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First-Year Managers Make Their Presence Felt

08/05/2022 11:59 AM

Article By: Josh Schwam

The will to win encapsulates all 10 Cape League managers. For Scott Landers and Eric Beattie, two-first year skippers on Cape, the league has struggled to stop them from dominating.

Beattie joins the Hyannis Harbor Hawks organization in a barren situation. Hyannis was beginning its second consecutive year with new management and a new skipper. He serves as the Head Coach of Strawberry Crest High School in the Tampa area and has 13 years of coaching experience to his name, but nothing as monumental as the Cape League.

Beattie is also a Cape League Hall of Famer. The 2003 Pitcher of the Year for the Bourne Braves; he hurled one of the most impressive seasons in Cape League history, going 4-0 with a league-leading 0.39 ERA. The mark was the second lowest in the modern era of CCBL play. He struck out 51 batters and surrendered a mere six walks, allowing 23 hits in 46 innings. Furthermore, Beattie allowed two earned runs all season and piloted Bourne to a West Division Title.

As a former player, he has successfully empowered his players to make the most of their opportunity on Cape, “These guys are worth fighting for,” Beattie said of his passion for his team. “I believe in this league. I believe in what this league can do for you and I want the most out of it for them.”

The belief has been rewarded. Hyannis’ 50 points are the most since the 2018 campaign when they earned 51. They’ll have a chance to close out the Cotuit Kettleers in game two tonight at 6pm.

On the other hand, anyone who’s pitched under Scott Landers knows first-hand about what the league can do for you. The Pitching Coach on last year’s championship Brewster Whitecaps staff, Landers has plenty of experience on Cape that enabled his success.

“For me, I was very prepared by my experience,” Landers said. “I have a good group of guys that have been excellent all year and we’re excited to continue it.”

Under Landers, who led the Brewster pitching staff that piloted them to a title, Bourne clinched its second-consecutive President’s Trophy for having the most points in the Cape League after a 9-0 thumping of Cotuit Wednesday afternoon.

Bourne did not lead the Cape League for a single day before clinching the President’s Trophy at Lowell Park.

“I’m proud of our guys,” Landers said. “They’ve taken every opportunity to get better and we’re making sure they are as ready as they can be.”

The Braves will have a chance to knock out the Falmouth Commodores tonight on the road at Guv Fuller Field after a gritty 6-5 victory last night. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.

The playoffs are what everyone works for on Cape. A dramatic end to the regular season saw both divisions and multiple playoff spots not determined until after 10 p.m. local time the night before the playoffs.

“I’m very excited,” Beattie said on his day off Wednesday. “These guys get here, you know, at 1:30 for a 6 o’clock game. They want it. I want it for them. We’re going to do everything to get the job done.”