Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
The Mutual Respect Between Catchers and Umpires
Date:08/03/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Mahaley Wise | Photo by Maya Brichacek Catchers and umpires share one of the most complex – and often tense – relationships in all of sports. Their dynamic is built on constant proximity, subtle manipulation of the strike zone, and the immense pressure on each of them to do their jobs. The interaction between them often includes pushing boundaries, strategic...
Alex Peltier Earns LCS MOP Honors
Date:07/28/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Jack Stashower | Photo by Maya Brichacek Bethesda Big Train outfielder Alex Peltier (East Carolina) won the 2025 Cal Ripken Sr. League Championship Series Most Outstanding Player after his stellar performance in a two-game sweep of the Alexandria Aces. He played an instrumental role in securing the Big Train’s third consecutive and 12th total Cal Ripken Sr. League...
Big Train Slug Their Way to 12th League Title
Date:07/28/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Mahaley Wise On Monday night, the Big Train and the Aces clashed at Frank Mann Field in Alexandria for the Game 2 of the Cal Ripken Sr. League Championship finals. The Big Train had taken the first game of the three-game series the night before, winning 10-4. The Aces looked to win and force a decisive Game 3 while the Big Train hoped to shut them down and take the league champ...
Big Train Cruise Past Aces in Game 1
Date:07/28/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Russell Petersen pitched six strong innings, allowing just three hits and one run while striking out six. Photo by Maya Brichacek. Written by Jack Stashower The Bethesda Big Train defeated the Alexandria Aces 10-4 in Game 1 of the Cal Ripken Sr. League Championship Series Finals at Shirley Povich Field on Sunday. The victory puts the Big Train one win away from their...
Big Train Punches Ticket to Finals After Hard Fought Win Over Senators
Date:07/27/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Josh Skowronski drove in three runs in the Big Train's Game 3 victory. Photo by Mark Thalman. Written by Mahaley Wise The Big Train and the Senators faced off on Saturday night for the winner-take-all third game of the semifinal series. The Senators won the first game of the series while Big Train snatched the second game to tie the series. Each team brought the...
Aces Sweep Cropdusters in Semifinals
Date:07/26/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
The Aces were all smiles in their semifinal series sweep of the Cropdusters. Photo by Maya Brichacek. Written by Mahaley Wise The Aces and Cropdusters met for Game 2 of best-of-three semifinal series. The Aces already had a win under their belt to give them the advantage in the series, looking to sweep the Cropdusters. The Cropdusters hoped to push for a third game a...
Big Train Rallies in Ninth to Even Semifinal Series
Date:07/26/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Jack Stashower The Bethesda Big Train defeated the Southern Maryland Senators 6-4 in Game 2 of the LCS Semifinals on Friday at Shirley Povich Field, forcing a winner-take-all Game 3 on Saturday. Down three in the bottom of the ninth on Wednesday, the Senators shocked the Big Train by scoring four straight and taking Game 1 in the best of three series. The Senator...
Aces Walk Off Cropdusters in 12th for Semifinal Series Lead
Date:07/24/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Jack Stashower The Alexandria Aces walked off the Olney Cropdusters, 10-9, in the 12th inning of Game 1 of the CRSCBL semifinals at Frank Mann Field on Thursday. The Cropdusters enter the semifinals as the #3 seed after defeating the #7 seed Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts 5-3 in a winner-take-all on Wednesday. The Aces enter as the #2 seed after an impressive 22-14 ...
Senators Ninth-Inning Rally Stuns Big Train in Semifinal Game 1
Date:07/24/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
The Senators celebrate as the go-ahead run crosses home in the ninth inning. Photo by Maya Brichacek Written by Mahaley Wise In a thrilling opener to the CRSCBL semifinals, the Big Train seemed poised for victory, jumping out to an early lead with clutch hits and lockdown defense. However, the Senators refused to fold. With their backs against the wall, they ignited ...
Senators Walk Off Grays to Clinch Semifinal Berth
Date:07/23/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Erin Hughes The Southern Maryland Senators sealed their CRSCBL Semifinal berth with a 3-2 walk-off win over the D.C. Grays on Wednesday night in Woodbridge. When asked about how it feels to clinch a spot in the semifinals, Senators head coach Scott Middleton said, “It was a battle. The D.C. Grays, [head coach Jack Besser] and his coaching staff, they have d...
Cropdusters Edge Past Thunderbolts to Secure Semifinal Spot
Date:07/23/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Mahaley Wise Fighting for a spot in the CRSCBL semifinals, the Cropdusters faced off against the Thunderbolts. The No. 7 seed Thunderbolts were coming off a win against the Giants, while the No. 3 seed Cropdusters were coming off a four-game end of season winning streak. Both teams were looking to advance to the next round. In the end, the Cropdusters came out on top, 5-3, afte...
Grays Hold Off Braves to Advance to Next Round
Date:07/23/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Erin Hughes The D.C. Grays held on to claim a 7-6 victory over the Metro South County Braves on Wednesday night in Woodbridge in the first round of play-in games for the 2025 LCS Playoffs. Ty Morris (Marist) pitched around a leadoff walk to sit down the next three Braves batters he faced in the top of the first. Noel Rivera (Marist) started off the home ...
Thunderbolts Defeat Giants to Advance in Playoffs
Date:07/22/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Josh Domaracki threw six strong innings for the T-Bolts. Photo by Maya Brichacek Written by Jack Stashower The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts defeated the Gaithersburg Giants by a score of 8-4 at Criswell Automotive Field on Tuesday, advancing to Wednesday’s single elimination second round. The Thunderbolts entered the play-in as the #7 seed...
Aces Outslug Giants to Secure No. 2 Seed
Date:07/21/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Erin Hughes The Alexandria Aces took an 11-9 victory over the Gaithersburg Giants to clinch the no. 2 seed in the 2025 CRSCBL Playoffs. The Giants had the bases loaded early in the first, all on walks, but a first pitch flyout ended the threat for Nate Lake (Shippensburg) as the Aces went to the plate. After the Aces’ failed to score in the ...
Big Train Roll Over Braves with 23-6 Win
Date:07/21/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Mahaley Wise Monday night’s matchup was a huge blowout for the Big Train, who scored big runs in almost every inning against the Braves. Bethesda jumped out to an early lead, and Braves attempted to battle back before the Big Train shut them down with a nine-run eighth inning. The Big Train were the first to score, with two runs in the second inning. With t...
Cropdusters Score 17 in Road Win Over Grays
Date:07/21/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Jack Stashower The Olney Cropdusters defeated the DC Grays in a high scoring 17-8 matchup in Woodbridge, Virginia on Monday. The Cropdusters came into this game with a 21-13 record and the #3 seed secured for the Cal Ripken League playoffs. Their last game was a 13-4 win over the Southern Maryland Senators at Regency Furniture Stadium on Sunday. The DC G...
League Inducts Four New Hall of Famers
Date:07/21/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
2025 Hall of Fame inductee Alex Thompson poses with league officials. Photo by Maya Brichacek. Written by Jack Stashower The Cal Ripken Sr. League inducted four new members into the league Hall of Fame on Sunday at Shirley Povich Field, the fifth class in league history. The inductees for the class of 2025 are former Bethesda Big Train pitcher and current H...
Cropdusters Soar Past Senators, 13-4
Date:07/21/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Mahaley Wise Sunday night’s matchup between the Cropdusters and Senators started off as a back and forth battle between the two teams that put some tension on the field. Ultimately the Cropdusters ran away with the game scoring multiple runs in each of the last four innings to win 13-4. Cropdusters Head Coach Adam Leader talked to his team before Sunday&rs...
Ninth-Inning Rally Propels Grays Past Aces
Date:07/19/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Erin Hughes The D.C. Grays grabbed a 4-2 victory in comeback fashion over the Alexandria Aces on Saturday night in Alexandria. Neither side allowed a hit through the first three innings, but Noel Rivera (Marist) of the Grays and DJ Scheumann (Ball State) of the Aces each stole a base. In the top of the fourth, Jack McMullan (Liberty) reached on an...
Cropdusters Rally to Take Second Game of Doubleheader Against Thunderbolts
Date:07/19/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Mahaley Wise A rainy evening in Olney did not put a damper on the second game of the doubleheader for the Cropdusters. The Thunderbolts, once again, captured an early lead, holding strong until the sixth inning when the Cropdusters rallied for seven runs. Ultimately, the Cropdusters would secure the win, 7-5, as the Thunderbolts could not gather any more runs afterwards. ...
Big Train Bats Snap Giants Winning Streak
Date:07/18/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Jack Stashower The Bethesda Big Train defeated the Gaithersburg Giants 8-5 on Friday at Criswell Automotive Field, snapping the Giants’ seven-game winning streak. The Big Train’s last game was a 2-1 defeat to the Giants at home on Tuesday. The Giants’ last game came against the Grays in Woodbridge, VA, where they won 7-4 on Thursday. Both teams ...
Cropdusters Come Out Swinging in Doubleheader Opener
Date:07/18/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Mahaley Wise A late afternoon game between the Thunderbolts and Cropdusters was the first of a doubleheader. The Thunderbolts came out early, but a late rally from the Cropdusters gave them the victory in the first game. There were light rain showers in the Olney area, but the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts brought the thunder, scoring two runs in the first in...
Aces Arms Shut Down Braves in 6-1 Win
Date:07/18/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Erin Hughes The Alexandria Aces grabbed a 6-1 victory over the division rival Metro South County Braves on Friday night in Alexandria. Braves pitcher Zach Kirkpatrick (McLennan CC) recorded the first two outs on two pitches, but Gavin Degnan (Penn) launched a full-count home run to left field to get the Aces on the board first. Ernie Echevarria (Penn) made it to second...
Pitching Carries Aces to 7-0 Win over Cropdusters
Date:07/18/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Jack Stashower The Alexandria Aces beat the Olney Cropdusters 7-0 on Thursday at First Responder Field, improving their lead in first place in the South Division. The Aces entered Thursday’s contest with a 19-11 record. Their last game was a 4-2 win over the Southern Maryland Senators at Regency Furniture Stadium on Wednesday. The Cropdusters came ...
Down on the Farm Night Brings Big League Dreams to Bethesda
Date:07/17/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Former Nationals Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard throw out the first pitches at Povich Field. Photo by Mark Thalman. Written by Mahaley Wise The Bethesda Big Train hosted a Down on the Farm Night on Thursday evening, with special guests from across the Washington Nationals' network and plenty of interactive experiences for fans. Amidst the fun and activities, t...
Giants Rally in Ninth to Win Seventh Straight
Date:07/17/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Erin Hughes The Gaithersburg Giants used a late rally to take a 7-4 win over the D.C. Grays in Woodbridge on Thursday night. The Giants have now won seven straight contests. After a one-out walk to Danny Orr (UMBC) and a fly out to the first baseman, Andrew Holub (Iowa) homered down the left field line to give the Giants a 2-0 lead in the first. After an e...
Aces Weather the Storm and Extend South Division Lead Over Senators
Date:07/16/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Mahaley Wise In a tight back and forth battle for the lead spot in the South Division, the Senators and the Aces clashed on the field Wednesday night. The Aces were able to clutch the win in a game that was shut down by storms in the seventh inning. Senators leadoff hitter Nick Flores (VCU) started with a double to put a runner in scoring position. Steven Kraus (...
Women Across CRSCBL Leave Their Mark on the League
Date:07/16/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Aces assistant coach Jen Hammond chats with coaches and players during a game in 2024. Photo by Tess Wilhelm. Written by Erin Hughes The popularity of women’s sports is growing, with the 2025 NCAA softball tournament and the 2024 WNBA season boasting record viewership numbers. Sports icons such as Serena Williams, Simone Biles, and Caitlin Clark are among the most reco...
Clemente Tribute Night Ends in Heartbreaker as Giants Edge Big Train in Ninth
Date:07/16/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Bryce Rudisill (right) celebrates with teammate Ethan McNally after hitting a go-ahead eighth-inning home run. Photo by Maya Brichacek. Written by Mahaley Wise Tuesday night’s game at Shirley Povich Field between the Big Train and the Giants was a celebratory event. The Big Train commemorated Hall of Fame Puerto Rican baseball player Roberto Clemente and held ...
Aces Sweep Road Doubleheader Against Grays
Date:07/15/2025 Source:Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
Written by Erin Hughes The Alexandria Aces swept the D.C. Grays in a Tuesday night doubleheader in Woodbridge. During the first game, the Aces pulled out a 3-2 victory powered by Cooper Hums’ (Western Michigan) first home run of the season. In the second game, a leadoff walk to Hums was quickly erased when Grays catcher Ayden Ellis (Rutgers) caught him stealing secon...
