The Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate Baseball League's third all-star game was showcased on MASN for the first time and, with admission free, drew a crowd of 2,406 at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen last night. The West prevailed, 6-0, over the East on the strength of a four-run second inning.
The summer league for college players 22 and under, which plans to expand from seven to eight teams in 2008, got a boost in exposure with the live telecast by Johnny Holliday and ex-Orioles pitcher Dave Johnson. Many pro scouts were on hand, too.
"I think it's a great steppingstone for the league," said Dean Albany, an Orioles scout who coaches Youse's Maryland Orioles, the first-place team with 14 all-stars. Albany was the East manager. "It will help us get players from all over the country."
The league draws players from California, Fargo, N.D., New York, Texas and Florida, plus local players from Maryland, UMBC, Georgetown and Towson.
Joe Fowler's bases-clearing double highlighted a four-run second for the West. Fowler, who plays at UMBC, took game Most Valuable Player honors.
Third baseman Alex Buchholz of Youse's Orioles had the defensive gem of the night in the sixth inning to rob Jon Karcich, of Santa Clara, Calif., of a hit. Buchholz, an Old Mill All-Metro selection in 2005 who has played the past two years at Delaware, dived to his left and made a stop a la Brooks Robinson, jumping to his feet to throw out Karcich.
"I saw the ball all the way and had to lay out for it," Buchholz said.
pat.omalley@baltsun.com