ALEXANDRIA, VA — Summer in Alexandria has a soundtrack all its own. On the north side of town, it is the steady hum of jets flying in and out of National Airport, the low murmur of neighbors chopping it up in the bleachers, and that sharp, unmistakable crack of wooden bats echoing from Frank Mann Field in Four Mile Run Park, close to The Birchmere. For locals, that sound means one thing: the Alexandria Aces are back.
I remember pitching the idea to Don Dinan over some of Harry Caray’s favorite frosty beverages at the Hawk ‘N’ Dove on Capitol Hill back in the summer of 2006. Two years later, the team’s first pitch was thrown at Frank Mann Field on the north end of Commonwealth, and the Aces have been playing their home games there ever since. As a matter of fact, the late Virginia State Senator Patsy Ticer and Vice Mayor Del Pepper both took the mound to throw out the official first pitches for our inaugural game.
Operating as a non-profit, community-based, volunteer-run organization, the club has spent nearly two decades as a fixture of the city’s sports landscape.
The Aces compete in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League (CRSCBL), an elite summer showcase for top-level, highly motivated athletes looking to face premier competition and catch the attention of Major League Baseball scouts. It is a highly competitive environment that perfectly embodies the team’s now famous slogan: “Where Legends Begin.”
The center of the operation is Frank Mann Field, named after former Alexandria Mayor and local entrepreneur Frank Mann, located right behind the Cora Kelly School of Math, Science and Technology at 3700 Commonwealth Avenue. Some of us older Aces alum affectionately refer to the ballpark simply as “The Frank.” It is a classic community venue where fans sit close to the action of wooden bat baseball, kids track down foul balls and home runs, and neighbors catch up on warm summer evenings. It is a part of the rich summer charm of Alexandria each June and July at the ballpark.
Taking over in the Aces’ dugout this year is Brian Wirth. A Woodbridge native, Wirth is a familiar face around Northern Virginia baseball, coming up through the ranks with the Woodbridge High School Vikings baseball program and learning the game from local legends, brothers Sal and Mike Colangelo. He is coming to us from the staff at Frostburg State, and he is bringing a brand of baseball that is as aggressive as it is high-energy.
On the business side, Aces’ President, Frank Fannon, keeps the gears turning off the field in the community. His steady hand running the front office gives the organization the stability it needs to survive the hectic summer calendar, managing the behind-the-scenes mechanics so the ball club can focus purely on winning games.
With the roster resetting almost completely every year, the summer ball plans hit fast. Players arrive in Alexandria from college campuses nationwide, making the Aces’ host-family program absolutely essential for providing a steady home base during the high-velocity, two-month schedule.
From their arrival at the end of May through late July, players live with local families who provide a private bedroom, laundry access, and a welcoming environment during a hectic season. In return, host families receive all-access season tickets, an invitation to Host Family Appreciation Night, and a front-row seat to the dedication it takes to play college ball.
The summer league schedule is always a flat-out sprint. Designed to mimic a minor-league style schedule throughout June and July, teams grind through forty regular-season games split evenly between home and away, a relentless pace that tests every bit of a roster’s depth. On the diamond, Wirth’s inaugural squad is built for speed on the basepaths, situational power, and the kind of pitching depth needed to survive a compressed summer calendar.
The home schedule begins quickly after the June 2 road opener at South County High School in Lorton. The Aces will host their home opener on Wednesday, June 3 at 6:30 p.m. against their local rivals, the D.C. Grays.
Opening night will feature pre-game ceremonies, local vendors, and an appearance by Alexandria Mayor Alyia Gaskins to throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The evening will highlight a long-standing partnership with Alexandria Little League, giving free admission to all youth players wearing their team jerseys, and honors league president Laura Engel for her tireless ongoing efforts to build a fun, welcoming environment for children to ‘play ball’ across the city. The Aces’ media partner, The Zebra, will also be on hand as publisher Mary Wadland and staff hand out fresh copies of the highly anticipated June issue at the main gate.
For Fannon and the volunteers managing everything from stadium operations to concessions, Opening Day represents the payoff of months of planning. Coming into their 18th season in Alexandria, the Aces continue to offer local area fans fun, exciting, affordable wholesome entertainment of collegiate summer wooden bat baseball. Please visit alexandriaaces.org to purchase game tickets and to check the team’s full schedule, which is subject to change based on weather conditions.
With the Aces’ summer slate set, the turf at the ballpark will be freshly cut, baseline and batter’s box chalk will be laid down, and the stadium lights will be ready. Are you all set for some exciting home-grown collegiate summer wooden bat baseball this summer?
I will see you at The Frank.
Home Opener: Wednesday, June 3 at 6:30 PM: vs. D.C. Grays (Alexandria Little League Night)
Ticket Prices: Adults: $7, Children: $3 (Available at the gate or online at alexandriaaces.org)
Editor’s Note: Pat Malone is a co-founder of the Alexandria Aces and a regular contributor to The Zebra.
