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League News

Week # 3

07/07/2002 10:55 AM

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for immediate release: 7 July, 2002
    
Cape Cod Baseball League
Official Press Release
Week #3 – for games 6/30-7/6

Sportsticker Selects Players of the Week
    
Yarmouth- Dennis infielder Wesley Whisler and Bourne’s Matt Brown have been named the Coca-Cola Batter and Pitcher of the week, respectively, for games played June 30-July 6.


     Whisler (Noblesville, IN/UCLA), hit an incredible .480 in six games for the Red Sox (12-for-25). In addition, he scored 4 runs, had 2 doubles, 2 HR, 6 RBI and a slugging percentage of .800.


     On the mound, second year player Matt Brown (Danville, CA/Cal-Berkeley) pitched 7 innings against Cotuit on 6/30 and allowed four hits, 0 runs, 0 walks and struckout 4 in a tie vs. Cotuit. A few days later, the 6-5 righty earned the win against divisional rival Wareham with a 7.1 inning stint – this time allowing just 2 hits, 2 walks and striking out 11 en route to the win.


     Y-D’s Brett Cooley (Round Rock, TX/Houston) was named the Home Run hitter as he cranked out three roundtrippers.


     He hadn’t heard “you’re out” for a long time: Y-D’s Wes Whisler (Noblesville, IN/UCLA), the Coca-Cola Batter of the week had nine straight hits over three games. He homered in his last at bat on July 3rd, went 5-5 on the 4th and on the 5th had three straight hits before grounding out. The new record for consecutive hits (9) bests the former mark set by two players – Jim Curl of Hyannis had 7 straight hits on June 16-17, 1979 while Rick Walters of Orleans also had 7 consecutive on July 3-4, also in 1979. 


     No free ride when the Harwich Mariner’s Ziegler’s on the mound: Second year player Brad Ziegler has set a new record for consecutive innings without a walk. Ziegler has gone 21 2/3 innings without allowing a free pass.


     All Star Game to be televised on Fox SportsNet: The 2002 All Star Game will be aired during prime time, Tuesday, July 30 from 7:30-10 p.m. and again on Saturday, August 3 at a time to be announced.


     WXTK radio to broadcast All Star Game: WXTK (95.1) will broadcast the game immediately following the Red Sox-Tigers game. Geoff Converse and John Garner, the League’s Director of Broadcasting will announce the game, while Greg Cassidy of Boch Broadcasting is the producer/director. The game will also be broadcast on capecodbaseball.org and a special 800 # through Teamline. 


     Kettleers bow to Gatemen: It took 14 games, but the 2001 Cape League champion Wareham Gatemen handed the Cotuit Kettleers their first loss on July 1st. According the Wareham GM John Wylde, the Gatemen had been winless in their last 8 games against its divisional rival.


     It’s Gotta be Hood: It couldn’t have happened on a better day as the Hood Truck made a scheduled stop at the Chatham A’s youth clinic on Wednesday, one of the hottest days this summer. Making the special delivery of red, white and blue pops to the grateful children, the’s players and parents were Hood’s Joe Keating and Joe Scartelli. The boys of ice cream also visited the Harwich clinic on Friday. Next stop is Yarmouth-Dennis for its youth clinic on July 19th.


     What a way to kick off the 4th: The children who attended the Hyannis Mets game on Wednesday evening found themselves in a parade. As they made their way out to their favorite position on the field for the national anthem, they were waving the American flags and sporting the special Old Navy flag t-shirts supplied by Old Navy for the occasion.


     And she threw a strike: Janice Feeney, president of the Hyannis area Chamber of Commerce threw out the first pitch on July 3rd prior to the Chatham/Hyannis game.


     It’s all in the giving: Each year, the Chatham Athletic Association participates in the local Art of Charity auction and this year was no different. Up for bid was the chance to be a Chatham A’s bathandler for a night. This past Saturday, the highest bidders Alexandra Gibbs a student at Fordham and Erin Doyle, a student at Skidmore College went to work. Both women summer in Chatham and work for Chatham Bars Inn. Coincidentally, they worked on Chatham Bars Inn Appreciation Night.


     Chatham Bars Inn Appreciation Night at Chatham: On Saturday, league and team sponsor Chatham Bars Inn gave away popcorn and peanuts at the Chatham game. CBI also sponsored a special contest with the winner of a pulled ticket from the 50/50 raffle getting the chance to throw a strike for a $2000 gift certificate to CBI. The winner, on his first try, was local Thomas Ruddock, son of Andrew and Penny. Thomas is also a Chatham A’s bathandler.


     Chatham and Orleans help out Mass 9/11 Fund: The Chatham and Orlean’s franchises were busy on the 4th and 5th of July. On the 4th, Chatham donated the $850 it collected while passing the hat to the Mass 9/11 fund for those Massachusetts residents affected by the 9/11 tragedy in NYC. In addition the Chatham Athletic Association added $1500 which came from the selling of the special A’s/American flag hats - but Chatham wasn’t done. Also on the 4th, they had three specially designed Barnstable Bats signed by the Chatham and Orleans’s team. One bat will be sent to the City of NY fire department and one to the Chatham fire department. Not to be outdone, the Cardinals, who hosted Chatham on the 5th, also had a special bat made up, signed by both teams and then auctioned off. The winning bid went to the Marciano family , whose father was next door to the WTC but was unharmed. The money, “a very nice wining bid” according to Orleans’s GM Sue Horton, will be donated in the children’s names, Zach and Hunter. 


     Special Corporate Team Nights on Tap: July 8 – Ocean Spray at Wareham (Growers Night), July 10 Cape Cod Potato Chip night at Cotuit, Hood Night at Brewster, July 11 Ocean Spray Night at Bourne, July 10 US Army night at Falmouth, July 13 US Army at Cotuit, Eye Health at Brewster, MBNA at Chatham, Hood Night at Wareham.

Contact: Missy Alaimo, Public Relations - Media Relations

 

The following is by Sarah Hinkley, CCBL PR Intern 


McCann Brothers Inherit Baseball Ability From Cape League Alumni
     Harwich third baseman, Brad McCann, and his brother, Brian, were both drafted in 2002. The Philadelphia Phillies drafted Brad -- who attends Gulf Coast Community College in Florida -- in the 22nd round. His brother, Brian, was drafted by the local Atlanta Braves in the 2nd round merely weeks after graduating high school in Duluth, GA. Brian is still negotiating with the Braves, but plans on signing soon. If he decides not to sign, he will attend the University of Alabama. Brad does not plan on attending Gulf Coast Community College in the fall and has not decided where he will enroll. He wants to play baseball at the collegiate level for a few more years before he plays at the professional level.

     Brad and Brian played on the same high school team in Georgia where Brian was the catcher and Brad played third base. They grew up together practicing and competing against one another. “Growing up together and playing together has helped each of us improve,” says Brad. Brad was out for the first 30 games of his Gulf Coast season with a wrist injury, but did finish out the year with a .328 batting average and eight home runs. His wrist is now fully healed, and is enjoying his opportunity to play in the Cape Cod League where “he faces the best competition day in and day out.” 

     Brad and Brian’s father, Howard McCann, also played in the Cape Cod League. He was an assistant coach at the University of Georgia and Rollins College, and then the head Coach of Marshall University in West Virginia. Brad’s father now owns a hitting facility in Alpharetta, Ga. Brad commented on what a great opportunity he was given to play in this league and thinks the Cape is a great place to play and live. Brad is doing well with the Mariners and has hit two home runs. Both McCann brothers look to have a promising future in baseball, despite the fact that they may become opponents some day. Brad and his brother encourage one another, and Brad remarks, “I am happy for my brother’s success and I am looking forward to his future success, but I am disappointed he will not be able to experience the Cape Cod League after he signs.”

Mariner’s Snavely Hitting Over .400
     Christian Snavely (Ohio State) goes into the fourth week of the CCBL season with a batting average of .407. Snavely, originally from Defiance, OH, wears number 36 at Ohio State University where he plays 2nd base and left field. Snavely has two home runs so far in the season, and six stolen bases. With 22 hits, Snavely also earned three doubles to boost his already impressive batting average. 
Christian says he’s “having fun playing with the best competition, and hopes his success in the Cape can lead to a chance to play at the next level.” His family will be visiting next week to watch him play as one of the league’s top hitters.

Ziegler Yet to Walk A Batter
     With three starts under his belt, Brad Ziegler of the Harwich Mariners has yet to walk a batter. Ziegler who is originally from Odessa, Missouri plays for Southwest Missouri State, and is accompanied by SMS and Mariner’s teammates, Shaun Marcum and Dant’e Brinkley. Ziegler boasts a low 0.83 Era, and has a record of 2-0. He has 29 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings. Ziegler has also only given up 12 hits. 
Brad will start his fifth year at Southwest Missouri State in the fall. He was drafted in the 31st round by the Oakland Athletics, but did not sign. Brad was married to wife, Kristy, on October 20th of 2001. He claims his reason for not signing is due to an agreement with his wife. “I’m married and I have an agreement with my wife. I told her I would only leave school early to sign if I could support both of us. I am waiting until after next season in hopes of a better offer.” Zeigler also wants a degree to fall back on in case baseball does not work out. He is pursuing a degree in Math Education. Brad and his wife stay with a host family in Harwich. 

Orleans’ Rod Allen Jr. Hopes To Follow Father’s Footsteps.
     Orleans Cardinal, Rod Allen Jr., would one day like to be in his father’s position. Rod Allen Sr. is currently a television and radio broadcaster for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He took on his position with the Diamondbacks after retiring from a professional baseball career. Allen Sr. played for the Detroit Tigers, and wears a 1984 World Series ring. He was a left and right outfielder, and spent his last three years of playing baseball in Japan.

     Rod Allen Jr. attends Arizona State University, and went to high school in Culver City, CA. He plays center field for the Cardinals and wears number 10. He posts a .273 batting average, and is fourth in the league in stolen bases with 8. The Cincinnati Reds drafted Allen Jr. out of high school in the 34th round. When asked of his plans for the future, Rod hopes to continue his career in baseball. He claims he would love to be drafted by the Diamondbacks due to his favoritism of the team. “I may get a bit of an advantage (with the draft), but I hoped to be drafted based on my ability to play and not for who my dad is.” Allen Jr. can be spotted working on continuing his success at Orleans’ Eldredge Park.