Last summer, only four pitchers totaled enough innings to qualify for the Cape League’s ERA title. Between innings limits and pitch counts, outings are getting shorter and shorter.
Opening night of the 2019 season was a reminder that the pitching can still be pretty good, even in shorter stints. Logan Allen faced the minimum in five innings for Harwich, Logan Hoffman struck out six in three innings for Falmouth while Konnor Ash did the same for Chatham, and four Orleans pitchers combined on a shutout.
Orleans 2, Bourne 0
Almost always one of the best pitching teams in the league, Orleans was at it again on opening night. Adam Seminaris (Long Beach State) started and allowed two hits in five innings. Tim Miller (Richmond) went two innings, Donovan Benoit (Santa Fe) went one and Jeffrey Praml (Southern New Hampshire) pitched the final inning for the save. Coming off an all-conference season at Nevada, Joshua Zamora provided all the offense Orleans would need with a two-run homer in the second inning.
Falmouth 7, Harwich 2
The aforementioned Logan Allen (Florida International) had the best pitching performance of the night, but it went for naught as Falmouth gained control against the Harwich bullpen. Allen, who ranked top 15 in the nation in strikeouts this spring, fanned seven and allowed one hit in five shutout innings. The only batter who got a hit was caught stealing. Falmouth arms shined as well, with Tommy Sheehan (Notre Dame) going four shutout innings and Hoffman (Northwestern State) striking out six of the 11 batters he faced. Blake Dunn (Western Michigan) led the Falmouth attack with two hits, two RBI and a stolen base.
Wareham 3, Brewster 1
The defending champion Gatemen started 2019 with a victory. Off a strong spring at Texas, Bryce Elder struck out six in four innings in the opening night start, and three relievers combined for five shutout innings. Darren Baker (California), who you might remember from his bat-boy days with the San Francisco Giants, drove in a run with dad Dusty in the stands.
Always great to see a baseball legend like Dusty Baker enjoying Opening Day on the Cape Cod Baseball League @WarehamGatemen pic.twitter.com/L50f1pzH0N
— Cape League (@Official_CCBL) June 11, 2019
Chatham 5, Hyannis 4
Chatham spoiled the debut of the refurbished and newly named Judy Walden Scarafile Field at McKeon Park, beating the host Harbor Hawks in extra innings. The Anglers trailed by one in the ninth but tied the game on a bases-loaded walk. In the 10th, Kaden Polcovich (Northwest Florida) singled and later came around with the go-ahead run on a wild pitch. Polcovich went 3-for-6 to lead the Chatham offense. Jackson Olson (Hartford) had three hits and two RBI for Hyannis.
Cotuit 4, Y-D 3
Cotuit rallied from a 3-2 deficit with two runs in the seventh for a win over Y-D. Back for his second summer in Cotuit, Adam Oviedo (TCU) played hero with a two-run single that gave the Kettleers the lead. Kyle Nicolas (Ball State), who had six saves in the spring, reportedly lit up the radar gun in retiring all six batters he faced for his first CCBL save.
What to Watch
It’s a rematch of last year’s West finals as Wareham visits Falmouth.