The Bethesda Big Train, four-time champion and perennial powerhouse of the Cal Ripken Collegiate League, return to their 17th season of play, aiming to reclaim the league championship that has eluded the club and manager Sal Colangelo for the past three seasons.

After back-to-back-to-back championships from 2009-2011 – including a national championship and No. 1 national ranking from Perfect Game USA in 2011 – the Big Train faltered in the league championship last season, losing to rival Baltimore Redbirds for the third straight year. The Big Train ended the regular season atop the standings in 2013 and 2014, but fell short of claiming the ultimate prize both times.

Blistering Hot 2014

Returning a core of last season's roster, Big Train fans have their sights set high. Exercising a talented pitching staff and powerful core of hitters, the club exploded to win 12-straight to start last season including 18 of their first 19 to put a stranglehold on the regular season standings.

Outfielder Logan Farrar (Virginia Commonwealth University) will return this season having already built off his success in Bethesda last summer. Tied for second in the Cal Ripken league last year with 45 hits, Farrar earned his manager's Defensive Player of the Season award for his 42-game errorless season. You also may have seen him on SportsCenter, clinching the A-10 title for his VCU Rams with a remarkable layout in centerfield.

Finishing the 2014 summer tied for third in the league in homers, Cody Brown (Mississippi State) hit .309 in Starkville this season and will vie for a spot in the meat of the Big Train order. Also returning is 2013 Freshman All-American Chris Lewis (Sacramento State University).

Brandon Gum (George Mason University) returns to the Big Train fresh off hitting .338 for the Patriots, and will be joined by teammate Tyler Tobin (George Mason University), who saw marked success on the mound this year. Tobin made 22 appearances in relief – including eight saves – lowering his ERA to 2.05.

Freshman infielder Zach Kirtley (St. Mary's College) will join college teammates and fellow freshmen Matt Toscano and pitcher Drew Strotman in Bethesda this summer. Kirtley exploded onto the scene at St. Mary's, earning All-West Coast Conference Freshman honors hitting .346, recording a team-high 72 hits and starting every game but one. After hitting seventh in his first collegiate game, Kirtley slid to the two-spot and never looked back going 3-for-3 with an RBI in his first game near the top of the Gaels' order.

Plucked from Shelton State Community College in Alabama, the Big Train pitching staff welcomes right-hander Blake Smith. In 40 junior college innings this spring, Smith posted a miniscule 0.45 ERA. He will join Josh Thorne (Stetson University), returning after his 2014 Second Team All-League honors last summer.

The pitching staff's lone lefty is returning Virginia Tech Hokie, Luis Collazo. Other notable pitchers include freshman Mark Nowatnick (Florida Atlantic University) who stifled opposing offenses in 13 innings in relief this season, taking an ERA of 2.08 into postseason play.

Big Train in NCAA Regional Action

Florida Atlantic Owls – No. 2 seed in Gainesville Regional

RHP David McKay, freshman, Merrit Island, Florida
RHP Mark Nowatnick, freshman, Pompano Beach, Florida
RHP Alex House, freshman, Winter Park, Florida

Maryland Terrapins – No. 3 seed in Los Angeles Regional

RHP Mike Rescigno, sophomore, Monmouth Beach, New Jersey
C Justin Morris, freshman, Edgewater, Maryland
SS Andrew Bechtold, freshman, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania

UNC Wilmington Seahawks – No. 2 seed in Baton Rouge Regional

C Nick Feight, freshman, Rockville, Maryland

Virginia Commonwealth Rams – No. 4 seed in Dallas Regional

OF Logan Farrar, sophomore, Woodbridge, Virginia

Notable Losses

Of the notable faces returning, 2014 league MVP and RBI-leader Brandon Lowe (University of Maryland) is not among them. The second half of the Big Train's double play-tandem will also not return this summer. Shortstop Stephen Alemais (Tulane University) led the league in hits last year, and was voted First Team All-League with Lowe and Farrar.

Big Train Bloodline

Since moving to the Cal Ripken league in 2005 and handing the managerial reigns to Colangelo – an assistant coach from 1999-2004 – the Big Train has tallied a league-best record of 282-132.

The inaugural season brought with it the pinnacle of success, a league championship for the Big Train, followed by a regular season championship the following year.

Posting a franchise-record 33 wins in 2011, the Big Train sealed the collegiate baseball trifecta: a regular season championship, league championship and national title. Colangelo's knack for producing cohesive, talented teams every season – in collegiate summer ball with significant turnover each season – has not gone unnoticed. He was awarded the Maryland State Amateur Coach of the Year after the 2011 season, which also signaled the end of the organization's three-year championship run.

Since taking over as manager, Colangelo has won more than 68 percent of his games, with a pedigree boasting six regular season titles and four league championships.

New Division Format

The league's 10 teams have been divided into two divisions this season. The Big Train join the Alexandria Aces, Vienna River Dogs, Herndon Braves and D.C. Grays in the South Division. In the new format, the top two teams in each division will secure playoff spots, with the best two records of the remaining six teams earning wild card births.

Back-to-Back No-Hit Exhibitions

The Big Train hosted the Gaithersburg Giants in an exhibition opener Saturday, continuing their winning tradition. Four Big Train pitchers – Drew Strotman, Tyler Tobin, Walker Sheller (Stetson) and Luis Collazo – struck out 13 batters, throwing a combined no-hitter in the shortened 7-inning exhibition game against the North Division foe.

The pitching staff backed up their no-hitter with a perfect game bid Sunday against the BCC Big Train Stars that came up two outs short. Kirtley bobbled a ground ball, allowing BCC's first runner of the evening. Remedying his mistake, the next ball was grounded his way and the St. Mary's standout began a game-ending double play. Righties Alex Calvert (South Carolina University), Blake Smith, Grant Gordon (Lenoir Rhyne University) and Noah Jarboe (Davis & Elkins) combined to seal the Big Train second consecutive no-hitter.

The Big Train look to open on the road on Tuesday against the Rockville Express, followed by their home opener at Shirley Povich Field in Cabin John Regional Park on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.