The Alexandria Aces will celebrate opening night when they host the Herndon Braves at 7 p.m. on June 6 at Four Mile Run Park.
The Aces are a part of the fourth-year Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League, a Baltimore, Md.-based wooden bat league comprised of college players. Players’ hometowns span from Acton, Ma. to Tuscon, Az. The 31-man roster is from easily recognizable schools like Wake Forest and Rutgers, but also include more obscure schools like Armstrong Atlantic and Yavapai.
Alexandria, who is the newest franchise in the eight-team league, will be managed by Eric Williams, who has been a varsity assistant at both Annandale and Lee High Schools. The last two years, Williams been an associate head coach in the Valley Baseball League.
Ben Krentzman, a four-year outfielder at Bucknell University, will be an assistant and Brian Midkiff, a Mount Vernon grad and James Madison alum, will serve as the pitching coach.
Other teams in the league include Rockville, the defending champions, along with the Express Bethesda Big Train, College Park Bombers, Herndon Braves, Silver Spring-Takoma Thunderbolts, Maryland Redbirds and Youse's Maryland Orioles.
Alexandria will play 21 home games at Four Mile Run Park throughout June and July. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for children.