The future is now at Ripken Stadium. The short-season Single-A baseball complex is used to showcasing potential major leaguers as home to the Aberdeen IronBirds.
But on July 23, Ripken Stadium will house 54 up-and-coming college players hoping it is one stop on their journey to the major leagues.
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The Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball All-Star Game will feature members from the wooden-bat league?s seven teams from across the state, including 12 from the Glen Burnie-based Maryland Orioles, who entered Wednesday in first place at 17-7.
Maryland Orioles manager Dean Albany will lead the East All-Stars while Bethesda Big Train manger Sal Colangelo will guide the West squad.
“A game like this is a great way to reward players who are having a great season,” Albany said. “But, at the same time we tried to select a mix of players that are also considered professional prospects.”
Among the game?s participants are eight players from local colleges: third baseman Joe Palumbo (Maryland), outfielders Wink Nolan (Maryland), Rob Pietroforte (Johns Hopkins) and Joe Fowler (UMBC) and Towson University pitchers Josh Squatrito and Zach Umberger.
Albany said the All-Star Game is an optimum way to showcase the 3-year-old league, which competes for players and publicity against other summer leagues up and down the East Coast.
“We are not the Cape Cod League yet,” said Albany, referring to the most prestigious summer league for college players. “That league is the best one around, but that?s the one we have to strive to be if we want the top players in the country.”
A big part of the league?s promotion, Albany said, was MASN?s decision to televise the game.
“Getting to showcase the league in front of 7 to 9 million homes on MASN will bring us a lot of much-needed exposure,” Albany said.
Maryland Orioles catcher Joe Valleggia is expected to play in the game. The former Calvert Hall standout and rising sophomore at Old Dominion struggled adjusting to hitting with a wooden bat after using an aluminum bat during the college season. He is batting .237, but was selected to the All-Star team largely because he leads the Orioles with 16 RBIs.
“My ultimate dream is to play for the Baltimore Orioles and playing for this team in this league is the next step toward that,” Valleggia said last month.
Dulaney graduate and current Virginia Tech outfielder Steven Bumbry said the league?s talent is among the best in the country.
“The competition here is even better than I expected,” Bumbry said. “And to be one of the select few to play in this league and in this All-Star Game is pretty exciting.”
All-Star notes
» What: Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate All-Star Game
» When: July 23 at 7 p.m.
»Where: Ripken Stadium, Aberdeen
» TV: MASN
» Admission: Tickets are free and can be printed from the Ripken Senior College Baseball Web site. Group tickets may be obtained by calling (410) 588-9900
» Did you know? The gates will open at 4 p.m, with the players competing in a home run hitting contest at 5 p.m.
