By Peter Rainey

The Alexandria Aces open their 2023 regular season in the Cal Ripken Senior Collegiate Baseball League tonight at 6:30 PM versus the Silver Spring Thunderbolts. The Aces, led by head coach Chris Berset, enter their 2023 campaign as the league’s defending champions; the team swept the postseason last year with 2-0 series wins in the league semifinals and championship.

“There may be some teams coming for us … They always want to knock off the champ,” said Berset. “These boys are excited for that … With basically a whole new squad, nothing changes in our goal to develop and set the expectation of a championship-caliber team.” Berset is set to begin his fourth season at the helm of the Aces; as aforementioned, he led the team to a league championship in 2022.

Opening the season on the mound for the Aces is Seton Hall standout Anthony Ehly. Ehly, a rising sophomore, tossed for an impressive 2.53 ERA in nine appearances with the Pirates this season, including four saves.

“Looking to attack the hitters, be competitive, and play to win,” Ehly said.

The Aces will open the season tonight on home turf at Frank Mann Field. The ticket booth opens at 5:30 PM ($5 entry), with pre-game festivities beginning at 6:00 PM prior to a 6:30 PM first pitch. Can’t make it in person? Follow the team’s live online broadcast at acesbaseballradio.mixlr.com.