07/01/2007 2:27 PM Article By:
THIS WEEK IN THE CAPE LEAGUE
(23 June – 29 June 2007)
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Coca Cola Pitcher and Player of the Week
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COCA COLA PITCHER OF THE WEEK
T.J. Hose (East Carolina) of the Bourne Braves earned this week’s Coca Cola Pitcher of the Week honors. Pitching a total of eight innings, Hose struck out eight batters while walking only two. Although he allowed three runs, none of them was earned, giving him a perfect 0.00 ERA in his two appearances for the Braves, who lead the Cape League’s West Division.
COCA COLA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Brian Pruitt (Stetson) of the Bourne Braves was named winner of this week’s Coca Cola Player of the Week honors. Pruitt’s offensive heroics helped propel the Braves into first place in the Cape League’s West Division. In four games, he collected seven hits, including two doubles and two home runs, for a .412 batting average. He also scored three runs and stole a base while compiling an .882 slugging percentage and a .474 on-base percentage.
A’s Not Intimidated Playing for Schiffner;
Chatham Remains in the East Division Playoff Race
CHATHAM, Mass. – Playing a collegiate sport is difficult enough, but playing for a well-recognized coach can only add to the pressure. Division 1 collegiate athletes have become used to seeing their coaches’ faces -- and even their own -- on TV screens during a game, but few athletes get to play for a coach who has gained recognition on the big screen. For the Chatham A’s, however, playing for manager John Schiffner, who was portrayed by veteran actor Brian Dennehy in the 2001 movie “Summer Catch,” is hardly intimidating.
Newcomer Ryan Hinson (Clemson) said that he had seen the movie, in which Schiffner came off as a tough no-nonsense manager, but he was not worried about playing for Schiffner.
“It’s great. He’s a good coach … he lets us go out there and have fun and play ball and that is what this league is all about,” Hinson said. “It’s just every night going out and having a good time and winning some games.”
Hinson, a 6-3, 230-pound left-handed pitcher, said he was concerned more about playing in the high-caliber Cape Cod Baseball League than he was about playing for Schiffner.
“I haven’t played here before, so I was a little anxious about it and a little nervous,” Hinson said. “But when I got up here, all the guys were really great. We have a good time, and it’s the best baseball around during the summer.”
Right-handed pitcher Matt Giannini (Rutgers), the lone returning A’s player, was already accustomed to Schiffner’s managerial style. Giannini said Schiffner can promote “a good team mesh.”
“He’s a great guy, great to play under, and he knows what he’s doing,” Giannini said.
Schiffner’s baseball knowledge and managerial skills have helped the A’s get off to a winning start and remain in contention in the Cape League’s East Division.
The A’s started last week with a 4-1 win over arch-rival Orleans at Veterans Field in Chatham, where the A’s scored all of their runs in the first two innings.
Kevin McAvoy (Maine) drew a bases-loaded walk in the first. Then, an RBI single by Scott Lyons (Mt. San Antonio) and a two-run double by Allan Dykstra (Wake Forest) finished things off in the second. Southpaw Tom Milone (USC) scattered six hits and struck out 10 in 7-1/3 innings as he recorded his second victory of the young season and closer Greg Shannon (San Jose State) got the last five outs to pick up his second save.
The A’s fell to the Cotuit Kettleers, 8-5, on Monday, but rebounded to defeat Wareham, 5-2, the next night. Third baseman Jermaine Curtis (UCLA) had a big night against the Gatemen, stroking three hits in five at-bats and driving in three runs. Center fielder Addison Johnson (Clemson) also had three hits, including a double and a triple, and scored two runs.
In their last two games of the week, the A’s didn’t win – nor did they lose. Chatham and Yarmouth-Dennis played to a 7-7 tie on Thursday and the A’s followed that no-decision game with a 5-5 deadlock at Brewster the next night. Gabriella Remington, CCBL intern ([email protected])
Orleans Players Adjusting to Cape League Teammates;
Cardinals Put Together Four-Game Winning Streak
ORLEANS, Mass. – With rosters filled with players from throughout the United States, every Cape Cod Baseball League team faces the challenge of turning strangers into a unified, cohesive unit capable of being competitive in the nation’s No. 1 collegiate summer league. Players must learn each other’s strengths and weaknesses, as well as their distinctive styles, but Cape League teams play six games a week and have little or no time to practice, so it’s easier said than done. Many teams don’t really hit their stride until several weeks into the season.
The Orleans Cardinals may be one of the exceptions to this rule, however. The four-game winning streak they reeled off at the end of last week shows that they’re already playing like a unified, veteran team.
“I think the team is just beginning to start to gel right now,” said pitcher Michael Schwimer (Virginia) who just joined the Cardinals late last week. “In about three or four more games we are really going to have good team chemistry like you would have with your college team.”
Schwimer continued, “In the very beginning it’s a little awkward, because at first you don’t know, simply baseball wise, what everybody else can do. Like if you’re a shortstop, you don’t know how much range your third baseman has, so it’s kind of tough. Now, within a week it should be normal and everything should be fine.”
Another hurdle the players must overcome is adapting to a Cape League manager whose style and methods may be considerably different than those of his college coach.
Cardinals second baseman Eric Reese (Fordham) has played in 11 games so far and says that the adjustment is not as hard one might imagine.
“The manager (Kelly Nicholson) and the coaches are great,” Reese said. “They communicate great, they’re straight-forward. And they let us play, let us do our thing and let us showcase our talents.”
The Cardinals started off the week with a 4-1 loss to neighboring Chatham, losing to the A’s for the second time in the young season. They bounced back with a 6-2 win at Wareham on Monday and followed with a 3-1 home victory over Hyannis on Tuesday. On Thursday when the Cardinals blanked the Falmouth Commodores, 3-0, and the winning streak reached four games Friday with a 6-5 victory over Harwich. Gabriella Remington, CCBL intern ([email protected])
Y-D’s Posey Recognized as One of Nation’s Top Catchers;
Red Sox Maintain Their Grip on East Division Lead
SOUTH YARMOUTH, Mass. -- When players sign with a Cape Cod Baseball League team, they are expected to remain with the team once they arrive from their respective colleges. However, when Buster Posey (Florida State) asked Yarmouth-Dennis General Manager Jim Martin for permission to leave the team for a few days, Martin was happy to comply.
That’s because Posey was headed to Wichita, Kan., for the Greater Wichita Sports Banquet where the winner of the Johnny Bench Award would be announced on Wednesday. Posey was one of three finalists for the annual award that goes to the nation’s top collegiate catcher. The other two finalists were both CCBL alumni, Georgia Tech’s Matt Wieters (Cotuit, ‘05) and Mississippi State’s Edward Easley (Wareham, ‘05).
Although Easley took home the honor, just to be considered was a major honor for Posey, who was in his first season working behind the plate. He previously played shortstop and occasionally even pitched.
Posey credits the Cape League for helping him hone his skills as an all-around player. “Day in and day out, seeing top-caliber pitching and just playing every day you can’t help but to get to be a better player,” he said after rejoining Y-D on Thursday.
Before, during and after Posey’s trip to Wichita, the Red Sox weren’t doing badly themselves. After losing to Brewster, 6-3, on Saturday, Y-D came away with a narrow 2-1 victory at Wareham. Right-hander Eddie Burns (Georgia Tech) pitched seven innings, surrendering just one run, to collect his second win of the season. Catcher Jason Castro (Stanford) and third baseman Nick Romero (San Diego State) both had RBI singles to spark the Red Sox offensively.
On Monday, Yarmouth-Dennis made the short trek to Harwich and Posey made his presence felt before his scheduled Tuesday departure. He went 2-for-5 with three RBI and one run scored as the Red Sox rolled to a 7-2 victory. Right-hander Bobby Gagg (Coastal Carolina) pitched 7-1/3 innings, scattering seven hits while striking out three to earn the win.
Some defensive lapses on Tuesday hurt the Red Sox who lost to Bourne, 4-3, despite outhitting the Braves, 8-6. Right-hander Terry Doyle (Boston College) struck out five Braves but walked six and gave up four runs. It was Doyle’s first loss after posting two victories.
An off day allowed the Red Sox to regroup heading into Thursday’s match-up against the Chatham A’s at Red Wilson Field. Yarmouth-Dennis trailed, 6-0, heading into the bottom of the seventh when shortstop Gordon Beckham (Georgia) blasted a solo homer to put the Red Sox on the scoreboard. Beckham, the Cape League’s two-time Player of the Week, added an RBI double in the eighth as the Red Sox exploded for six runs to pull even with Chatham, 7-7.
With the A’s leading, 7-1, Y-D’s chances looked as dismal as the overcast sky. But RBI singles by right-fielder Johnny Ayers (Boston College) and Romero, along with Beckham’s RBI double, set the stage for Castro, who smashed a three-run homer over the right field fence to tie the score. His dramatic blast came just in time, as the umpires called the game at the conclusion of the inning because of darkness.
The Red Sox capped the week with a 6-2 win over Cotuit Friday night to move to 9-3-1 and maintain their grip on the top spot in the East Division. Lefty Matt Wickswat (Santa Clara) gave up just three hits over six innings to earn the victory. First baseman Castro and designated hitter Sean Ochinko (LSU) had two hits apiece and left fielder Mike Tamsin (Northeastern) doubled home both Y-D runs. Kevin Wolfe, CCBL intern ([email protected])
Brewster Falls From Second to Fourth in East;
Whitecaps Keep Finding Ways Not to Win
BREWSTER, Mass. -- The Brewster Whitecaps did everything last week but win. After losing three straight games, they came close on Friday but had to settle for a tie.
The Whitecaps had sparked some excitement among their fans the previous week and sported a 6-3 record which was good enough for second place in the Cape Cod Baseball League’s tough East Division. But things got a little tougher last week as Brewster fell to fourth place.
On Monday, Brewster was blown out by the Bourne Braves, 7-2. Outfielder Blake Tekotte (Miami) was the lone bright spot for the Whitecaps as he went 3-for-5 in the leadoff spot. Stephen Porlier (Oklahoma), who had pitched very well against Harwich in his last previous outing, simply didn’t have it against powerful Bourne, giving up five earned runs in six innings.
Next, the Whitecaps traveled to Cotuit for what turned into a barn-burner, with the Whitecaps blowing a big lead thanks to a Cotuit explosion in the ninth inning which gave the Kettleers an 11-10 victory. Pitchers Lee Land (Eastern Carolina) and Keith Shinaberry (Texas) could not record an out in the ninth as five runs crossed the plate. Brewster banged out 14 hits in the slugfest with cleanup hitter Brad Glenn (Arizona) driving in five runs.
The Whitecaps then took on Bourne again and could manage just one hit in the weather-shortened, 4-0 five-inning loss.
“We keep finding different ways to lose,” said Tekotte.
The Whitecaps next tied the Chatham A’s, 5-5. First baseman Yonder Alonso (Miami) went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Catcher Ryan Babineau (UCLA) had two hits and also scored a run. Right-hander Matt Couch (San Diego) had a solid start, scattering seven hits and allowing three runs in six innings. John Hannemann, CCBL intern ([email protected])
Harwich Mariners Fall on Hard Times;
Nothing Goes Right as Losing Streak Reaches 7 Games
HARWICH, Mass. – The Harwich Mariners would just as soon forget last week’s games in the Cape Cod Baseball League. The Mariners went winless in four games, extending a losing streak that dated all the way back to the previous Friday – a total of seven losses in a row.
Harwich has been trying to keep things loose, but it is not easy as the losses keep mounting.
“We are just looking to get ahead in the early innings, and play a full nine innings,” said Mariners captain Johnny Giavotella (New Orleans). But even that modest goal was difficult to achieve for the reeling Mariners, who scored first in only one game last week.
The defending champion Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox rolled into Whitehouse Field and dismantled the Mariners, 7-2. In that game, the offensive star for the Mariners was Alex Avila (Auburn) who went 2-for-3, including a home run. Three Harwich errors really hurt as the miscues led to three unearned runs for Y-D.
After being swept in a three-game homestand, the Mariners hoped a change of scenery might be what they needed as they traveled to Falmouth. But the Commodores were far from obliging and they tagged Harwich with another loss, 8-2, at Guv Fuller Field. Chris Dominguez (Louisville), Jake Optiz (Nebraska) and Giovatella had two hits each for Harwich, which had multiple base runners throughout the game, but could not get them in from second or third.
“Capitalizing on other pitchers’ mistakes has been a big problem for us,” said Mariners Mike Sarno, one of the Mariners’ coaches.
After a day off Wednesday, Harwich opened a two-game home stand with hopes that the off day would help. The Mariners staged a dramatic comeback after trailing, 9-1, but fell short and lost to Cotuit, 10-8. Harwich banged out 11 hits, led by shortstop Cole Figeroa (Florida), who went 4-for-5 and upped his average to .417. Once again, sloppy baseball did Harwich in as the Mariners committed four errors, leading to six unearned runs.
The next night, Harwich outhit Orleans and played decent defense, but still found a way to lose to the Cardinals, 7-5.
“When you are down, things find a way to make it worse and that happened tonight,” said Zosh Zeid (Vanderbilt) after the game.
Standing at 3-11 on June 29, the Mariners had the league’s worst record.
John Hannemann, CCBL intern ([email protected])
Six-Game Win Streak Puts Bourne Braves on Top;
Pitching Comes Around to Complement Solid Offense
BOURNE, Mass. -- A perfect week had the Bourne Braves in a pretty good place – in the midst of the Cape Cod Baseball League’s hottest winning streak, leading their division and tied for the best record in the league. After momentarily surrendering first place to Cotuit, the Braves took it back with six straight wins, a stretch in which they outscored their opponents, 37-9.
No win was bigger than a 4-3 road win over then-league leader Yarmouth-Dennis. Bourne and Y-D were knotted at 9-3-1 entering this week’s play, with the Braves on top of the West Division and the Red Sox No. 1 in the East. The head-to-head edge gave Bourne bragging rights as top dog – at least temporarily, as the two teams were scheduled to clash again this past Sunday.
The Braves’ offense continued to operate on all cylinders, dominating teams with a now-predictable barrage anchored by Kevin Hoef (Iowa), Brian Pruitt (Stetson) T.J. Steele (Arizona) and Ben Guez (William and Mary). Through games of June 29, Hoef led the league in batting with a hefty .438 average. Pruitt held the third spot at .390 and Steele was 10th at .351. Pruitt also led the league in RBI (16) and Guez was close on his heels with 14. Guez also was among the league leaders in stolen bases with six. Pruitt had a spectacular week, picking up eight RBI in four games while launching his first two home runs of the season in back-to-back victories over Brewster and Y-D. The 6-1, 205-pound outfielder sat out the Braves’ last two games of the week after taking a ball to the forehead in batting practice before Thursday’s win over Brewster, but was expected to be back in the lineup Sunday for another showdown with powerful Y-D.
The X factor last week was the Braves’ mound showings. Bourne pitchers had allowed six, eight and seven runs in the first three games of the season, but were saved by an offense that seemed to churn out big hits on command. But Bourne’s hurlers have come into their own of late and through June 29, they had compiled a staff ERA of 3.05, which ranked third in the league. The Braves gave up just four earned runs in six wins last week and four starters stuck around for at least six innings.
Liz Hoffman, CCBL intern ([email protected])
Heavy Hitting Keeps Cotuit in Second Place in West;
White’s Bat, Bianucci’s Thievery Lead Offense
COTUIT, Mass. -- The Cotuit Kettleers remain in second place behind the Bourne Braves in the Cape Cod Baseball League’s West Division for one reason – their reliable offense. The Kettleers ended last week with a .261 team batting average, fourth best in the 10-team league, and their total of 78 runs scored was the league’s best mark, better even than those of division leaders Yarmouth-Dennis (73) and Bourne (75).
The heavy hitters responsible for Cotuit’s success included first baseman Ryne White (Purdue), third baseman Josh Harrison (Cincinnati), left fielder Mike Bianucci (Auburn) and rookie catcher Aaron Baker (Oklahoma). At week’s end, White was hitting .361, eighth best average in the league. Harrison and Bianucci were both sporting .300-plus batting averages and Bianucci had a league high eight stolen bases.
Meanwhile, the Kettleers’ pitchers were off to a rocky start. The staff entered the week with a league-worst 6.43 ERA, nearly two runs a game higher than ninth-place Hyannis’s 4.50 mark. Kettleer hurlers had issued 64 walks, also a league-high total.
Fortunately, Cotuit’s bats were keeping the Kettleers competitive. This was demonstrated during the June 26 game with the Brewster Whitecaps at Lowell Park when Kettleer starter Jim Brimingham (Pennsylvania) surrendered five runs in the first inning, including a grand slam. The 6-5 left-hander was replaced by right-hander Brian Wilson (Loyola Marymount), who went on to pitch five solid innings giving up two runs on three hits and fanning three.
Cotuit’s offense answered in the third inning with four runs on three hits and continued to chip away at the visitors until an explosive eighth inning. With Cotuit down, 10-6, the Kettleers proceeded to score five runs on four hits, a walk and an infield error to turn what appeared to be a sure loss into an 11-10 victory. The game-winning hit came when second baseman Cory Figueroa (St. Petersburg) belted a two-run double down the right field line.
Manager Mike Roberts is hoping his team’s bats stay hot, while he and his staff work to solve the problems that have been plaguing the pitching staff. With a little luck and a lot of improvement on the mound, the Kettleers are confident they can stay in the thick of the West Division race.
Erica Bailey, CCBL intern ([email protected])
Falmouth Commodores Continue to Struggle in West;
Hague’s Hitting, Friedrich’s Pitching Among Bright Spots
FALMOUTH, Mass. -- The Falmouth Commodores broke even last week, adding three wins and three losses to their Cape Cod Baseball League West Division record.
A three-game road trip across the Cape seemed to be a sign of rough times ahead for the Commodores as they lost back-to-back-to-back games at Chatham and Brewster before defeating Hyannis, 8-5, on June 25. They proceeded to win their next two games, beating Harwich, 8-2, and Wareham, 5-3, before the streak ended in a 3-0 loss to Orleans on June 28.
The inconsistent performances are illustrated by the league’s team batting and pitching statistics. At week’s end, Falmouth ranked last in hitting with an anemic .212 team average and a league-low total of just 88 hits. The Commodore pitching staff was eighth in the 10-team league with a 4.46 team ERA. Falmouth hurlers dominated in one department, however, striking out a league-high 135 batters, and there were some stellar individual pitching performances by several Commodores.
Falmouth’s offense scored at least seven runs in five straight games before the shutout loss to Orleans. Leading the way were sophomores Matt Hague (Washington), Kevin Dubler (Illinois State) and Aja Barto (Tennessee). Hague and Dubler have been the most consistent batters in the Falmouth lineup, producing clutch hits and combining for 13 RBI. Hague was fifth in the league in batting average at .366 and was tied with Yarmouth-Dennis’s Gordon Beckham (Georgia) in runs scored at 12.
While the offense has shown signs of life, the team’s bullpen has kept opponents at bay with solid performances by left-hander Christian Friedrich (Eastern Kentucky), right-hander Kyle Gibson (Missouri), and right-hander Shooter Hunt (Tulane). Friedrich was among the league leaders in strikeouts (19) and was at his best on June 26 against visiting Harwich with a five-inning shutout performance in which he struck out 12 Mariners. A six-run fourth-inning clinched things for Falmouth, which went on to win, 8-2.
Gibson was perfect in his first 11 innings of work for the Commodores, with an ERA of 0.00 and 11 strikeouts, The 6-5 freshman was dominant in his most recent game against Chatham, tossing five scoreless innings in which he scattered five hits while striking out six.
Hunt went four innings against the Wareham Gatemen on June 27, giving up two runs and fanning five batters. Hunt has thrown a total of eight innings for Falmouth and has yielded just three earned runs while striking out 12. Erica Bailey, CCBL intern ([email protected])
Hyannis Mets Open Strong,
But Struggle to Close Out Week
HYANNIS, Mass. -- It was two steps forward and four steps back for the Hyannis Mets last week. After beating Harwich and Cotuit to move into the top spot in the Cape Cod Baseball League's West Division, the Mets suffered losses to two teams which had just one victory before facing Hyannis.
Still, some solid individual performances provided highlights and hope for Hyannis fans. Tyler Stohr (North Florida) is currently tied for second in saves with three while Shane Peterson (Long Beach State) continues to lead the offense with a .364 batting average, good for seventh in the league.
Hyannis started off strong with a 3-1 win at Harwich last Saturday. Jason Franzblau (Winthrop) pitched seven impressive innings, striking out five Mariners and giving up just one earned run to collect the win. Catcher Dale Cornstubble (Central Michigan), outfielder Phil Bell (UAB) and shortstop Ryan Jackson (Miami) took care of the offense as each drove in one run.
The winning would continue Sunday as the Mets welcomed the Cotuit Kettleers to McKeon Field. First baseman Kiko Vazquez (Central Florida) and Jackson fueled the offense in this high-scoring affair, driving in three runs apiece to help the Mets to an 8-6 win. It was Vazquez’s three-run home run in the fifth that put Hyannis ahead to stay.
Hyannis remained at home on Monday but couldn’t produce enough offense and eventually succumbed to the Falmouth Commodores, 8-2. The third day of their five-game home stand wouldn’t end much better either. The Mets’ offense was shut down by the Orleans pitching staff and Hyannis lost to the Cardinals, 3-1, despite a solid 2-for-3 effort by outfielder Dan Brewer (Bradley).
A day off from baseball wasn’t enough to help the reeling Mets, whose woes continued Thursday against Wareham. Catcher Shea Robin (Vanderbilt) singled home two runs and left fielder Bell added one more in a three-run second inning, but that would be all the scoring for Hyannis, which fell to the Gatemen, 6-3.
The Mets closed out the week Friday night at Bourne, where right-hander Austin Hudson (Central Florida) scattered eight hits in seven innings. Hudson struck out three and didn’t walk a batter, but his teammates were held to just four hits, two of them by third baseman Patrick Long (Georgia Tech) and the Braves cruised to a 5-1 victory.
Despite the four-game losing streak, the Mets remained within striking distance in the West Division and are just a few wins from climbing back into the thick of the playoff hunt. They will look to turn things around this week and impress the large crowd expected Wednesday when they host the Kettleers. Fans can remain at the field after the game and enjoy a great Fourth of July fireworks show. Kevin Wolfe, CCBL intern ([email protected])
Last-Place Wareham Finally Puts It All Together;
Will Back-to-Back Victories Give Gatemen Momentum?
WAREHAM, Mass. -- During Wareham’s 5-3 Cape Cod Baseball League loss to Falmouth last Wednesday, the pundits around Clem Spillane Field were comparing the 2007 Gatemen to the current edition of the New York Yankees: The pieces were there, but it was a question of putting it all together.
When the pitching was working, the bats were silent – the team has kept some of the league’s most potent offenses under control but has lost seven games by two or fewer runs (see: a 2-1 loss to Y-D on June 24). When the offense came alive, the team’s pitching and defense made it a wash (see: an 8-7 to Brewster and an 8-6 loss to Cotuit in Week 2).
Aside from the irony of Red Sox faithful uttering the names of their hometown Gatemen and the Evil Empire in the same sentence, the analogy has its sticking points. The Yankees were also plagued by an inability to turn a star-studded roster into wins, and stumbled out of the gate in 2007. But they followed a nasty losing streak in May with a June winning streak that may have saved a season on the brink. The Gatemen are waiting for just such a turn of fate, and may have seen the first signs of it with a pair of back-to-back wins late last week.
One day after breaking a 10-game losing streak with a 6-3 win over Hyannis, the Gatemen produced their third win of the season, a 5-4 decision over Falmouth on Friday. Right-hander reliever Chris Hicks (Georgia Tech) earned his third save of the year as Wareham came from behind for the second time this season to defeat the Commodores and gain a measure of revenge for Wednesday’s loss.
The pieces of this winning puzzle have been there all along. On the pitching side, solid starts from southpaw Dallas Keuchel (Arkansas) and Wade Miley (Southeastern Lousiana) have been matched, although not always at the same time, by quality relief innings. Hicks has been dependable in relief and non-roster invitees Josh Moore (Wheaton) and Colin McHugh (Berry) have also performed well out of the bullpen. McHugh, a recent arrival to Spillane Field, replaced Miley for four scoreless innings on June 20, and blanked the Hyannis Mets with three innings of middle relief a week later.
Those strong outings are now being met with equally strong showings at the plate. The Gatemen broke into double-digit hits twice in their past three games, and should benefit from the arrival of several recruited players who were delayed by the College World Series. Ike Davis (Arizona State) delivered a sacrifice fly to lift the Gatemen over Falmouth in just his second game in a Wareham uniform, and general manager John Wylde has high expectations for Mike Cassavini (North Carolina) and Jason Ogata (Oregon State), whose teams played in the final game of the CWS last week. Beamer Weems (Baylor) is heating up as well, and had three multi-hit performance in four games last week.
Yankees analogies aside, the Gatemen have their work cut out for them. Their 3-10 record at week’s end was still tied for worst in the league as they languished in last place in the West Division. But with momentum gained by two much-needed wins — and the pieces finally falling into place — the Gatemen, like the Bronx Bombers, have all the pieces to turn around their season.
Liz Hoffman, CCBL intern ([email protected])
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Around the Cape League Horn
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USA World Events Named New Event and Marketing
Partner of the Cape Cod Baseball League
CAPE COD, Mass. – The Cape Cod Baseball League has announced a new partnership with USA World Events, a sports marketing and events management company.
USA World Events, which has client relationships with several colleges, conferences and professional sports organizations in the Northeast, will assist the CCBL in several events, including the CCBL All-Star Game July 28 at Clem Spillane Field in Wareham.
“We’re very excited about working with the Cape League for the All-Star Game and several other events down the road,” said USA World Events President Tom Souza. “This is a unique opportunity and we hope to make a positive impact with the league.”
Souza, a native of Marshfield, Mass., and a resident of Hyannisport, is a former football player at Dartmouth College, where he was a classmate of former major league hurler and Baltimore Orioles assistant general manager Jim Beattie.
Beattie is a consultant on Cape League projects for USA World Events, along with current Babson coach and former CCBL manager Matt Noone.
The first project USA World Events has taken on is the creation of a Cape League kiosk in a prime location outside Macy’s in the Cape Cod Mall that opened July 1. The kiosk features Cape League and individual team apparel along with CCBL literature.
CCBL ON FOX 25: Fox 25 continued its coverage assault on Cape League ball parks as Ryan Asselta did a sports broadcast from Red Wilson Field during the Hyannis-vs-Yarmouth-Dennis game July 3 and news reporter Mark Ockerbloom did a feature on host families with the Bourne Braves on July 4. These interviews can be seen on Fox 25’s MyFoxBoston web site, complete with interviews, video streams of all 10 teams, player profiles, maps and directions to CCBL ballparks and a message board for fans.
WHO’S HOT … AND WHO’S NOT: Kevin Hoef (Iowa) of the West Division-leading Bourne Braves leads the CCBL in several offensive categories, including batting average (.396), hits (21) and on-base percentage (.508) … His Braves’ teammate Brian Pruitt (Stetson) is right behind with a .390 batting average … Hard-hitting Shane Peterson (Long Beach State) of the Hyannis Mets tops the loop in doubles (7), triples (2 – tied with five others) and extra base hits (9), while hitting a lusty .373 … Mike Bianucci (Auburn) of the Cotuit Kettleers is the leader in runs scored with 14.
Bobby Gagg (Coastal Carolina) of East Division-leading Yarmouth-Dennis has compiled a 3-0 record and a 1.78 ERA … His Red Sox teammate, Terry Doyle (Boston College), last season’s CCBL co-pitcher of the year, is 3-1 with a 1.85 ERA following a 5-0 shutout win over Hyannis Tuesday … Other three-game winners include Josh Lindblom (Purdue) of Cotuit and Andrew Doyle (Oklahoma) of the Mets … Wade Miley (SE Louisiana) of the Wareham Gatemen is the league’s workhorse pitcher with a league-leading two complete games, 27 strikeouts and 27 innings pitched.
Kyle Gibson (Missouri) of Falmouth leads the CCBL with a 0.56 ERA, allowing just one earned run and 14 hits in 16 innings pitched. Scott Green (Kentucky) of Y-D at 0.69, Evan Crawford (Auburn) of Harwich at 0.71 and DJ Mitchell (Clemson) of Bourne at 0.95 have also allowed less than one run per nine innings …
Bourne leads the league with a .282 team batting average, followed by Chatham (.272) and Y-D (.271) … Orleans (.212) and Falmouth (.214) are bringing up the rear …
The team pitching leader is offensive-challenged Orleans, whose pitchers have compiled a superb 2.12 ERA. Y-D (2.60) is the only other team with an ERA under 3.00.
FIRST TIME IS A CHARM: Eric Surkamp (North Carolina State) of Orleans registered his first Cape League mound victory in impressive fashion, with a 5-0 win over Wareham. He allowed just three hits over 7-2/3 innings while striking out 11 batters.
HOORAH, THE STREAK IS FINALLY OVER: The last-place Harwich Mariners stopped their nine-game losing streak with a 2-0 blanking of the arch-rival Brewster Whitecaps Tuesday in a game broadcast on WBZ Radio 1030.com. Brett Jacobson (Vanderbilt) hurled seven shutout innings, while southpaw reliever Evan Crawford (Auburn) earned the two-inning save. Brewster hurler Brad Kledzick (Wake Forest) was also impressive in a losing cause, striking out seven and allowing just two unearned runs.
GAME OF THE WEEK ON WBZ: The next CCBL Game of the Week on WBZ Radio 1030.com will be Bourne at Wareham on Monday, July 9, beginning at 4:50 p.m. Broadcast legend Fred Cusick will provide play-by-play commentary.
Interns: Erica Bailey, John Hannemann, Liz Hoffman,
Gabriella Remington, Kevin Wolfe
