News & Notes: Big Train and Orioles perfect on the week; All-Star Sides announced...

2008 Statistics │ 2008 Schedule

The Bethesda Big Train and Youse's Maryland Orioles both went undefeated last week to stretch out their lead in the 2008 Cal Ripken, Sr. League standings. The Big Train (21-5) went 5-0 and the Orioles (20-5) went 3-0, as the two teams continue to race towards the Big Train's league record for wins in a season (28, set in 2006).

The Alexandria Aces (8-15) won three of four games last week before dropping a doubleheader to the Orioles on Monday. Meanwhile, the Rockville Express (8-14) moved ahead of the Maryland Redbirds (6-15) by virtue of posting a .500 record for the week. The 'Birds dropped all five of their games last week to fall to last place in the standings.

Home runs continued to fly as the league knocked 18 more balls out of the yard last week, bringing the season total to 72. The league is just 18 home runs shy of last year's record mark of 90. The Herndon Braves (9-15) posted the league high for home runs last week, with five as a team. Despite winning just one of their four games last week, the Braves are closing in on the College Park Bombers (9-11) for fourth place in the league standings. The Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (11-12) stumbled a bit last week, winning just one of their five games, but they maintain a 1.5 game hold on third place in the league standings.

In other news, the Fourth Annual Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League All-Star Game is just two weeks away! Come on out to see your favorite Ripken, Sr. League stars, July 22 at Shirley Povich Field in Bethesda, Maryland. The Home Run Derby will begin at 5:30 pm and the All-Star Game will begin at 7:30 pm. The Big Train, Thunderbolts, Braves, and Aces will take on the Orioles, Bombers, Express, and Redbirds.

Meet the 2008 CRSCBL Official Photographers!

Lee (Morehead State/Big Train), Celenza (Salisbury/Bombers), Hiserman (San Francisco/Big Train), Hibbs (Tallahassee CC/O's) win weekly awards

Drew Lee (Morehead State University) of the Bethesda Big Train was named the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Co-Hitter of the Week for the week of June 30 to July 6. Lee reached base in all five games for the Big Train last week and finished the week on a four-game hit streak. Lee hit two solo home runs against the Redbirds on July 3 and followed them up with another solo shot the next game, against the Aces on July 5. In those two games, Lee went a combined 5-for-9 with three RBI and five runs scored. He scored at least one run in all five games, including seven in three games from July 2 to July 5. Overall, he went 7-for-23 (.304) at the plate, with two walks. He also stole a base in his only attempt.

Mike Celenza (Salisbury University) of the College Park Bombers was named the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Co-Hitter of the Week for the week of June 30 to July 6. Celenza reached base in all four the Bombers' games last week, and began the week by posting consecutive three-hit, three-RBI games on June 30 against the Orioles and July 2 against the Redbirds. Celenza had a double in each of those games and also scored twice against the Redbirds. He hit a solo home run in his next game to bring his RBI total to seven for the week. Celenza added a walk in the second game of a doubleheader against the Braves on July 6, his second of the week. Celenza currently leads the league with a .424 batting average and eight doubles. This is Celenza's second Hitter of the Week award of 2008. He was Hitter of the Week from June 6 to June 15, and also won the award once in 2007.

Also considered: Jabari Graham (Alcorn State/T-Bolts); Luke Adkins (Mississippi State/Big Train); John Skaggs (Wayne State/Aces); Andrew Brouse (Bucknell/Aces); Josh Cardoso (Rhode Island College/Express)

Tyler Hibbs (Tallahassee (FL) CC) 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 30 to July 6. Hibbs did not allow a hit or a run over two relief appearances for the Orioles last week. On July 2 against the Express, Hibbs was perfect over the final 2.1 innings to get the save in a 4-2 win. He struck out three batters in that game. He was nearly perfect in his next outing, 2.2 innings against the Braves on July 5. Hibbs walked just one batter in that game and struck out four to get the win as the Orioles came back from a 4-1 deficit. Hibbs also went 1-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored on June 30. Hibbs has pitched to a 0.69 ERA thus far this season. He is 1-1 in eight appearances with six saves and 19 strikeouts over 13 innings-pitched. He has walked only three batters and allowed just one hit all season. Opponents are hitting .026 off of him.

Matt Hiserman (University of San Francisco) of the Bethesda Big Train has been named the Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Co-Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 30 to July 6. Hiserman appeared in three games as the Big Train's closer last week, allowing no runs on just one hit and no walks with three strikeouts over 4.2 combined innings. Hiserman was perfect over the final 2.1 innings to get the save in a 2-1 win over the Redbirds on July 3. He then pitched a scoreless ninth against the Aces on July 5 and got the win in that game when the Big Train scored in the bottom of the inning to break a tie. The next night, Hiserman retired all four T-Bolts batters he faced, including two by strikeout, to get his second save of the week. Hiserman leads the league with eight saves thus far in 2008 and has not allowed a run in 20.1 innings-pitched. He is 2-0 over 13 appearances and has struck out 23 batters while walking none. He has allowed just eight hits, and opponents are batting .119 off of him.

Also considered: Jack Amidei (Mesa State/Bombers); Nick Routt (Mississippi State/Express); Darren O'Brien (William Jewell/Bombers); Kevin Brady (Clemson/Orioles); Daniel Bifano (Cal State-Monterey Bay/Aces)
 

2008 CRSCBL Standings