Cropdusters Down Aces 11–2 in Olney, But Bright Spots Emerge for Alexandria
OLNEY, MD — The Alexandria Aces (3–6) took the field at First Responder Park at Servpro on Tuesday evening looking to even their season series against the red-hot Olney Cropdusters (6–5), but despite a lopsided 11–2 final score, the Aces showcased grit, patience at the plate, and flashes of developing synergy from their young roster representing colleges across the country.
Olney struck early, jumping ahead with a three-run first inning off Aces starter Aidan Von Zuben (Penn), who worked through two innings, giving up four hits and striking out three. A wild pitch and aggressive baserunning put Alexandria in a defensive bind, and the Cropdusters made the most of it.
Despite the rocky start, Alexandria answered at the top of the third. A leadoff walk and a well-struck double from catcher Diego Peña (Western Michigan) plated the Aces’ first run. Peña’s bat continues to heat up as he notched his first extra-base hit of the summer, along with his first RBI.
The Aces’ second run came in the fifth, with Adham Sahebzadah (George Washington) drawing a walk and stealing a base before scoring on another Peña double, showcasing both smart baserunning and opportunistic hitting.
Gavin Degnan (Penn) also had a standout night at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored. The right fielder now has multi-hit performances in two of his last three starts and continues to improve his contact approach against top-tier Cal Ripken Sr. League pitching.
Toby Hueber (Pitt) displayed elite patience, drawing three walks in as many official plate appearances. He now leads the team in on-base percentage and showed defensive leadership with three assists from second base.
On the mound, while Tomas Cestero (Seton Hall) struggled through a difficult middle stretch (3.1 IP, 7 ER), reliever Noah Haught (Richmond) put in a quality effort over 2.2 innings, giving up just one hit and striking out three. Haught’s command and poise on the mound halted further damage and gave the Aces a chance to fight back late.
The Aces’ defense was solid overall, committing no errors across nine innings, a testament to the infield discipline of Michael Powell (Penn) at shortstop and Gavin Miller (Pitt) at third base, who combined for five assists.
For the Cropdusters, Jimmy Kirk (Millersville) powered the offense, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and a stolen base. Koy Swanson (Gaston College) added a three-run home run in the sixth, breaking the game open. Starter Mac Crismond (Charleston) earned the win, allowing just one run over 2.2 innings with four strikeouts.
Next Up: The Aces game at Blair Stadium in Four Corners, Maryland at 7:00 p.m. against the Thunderbolts (6-2) has been postponed being played at a future date.
Aces fans are always highly encouraged to go to the team’s official website, www.alexandriaaces.org/tickets to purchase tickets online for each game on the 2025 schedule. The Bethesda Big Train return to Frank Mann Field this Friday, June 20, with a 6:30 p.m. game time, in a contest that Aces’ fans wont want to miss.
The Alexandria Aces, currently playing in their seventeenth season, are proud members of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League (www.calripkenleague.org) with teams located in the Baltimore-Washington, DC metro area.
