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Power Rankings: June 11
Story by Tim Wilcox | Photo by Brandon Lauchnor
Each Tuesday throughout the season, the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League will release power rankings of the top three teams.
Through about one week of play, here are the CRSCBL Staff’s consensus top teams.
1. Gaithersburg Giants (5-3, 1st in North)
After dropping their first game of the season to the Big Train, the Giants won four straight games. During the streak, Gaithersburg outscored opponents 45-10, displaying its offensive prowess and strong pitching. The Giants impressed with their 4-3 walkoff win over the Big Train on June 10, propelling them into sole possession of first place in the North Division.
Of its three losses, two came to top three teams in the Aces and Big Train. The Giants third loss of the season was a 6-5 loss decided by an eighth inning run by the Senators. Gaithersburg has been led by Brady Powell (Radford) and Cade Hentz (Jacksonville) at the plate. Powell ranks seventh in the league in batting average (.391) while Hentz has scored six runs. Hank Lippman (William & Mary) has been consistent on the mound, throwing 6.2 scoreless innings across two appearances.
2. Alexandria Aces (5-3, 1st in South)
In what has been a tightly contested South Division, the Aces have separated themselves with five wins so far. Alexandria has won four of its last five games, finding recent success after a slow start. The Aces pitching has been its strongest attribute through eight games. Led by this week's CRSCBL Pitcher of the Week Zach Kwasny (Ball State), the Aces have held opponents to a total of five runs in the last three games.
Alexandria attacks opposing hitters with Kwasny, who leads the league with 21 strikeouts, and John Downing (Seton Hall), who has 7.1 scoreless innings to shut down teams in relief. At the top of its lineup, the Aces pack a 1-2 punch in Tim Nicholson (George Washington) and Jonathan Peltier (Wright State). Nicholson has four multi-hit games while Peltier is tied for second in the league with 10 runs while batting .391.
3. Bethesda Big Train (4-4, 2nd in North)
The 2024 season has already been a roller coaster of emotions for the Big Train. After winning its first three games, Bethesda dropped its next three, settling into a .500 record. The Big Train ended the losing streak with a 10-6 win over the Braves and commanded a late lead over the Giants in their last game, but late heroics cost them the game.
Manager Sal Colangelo, now in his 19th season, has the roster to contend for another Cal Ripken Sr. League Championship. Leadoff hitter Jordan Crosland (Maryland) has reached base at a .472 clip and middle of the lineup players like Christopher Diaz (Tulane), who is hitting .292, are helping to generate runs. Heading the Big Train pitching rotation has been Peyton Prescott (Jacksonville) who has logged a 2.25 ERA in two starts.
