Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League
The Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League (CRCBL) is a collegiate summer baseball league located in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland metropolitan areas. The CRCBL is a member of the National Alliance of College Summer Baseball (NACSB).
Sport | Baseball |
---|---|
Founded | 2005 |
President | Bradley Rifkin |
Commissioner | Jason Woodward |
No. of teams | 6 |
Country | USA |
Most recent champion(s) | Bethesda Big Train |
Official website | CRCBL Official Web Site |
History
The CRCBL was founded in 2005.[1] The league was named in honor of Cal Ripken, Sr. in recognition of his lifelong dedication "to helping young baseball players develop and reach their potential." Although the league is named in his honor, it is not associated with the Cal Ripken, Sr. foundation.[2] In 2009 the league removed the "Sr." in the name to accommodate both Cal Ripken, Sr. and Cal Ripken, Jr..
The league's founding teams were the Bethesda Big Train, College Park Bombers, Maryland Redbirds, Rockville Express, Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, and Youse's Maryland Orioles. The Herndon Braves joined in 2007 and the Alexandria Aces joined in 2008, expanding the league into Northern Virginia.[2] In 2009, the Southern Maryland Nationals, formerly the Southern Maryland Cardinals, joined the league for the 2010 season when it was announced that the College Park Bombers would not be competing in 2010 due to financial struggles.[3][4] Another name change occurred as the Maryland Redbirds changed their name to the Baltimore Redbirds. In 2011, the Vienna River Dogs became the ninth team in the league and the third in Northern Virginia. The league expanded into Washington, D.C. when the D.C. Grays joined for the 2012 season. In 2013 two new teams, the Baltimore Presstman Cardinals and the Gaithersburg Giants, joined the League. In 2014 the Cardinals were replaced by the Baltimore Dodgers and the Southern Maryland Nationals ceased operations. After the completion of the 2014 season, Youse's Maryland Orioles announced that they would no longer be competing in the League. In 2015 the League changed to a two division format with a playoff.
Showcase games
Mid-Atlantic Classic
On July 15, 2009, the CRCBL took on the Valley Baseball League, another collegiate wooden bat league based in Virginia, in the Mid-Atlantic Classic in Waldorf, Maryland. Each side gathered a roster of All-Stars for the match. In the game, the Ripken League defeated the Valley League 2–1.[5] On July 11, 2011 the two leagues held the second Mid-Atlantic Classic (the scheduled 2010 re-match was rained out) at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The Ripken League won again, this time by a score of 6–3.[5]
Southern Collegiate Showcase
The CRCBL sent an all-star team to North Carolina in 2017, 2018, and 2019 to participate in the Southern Collegiate Prospect Showcase against the Florida Collegiate Summer League, the Southern Collegiate Baseball League, the Sunbelt Baseball League and the Valley Baseball League.
Teams
Current teams
Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League[6] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Team | City | Stadium | |
Alexandria Aces | Alexandria, VA | Frank Mann Field | |
Bethesda Big Train | Bethesda, MD | Shirley Povich Field | |
Gaithersburg Giants | Gaithersburg, MD | Criswell Automotive Field at Kelley Park | |
D.C. Grays | Washington, D.C. | Washington Nationals Youth Baseball Academy | |
FCA Braves | Lorton, VA | South County High School | |
Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts | Silver Spring, MD | Montgomery Blair Stadium |
Past champions
Season | League Champion | Regular Season Champion |
---|---|---|
2005 | Bethesda Big Train, Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts (co-champions) | Bethesda Big Train |
2006 | Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts | Bethesda Big Train |
2007 | Rockville Express | Rockville Express, Youse's Maryland Orioles (Tie) |
2008 | Youse's Maryland Orioles | Youse's Maryland Orioles |
2009 | Bethesda Big Train | Bethesda Big Train |
2010 | Bethesda Big Train | Youse's Maryland Orioles |
2011 | Bethesda Big Train | Bethesda Big Train |
2012 | Baltimore Redbirds | Rockville Express |
2013 | Baltimore Redbirds | Bethesda Big Train |
2014 | Baltimore Redbirds | Bethesda Big Train |
2015 | Baltimore Redbirds | Bethesda Big Train |
2016 | Bethesda Big Train | Baltimore Redbirds |
2017 | Bethesda Big Train | Bethesda Big Train |
2018 | Baltimore Redbirds, Bethesda Big Train (co-champions) | Bethesda Big Train |
2019 | Bethesda Big Train | Bethesda Big Train |
2020 | None (season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic) | |
Every year from 2009 to 2018 the championship series featured the Redbirds against the Big Train.[7][8]
MLB Draft
In 2007, CRCBL alumnus Joe Smith earned a spot on a major league roster, with the New York Mets.[9]
In May 2009, Brett Cecil, who pitched for the Thunderbolts in 2005, was called up by the Toronto Blue Jays, where he pitched for eight seasons. In 2013, he became the first Ripken League alum to play in an MLB All-Star game.[10] In November, 2016 he signed a 4-year, $30.5 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.[11]
The 2008 MLB Draft saw 40 former or current players chosen. Some players drafted included former Big Train player Carlos Gutierrez, at 27th overall by the Minnesota Twins. Three other players got drafted in the first three rounds: former Big Train player Evan Frederickson, at 35th overall by the Milwaukee Brewers, and two former players from the Youse's Orioles, Derrik Gibson in the 2nd round by the Boston Red Sox, and L. J. Hoes in the 3rd round by the Baltimore Orioles.
In the 2009 MLB draft, 37 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being Ben Tootle in the 3rd round, by the Minnesota Twins.
In the 2010 MLB Draft, 31 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being Jarrett Parker in the 2nd round, by the San Francisco Giants.[12]
In the 2011 MLB Draft, 33 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being Jed Bradley in the 1st round (15th overall), by the Milwaukee Brewers.[13]
In the 2012 MLB Draft, 31 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being Kyle Zimmer in the 1st round (5th overall), by the Kansas City Royals.[14]
In the 2013 MLB Draft, 22 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being Hunter Renfroe in the 1st round (13th overall), by the San Diego Padres.[15]
In the 2014 MLB Draft, 26 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being Mark Zagunis in the 3rd round, by the Chicago Cubs.[16]
In the 2015 MLB Draft, 32 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being Brandon Lowe in the 3rd round, by the Tampa Bay Rays.[17]
In the 2017 MLB Draft, 42 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being Logan Warmoth in the 1st round (22nd overall), by the Toronto Blue Jays.[18]
In the 2018 MLB Draft, 44 former Ripken Leaguers were chosen, with the highest being Logan Gilbert in the 1st round (14th overall), by the Seattle Mariners.[19]
Noted alumni[20]
- Brett Cecil,[21] 2005 Thunderbolts
- Carlos Gutierrez, 2005 Big Train
- Joe Smith,[22][23] 2005 Express
- Zach Clark, 2005 Thunderbolts
- Brian Dozier, 2006 Big Train
- Jarrett Parker, 2007 Braves
- Cody Allen, 2008, 2010 Big Train
- Chris Taylor, 2009 Braves
- Matt Bowman, 2010-12 Big Train
- Joe Mantiply, 2010 Big Train
- Kyle Zimmer, 2010 Aces
- Ryan Garton, 2011 Big Train
- Hunter Renfroe, 2011-12 Big Train
- Brandon Lowe, 2014 Big Train
- Eric Brodkowitz, 2014-15 Giants
- Nate Lowe, 2015 Riverdogs
- Logan Gilbert, 2016 Big Train
References
- "CRSCBL Mission Statement". Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. Archived from the original on April 5, 2008. Retrieved March 27, 2008.
- "CRSCBL 2005 Annual Report" (PDF). Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 21, 2008. Retrieved March 27, 2008.
- Hudson, Joshua (January 28, 2010). "College Park college baseball team ceases operations". The Gazette. Archived from the original on August 1, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
- "Cal Ripken League welcomes new franchise for 2010". Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League. Archived from the original on May 4, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
- "Ripken League tops Valley League!". Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League. July 10, 2011.
- "Ballpark Map | Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League". www.calripkenleague.org. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- Lichtman, Harry (July 31, 2018). "Big Train and Redbirds named 2018 Ripken League co-champions - Montgomery County Sentinel". The Sentinel. Archived from the original on March 15, 2019. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
It's the first time since the league's inaugural season in 2005 where two teams have been named co-champions, the same two teams who have met in the Championship Series 10 years in a row.
- Swartz, Harrison (July 29, 2017). "RECAP OF GAMES ONE AND TWO… PREVIEW OF GAME THREE LCS CHAMPIONSHIP". www.calripkenleague.org (Press release). Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
the Redbirds and Big Train are playing in the championship game/round for ninth straight summer.
- "CRSCBL Alumni". Archived from the original on April 5, 2008. Retrieved March 27, 2008.
- "Thunderbolts official web site". Retrieved January 3, 2017.
- "Baseball-Reference web site". Retrieved January 3, 2017.
- "2010 Draft Results". Archived from the original on August 2, 2010. Retrieved June 10, 2010.
- "2011 Draft Results". Retrieved October 8, 2014.
- "2012 Draft Results". Retrieved October 8, 2014.
- "2013 Draft Results". Retrieved October 8, 2014.
- "2014 Draft Results". Retrieved October 8, 2014.
- "2015 Draft | Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League". www.calripkenleague.org. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- "2017 Draft | Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League". www.calripkenleague.org. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- "2018 Draft | Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League". www.calripkenleague.org. Retrieved August 9, 2018.
- "Alumni in the Pros | Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League". pointstreaksites.com. Retrieved October 17, 2019.
- "2007 New York Penn League Allstar Roster". Retrieved March 26, 2008.
- "New York Mets Roster". Retrieved March 25, 2008.
- "MLB Stats for Joe Smith". Retrieved March 26, 2008.