Y-D raised the league championship trophy last year. Who’s next?
Two teams ran away with their division titles in the 2015 Cape Cod Baseball League season. Will they roll on? Or will parity – as it tends to do – reign?
Schedule
East
No. 1 Orleans vs. No. 4 Chatham
Monday, 7 p.m. at Eldredge Park
Tuesday, 7 p.m. at Veterans Field
Wednesday, 7 p.m. at Eldredge Park (if necessary)
No. 2 Brewster vs. No. 3 Y-D
Monday, 4 p.m. at Stony Brook Field
Tuesday, 4 p.m. at Red Wilson Field
Wednesday, 4 p.m. at Stony Brook Field (if necessary)
West
No. 1 Hyannis vs. No. 4 Cotuit
Monday, 6 p.m. at McKeon Park
Tuesday, 4 p.m. at Lowell Park
Wednesday, 6 p.m. at McKeon Park (if necessary)
No. 2 Bourne vs. No. 3 Wareham
Monday, 6 p.m. at Doran Park
Tuesday, 7 p.m. at Spillane Field
Wednesday, 6 p.m. at Doran Park (if necessary)
Notes
Orleans went 31-12-1 in the regular season, the best record in the league since the 2007 Y-D Red Sox, who have been a benchmark for great teams ever since. That Y-D team rolled right through the playoffs, too, winning four straight games to sweep the semifinal and championship series.
The Firebirds beat their first-round opponent, Chatham, on consecutive days to end the regular season. They won the season series 4-2 over the Anglers.
Orleans last won the league championship in 2005, with a team led by future Major Leaguers Manny Burriss and Brett Pill.
Chatham finished 22-22, losing four straight and seven of eight. They averaged just over two runs per game in those seven losses.
What a difference a year makes for Brewster. The Whitecaps were in the playoffs last year but it was the result of a surprising late surge, and many of their position players had already arranged travel plans. That made for some strange lineups in the postseason. This year, Brewster has established itself as the league’s second-best team. Most of its usual lineup – a very good lineup – is still in town and some reinforcements have arrived. Most notable is Mississippi State’s Brent Rooker, who led the New England Collegiate Baseball League in home runs and RBI for the Plymouth Pilgrims this season. The Pilgrims missed the playoffs.
The question for Brewster is pitching. Jordan Sheffield is scheduled to start game one. He has a 5.49 ERA on the year but has had a couple of standout starts.
Y-D lost two straight to end the regular season. The defending champs have been prone to hot and cold streaks this season, but they do have an ace to lean on in Ricky Thomas, who went 7-0.
West division champ Hyannis is seeking its first title since 1991.
The Harbor Hawks have Dakota Hudson, Vance Tatum and Devin Smeltzer listed as their playoff probables. Standout lefty Nick Deeg was released on July 31.
Hyannis went 6-0 this season against Cotuit, its first-round opponent.
One thing the Kettleers have going for them is that they quietly found some very good starting pitching as the year went on. Jon Woodcock and Daniel Brown finished fourth and sixth in the league in ERA.
Bourne hits the playoffs with a 22-20-2 record. The Braves went 2-3-1 against Wareham in the regular season.
Remember when the Braves started 0-6-1? That final record looks more impressive when you consider that.
Wareham is making its first playoff appearance since it won the 2012 league championship.
Hyannis beats Cotuit and Orleans tops Chatham; those are the easy ones. After that, I’m taking Bourne over Wareham (who used its two best pitchers yesterday just to make the playoffs) and Y-D to beat Brewster, figuring Ricky Thomas gets them off to a good start and Big Ben Bowden shuts down the Whitecaps in the late innings.
CapeManJuly 30, 2007What a day!! It has been mentioned more than once on these pages that the Wareham oaiingzrtaon just gets it and boy did they shine on Saturday. I never saw a white shirt volunteer rest for a second. (The Under Armour white shirts read All Star Committee Member so I assume there were mostly from the Gatemen oaiingzrtaon) and the blue shirt volunteers that looked like mostly interns from Wareham among other also deserve plenty of credit. Here are my notes:1. I can’t think of a better place among the Cape League fields to hold such a large-scale event. Plenty of places to sit with the stadium-like feel. The space that they have behind the pressbox and along the third base side provides a perfect setting for the many tents, merchandise booths, walking room, inflatables, etc. If Under Armour remains a sponsor and the CCBL continues to welcome all of those sponsor tents, etc., it is hard for me to imagine that type of setup in many other locations.2. I really liked the 6:00pm start. It allowed for more time during the day to relax and probably allowed the Gatemen oaiingzrtaon to have plenty of time in the morning.3. John Wylde should be the announcer for every All-Star Game.4. One disapointment .I know it is a long season and Spillane Field gets lots of use . (The Baseball Factory HS Classic was the day before) but I was a little disapointed in the playing surface condition. The outfield seemed fine the the infield looked worn; especially around home plate. This field is brand new this year correct?5. Maybe everyone at lunch before they came OR there were too many free hand-outs but you didn’t have to wait long for a hot-dog!!6. The Gatemen fed the scouts and volunteers class act!! The large tent at the far end of that grass area had signs indicating Scouts and Volunteer Hospitality. I saw many a scout and blue shirt volunteer eating sandwiches, having Gataroade, etc. They were also running water out to parking attendents, 50/50 raffle folks, etc .I even saw a case of water get delivered to the scouts on the first base side.7. Did anyone notice that the backtop includes a gate that opens up for a television camera up on the deck of that pressbox? Should make for some great shots on the NESN broadcast tonight.8. Peter Gammons was on the field for about an hour and 1/2 during batting practice was taking many pictures with players, etc.9. Under Armour certainly had a presense. Inflatables, signs..even the MVP Awards were named the Undeniable Player of the Game..an Under Armour phrase.10. Parking was handled with perfection. I didn’t hear one complaint throughout the crowd and traffic moved smoothly afterwards.11. The Coast Guard helicopter was terrific maybe a little late but brought chills to my back.12. Where is Luke Murton during the regular season? I wonder if that show of power helps his draft position next year? He hit one in the championship against YD last year at Spillane that went above the bullpen out in left but over the bleachers???? Wow .13. Reese Havens might be the best player on the Cape in my humble opinion. I was told at the game by a Gatemen staffer that he hit two homeruns last week against Wareham at Spillane Field .the 2nd of which went up and OVER the light tower in right field and as he explained was still rising as it went over the light tower.14. Where were about 1/2 the teams under the merchandise tent. I only saw Wareham, Hyannis, Falmouth, YD and Chatham.15. They ran out of balls during the homerun contest because the kids shagging balls were throwing them to kids on the other side of the fence very funny.Great time great game .great day.
Hyannis beats Cotuit and Orleans tops Chatham; those are the easy ones. After that, I’m taking Bourne over Wareham (who used its two best pitchers yesterday just to make the playoffs) and Y-D to beat Brewster, figuring Ricky Thomas gets them off to a good start and Big Ben Bowden shuts down the Whitecaps in the late innings.
CapeManJuly 30, 2007What a day!! It has been mentioned more than once on these pages that the Wareham oaiingzrtaon just gets it and boy did they shine on Saturday. I never saw a white shirt volunteer rest for a second. (The Under Armour white shirts read All Star Committee Member so I assume there were mostly from the Gatemen oaiingzrtaon) and the blue shirt volunteers that looked like mostly interns from Wareham among other also deserve plenty of credit. Here are my notes:1. I can’t think of a better place among the Cape League fields to hold such a large-scale event. Plenty of places to sit with the stadium-like feel. The space that they have behind the pressbox and along the third base side provides a perfect setting for the many tents, merchandise booths, walking room, inflatables, etc. If Under Armour remains a sponsor and the CCBL continues to welcome all of those sponsor tents, etc., it is hard for me to imagine that type of setup in many other locations.2. I really liked the 6:00pm start. It allowed for more time during the day to relax and probably allowed the Gatemen oaiingzrtaon to have plenty of time in the morning.3. John Wylde should be the announcer for every All-Star Game.4. One disapointment .I know it is a long season and Spillane Field gets lots of use . (The Baseball Factory HS Classic was the day before) but I was a little disapointed in the playing surface condition. The outfield seemed fine the the infield looked worn; especially around home plate. This field is brand new this year correct?5. Maybe everyone at lunch before they came OR there were too many free hand-outs but you didn’t have to wait long for a hot-dog!!6. The Gatemen fed the scouts and volunteers class act!! The large tent at the far end of that grass area had signs indicating Scouts and Volunteer Hospitality. I saw many a scout and blue shirt volunteer eating sandwiches, having Gataroade, etc. They were also running water out to parking attendents, 50/50 raffle folks, etc .I even saw a case of water get delivered to the scouts on the first base side.7. Did anyone notice that the backtop includes a gate that opens up for a television camera up on the deck of that pressbox? Should make for some great shots on the NESN broadcast tonight.8. Peter Gammons was on the field for about an hour and 1/2 during batting practice was taking many pictures with players, etc.9. Under Armour certainly had a presense. Inflatables, signs..even the MVP Awards were named the Undeniable Player of the Game..an Under Armour phrase.10. Parking was handled with perfection. I didn’t hear one complaint throughout the crowd and traffic moved smoothly afterwards.11. The Coast Guard helicopter was terrific maybe a little late but brought chills to my back.12. Where is Luke Murton during the regular season? I wonder if that show of power helps his draft position next year? He hit one in the championship against YD last year at Spillane that went above the bullpen out in left but over the bleachers???? Wow .13. Reese Havens might be the best player on the Cape in my humble opinion. I was told at the game by a Gatemen staffer that he hit two homeruns last week against Wareham at Spillane Field .the 2nd of which went up and OVER the light tower in right field and as he explained was still rising as it went over the light tower.14. Where were about 1/2 the teams under the merchandise tent. I only saw Wareham, Hyannis, Falmouth, YD and Chatham.15. They ran out of balls during the homerun contest because the kids shagging balls were throwing them to kids on the other side of the fence very funny.Great time great game .great day.