News & Notes: Big Train win 7 straight to tighten race...

2008 Statistics │ 2008 Schedule

The Bethesda Big Train won seven games in a row from June 12 to June 21 to briefly capture possession of first place in the Cal Ripken, Sr. League 2008 standings. Bethesda has since see-sawed with Youse's Maryland Orioles for first place, while the lead over the rest of the pack has widened slightly. The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, College Park Bombers, and Alexandria Aces have tightened the middle of the standings by evening their records at .500 each. A five-game losing streak threatened to derail the Maryland Redbirds early, but the feisty 'Birds, who won three of their first five games, rebounded with two straight wins to close out the week.

Meet the 2008 CRSCBL Official Photographers!

Speciale (Navy/T-Bolts), Bach (UMBC/T-Bolts) win weekly awards

Michael Speciale (United State Naval Academy) of the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts was named the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Hitter of the Week for the week of June 16 to June 22. Speciale collected a pair of hits in each of his first three games during the week. Against the Redbirds on June 17, Speciale doubled and tripled and scored twice. He also walked and stole a base in that game. He doubled again the next night against the Braves and added a home run and a single on June 20 against the Aces. Speciale was held hitless in four plate appearances on Sunday against the Braves, but he walked twice and scored a run in that game.

Also considered: Connor Mullee (St. Peter's/Braves); Drew Gheringer (UNC-Greensboro/Braves); John Hicks (Virginia/Orioles); Tim Reeves (George Washington/Redbirds)

Ed Bach (University of Maryland - Baltimore County) of the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts has been named the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 16 to June 22. The lefthander did not allow a run over seven innings in a 2-1 win over the Aces on June 20. Bach scattered four hits, a walk, and a hit batsman, and struck out three. Aces hitters batted just .160 off of him. Bach is now 2-0 in three starts with a 1.62 ERA in 2008. He has 12 strikeouts in 16.2 innings-pitched.

Also considered: Oliver Drake (Navy/Orioles); Jordan Mathers (Troy/Express); Max Knowles (NC-Wesleyan/Aces); Austin Hurd (Towson/Express)

2008 CRSCBL Standings