BERLIN- Former Stephen Decatur High School pitching standout Mike Castrignano got a chance to show off his game in front of a regional television audience this week when he pitched in the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate League All-Star game on Monday night.
Castrignano, who was dominating at Decatur as a pitcher and at the plate, is playing baseball this summer for the College Park Bombers of the Cal Ripken Sr. Collegiate League. The seven-team league features some of the best college players from around the country competing in a summer season to stay sharp and get some exposure in front of professional scouts as they prepare to move on to the next level.
The league draws top college players from all over the country including baseball hotbeds like California, Florida and Texas. Many of the players come from schools in the state such as Maryland, Georgetown, UMBC and Towson, for example. Castrignano plays college ball at Delaware Tech and this spring pitched the first perfect game in school history.
The league held its mid-season all-star game on Monday at Ripken Stadium in Aberdeen, which was televised throughout the region on the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network (MASN), home of the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals.
Castrignano turned in a solid effort on the mound in one full inning, allowing two hits and one earned run while striking out two. He also made a great running catch on a pop-up in foul territory to end his inning or work. He was been a force on the mound for the College Park Bombers all season, going 3-1 in seven starts with an impressive 2.88 ERA, second lowest on the team.