Baseball Tradition Returns as Valley League Claims First All-Star Series Victory
Dromboski earns Most Outstanding Player honors as Valley Baseball League defeats the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, 12-3, in the first meeting between the leagues since 2011
BETHESDA, Md. – July 7, 2026 — The Valley Baseball League erased an early 3-1 deficit with eleven unanswered runs to defeat the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League 12-3 Tuesday night before 161 fans at Shirley Povich Field in Bethesda, Maryland.
More significantly, the victory marked the Valley Baseball League’s first win in the history of the interleague All-Star series and the return of the annual showcase following a 15-year hiatus.
Post-Game Recap
Gregory Caban (Waynesboro Generals, Florida SouthWestern State College) gave the Valley Baseball League a 1-0 lead in the game with a solo home run to right field in the second inning.
The Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League responded quickly.
Gabriel Pegues (Silver Spring–Takoma Thunderbolts, University of Lynchburg) singled home the tying run before Andrew Duncan (Olney Cropdusters, Duke University) followed with a two-run double to give the Ripken League a 3-1 lead.
The Valley Baseball League began its comeback in the fifth inning.
Conner Worth scored on James Green’s (Front Royal Cardinals, Presbyterian College) RBI double, cutting the deficit to one run.
Moments later, Nicholas Dromboski (Front Royal Cardinals, Stony Brook University) delivered the game’s biggest hit, lining a two-run single to right field to give the Valley Baseball League a 4-3 lead.
The Valley Baseball League broke the game open with five runs in the sixth inning.
Julian Braga (Staunton Braves, Florida SouthWestern State College) scored on Elijah Guilliams (Harrisonburg Turks, Flagler College) RBI single before Conner Worth added a run-scoring single to center field.
James Green (Front Royal Cardinals, Presbyterian College) followed with another RBI single, and Dromboski capped the outburst with a two-run double to right field, extending the Valley Baseball League’s lead to 9-3.
Dromboski earned the game’s Most Outstanding Player Award after going 2-for-2 with a double, four RBIs and a walk.
His two-run single in the fifth inning gave the Valley Baseball League the lead for good, and his two-run double in the sixth provided the decisive blow.
James Green (Front Royal Cardinals, Presbyterian College) enjoyed an outstanding evening, finishing 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.
Conner Worth collected two hits, scored twice, and drove in a run, while Caden Haywood (Express, Western Carolina University) crossed the plate three times.
Gregory Caban (Waynesboro Generals, Florida SouthWestern State College) and Sam Brown (Express, Gulf Coast State College) each homered for the Valley Baseball League.
Shintaro Inoue (Purcellville Cannons, Kansas State University) added an RBI double in the eighth inning, while Elijah Guilliams (Harrisonburg Turks, Flagler College) drove in the first run of the decisive sixth-inning rally.
The Valley Baseball League pitching staff recovered impressively after the second inning, holding the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League scoreless over the final seven innings.
Brandon Dahman (Charlottesville Tom Sox, Liberty University) earned the victory in relief after allowing no runs over one⅔ innings while striking out three.
Kyzer Smith (Bethesda Big Train, Florida Atlantic University) was charged with the loss after the Valley Baseball League rallied in the fifth inning.
Although the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League came up short on the scoreboard, its All-Stars produced several impressive performances.
Gabriel Pegues (Silver Spring–Takoma Thunderbolts, University of Lynchburg) went 2-for-2 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base, while Andrew Duncan (Olney Cropdusters, Duke University) doubled home two runs in the second inning to briefly give the Ripken League control of the game.
Alexandria Aces first baseman Hunter White (Alexandria Aces, West Liberty University) doubled in the ninth inning.
Through an overcast day and evening, sometimes touched by wisps of dewy rain, the Valley League triumphed with a decisive 12-3 victory over the Ripken League this past Tuesday.
Post-Game Reflections
Alexandria Aces Head Coach Brian Wirth managed the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League All-Stars. Four members of his club—Hunter White (West Liberty University), Daniel McGinnis (Eastern Mennonite University), Jack Warner (University of Pennsylvania), and Matthew Pazak (University of Pennsylvania)—represented the Aces this past Tuesday evening in Bethesda.
Assisting Wirth were Sal Colangelo and Joe McIntyre of the Bethesda Big Train, Robinson Mateo of the D.C. Grays, TJ Brockway of the Olney Cropdusters, Brock Hunter of the Silver Spring–Takoma Thunderbolts and Michael Lewis of the Southern Maryland Senators.
The Valley Baseball League All-Stars were managed by Head Coach Mike Gulino of the Waynesboro Generals. His coaching staff included Pitching Coach Jay Causey of the Waynesboro Generals, Bench Coach George Laase of the Staunton Braves, Hitting Coach Christian Rodriguez of the Staunton Braves, First Base Coach Luke Keister of the Harrisonburg Turks, and Bullpen Coach Hunter Conn-Beck of the Waynesboro Generals.
Also attending were Alexandria Aces Team President Frank Fannon IV, along with many of the club’s host families, volunteers, sponsors, an supporters. Their presence reflected the strong community spirit that continues to make the Alexandria Aces one of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League’s model organizations. Salutes for their continued commitment to the Aces and collegiate summer baseball in Port City to provide outstanding experiences for players throughout the summer.
Founded in 1923, the Valley Baseball League is one of the nation’s oldest collegiate summer baseball leagues. The Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, established in 2005, has grown into one of the Mid-Atlantic’s premier summer circuits. The leagues first met in 2009 at Regency Furniture Stadium in Waldorf, Maryland, where the Ripken League posted a 2-1 victory. A scheduled 2010 rematch was rained out before the series resumed in 2011 at Eagle Field at Veterans Memorial Park in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where the Ripken League earned a 6-3 victory.
Throughout the evening, my thoughts frequently turned to the late Bruce Alger, the beloved former Valley Baseball League commissioner and longtime New Market Rebels executive.
A close friend since 2002, Bruce devoted much of his life to strengthening both the Rebels and the entire Valley Baseball League in a heartfelt effort to preserve traditions that make collegiate summer baseball unique.
It was easy to imagine how much Bruce would have enjoyed seeing the All-Star Game return after a 15-year absence.
One final observation seemed especially fitting.
Before the game, the Valley Baseball League All-Stars arrived from the Valley at Shirley Povich Field aboard a Victory Travel motorcoach.
By night’s end, “Victory” had proven to be an appropriate name as the Valley League celebrated its first win in the history of the interleague All-Star series.
Salutes and Salutations
Special thanks go to Bruce Adams, founder of the Bethesda Big Train, and to longtime Head Coach Sal Colangelo, Joe McIntyre, Big Train assistant coaches, the Big Train interns, volunteers, and staff for their outstanding hospitality and for presenting another first-class event at Shirley Povich Field.
Recognition is also extended to the coaching staffs of both All-Star teams. Brian Wirth and his Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League staff, along with Mike Gulino and the Valley Baseball League coaching staff, devoted countless hours to preparing their players for one of the summer’s premier collegiate showcases.
Thanks also go to Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League Commissioner Jason Woodward and Valley Baseball League Commissioner Rick Furr for their leadership in bringing back an event that had been absent from the collegiate summer baseball calendar for far too long.
Most of all, appreciation goes to the players from both leagues.
Their sportsmanship, enthusiasm and outstanding level of play reminded everyone why collegiate summer baseball continues to hold such a special place in communities throughout the Mid-Atlantic.
As fans departed Shirley Povich Field, the final score almost seemed secondary.
For one evening, two outstanding collegiate summer baseball leagues came together to celebrate the game, their players, their coaches, their volunteers, and the communities that support them.
The Valley Baseball League earned its first victory in the series.
The Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League hosted a first-class showcase between two outstanding leagues, demonstrating the very best of collegiate summer baseball and the spirit of competitive friendship.
More importantly, one of the Mid-Atlantic’s finest baseball traditions had returned.
Welcome back.
We’ve missed this.
