enough!

Today I'm going to dole out a little tough love, so brace yourself and know that this is for your own good.

It's time that we had an uncomfortable little talk about a very important issue...

That junk food in your house.

You know the stuff that I'm talking about. The ice cream jammed into the back of your freezer. The packaged cookies that you say are for the kid's lunches. The candy stash that's leftover from the last few holidays. Those bags of crunchy, salty snacks in your pantry. The bottles of soda that you know you shouldn't drink. And the list goes on... Read More

A 10th division title will come down to the last week of the regular season

Divas Keep Division Title Hopes Alive Despite 36-27 Setback

Neal Rozendaal

Landover, MD – If there is such a thing as a bittersweet defeat, this is it.

Pittsburgh quarterback Lisa Horton threw four touchdown passes, and the Passion sent the DC Divas down to defeat, 36-27. However, the Divas earned a moral victory, playing Pittsburgh within eleven points and retaining control of their own destiny in their quest to win the division championship.

Horton got Pittsburgh (5-2) on the scoreboard first, completing a 46-yard touchdown pass on third and ten for a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. The Divas immediately responded, with star running back Kenyetta Grigsby bulling into the end zone from five yards out to knot the score at seven.

It took the Passion just 36 seconds to retake the lead for good. Horton threw her second touchdown pass of the quarter – this one to her standout receiver, Rachel Wojdowski – and Pittsburgh surged back ahead, 14-7, after one quarter.

The Divas (4-3) struggled on offense in the second quarter, in large part due to the absence of 2011 WFA wide receiver Ashley Whisonant. Whisonant – who set a franchise record with five touchdown receptions two weeks ago – was forced to miss the game due to work commitments with her day job as a Alexandria, Va. firefighter.

DC’s offense stalled on their first possession of the second quarter, and the Divas then failed to get the punt away, which gave the Passion great field position. Although the Divas’ defense stopped Pittsburgh short of the end zone, the Passion drilled a 26-yard field goal to pad their lead to 17-7.

Divas defensive back Callie Brownson, who will be representing Team USA at the IFAF Women’s World Championship next month, intercepted a Horton pass on Pittsburgh’s next possession to hand the ball back to the Divas’ offense. But Wojdowski – playing on both sides of the ball – topped that; she picked off a pass from Divas’ quarterback Allyson Hamlin and returned it 37 yards for another Pittsburgh score.

Trailing 24-7, the Divas tried to mount a scoring drive as the half drew to a close and advanced all the way to the Pittsburgh 19-yard line. But they would get no closer, and time expired on the half before the Divas could cut into the Passion’s 17-point advantage.

With Whisonant out of the lineup, the Divas turned almost exclusively to the running game in the second half. Even though Pittsburgh’s top-rated defense was stacking the line of scrimmage and trying to slow the Divas’ running attack, Kenyetta Grigsby rose to the occasion and blasted the Passion defense for long gains. When Grigsby needed a break, Donna Wilkinson took the ball. The versatile Wilkinson, who has played tight end and running back this season, lined up at fullback and paired with Grigsby for a strong 1-2 running attack.

Kenyetta Grigsby dashed for a 31-yard touchdown less than two minutes into the second half to cut the deficit to 24-14. Elena Kotsis then picked off a Horton pass midway through the quarter to give the DC defense their second interception of the game. Still, Horton bounced back by connecting with Wojdowski on a 27-yard touchdown pass to push the lead out to 30-14.

Grigsby stepped up again, racing 26 yards for another DC score and pulling the Divas within 30-21. Grigsby missed most of the Divas’ previous game two weeks ago with an injury, but she returned to star form on Saturday, carrying the ball an astonishing 41 times for 259 yards and three touchdowns. Wilkinson chipped in with 15 carries for 66 yards.

As the fourth quarter began, the Divas forced an incomplete pass from Horton on fourth down to get a turnover on downs. The DC offense then began a long, methodical drive to the end zone, capped by Hamlin’s quarterback sneak on fourth and goal from the one-yard line. Hamlin’s one-yard touchdown run cut the Pittsburgh lead to 30-27. With the Divas playing without their top wide receiver and relying almost exclusively on the run, Allyson Hamlin was held without a touchdown pass for the first time this year.

The Divas’ defense played inspired football in the second half. Trigger McNair led the defense with six tackles, while Kotsis and Brownson recorded five tackles and one interception each. Keyed by a Devon Goldsmith sack and two incomplete Horton passes, the Divas forced a Pittsburgh punt late in the fourth quarter and gave the team a chance to take their first lead of the game.

Even with time running off of the clock, the Divas continued to rely on the running attack that had brought them within three points. Three runs for nine yards led to a fourth and one at the Pittsburgh 41-yard line with just under two minutes remaining in the game. But a failed quarterback sneak from Hamlin lost a yard and gave Pittsburgh the ball back with 1:13 left in the contest, effectively sealing the Divas’ defeat.

Yet the game wasn’t over. Earlier this season, the Divas defeated the Passion by 11 points, so Pittsburgh knew that winning by less than 11 would allow the Divas to retain control over their own destiny in the division race. Rather than take a knee and run out the clock with the victory all but secure, Pittsburgh had no choice but to throw the ball down the field and try to tally another score despite holding a 30-27 advantage.

The Passion succeeded, and it only took them 44 seconds to do so. With 29 seconds left, Horton threw her fourth touchdown pass of the game to increase the lead to 36-27. Pittsburgh was compelled to go for a two-point conversion and an eleven-point lead, but Horton’s pass in the end zone was batted down incomplete, keeping the Divas within nine points.

Pittsburgh, still needing more points, then attempted an onside kick, but the ball rolled out of bounds and the Divas took over possession. The Divas ran out the clock and absorbed a 36-27 defeat.

Holding the Passion to a nine-point margin was a moral victory for the Divas, because they still control their own destiny in the division race. By virtue of their 11-point victory over Pittsburgh earlier this season, the Divas hold the tiebreaker over the Passion despite Saturday’s nine-point defeat. A win over Columbus next week in the regular season finale will clinch the Divas’ tenth division championship in franchise history and secure a first-round bye in the WFA playoffs.

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Indoor air can be a carcinogen

An Easy, Attractive Way To Filter Toxins Out of Your Home's Air     In most buildings, including your own home, your body is constantly bombarded by airborne pollutants and chemical contaminants that can rob you of health—and even threaten your life!     Thankfully, some of Mother Nature's gorgeous greenery provides a cheap and efficient way to clean your indoor air. A few well-placed house plants may be one of the easiest things you can do to protect yourself from airborne carcinogens. Coming up is a list of the Top Ten Plants for clearing the air. Continued below. . . Drink This and Cancer Comes Pouring Out of Your Body     "If I could pick only one treatment to cure my cancer, this would be it," says a top expert on alternative cancer treatments.     Research conducted by a scientist at the Detroit Institute of Cancer Research showed this is one of the world's most powerful cancer cures. Even the mainstream National Cancer Institute confirmed that this do-it-yourself treatment kills cancer cells. Then they buried the research.     Personally, I've been writing about cancer treatments for almost seven years. Out of nearly 400 that I've investigated, I haven't found an at-home treatment that's better.     It worked for Robert, age 54, who had late stage stomach cancer. His doctors told him he didn't have chance. The most they could do was buy him a little time, using four aggressive chemotherapy drugs PLUS radiation — a deadly, toxic, last-ditch treatment.     INSTEAD Robert used this non-toxic liquid and was completely cancer-free within months. The amazed doctor was forced to admit Robert's cancer was "in remission." Two years later, he was still cancer-free.     Click the link below to watch an important video presentation about this discovery... Click Here To Watch The FREE Video     Before I tell you about these natural air purifiers, let's take a moment to consider WHY you need them. What are these invasive pollutants lurking around your home just waiting to steal your last breath? A trio of undesirable houseguests     According to Barry Jones, author of Home, Sweet Toxic Home, toxins in your home typically will fall into the following three main categories: Airborne particles—such as dust, lint, mites, pet dander and mold spores; these invaders are just small enough to be breathed into your lungs, which makes it harder to cough them up Biological contaminants—include bacteria and viruses, which can travel on the airborne particles Household products—air fresheners, dryer sheets, cleaning products and pesticides are just a few of the products that many folks regularly use—all the while introducing toxic chemicals into their homes     It can be a little scary to think of the number of ways toxins in these categories affect your indoor air quality.     For example, many folks use toilet cleaning crystals to fight buildup of mildew and stains. But while these chemicals are doing their magic wipe down, they're also leaving behind carcinogenic chlorine gas!     These noxious fumes also can be a problem when you take hot showers in water treated with this chemical (and most water from public systems is). You're essentially inhaling a cancer-causing gas as part of your daily hygiene.     And let's just pray there are no asbestos or lead pipes in your plumbing system! The last thing you need is for those particles to go airborne and lodge themselves in your lungs.     Do you have carpeting on your floors? That's a whole other way to introduce pollutants into your home.     The glue used to set new carpets contains the known carcinogens benzene and xylene. These volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemicals that are known to cause a variety of respiratory problems and have also been linked to cancer.     Have you fallen in love with those scented, plug-in air fresheners that keep your home smelling like apples and cinnamon or freshly laundered clothes?     Well, they're also delivering a steady stream of scented formaldehyde into your air! Some friends of mine recently moved into a house where the previous owners were wild for these plug-in perfumeries. The smell lingered and was very hard to get out.     Long-term exposure to this chemical can cause eye, nose and throat irritation. And some evidence exists that constant formaldehyde exposure boosts your risk of developing nose and lung cancers. Watch out for these building materials     Air fresheners are not the only offenders. Some types of home-building materials — mainly pressed wood products — are often made with formaldehyde. Pressed wood products for indoor use include particle board, used as sub-flooring and in cabinetry and furniture, and also hardwood plywood paneling, used in cabinetry and furniture, as well as in decorative wall coverings.     The website of the Environmental Protection Agency identifies "medium density fiberboard" as being the highest formaldehyde-emitting pressed wood product. All these "fake woods" are pervasive in modern homes.     Egad, what's a health-conscious homeowner to do? Remember, it's not just about avoiding cancer at some vague date years in the future. It's about feeling good now. How many mystery medical problems can be explained by all these toxins we're exposed to? (I can give you the answer from personal experience: A lot.)     You could always peel off a few hundred dollar bills to purchase an air purifier. These machines use filters to remove harmful particles from the air before they can do maximum damage to your health.     But if you don't want to spend that kind of cash, don't worry! There may be an even simpler solution for you… Meet some of Mother Nature's air purifiers!     When it comes to removing indoor air toxins—"Mother" truly may know best!     Dr. B.C. Wolverton, author of How to Grow Fresh Air — 50 Houseplants that Purify Your Home or Office, conducted studies for NASA that concluded that plants can clean pollutants in homes.     Wolverton's study rated plants on a scale from one to 10, based on criteria such as: Ability to remove chemical vapors or indoor air toxins Ease of growth and maintenance Rate at which water evaporates from the leaves. Resistance to insect infestation     The NASA-funded comparison yielded this list of top 10 plants for removing contaminants like benzene, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde from the air: Areca palm— also called the "butterfly palm," this plant can grow to as high as 12 feet and prefers a humid area Lady palm—grows slowly but is one of the easiest palms to cultivate Bamboo palm—also called a "reed palm" and prefers indirect light Rubber plant—also known as "ficus robusta" and grows very well indoors Dracaena (Janet Craig) —these plants grow best in bright, indirect sunlight shining from east to west Philodendron—one of the heartiest house plants that needs to be misted regularly and planted in soil that's kept evenly moist Dwarf date palm—grows best in sunny locations free from drafts; be aware that it grows needle-like spines near the base of the leaf stem that can poke through skin and clothing Ficus alii—prefers a humid environment with low to medium light; will lose foliage if placed near heating or air conditioning vents; this is a virtual weed in the tropics but up north it's a fussy house plant that doesn't like to be moved Boston fern—grows feathery ferns that prefer bright indirect sunlight Peace lily—prefers indirect sunlight and high humidity     Wolverton's research showed that when these top performers and other plants were placed in sealed chambers with specific chemicals, the plants went to work removing those chemicals from the chambers!     Now just imagine the health benefits you'll receive when you place some of this chemical scrubbing, humidity-loving greenery around your house.     You can breathe deeply knowing that the air is being scrubbed clean of toxins. And you can rest easy knowing that dangerous chemicals have met their match in nature's finest air purifiers!

Big Train Show Promise, Fall to Rookies 6-3; FREE Exhibition Games Continue TONIGHT!

Big Train Show Promise, Fall to Rookies 6-3   It was a beautiful night for baseball at Povich Field on Saturday, as the Bethesda Big Train played their first exhibition game of the season against the Mid-Atlantic Rookies in front of a crowd of 846 people.  VIDEO: Manager Sal Colangelo Post Game Interview The Rookies got on the board early and often, pushing across six runs in the first three innings. But the Big Train's pitching was the story from that point forward. While the Big Train did trail 6-1 heading into the top of the fourth, three different Big Train pitchers recorded at least one shutout inning through the final four frames.  Michael Judge (Methodist University) would be the first Big Train reliever of the game, giving up just one hit and striking out one in one inning of work.Kit Scheetz (Virginia Tech) then recorded two shutout frames in the fifth and sixth innings, striking out four and walking just one.  In the top of the seventh, Trevor Charpie (University of Tennessee) would get into some trouble, allowing the first two batters of the inning to reach base. However, Charpie then showcased his composure, managing to record a strikeout and then generate an inning-ending double play to keep the deficit at five. After pushing across just one run in the first six innings, the Big Train would rally in the seventh, scoring two runs. Logan Farrar led off the inning with a stand-up triple to right field, and would score on an error as Fox Samonesreached first base. Samones then advanced all the way to third base on a throwing error, and scored on a groundball by Christian Colangelo. However, five runs would prove to be too large of a deficit to overcome, as the Big Train fell to the Rookies 6-3. "The guys played hard," said manager Sal Colangelo. "They love the game of baseball and they stay focused. We have a great group of guys that want to play and get after it." The Big Train will look to push their exhibition record to 1-1 tomorrow night against the Gaithersburg Giants, one of two new teams in the CRCBL, at7:30PM at Shirley Povich Field. Come out and receive FREE ADMISSION and a SCHEDULE MAGNET! And don't forget to buy your tickets to this Friday'shome opener against the Youse's Orioles! Get your tickets here or at the gate on game day!    FREE Exhibition Games This Weekend!     The Big Train's exhibition season is underway! Be one of first to check out some of the brand new improvements to the Big Train experience as well as the great elements that you've come to enjoy over the years. Here is the remainder of the exhibition schedule:  Sun., June 2nd, 7:30PM at Shirley Povich Field vs. Gaithersburg Giants Mon., June 3rd, 7:30PM at Shirley Povich Field vs. Industrial League Senators All of the exhibition games will have FREE ADMISSION and every fan in attendance will get a FREE BIG TRAIN 2013 SEASON MAGNET SCHEDULE! Make sure to show up early because the seats will be full as the Big Train pulls into town for the first time!