08/13/2010 9:24 AM Article By:
By SAM MONROE
CCBL INTERN
SOUTH YARMOUTH ----- After earning the best regular season record in the Cape Cod Baseball League in capturing the Eastern Division championship and crushing their previous playoff opponents 49-17, there appeared to be little doubt who would be celebrating a league championship.
A huge crowd of more than 5000 fans watched
the deciding game at Red Wilson Field.
But as the saying goes, that is why they play the games.
The Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox went ice cold in the dog days of August and were upset by the Cotuit Kettleers this week. The Red Sox mustered only two runs in three games. When Cotuit beat them 3-0 in Game 1, it was the first time all season their powerful lineup was shut out. In Game 2, they pulled off a nail-biting 2-1 win. But when it was do-or-die in Game 3, the offense went silent again in a 6-0 loss.
“They shut us down,” Y-D field manager Scott Pickler said. “They pitched us really well and we didn’t make adjustments.”
After breaking offensive records in its first four playoff games, the Red Sox ran into good pitching.
“They just had three pitchers go out three days straight and throw great games,” Caleb Ramsey (Houston) said.
Fans encircled Red Wilson Field many rows deep.
Cotuit sent Matt Andriese (Cal Riverside) to the mound for Game 1 and he responded with a complete-game three-hit shutout. In Game 2, Austin Wood (St. Petersburg) tossed 6.1 innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run. In the deciding game, the Kettleers gave Brady Rodgers (Arizona State) the ball. He allowed just three hits before leaving with a stiff back. It was no setback for the Kettleers, however, as Nick Tropeano (Stony Brook) took over and provided 6.2 innings of no-hit baseball to pick up the win.
