College Park Bombers primed for Ripken League season

The Bombers play their home opener at 7:30 p.m. Sunday against the Bethesda Big Train and are at home again at 7:30 p.m. Monday against the Maryland Redbirds.

‘‘I’m very high on this team,” Bombers’ founder and manager Gene Bovello said. ‘‘I’ve coached six championship teams and this team is as good or better than any of those.”

The Bombers’ roster will feature a number of players who shined this past season with their college programs.

Bovello said the roster’s combined batting average during the college season was .342, including Bobby Leigh (Mesa State College) who batted .340 with 14 home runs.

A number of players have a substantial amount of speed including Brandon Mise (Hampton University).

The Bombers also have a number of good pitchers on the roster including Jimmy Britton (St. Bonaventure University), who went 7-2 last season, and Mike Castrignano (Deleware Tech CC), who pitched a perfect game.

University of Maryland sophomore outfielder A. J. Casario said the team has the makings of a winner and that he will feel at home.

‘‘I’m expecting a good season,” said Casario, who said he has played in wood bat leagues since the late 1990s. ‘‘We have a lot of good talent on the team. The coaches don’t need to give us a lot of instruction, they could just tell us go out and play.”

The Bombers will play 22 games this season at Shipley Field, which could be a great advantage. Casario noted that center field at Shipley Field is only 350 feet and that the field is artificial turf which could make the infielders’ jobs easier.

Bombers coach John McGowan has been with the club for five years and admits that this team stands out from the others.

‘‘I think we have our best hitting in three years,” said McGowan, who is the head coach at Good Counsel High School. ‘‘We have a lot of returning players and I anticipate a much better team. The mentality and chemistry on this team is great and a lot of that has to do with returning players.”

Outfielder Jeremy Jackubowski (St. Joseph’s University) said he returned because he knows playing with the Bombers is a great avenue for exposure.

‘‘Last year, I wanted to get noticed,” Jackubowski said. ‘‘This year is the same and I also wanted to work on my speed, arm-strength and hitting.”

McGowan said the Bombers coaches’ philosophy is creating a comfortable environment and helping players improve on their skills.

‘‘We talk baseball,” McGowan said. ‘‘We don’t tell the players about baseball, instead we allow them to talk to us too. If you pick up just one [skill] that’s great. That’s the way we approach it. We don’t put any pressure on the players. We hope they get good reps and enjoy the summer.”

Bombers’ assistant general manager Scott Weaver said the team will have a number of promotions including a celebration at the home opener on Sunday, in addition to a Father’s Day event and a Fourth of July celebration.

Tickets are available at www.collegeparkbombers.org. General admission for adults is $5 at the gate ($4 if purchased online) and $4 dollars for admission with a student⁄military ID. The price is $3 for children ages 6-12. Kids under 6, kids in uniform, seniors over 60, students with an ‘‘A” on their report card and Major League Baseball scouts have free admission.

E-mail Terron Hampton at thampton@gazette.net.