News & Notes: Big Train and Orioles battle for first place...

2008 Statistics │ 2008 Schedule

After the Bethesda Big Train won seven games in a row from June 12 to June 21 to capture possession of first place in the Cal Ripken, Sr. League 2008 standings, Youse's Maryland Orioles won five of seven games last week (and two on Monday) to regain a half-game lead over Bethesda. Orioles pitchers continued to shine, posting a 1.81 staff ERA with two complete games (one shutout), three saves, and 61 strikeouts (to just 19 walks) in 54.2 combined innings-pitched last week. Closer Tyler Hibbs (Tallahassee (FL) CC) went three-for-three in save opportunities over 4.2 total innings of perfect baseball. Hibbs struck out seven on the week and walked none. Hibbs is locked in a battle with Bethesda's Matt Hiserman (San Francisco) for the league lead in saves, as both enter July with four. Right on their tails are Tyler Doughty (Eastern New Mexico) of the College Park Bombers and Jordan Cudney (Belmont Abbey) of the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts.

Thunderbolts pitchers allowed fewer than two earned runs a game this week (1.98) as they won three of five to hold their ground in third place. The Orioles and T-Bolts were outshined only by the pitching of the Rockville Express. Express pitchers tossed two nine-inning shutouts (Austin Hurd (Towson) on Saturday and Doug Jennings (UConn) on Sunday) and struck out 49 batters in a combined 46 innings-pitched as they posted a team ERA of 1.76 for the week.

At the plate, Maryland Redbirds hitters batted .293 in four games despite winning just once last week. The 'Birds hit three doubles, a triple, and four home runs, including two by Adam Skonieczki (Buffalo) in the same game on Sunday.

Bethesda hitters collected a league-high 12 doubles and six home runs last week, and drove in a league-best 32 runs in seven games. The Big Train is rolling to the tune of a .286 team batting average in 2008, with a league-best 175 hits -- 28 more than the next-best Orioles. The Big Train's 11 home runs are one more than the Herndon Braves, who won four of eight games last week.

Meanwhile, the Alexandria Aces endured a seven-game losing streak to find themselves briefly in last place before trading spots with the Express on Monday.

Meet the 2008 CRSCBL Official Photographers!

Hall (ODU/Orioles), Jennings (UConn/Express), Buch (Monmouth/Orioles) win weekly awards

Gerard Hall (Old Dominion University) of Youse's Maryland Orioles was named the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Hitter of the Week for the week of June 23 to June 29. Hall hit safely in all six games he played for the Orioles last week (9-for-22), and posted three two-hit performances. He collected three walks against the Braves on June 23. On June 24, Hall doubled, singled, drove in one run and scored two. He also walked in that game. He drove in a run on June 27 against the Big Train and finished the week by going four-for-eight with two runs scored and three stolen bases in a doubleheader against the Aces. Hall finished the week with five runs scored and five stolen bases, and was caught just once. His output for the week raised his batting average to a team-leading .353 this season with team-highs in hits (24), runs (19), triples (3), total bases (31), slugging percentage (.456), on-base percentage (.450) and stolen bases (15).

Also considered: Mike Celenza (Salisbury/Bombers); Jordan King (Southern Miss/Big Train); Joe Charron (Binghamton/Braves); Adam Skonieczki (Buffalo/Redbirds); Nick Natoli (Towson/Orioles)

Doug Jennings (University of Connecticut) of the Rockville Express has been named the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Co-Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 23 to June 29. Jennings tossed a complete-game shutout against the Thunderbolts on June 29, allowing just two hits and two walks over nine innings and striking out a season-high 10 batters. The righthander was also credited for an inning of scoreless relief for the June 11 suspended game against the Thunderbolts, which was completed on June 29. Jennings is now 2-1 with a 1.37 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 26.1 innings-pitched in 2008.

Ryan Buch (Monmouth University) of Youse's Maryland Orioles has been named the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Co-Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 23 to June 29. Buch appeared out of the bullpen for the Orioles on June 23, allowing two runs (one unearned) on just one hit and two walks with seven strikeouts in three innings-pitched to get the win in relief. He then tossed a seven-inning shutout against the Aces on June 29, scattering three hits and three walks and striking out six in that game to go 2-0 in his first two appearances of 2008. Buch now has an ERA of 0.90 and opposing batters are hitting just .121 off of him.

Also considered: Austin Hurd (Towson/Express); Matt Hiserman (San Francisco/Big Train); Scott Swinson (Maryland/Orioles); Ben White (Temple/Redbirds); Ed Bach (UMBC/T-Bolts); Tyler Hibbs (Tallahassee (FL) CC/Orioles)
 

2008 CRSCBL Standings