News & Notes: Military All-Stars split; T'Bolts gain ground

The United States Military All-Stars baseball team split its three-game series with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League last week. The All-Stars fell to the Bethesda Big Train, 8-3, then tied the Rockville Express, 7-7. In the final game, the All-Stars defeated the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, 4-1. The Ripken, Sr. League looks forward to a return trip by the All-Stars in 2008!

In League play, the Thunderbolts got back to .500 baseball by winning their last six games at home. They now have their sights on the Big Train, who sit just a game and a half in front of them for second place in the League standings. Youse's Maryland Orioles maintained their grip on first place by winning four of their five games last week, while the Maryland Redbirds dropped five of six to fall into last.

The sides are now set for the 2007 Ripken, Sr. League All-Star Game, July 23 at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen. The West team will feature stars from the Bethesda Big Train, Herndon Braves, and Rockville Express. The West will be managed by Sal Colangelo of the Big Train. The East team will feature stars from Youse's Maryland Orioles, the Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, the College Park Bombers, and the Maryland Redbirds. The East will be managed by Dean Albany of the Orioles. The All-Star rosters will be announced shortly. Stay tuned!

Meet the 2007 CRSCBL Official Photographers!

Smith (Big Train/Jacksonville State), Laber (T'Bolts/North Dakota State) win weekly awards

Bethesda Big Train second baseman Bert Smith (Jacksonville State University) has been named the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Hitter of the Week for the week of June 25 to July 1. Smith hit in all four games for the Big Train during the week (9-for-15), collecting multiple hits in the first three. Against College Park on June 27, Smith went 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored, and an RBI. For the week Smith scored five runs, knocked in three, walked twice, and stole four bases in four attempts.

Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts pitcher Jake Laber (North Dakota State) has been named the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 25 to July 1. Laber tossed seven-inning complete-game shutout against the Herndon Braves on June 27. Laber scattered just two hits and three walks and struck out a season-high ten batters. The lefthander has not allowed a run in 15 straight innings and has 18 strikeouts during that stretch. This is Laber's second consecutive Pitcher of the Week Award.

2007 All-Star Game tickets are FREE and available online!

The 2007 Ripken, Sr. League All-Star Game promises to be the best in our three-year history! You've seen the promos on Nationals and Orioles telecasts... MASN will be televising all the action LIVE from Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen on Monday, July 23. The second annual Home Run Derby will begin at 5 pm, and the first pitch of the All-Star Game is set for 7:05 pm. Click for your FREE printable tickets. Print as many as you like (we recommend printing in black and white). For large group tickets (still FREE!), contact Alex at 410/588-9900. We will mail you as many tickets as you'd like.

2007 CRSCBL Standings

On tap this week...

Tuesday, July 3
Orioles vs. Express, 2 pm (DH) at USNA
T'Bolts at Redbirds, 2 pm (DH) at Towson
Big Train at Bombers, 7:30 pm

Wednesday, July 4
No games, Happy Fourth!

Thursday, July 5
T'Bolts at Bombers, 5 pm (DH)
Braves at Big Train, 7:30 pm

Friday, July 6
Braves at T'Bolts, 7 pm
Express at Redbirds, 7 pm at Bachman Park
Bombers at Big Train, 7:30 pm

Saturday, July 7
Redbirds at Express, 2 pm (DH)
T'Bolts at Braves, 7 pm
Orioles at Big Train, 7:30 pm

Sunday, July 8
Big Train at T'Bolts, 5 pm (DH)
Braves at Redbids, 5 pm (DH) at Joe Cannon Stadium
Express at Bombers, 6 pm (DH)

Click here for directions to all CRSCBL fields