Cal Ripken League Prospect Rankings & Awards

by John Vittas

Having watched and announced over 30 Ripken League games this summer, I have compiled this list of the 60 most impressive players in the league. The criteria combines both performance and raw ability.

Bubba Derby was the best pitcher in the league start to finish.

1. RHP Bubba Derby (Bethesda Big Train - San Diego State)
2. C Ian Rice (Baltimore Redbirds - Chipola)
3. 1B / LHP Sean Keselica (Baltimore Redbirds - Virginia Tech)

Sean Keselica  proved to be a top-notch 2-way player for the Redbirds. The Virginia Tech Hokie batted .314 with 29 extra-base hits and posted a 1.94 ERA on the mound, where many believe his pro future lies.

4. SS Will Kengor (Rockville Express - Slippery Rock)
5. 3B KJ Hockaday (Youse's Orioles - Maryland)
6. LHP Ronnie Glenn (Alexandria Aces - UPenn)
7. OF Collin Shaw (Gaithersburg Giants - Texas)
8. LHP Brandon Hinkle (Baltimore Redbirds - Delaware)
9. RHP Tyler Badamo (So. Maryland Nationals - Dowling)
10. 2B / RHP Josh Ingham (Gaithersburg Giants - Central Connecticut State)

Josh Ingham led the Gaithersburg Giants into the postseason in the team's first season in the league. Ingham batted .405 in the second half and posted 15 shutout innings as the team's closer.  

11. RHP Denis Mikush (Vienna River Dogs - UMBC)
12. LHP Tayler Stiles (Silver Spring/Takoma Park T-Bolts - Maryland)
13. 1B Brandon Grove (Gaithersburg Giants - CCBC Catonsville)
14. RHP Tyler Fries (Alexandria Aces - Wilmington)
15. LHP Nate Abel (Vienna River Dogs - Virginia)
16. LHP Michael Taylor (Youse's Orioles - Marshall)
17. RHP John Austin-Shepard (So. Maryland Nationals - Tusculum)
18. 3B Jake Taylor (Silver Spring/Takoma Park T-Bolts - Montgomery College)
19. OF Cody Acker (Silver Spring/Takoma Park T-Bolts - VCU)
20. SS Rhyne Willard (Bethesda Big Train - Tallahassee CC)
21. LHP Zach Morris (Bethesda Big Train - Maryland)
22. RHP Jerrod Leinhauser (Herndon Braves - Florida Tech)
23. RHP Michael Austin (Presttman Cardinals - Bethune-Cookman)
24. CF Chris Kashangaki (Gaithersburg Giants - Coppin State)
25. RHP Kyle Colgain (Gaithersburg Giants - Denison)
26. RHP Justin Hepner (Bethesda Big Train - San Diego State)
27. OF/1B Shaun Wood (Vienna River Dogs - West Virginia)
28. RHP Danny Mooney (Bethesda Big Train - Davidson)
29. RHP Tanner Love (Herndon Braves - George Mason)
30. LHP Kit Scheetz (Bethesda Big Train - Virginia Tech)
31. OF Greg Olenski (DC Grays - Delaware)
32. SS Kevin Baron (Gaithersburg Giants - LaSalle)
33. 3B Tom Woodruff (Herndon Braves - Virginia)

Terps utility man LaMonte Wade finished
top-5 in the CRCBL in OPS as one of the
youngest players in the league.

34. 1B/OF LaMonte Wade (Baltimore Redbirds - Maryland)

35. LHP Michael Boyle (Bethesda Big Train - Radford)

36. RHP Connor Hibbs (Gaithersburg Giants - Delaware)
37. RHP Nick Stephens (Herndon Braves - Lehigh)
38. LHP Joseph Vanderplas (Vienna River Dogs - UMBC)
39. RHP Brock Larson (Bethesda Big Train - San Francisco)
40. INF Ryan Mincher (Alexandria Aces - UPenn)
41. OF Jordon Glover (Presstman Cardinals - Harford CC)
42. 1B Ryan Ripken (Youse's Orioles - Indian River State)
43. 3B Ty France (Bethesda Big Train - San Diego State)
44. RHP Ryan Meisinger (So. Maryland Nationals - Radford)
45. LHP Joshua Baker (Rockville Express - Jacksonville)
46. SS Sergio Leon (Youse's Orioles - Marshall)
47. INF Ryan Metzler (So. Maryland Nationals - SC Aiken)
48. RHP Jack Fischer (Baltimore Redbirds - Wake Forest)
49. SS Will Young (Herndon Braves - Georgia Tech)
50. LHP Henry Sisson (DC Grays - North Carolina)
51. RHP Brandon Casas (Baltimore Redbirds - Maryland)
52. LHP Michael Byrne (Rockville Express - Cornell)
53. RHP Brian O'Neill (Alexandria Aces - Washington & Jefferson)
54. RHP Joe Patton (Gaithersburg Giants - Towson)
55. LHP Colin Milon (Alexandria Aces - George Washington)
56. LHP Ryan Deckert (Vienna River Dogs - Tallahassee CC)
57. CF David Del Grande (Bethesda Big Train - Sacramento State)
58. RHP Bryan McHale (So. Maryland Nationals - Immaculatta)
59. LHP Matt Denny (Baltimore Redbirds - Ole Miss)
60. OF Jay Knight (Gaithersburg Giants - Mount St. Mary's)


The Big Train and Redbirds again put out the most widespread talent, while the Giants and Aces rolled out surprisingly loaded rosters in 2013 as well.
While the Ripken League is a second tier summer league at best, I'd bet on at least 15 of these players getting signed or drafted within the next 2-3 years.


We'll round things off with some superlatives:

MVP: C Ian Rice (Baltimore Redbirds - Chipola)
          Nominees: Jack Fischer, LaMonte Wade, RJ Dennard

Cy Young: RHP Bubba Derby (Bethesda Big Train - San Diego State)
          Nominees: Michael Taylor, Robin Mowatt, Danny Mooney

Best Average Hitter: 3B KJ Hockaday (Youse's Orioles - Maryland)
          Nominees: Will Kengor, Ryan Metzler, Ryan Mincher, Josh Ingham

Best Power Hitter: C Ian Rice (Baltimore Redbirds - Chipola)
          Nominees: Nick Collins, Brandon Grove, Jordan Taylor, Greg Olenski

Best "Pitcher": RHP Robin Mowatt (Gaithersburg Giants - Catholic)
           Nominees: Colin Milon, Jesse Frawley, Michael Boyle, Nick Stephens

Best Fastball: RHP Bubba Derby (Bethesda Big Train - San Diego State)
          Nominees: Brandon Hinkle, Danny Mooney, Josh Baker

Best Changeup: Tyler Badamo (So. Maryland Nationals - Dowling)
           Nominees: Michael Taylor, Michael Boyle, Nick Stephens

Best Curveball: LHP Ronnie Glenn (Alexandria Aces - UPenn)
           Nominees: Brandon Hinkle, Kyle Colgain, Bryan McHale

Best Slider: RHP Nick Riley (Gaithersburg Giants - Mount St. Mary's)
Best Power Slider: RHP Denis Mikush (Vienna River Dogs - UMBC)
           Nominees: Michael Austin, Sean Keselica

Most Undervalued Hitter: C RJ Dennard (Baltimore Redbirds - Armstrong Atlantic State)
           Nominees: Aaron Scoville, Ryan Mincher, Nick Collins

Most Undervalued Pitcher: RHP Tyler Badamo (So. Maryland Nationals - Dowling)
           Nominees: Denis Mikush, John Austin-Shepard, Nate Abel, Connor Hibbs

Most Speed: CF Chris Kashangaki (Gaithersburg Giants - Coppin State)
           Nominees: Collin Shaw, Brandon Angus, Jay Knight, Mike Alexander

Chris Kashangaki's speed made him the league leader in stolen bases and possibly the CRCBL's best defensive outfielder.

Gold Gloves:
C: Cody Walker (DC Grays - Mississippi State)
1B: Judson Sherrill (DC Grays - Alabama Huntsville)
2B: Pat Fitzgerald (Baltimore Redbirds - Towson)
SS: Kevin Baron (Gaithersburg Giants - LaSalle)
3B: Bobby Rice (Vienna River Dogs - Tallahassee CC)
OF: Collin Shaw (Gaithersburg Giants - Texas)
OF: Chris Kashangaki (Gaithersburg Giants - Coppin State)
OF: Cody Acker (Silver Spring/Takoma Park T-Bolts - VCU)

Honorable Mention: INF Kevin LaChance (Rockville Express - UMBC), OF Alex Pastorius (Baltimore Redbirds - Coll. of Charleston), C Ian Rice (Baltimore Redbirds - Chipola)

Giants Win Their Seventh Straight, Beat Braves 7-1

by John Vittas

The Gaithersburg Giants won their seventh game in a row Monday, knocking off the Herndon Braves 7-1 at Criswell Automotive Field in Gaithersburg.

The Giants tagged Braves pitching for 11 hits, including three doubles and three infield singles. Kevin Baron went 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs.

"At any level of baseball, when you see your teammates having good at bats, it's gonna keep rolling on to the next guy," Baron said. "We're at the point where we know our role and we're not trying to do too much and putting it all together."

Chris Kashangaki added three hits, three runs and a stolen base, while Texas outfielder Collin Shaw and Dartmouth third baseman Jay Graham both had two hits and a pair of RBIs. Kashangaki also threw out Braves' third baseman Tom Woodruff from centerfield to keep the Giants ahead 2-1 in the sixth.

Brandon Estrain started for the Giants, giving up just one run on four hits over five and two-thirds innings.

"They weren't hitting the fastball and when they started fouling off pitches, I started coming inside," Estrain said. "Our defense was great today."

Monday was Estrain's first start of the year after pitching six innings of relief throughout the summer.

"I knew I had to throw a lot more pitches than I was used to. I had a good warmup and felt good," Estrain said. "Coach Rabberman said I had to give him five, so I gave him six."

The Giants' bullpen combined to finish off the game without allowing another run. Gaithersburg continues to lead the Ripken League in pitching with a 2.13 team ERA.

"We're putting pressure on the other guys and forcing their defense to make a play and be perfect and I think that's a big reason why we're on this run," Baron said.

The Giants will go for eight in a row this evening, traveling to Glen Burnie to play the Orioles at Bachman Park at 7p.m.

Giants Knock Off Aces for the Second Straight Sunday

by John Vittas

The Gaithersburg Giants held on for a 4-3 win at Frank Mann Field in Alexandria Sunday despite stranding 12 runners over the final six innings.

Gaithersburg beat the same Aces squad by one run, 6-5 the previous Sunday in extra innings. With the win, the Giants (5-2) claim sole possession of first place in the Ripken League.

Vince Molesky (1-1) earned the win, allowing three runs on seven hits over seven innings. He struck out four and did not walk a batter.

"I used my defense, they were fabulous tonight," Molesky said. "It's easy pitching with a lead. I just kept on pouring the ball into the strike zone, and left it up to the offense and defense."

Ryan McGuigan went 2-for-4 with a sac bunt and two RBIs, which came on a two-out single in the first off Aces' starter Brian O'Neill.

"I was a little late on his fastball at first when he was throwing it inside to me, and then he came outside and I just put the bat on the ball," McGuigan said.

Brandon Grove hit a solo home run in the fourth, and Chris Kashangaki added an RBI single later in the inning to make it 4-1 Giants.

The Aces got back-to-back hits from Dylan Riner and Brandon Burris in the fifth to plate two and cut the deficit to 4-3. The score wouldn't change, as Molesky retired the last seven batters he faced.

Josh Ingham picked up the save, getting Brett Carlson to ground out to strand two in the eighth.

"As a closer you're mainly throwing hard stuff," Ingham said. "I stuck with the fastball. It was a big situation and I needed to throw strikes, I didn't want to walk him, so I just kept stuffing it inside. If you get it inside enough, they can't do anything with it."

Sunday's victory is the fourth in a row for Gaithersburg.

"We're coming out here, just playing loose, playing relaxed but still getting the job done," Ingham said. "We're doing the little things right, pitching the ball really well and getting timely hitting when it counts."

The Giants will head to Bethesda Monday to take on the Big Train at 7:30 in a battle for first place.


To listen to the post-game interview with Vince Molesky, Josh Ingham and Ryan McGuigan, click here