Pair of CRSCBL veterans take home MVP and MOP awards

September 2, 2008

The Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League announced its 2008 season awards today, with 13 players named to the All-League Team. Mike Celenza of the College Park Bombers and Salisbury University was named the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League's Most Valuable Player for the 2008 season. Scott Swinson of Youse's Maryland Orioles and the University of Maryland was named the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League's Most Outstanding Pitcher for the 2008 season.

Celenza picked up in 2008 exactly where he left off in 2007, winning his second consecutive Cal Ripken, Sr. League batting title. The corner infielder bested his 2007 numbers in every major statistical category in 2008. He became the first player in League history to surpass the .400 mark, finishing with a League-best .412 batting average. Celenza also set League records in 2008 for hits (56), RBI (30), total bases (84), slugging percentage (.618), and on-base percentage (.500), and his 13 doubles tied the League-record set by Joe Fowler (UMBC/Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts) in 2007. Celenza had 19 multi-hit games in 2008, including five three-hit games and one four-hit game, on July 24 against the Rockville Express. He began the season with six consecutive two-hit games and during his season-high eight-game hit streak from June 22 to July 6, Celenza batted .484 (15-for-31) with four doubles, a home run, eight RBI, and six runs scored. In the League Championship Series, Celenza led the Bombers with a .526 batting average (10-for-19), four doubles, nine RBI, six walks, and four runs scored. He won the Player of the Week Award twice, on June 16 and again on July 8, and started for the East in the 2008 All-Star Game on July 22.

Swinson won his second consecutive Most Outstanding Pitcher Award in the Cal Ripken, Sr. League after going 5-1 for the League Champion Youse's Orioles. His 1.03 ERA was best in the League among starting pitchers. Swinson struck out 39 batters in 43.2 innings-pitched and held opponents to a meager .132 batting average, best in the League. He walked just 11 batters and allowed just five earned runs (fewest in the League among starters) on 20 hits (also fewest in the League among starters) as he ran his career record in the Cal Ripken, Sr. League to 9-2. Swinson turned in a season-defining effort on July 12 against the rival Bethesda Big Train when the right-hander tossed a shutout in Bethesda, scattering five hits and striking out five over nine innings. He did not allow a walk in that game, and from that point on the Orioles were never challenged again. Swinson did not allow an earned run over his final four regular-season starts. He made one start in the League Championship Series, allowing two runs in seven innings against the Bombers on July 31. Swinson did not get a decision in that game, although the Orioles won, 8-6. The right-hander was the Cal Ripken, Sr. League Pitcher of the Week on July 15 and started the 2008 All-Star Game for the East.

2008 Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League All-League Team

C, Gerardo Hernandez (T-Bolts/West Virginia Tech)
1B, Danny Stienstra (Big Train/San Jose State)
2B, Ben Sobocinski (Bombers/Hartford)
3B, Patrick Long (Orioles/Georgia Tech)
SS, Gerard Hall (Orioles/Old Dominion)
OF, Leon Landry (Orioles/Louisiana State)
OF, Luke Adkins (Big Train/Mississippi State)
OF, Adam Skonieczki (Redbirds/Buffalo)
OF, Jeff Rowland (Orioles/Georgia Tech)
UTIL, Mike Celenza (Bombers/Salisbury)
SP, Scott Swinson (Orioles/Maryland)
SP, Kevin Brady (Orioles/Clemson)
RP, Matt Hiserman (Big Train/San Francisco)