Aberdeen Mayor Michael Bennett was a little more than a fly ball away from his usual perch Monday.

But he was speaking in favor of one of Aberdeen's most noteworthy organizations: Ripken Baseball.

The Aberdeen Mayor spoke favorably of Ripken Baseball, its relationship with the city and answered questions for a community considering a stadium project for the Ripken-owned Augusta GreenJackets, according to a report in The Augusta Chronicle.

“We have a great relationship with Ripken Baseball. Ripken Baseball has a great relationship with us,” Bennett said in the report. “Things are moving forward, and I expect them to continue to move forward. I would wholeheartedly endorse and recommend Ripken Baseball to you all. With the amount of new energy and new commitment that they can bring to your community, I think you can’t go wrong.”

At the meeting, according to The Chronicle report, Bennett and Ripken executive Jeff Eiseman disputed some details in a 2007 report by The Sun, which stated Aberdeen was at $6.7 million in "stadium-related debt."

Aberdeen recently dissolved the Ripken Stadium Management Board.

The IronBirds, the short-season Class-A affiliate of the Orioles that calls Ripken Stadium home, recently finished another losing season.