08/09/2008 1:37 PM Article By:
August 2008
THIS WEEK IN THE CAPE LEAGUE
Championship Week
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Hoover, Sanders Provide Spark
As Harwich Stuns Orleans, 4-3,
In East Division Playoff Opener
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ORLEANS, Mass. – J.J. Hoover (West Virginia) was untouchable in his best outing of the season and Joe Sanders (Auburn) provided the offense as Harwich defeated Orleans, 4-3, Saturday night at Eldredge Park to capture game one of the East Division playoffs.
“It’s so important to come out and get the first game,” said Harwich manager Steve Englert. “It’s going to be a grind from here.”
On Sunday night, the best-of-three series shifts to Whitehouse Field in Harwich where the Mariners will have a chance to send the Cardinals home and clinch a spot in the championship series against West Division winner Cotuit or Falmouth.
Tommy Medica (Santa Clara) knocked in the game’s first run before the Cardinals knew what hit them. Shaver Hansen (Baylor) scored on Medica’s infield single, and two batters later, Sanders drilled a 2-2 offering from Brad Stillings (Kent State) over the right field wall for a three-run home run and a 4-0 Mariners lead.
The lead was more than enough for Hoover to work with, as the big right-hander allowed one earned run on six hits in seven-plus innings while striking out a season-high 12 batters.
“The game broke the ice for us. We just got to roll in tomorrow,” said Hoover, whose only blemish was a solo blast to Maryland’s Mike Murphy in the sixth inning.
Tim Wheeler (Sacramento State) kept Orleans within striking distance when he robbed Sanders of his second home run of the night in the top of the eighth inning.
Hoover left the game in the bottom of the eighth after Alex Hassan (Duke) reached on an error to lead off the inning, then the Cardinals got back-to-back singles off reliever Willie Kempf (Baylor) to cut the deficit to two runs.
Kyle Spraker (Loyola Marymount) plated the Cardinals’ third run with a sacrifice fly to left field, but Kempf settled down and retired the next two batters to end the threat.
Steve Kalush (Santa Clara) came on for the save in the ninth and retired the side in order.
Game two of the series Sunday will be carried live on WXTK (95.1 FM) as well as online on the Harwich Mariners’ web site. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Phil Garceau, CCBL Intern ([email protected])
Interns 2008: Chris Blake, James Chandley, Ashley Crosby, Phil Garceau, Stefanie Marini, Laura Rasmussen
