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From The Cheap Seats It’s Been A Tough Year For The Bourne Braves

Back in early June there was nothing but excitement in Bourne. The Braves’ organization could not wait to unveil the new Braves Field at Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School, which brought them into the upper tier of Cape Cod Baseball League facilities after endur- ing substandard Coady Field for years and years. The team entered the season hoping to defend its 2005 west division championship and, on paper, had a roster that looked like it should have them right back in contention. Yes, things were looking pretty good in Bourne back before the season began. Fast forward to the latter half of July and the optimism surrounding the club has receded. What looked like it might be the most fun summer of baseball in years has become one that the organization is looking forward to ending. Not only have the losses piled up—the team was 5-19-2 at this writing—but the Braves have also been one of the hardest hit teams in terms of bad weather this year. Down the stretch, the club will have to play a hand- ful of doubleheaders and has only the all-star game to look forward to as an off day. Head Coach Harvey Shapiro, who has tasted both DANIEL W. WEBB good and bad seasons in his many years skippering Cape League clubs, does not want much out of the rest of the year, just to see his team compete day in and day out “I’m not looking at making the playoffs now, I just Loretta Recalls the want to be competitive,” Shapiro said before his team Cape League got on the bus for a road trip Friday afternoon. Shapiro said that last year’s club, in terms of position Page Five players, was pretty close to what he’s got right now. The difference, though, has been the pitching. Last year the Braves were rock solid in terms of starting pitching, with 35 starts (out of 44 games) in which his starter gave him six innings. In 25 games a year ago, the starter went at least seven. Fans Guide to How much things change over the course of one year. Attending the All This year the Braves have had one pitcher twice pitch Stars Page Six into the seventh. The bullpen has been taxed and the club has not been winning. The Braves find themselves dead last in team earned-run average, entering last weekend’s round of games with a combined ERA of 4.30, nearly a full run behind the ninth-place team. “If our Inside the Game: pitching was near where it was last year, we’d have at least five more wins. That might not put us in the play- Pitching Inside offs, but we’d be in the thick of things,” Shapiro said. Ready To Bust-A-Move Page Seven To be fair, the hitting hasn’t exactly been that great either. The Braves are dead last in team batting average (.207), have hit the fewest home runs (four), and scored 3 21 fewer runs than the next-to-last team in that category. MATTHEW BURKE Injuries and roster changes have been a huge reason for the team’s woes. Shapiro said that his team is em- Full Cape Cod League Game Schedule ploying its 11th catcher of the season right now, having Page 10 lost the first two before the year even began, with one accepting an invitation to Team USA and the other get- ting injured during the College World Series. The turn- By the Numbers over, as a whole, has been so big that there have been Pages 12-13 times the coaching staff wondered who some of the guys were on the bus. “It’s just one of those years,” lamented general man- Batting Around ager Mike Carrier. “Half of the players we signed didn’t Pages 11-14 show up, for a variety of reasons, and that leaves you scrambling to replace those players. A big part of being successful in this league is getting all, or at least most, Look for this issue online @ www.capenews.net of your players in for the start of the season and staying healthy.” Last year the Braves needed only two temporary play- ers to remain with the club. This year Carrier said he had On The Cover: Freshman phenom Buster Posey just “lost count” of the roster shuffling they’ve had to do. keeps on getting better. Unfortunately this seems to happen to at least one SportsPix photo by Matthew Scott CCBL team every year; it’s nothing new. For whatever reasons, the team just can’t get the job done and fights through adversity from day one until the welcomed close publisher project manager design services manager of the season. William Hough Chuck Borge Christine Stutzman But there is still plenty to play for, Carrier said. “If I sports editor was a scout, down here watching the Bourne Braves, sales manager design services Rich Maclone I’d want to see what kind of intensity these guys play Steve Krammes Linda Stewart with. I’m looking to see if the shoulders are slumped or photo editor Jill Spencer if they’re still playing with desire and trying hard. That’s sales Daniel W. Webb Julia Balducci what I would look for, because its not like you’re go- Danielle Guay ing to go to the minor leagues and not end up on a bad design & layout press supervisor team someday. It happens, and you’ve got keep playing Tricia Keough Elisabet K. Rodrigues David Pittman hard every day.” Dawn Mitchell Trisha Herlihy Rich Maclone is the Sports Editor for Summer 50 Depot Avenue Barbara Warner nterp Stars and also covers the Falmouth Commodores e E ri Falmouth, MA 02540 for Enterprise Publishing. He can be reached at Nancy Medeiros h s e 508-548-4700 • 1-800-286-7744 [email protected]. Esther Buchanan T Falmouth • Mashpee • Bourne • Sandwich Fax: 508-540-8407 Thursday, July 27, 2006 SUMMER STARS 3 Bust-A-Move AFTER A SENSATIONAL FRESHMAN SEASON, BUSTER POSEY IS STILL GETTING BETTER…AND IT'S SCARY BY MATTHEW M. BURKE has been able to tweak his was going to be used primar- pitch). Hopefully I’ll get back teammates. Three-time National Coach swing on the fly, which is ily as a pitcher in the future. on the mound some next year “The main thing that I liked of the Year Scott Pickler, of integral, because swinging a But Posey wasn’t ready to and see if everything pans about Florida State was I Cypress College, has spent wooden bat is different than give up hitting. He added out.” liked how comfortable I felt nine years as the head coach an aluminum bat. Pickler said that playing short was fun Coach Martin first saw with the coaches,” Posey of the YD Red Sox. He is a that kids can sometimes get last season for FSU. Coach Posey play in the summer said. “For me it’s a good man who can take any good lift in their swing with alu- Martin said that next season of 2004, while he played for location, too. It’s two hours player and make them great, minum bats and hit only the Posey might wind up at third, the US Junior Olympic Team. away from my home, and just and he has proven himself as bottom half of the ball. This a skipper in the Cape League can lead to a lot of popups. time and time again, culmi- He said he has been working nating with a CCBL title in with Posey to use his legs a 2004. little bit more in his swing and At Cypress, a junior college to swing through the ball. in Cypress, California, he has The instruction and guid- seen 12 former players make ance that Coach Pickler has it to the big show, includ- given him seems to be work- ing Rangers catcher Gerald ing as Posey leads the Sox in Laird, Orioles outfielder David batting average, at .298, and Newhan, A’s pitcher Keith is ranked sixth in the league. Ginter, and Padre’s all-star He also leads the league with closer Trevor Hoffman. 37 hits, and stands poised to Buster Posey, a 19-year- earn himself a roster spot at Loretta Recalls the old shortstop/pitcher from the upcoming CCBL All-Star Cape League Leesburg Georgia, is Coach Game that is being held this Pickler’s newest project, and year in Yarmouth on July 29. Page Five under Pickler’s guidance, he “I’m not as polished as has come alive this summer some guys are,” the self-de- for the YD Red Sox. scribed line drive hitter said This is not an unusual while discussing his weak- phenomenon in the CCBL. nesses. “I just need to get up Every year, college coaches there and get more experi- Fans Guide to send their talented players ence. The rest will take care Attending the All and young stars-to-be to of itself.” Stars Page Six the Cape League to finetune Posey hails from a small their skills with a summer’s farm town in rural southern worth of top-notch instruc- Georgia. Leesburg has ap- tion. Posey’s coach at Florida proximately 3,000 residents. State University, Mike Martin, He learned to play baseball Inside the Game: did just that. with his father in the back Pitching Inside Posey, who is coming off yard of their home, in the a very impressive freshman midst of scattered residential Page Seven season for Florida State, homes, silos, farms, and an where he finished second on old railroad depot. the team in batting average, The official sport of Lees- .346, hits, 85, and at bats, burg is baseball, not football. 246, was named a Louisville Posey garnered All-Ameri- Slugger Freshman All-Ameri- can honors while in High can before the start of base- School at Lee County. He ball this summer. He finished was pegged as the 18th best in the top five in every other prospect in the country by offensive category. Prospectus Plus and won He impressed his coaches a slew of awards. He went with nine stolen bases, four 23-4 in his pitching career in home runs, 48 RBI, and a school and won the Region .433 on base percentage. 1-AAAAA championship with Besides playing a slick short- a grand slam. In 2005, the stop, he is also a talented California Angels drafted him pitcher. According to Coach in the 50th round. Martin, Posey possesses a “Buster was our number- fastball in the mid-nineties, one recruit last year,” Coach and a good breaking ball. So Martin said. “He’s just a guy much for the rookie jitters; we’re looking to lead our ball Posey came to FSU already club next year.” Coach Martin equipped with the tools for fondly recalled asking Posey immediate success. if he would play shortstop But with the good comes and put his pitching aspira- the bad, and Posey recorded tions on hold, for now. Posey a high number of strikeouts was a good shortstop in high design services manager (45), errors (20), and hit into school as well. “After the fall, SPORTPIX PHOTO BY MATTHEW SCOTT Christine Stutzman more double plays (7) than he said that he didn’t care Buster Posey hits a long fly ball in recent action. Posey leads the Red Sox in batting this sea- any of the other Seminole where he played just as long son. design services players this past season. as he could help the team,” Linda Stewart Coach Martin said that his Coach Martin said of Posey’s but that’s okay with any type Posey dazzled the opposi- the guys on the team are a lot Jill Spencer change-up needs some work, unselfishness. He added that of team-oriented and unself- tion, pitching more innings like me.” He said that he had Julia Balducci but he remained confident these character traits had ish player like Buster. He than any other Team USA opportunities out West and that Posey could make the led to Posey being such a press supervisor plays shortstop for YD and pitcher, while maintaining a up North. He added that FSU necessary adjustments. highly sought-after recruit. has only pitched seven in- 1.23 ERA in Taiwan. He also was his best option due to its David Pittman Buster is working with “We could see he was going nings this summer. recorded clutch hits against location. “Pick,” his nickname for to be a solid kid. He carried “I just don’t know yet,” Missouri and Kansas all-star “To me, it’s the best place Coach Pickler, and has been himself with a lot of poise and Posey said of where he teams in exhibition games. to play that I’ve played at,” learning to be successful with integrity.” prefers to play. “I still have a Living 75 miles away from the he said of FSU. “There’s an a wooden bat, so that he can Posey said that when he couple of years before I have FSU campus made it a short electricity. We’ve got great take his hitting to the next was leaving high school, to make a decision as to what trip to fall in love with the knowledgeable fans who level. Pickler said that Posey everyone told him that he I want to do (play infield or school, the coaches, and his Continued on Next Page 4 SUMMER STARS Thursday, July 27, 2006 Posey Busts A Move... Sox All-Star Loretta Recalls Continued from Page 3 instructing him. Coach Posey throws hard but has stay focused on the game Martin wants Buster to learn lost some velocity due to Cape League Days and know what’s going on, to be more selective as far his low number of innings which makes it more fun as a as pitching goes, and to cut pitched. “They key to him BY NICOLE ZARTARIAN player.” down on strikeouts, along is he’s a baseball player,” Mark was a college stu- He said that next season at with that change-up. “He Pickler said. “I had another dent, moving across the FSU, they expect to win and can break the game open kid that played for me at Cy- country to a new place. Ar- hope to make it to Omaha. with one swing of the bat,” press, Trevor Hoffman, who rangements were made for Posey hopes that by playing Coach Martin said. “And pitched one time in junior him to live with a complete in the CCBL and by learn- if he can learn to spot his college ball and you know stranger and he was ordered ing all of the knowledge that fastball well, he’ll be very what he’s done since then.” to report to a job with minimal Coach Pickler has to offer, effective.” Coach Martin He said that Hoffman went training. Omaha is a reasonable goal. expects Buster to assume a to the University of Arizona At the new job at the as a shortstop much like He added that after another leadership role at FSU next grocery store, Mark fumbled Posey. “Buster’s got those year in the CCBL, he’ll start season. He is learning a lot while keying in the cor- qualities, same type of work to think about starting a pro- this summer in YD. rect code for Red Delicious fessional career. Coach Pickler predicts ethic.” He said that he’d love for apples and the line to Mark’s Posey said that this sum- Posey signing as an infi elder register grew long with ir- and if that doesn’t work Posey to come back next mer, he has been working ritated shoppers who rolled on staying through the ball out, “going to the bump.” year. There’s always more their eyes, and snickered at like Coach Pickler has been He said that he knows that work that can be done. his inexperience. Come nightfall, the eye-roll- ing irritated shoppers’ jeers changed to cheers as they watched him compete on the baseball diamond. The an- nouncer introduced him as he walked up to the plate, “Now batting for the Commodores, from Northwestern University, Mark Loretta.” Three days later, another bag of Red Delicious apples crossed the conveyer belt and Mark remembered the code this time. The cheerful customer said, “You played well the other night, Mark.” The year was 1991 and Mark Loretta, now an all-star with the Boston Red Sox, was in Falmouth for his fi rst summer as a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League. Like all his Cape League peers, he had been dropped into a foreign community where he would become viewed as shining star. Hailing from Southern California, Loretta attended St. Francis High School be- fore making his debut with the Northwestern Wildcats in 1990. Before coming to the Falmouth Commodores, he was named to the 1991 All-Big Ten Third Team and then again in 1992. By the Photos by MATTHEW BURKE Y-D’s Buster Posey is equally at home with a bat, in the infi eld end of his sophomore year, or on the pitchers’ mound. Loretta was viewed as being among the elite in colle- giate baseball and returned to Falmouth to become a Commodore for the summer months. The tradition of the Cape Cod Baseball League is that players reside with commu- nity members who open up their homes and welcome the boys of summer with open arms. Mark remembers his host mother fondly, “I lived with a lady named Vera Brabrook, an older widow. A teammate of mine and I lived with her for two summers. She really knew a lot about Cape Cod and had lived there a long time.” Over the course of the two summers that Mark lived with Vera, he came to know her well. Even Mark’s wife, then girlfriend, tells stories of Vera. She would call and ask for Mark and she [Vera] would say “who?” Thursday, July 27, 2006 SUMMER STARS 5 Sox All-Star Loretta Recalls Cape League Days BY NICOLE ZARTARIANZARTARIAN “Mark.” fun.” Mark was a college stu- “Mark? Oh you mean Mark’s time at Stop and dent, moving across the Maaahhk,” Vera would say. Shop gave him a chance to country to a new place. Ar- She had that accent. meet the people who came to rangements were made for Living with Vera helped the games to cheer him and him to live with a complete Loretta become part of his teammates on. stranger and he was ordered the Falmouth community, On the diamond, Mark to report to a job with minimal but his summer employ- worked hard to sharpen his training. ment really put him in the baseball skills. Coming into At the new job at the middle of it. “The fi rst year his fi rst Commodore sum- grocery store, Mark fumbled I worked at Stop and Shop. mer he was hitting .273 with while keying in the cor- I was a checker and a bag- the Wildcats. In the summer SAM MELNICK rect code for Red Delicious ger, and I chased carriages. months of 1991 Mark had Former Commodore Mark Loretta spent some time talking apples and the line to Mark’s I didn’t know what carriages a batting average of .224. baseball with Falmouth intern Nicole Zartarian in the Red Sox register grew long with ir- were coming from Southern He returned to the Wildcats dugout before a recent game at Fenway. ritated shoppers who rolled California, they’re called carts for the 1992 season and his their eyes, and snickered at there. They train us for, like, average sprang to .355, a honors rank high in his book, He moved to the San Diego his inexperience. two days then turn us loose dramatic increase from the “Making the All-Star team the Padres for the 2003 season Come nightfall, the eye-roll- on the register, so I was scuf- previous season. Mark’s second [summer] I was there, where he hit .314 with an ing irritated shoppers’ jeers fl ing and I was like ‘ahhh.’ second season with the Com- that was a lot of fun, probably on-base percentage of .372. changed to cheers as they I didn’t know all the codes modores was a success and the highlight.” In the 2004 season Loretta watched him compete on the for fruits and vegetables so earned him a spot on the Loretta credits his time hit his career high average baseball diamond. The an- people would get annoyed All-Star team; he was also with the Commodores for of .335 and earned himself a nouncer introduced him as he with me at times, but it was named team MVP. His All-Star his success. “I have told spot on the National League walked up to the plate, “Now this to many people; I think All-Star team. batting for the Commodores, the two summers I spent on Eleven years after his Cape from Northwestern University, Cape Cod really were the Cod All-Star honors, Com- Mark Loretta.” most benefi cial for me as an modore fans were celebrating Three days later, another amateur. Using the wooden his 2006 All-Star American bag of Red Delicious apples bats, facing the best college League appearance, espe- crossed the conveyer belt players in the country really cially since he was repre- and Mark remembered the did more for my career than senting the Boston Red Sox. code this time. The cheerful anything else.” “It’s a great honor and I am customer said, “You played The numbers Mark put up very fl attered to be voted in. well the other night, Mark.” in his fi nal season with the Anytime you make an All-Star The year was 1991 and Wildcats mirrored his im- team, whatever level you are Mark Loretta, now an all-star provement. In 1993 he was at, it’s very special.” with the Boston Red Sox, again named to the All-Big Loretta has come a long was in Falmouth for his fi rst Ten First Team, was Big Ten way since his check out summer as a member of the “Player of the Year,” and was register days at Stop and Cape Cod Baseball League. an ABCA All-American. To Shop. Although many years Like all his Cape League this day, his name graces the have passed since his Cape peers, he had been dropped pages of the Northwestern League days, he still enjoys into a foreign community Wildcats record book. refl ecting on the time he where he would become His outstanding play while spent in Falmouth. “I really viewed as shining star. on the Cape caught the eye had a great time there, not Hailing from Southern of Major League Baseball only baseball-wise, but work- California, Loretta attended scouts and he was drafted ing in the community,” he St. Francis High School be- by the Milwaukee Brewers said. fore making his debut with in the seventh round of the And the communities the Northwestern Wildcats 1993 amateur draft. By 1995 enjoy watching their players in 1990. Before coming to he had moved through the play. Who knows? The kid the Falmouth Commodores, ranks of Milwaukee’s minor battling to fi gure out how he was named to the 1991 league system and made his to ring up your order at the All-Big Ten Third Team and MLB debut with the Brewers grocery store could be the then again in 1992. By the SAM MELNICK in September. same guy that brings your end of his sophomore year, Red Sox star Mark Loretta looks at a Falmouth Commodores He stayed with the Brew- team a World Series title Loretta was viewed as being sweatshirt and remembers his summer on the Cape. ers until the 2002 season. some day. among the elite in colle- giate baseball and returned to Falmouth to become a ������������������ Commodore for the summer ��������������������� months. ������������������� The tradition of the Cape �������������������� Cod Baseball League is that � ������������ �� ������� ��������� ���������� players reside with commu- ���������������������������������� nity members who open up ������������������� ���������������������� ����������������������������������������� their homes and welcome ����������� the boys of summer with ����� ���� ����������������� ��������������������������������������� open arms. Mark remembers �������������� ��������������������������������������� his host mother fondly, “I ������������������������������ �������������������������� lived with a lady named Vera ����������������������� ����������������������� Brabrook, an older widow. A teammate of mine and I lived with her for two summers. � � � � � � � � � � She really knew a lot about ��������������������������������������� Cape Cod and had lived there a long time.” Over the course ���������������������������������� of the two summers that ����������������������������������������������������������������� Mark lived with Vera, he came to know her well. Even Mark’s ��������������������������������������������������� wife, then girlfriend, tells ���������������������������������������������������� stories of Vera. She would call and ask for Mark and she ��������������������������������� [Vera] would say “who?” ������������������������������������ ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6 SUMMER STARS Thursday, July 27, 2006

FANS GUIDE TO ATTENDING THE ALL-STAR GAME BY RICH MACLONE a parking spot within walk- If you love baseball, ing distance, you will have CCBL All Star Schedule of Events and the Cape Cod Base- plenty of time to get back to ball League, you have to your car to store the items Saturday, 29 July, 2006 make plans to get out to for the day. the CCBL all-star game on After the autograph ses- Red Wilson Field • Yarmouth, MA Saturday afternoon at Yar- sions and infield practice mouth-Dennis’s Red Wilson for each team, the most fun 11:00 Gates open to public Field. The all-star game is part of the day is the home the crown jewel of the Cape run derby. The ball travels 12:00 Players available to media League’s season as it brings pretty well at Red Wilson, together the best of the best so there should be lots of 12:30 East Batting Practice / West Autograph / Media on one field for a day of fun long balls to gawk at. The and competition. best places to watch, if 1:15 West Batting Practice / East Autographs / Media Fans planning on attend- you’re hoping to bring home 2:00 East Infield ing the game should do one a souvenir is the areas

between the foul poles and thing first and foremost: get 2:15 West Infield there early. Parking is al- the power alleys in right ways an issue at the all-star and left field. There will be 2:30 Home Run Hitting Contest game, no matter which field more space to watch in left the league holds the game field at Red Wilson, as the 3:15 Field preparations at, and with construction woods are thick from center at Dennis-Yarmouth High to right field and moving 3:40 All Star Player Introductions / Lineup School there is no doubt from side-to-side is not go- that that, once again, will be ing to be easy. 3:50 National Anthem the case on Saturday. Also, if you are coming Getting there early does to the home run derby in 3:58 Ground Rule Conference not mean that you will be hopes of bringing home a sitting around with nothing ball, bring a glove. Yes, it 4:00 First Pitch Ceremony / Presentation to do, though. The Cape is usually frowned upon by League offers plenty to baseball purists to bring 4:05 Game Start keep both young and old your mitt to the park—after distracted throughout the all, they aren’t going to ask 7th In God Bless America day. Autograph seekers can you to play—things are dif- get their favorite memen- ferent at the derby. Catching 7:00 Scouts choose MVP tos inked by both teams at a baseball with bare hands designated times and also is not an easy thing to do, 7:15 Post-game Awards at home plate immediately following the game by CCBL President Judy Scarafile and Commissioner Paul Galop share a few words with the and can result in mangled league’s best players. There hands and fingers. Having will be plenty of vendors on a glove on, you will protect hand selling stuff that fans your digits and give your- in trying to catch homers age of 38? head because you weren’t can have signed, with base- self a good chance to come should remember one thing When game time starts, watching the game. balls and bats being the down with a ball. Once the above all else: baseball is at make sure to buy a 50-50 And when you watch the most popular items. Don’t ball hits the ground, there heart a kid’s game. Catch- ticket. Even if you don’t game, cheer for both sides. forget to bring a Sharpie, as will be a mad scramble for ing one and taking it home normally participate in These are the best players those pens hold up the best it, and mixing it up with 12- is acceptable. Catching a the nightly drawing at the in the league, and division- over time. Also protection year-olds is not advised for horde of balls and not hand- ballgames, this is a chance al loyalty is superseded by for the items after they’ve adults. Not only do you look ing them out to the kids is to both help the league as the overall talent on the been signed is a good idea. silly, but they have a distinct immature and mean. Share a whole, and maybe take field. Not only are these Cubes for baseballs and advantage in quickness and the wealth. Besides, what home a gangster’s wad of guys good, but they do tubes for bats work best. If will win most of the battles. are you going to do with a cash . The tally that the win- their best to put on a show. you are lucky enough to find Adults who participate half-dozen baseballs at the ner takes home is always There will most likely be several hundred dollars, diving catches, long balls, making it worth throwing a and hustle all around. The CCBL All-Star Game To Be Broadcast On National Public Radio finski into the pot. players are going to enter- Make sure to bring a lawn tain, and the fans owe it CAPE COD, Mass - The 44th annual Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game chair out to the game, as to them to show their full on July 29th at 4 p.m. at Red Wilson Field in South Yarmouth, will be broadcasted bleacher seating is very appreciation. live on WCAI (90.1 FM), WNAN (91.1 FM) and WZAI (94.3 FM), the Cape and Islands limited at Red Wilson. As So get out to Red Wilson NPR stations, and streamed at www.capeandislands.org. stated previously, getting on Saturday for the all-star there early is important. game and have fun. It only “We’re excited about reaching a new audience through our partnership with The At that time you can get comes once a year and it Cape and Islands NPR stations,” said League president Judy Walden Scarafile. “It’s a prime spot to watch the is an afternoon that should outstanding having our premier event broadcasted on such a prestigious medium.” game from, with the best be treasured. Don’t forget “Cape and Islands NPR stations Broadcast Director Steve Young added, “Some views at Red Wilson com- to bring some dough to people have been surprised to hear that an NPR station is broadcasting sports, ing right down the foul lines. spend because you’ll want but this game fits right into our stated mission to ‘celebrate the uniqueness of the If you do sit close to the to take home a T-shirt and communities that we serve.’ action, make sure to pay a program and feed your- attention to the game; a self. It’s a long day, and it “Baseball fans the world over know that Cape Cod communities, in the summer, foul ball can find you pretty will tire you out by the end, are THE places to watch the major league players of tomorrow. We’re very excited quickly and you don’t want but you’ll leave with a huge that, with our wide listening area and our online streaming, we’ll be bringing the to be the person who ends smile on your face. You very best of those future players, and the very best of Cape Cod, to our listeners, up with an egg on your fore- have to love baseball. wherever they might be,” said Young. “Dan Rubin, Internet broadcast voice of the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, will provide play-by-play, with color commentary from the league’s Director of Public ���� ���������� ���� Relations & Broadcasting, John Garner, Jr. “Forty-six of the top players in the Cape League, 23 from both the East and West Divisions, will be selected by the field managers on July 25 and announced by ������������ CCBL Commissioner Paul Galop. �������������� ����� “In addition to www.capeandislands.org, the CCBL All-Star Game will also be streamed on www.capecodbaseball.org, along with all 10 Cape League team Web sites, on the Cape Cod Baseball League Network powered by Cape.Com. Listen- �������������� ����� � � ������� � ers will also be able to listen to the broadcast by dialing one of the five designated local phone numbers. ����������� �� �������� � � � Thursday, July 27, 2006 SUMMER STARS 7 Inside The Game The Inside Story Of Jamming Batters

BY MARK A. BROWN times do get hit by pitches. tively throw inside for strikes, Seventeen inches. It’s part of the game. But he can usually get ahead in In its simplest element, most pitchers try to avoid the count. This forces the that’s what the game of that, not just because of pen- batter to “protect the plate” baseball comes down to— a alties, but because it gives by swinging at subsequent battle between a pitcher and the opposing team a free run- outside pitches that, while a hitter over a five-sided slab ner at first base. they may be in the strike of rubber, called home plate, For a batter facing an zone, aren’t within his pre- that’s less than a foot and a inside pitch, especially one ferred comfort zone. half wide. up and in toward his head Matt Ranson, pitching The pitcher knows he has and shoulders, his reaction coach for the Falmouth Com- to get his pitches across the is tested. He needs to decide modores, said certain types plate for strikes, while the within a split second how to of hitters are better targets hitter is intent on making sure take evasive action by jump- for the inside pitching ap- he gets his pick of the litter to ing, lunging, or lurching out of proach, and that makes it im- swing at for a hit. the way. portant for pitchers to study How this battle takes shape However successful inside the mechanics of opposing in the Cape Cod Baseball pitches aren’t confined to batters. “There are tenden- League is a bit different from those that force a hitter to cies a hitter might have. If his how it develops in other move out of the batter’s box. weight distribution is on his leagues and levels of play. Just as effective are those front foot, we can pitch inside For nearly all CABLE hitters, pitches that “jam” the hitter to set up the fastball outside it’s their first time swinging such that he can only swing where he’s lunging at the with wooden bats after using at it with the narrow portion ball,” he said. metallic bats in college. The of his bat—the part closest Aggressive hitters are adjustment comes slowly for to his hands and below the also good candidates to be most. Opposing pitchers and meat of the barrel. pitched inside. “There are a coaches know this and try to Pitchers may often try lot of guys, who’ll swing at exploit the weakness. to “nibble” by throwing an the first pitch,” Coach Ran- The nuances of a pitcher’s inside pitch that nicks the son said. “If we can get them actions and a batter’s reac- inner edge of the batter’s to swing at an inside pitch tions are a chess game of strike zone. Many inside early on, that gives us an sorts. The most success- pitches are out of the strike edge.” ful Cape League pitchers, zone, which would seem to While Cape League hitters those with the best chance contradict the pitcher’s goal have the unenviable task of of advancing in their careers, of throwing strikes. Howev- learning to use different bats, SPORTSPIX PHOTO BY BILL VAUGHAN become adept at keeping er, an effective inside pitch their counterparts on the Cotuit outfielder Kyle Russell gets brushed back by a pitcher. hitters off-balance and out of has a far more valuable mound have no such draw- their comfort zones. effect than a strike call—it backs to contend with. Coach “We’ve had a lot of guys try- ter, it needs to stay up and The secret? Pitching inside. forces the batter to change Ranson said he encourages ing to go inside, and we’ve hit in,” he said. “We’ve given up This means throwing pitches, his approach, and decreas- his pitchers to work the inner a lot of batters,” he said. six home runs, and four of usually sizzling fastballs, that es his chance of reaching part of the strike zone more There’s also a danger of not them have been on breaking are aimed above the inner base. often early in the season. coming far enough inside on pitches,” he said. edge of the plate. For batters, How a batter adjusts to an “During the first couple of a batter and leaving the pitch When confronted with the sight of a cowhide sphere inside pitch will vary. Coo- weeks we’re pounding it out over the plate, allowing a inside pitches, Coach Farris coming toward them at 90 to per Farris, head coach of inside and really challenging hitter to take a quality swing. said, it’s critical that batters 95 miles per hour can cause the Wareham Gatemen, said hitters,” he said. Coach Farris said this often learn to temper their ap- uneasiness at best and instill some hitters may back their Pitching inside carries happens when a pitcher tries proach. “A lot of guys just fear at worst. stance away from the plate some risks, Coach Farris to use a breaking pitch inside want to turn and burn,” he Pitching inside does not slightly, while others become said, especially for pitchers instead of a fastball. “When said, referring to hitters that mean throwing directly at wary of balls coming in on who lack pinpoint control. you come up and in on a hit- Continued on Page 16 a batter, though it’s been them. “That lets a pitcher set known to happen. Since the up his pitches on the out- game’s infancy hitters have side half of the plate,” Coach had to be wary of getting Farris said. “It also sets up pitches “in their ear,” aimed breaking pitches,” such as at their heads, but stricter curves, sliders, and change- penalties at all levels of the ups, which are slower than game have decreased those fastballs and often change incidents. direction. ������������� Of course, batters some- When a pitcher can effec- ������������ ���������� ���������������������������������� ������������������ ���������������� ������������������ ������������������ ���������������������

��������������� ������������������������� ������������������������������� ���� ����� ��������� ���� ����� ����� �������� �������� ��������������������� ���������������� �������������������������������������� ������������ ������������ ����������� �������������� ������� ������������ ������������ ������������ ������������������� ������������������������ 8 SUMMER STARS Thursday, July 27, 2006

Ballpark of the Week In Falmouth, It’s About The Overall Experience BY MATTHEW M. BURKE remember that blast as will While seeking photos of the the Commodore faithful, who on-field action from Falmouth came out in droves to watch broadcast duo Darin Weeks the Mariners fall 3-1; I know and Richard Maclone’s nest I will. on Wednesday, July 19, high Best Place to Park: The above the Arnie Allen Dia- best place to park at Guv mond at Guv Fuller Field on Fuller is not an easy question Main Street in Falmouth, I to answer. I found the parking had a moment of clarity. situation to be worse than at The two lighthearted fellow any other ballpark I had been Summer Stars writers were in to, and this time I was early! I the middle of their broadcast, ended up parking on the side the Harwich Mariners versus of Morse Pond Road, located the hometown Commodores, behind the park, which you when I let my presence be might get a ticket doing, but known by snapping several there weren’t any available photos. Darin started busting spots in the small parking lot my chops about going easy off Main Street. on some of the fields that I The Commodores have a fan have rated thus far for Sum- base similar in size to Cotuit, MATTHEW BURKE mer Stars now that we are Orleans, and Wareham, and fill A magnificent sunset as the lights come on over the field at Falmouth. halfway through the CCBL up their park for every game. season. How could I think so I recommend getting to the for $4, plastic cubes for base- press box was filled with kids Guv Fuller is handicapped highly of all of the fields? game an hour to 30 minutes balls at $3, and silver writing imitating their favorite CCBL accessible and had many I laughed and started to prior to the start for a spot. pens for $1.50. players all night long. great spots to view the game. think back on all of the fields I Best Place to Watch: The Food: The food at the park The Park: Guv Fuller is not Another drawback is the long have rated, from Wareham to best place to watch the game was typical fare, except for the best looking park. The lines at the concession stand. Orleans, and Cotuit to Hyan- while at Guv Fuller is in one the grilled meats. Local Ron field and the aging fence that How Far I Got on 20 Bucks: nis. I looked back at some of two spots: leaning on the Braga manned the grill, cook- surrounds all but one side of Twenty bucks will get you far of the fields and some of the home dugout, down the first ing burgers for $3.50, cheese- it, look like a glorified high at any CCBL baseball game if ratings and thought to myself, base line, or sitting on the burgers for $4, and sausage school field, reminiscent of you want it to. I got a sausage “maybe they didn’t match grassy knoll located down subs complete with grilled Spillane in Wareham, only sub at the concession stand up.” I quickly shook off those the left field line. Both spots peppers and onions for $5.50, minus the ridiculously amaz- for $5.50 and lemonade to feelings and immediately are optimal and offer a com- on top of dancing flames. The ing views. However, at Guv wash it down for $1.25. I got a came to the realization that I pletely different view. sausage subs were juicy and Fuller I had one of the best Homer T-shirt for my girlfriend, haven’t been rating the vari- Leaning on the Commodores cooked just right. The grilled experiences yet at a ballpark, $10, and a plastic baseball ous parks per se; I have been dugout allows an unhindered, peppers and onions made the as did the hundreds of kids cube for $3 to house my Lou rating the overall experiences close-up view of the pitcher subs to die for. The burgers who were in attendance. Kids Brock autographed baseball that go along with them. and the batters at the plate. were above average size and of all ages could be heard that I got several weeks ago in Every CCBL park has some It is the best view for a small looked like they were worth yelling words of support for Bourne, all good buys. lackluster aspects, but, at group of fans or a person at- every penny. The nachos with the Falmouth players, most To sum it up, the facilities in the same time, you’d be hard tending the game alone. cheese for $3.75 were the of whom they knew by name. Falmouth aren’t terrible, but pressed to find a baseball The best place to watch biggest hit with the hordes of I was a Commodores fan they aren’t that great, either. fan who had a bad time at a for a family or someone who kids who flock to the family- Wednesday night as I got The parking situation was game anywhere. wants to relax is on a blanket friendly park. caught up in the festivities. troublesome and the conces- As I watched fill-in player on the slight grassy incline Best Feature: The best Due to the amount of sion stand lines long, but the Matt Nuzzo from Brown, a adjacent to the left fielder. feature of the park was the things kids can do while at field was handicapped ac- guy who nobody expected to There is no fence blocking events, promotions, and fa- the field, they are bred on the cessible, the views good, and be on the team past the first the view here and the only cilities designed for the kids. Commodores, starting at an the atmosphere was electric. few weeks, hit the game-win- thing separating the left The reigning “most family early age. This might have It was a great baseball expe- ning home run, a three-run, fielder and the fans is chalk, friendly” park, Orleans, falls something to do with the at- rience. 335-foot job to left in the just like right field in Orleans. to Falmouth, which can boast tendance numbers, as all age I give the Arnie Allen Dia- bottom of the seventh, I knew Best Buys: The best buys basketball courts, numerous groups were represented. I mond at Guv Fuller Field four my rating system has worked at Guy Fuller Field were mini sports fields, a playground, loved the way the Commo- stars. thus far, because although batting helmets for $15, bum- a lovable baseball-headed dores staff played snippets the Arnie Allen Diamond at per and window stickers for mascot named Homer, and of songs in-between batters Guv Fuller Field doesn’t have $1, Homer (the Commodores free inflatable baseball-look- to give the park that “Major the best facilities, the experi- mascot) T-shirts for kids at ing beach balls (the promo- League” feel. ence can’t be beat. $10, adjustable visors for $10, tion of the evening). A list of Before the ninth inning, For Nuzzo, a 19-year-old and CCBL golf towels for $8. autograph nights was posted Homer led the kids in a hip- from Everett, poetic justice The Commodores make it on the souvenir stand (the hop hokey pokey that even was once again served to the affordable to be an autograph next one is July 31), and had the players on the Fal- non-believers. I’m sure he will seeker as well, with baseballs the batting cage behind the mouth bench clapping along.

MATTHEW BURKE The Commodores’ mascot, Homer, stands ready with pen MATTHEW BURKE MATTHEW BURKE in hand to sign autographs The view from the pressbox in Falmouth puts the broadcasters There are plenty of great places to see a game, including a gen- and meet fans at Falmouth right on the field. tle incline along the first base line. home games. Thursday, July 27, 2006 SUMMER STARS 9

Brewster Pitcher

MATTHEW BURKE A magnificent sunset as the lights come on over the field at Falmouth.

CHUCK BORGE The Umpire crew, consisting of Steve Koneski Peter Smith and Ken Kenworthy, talks things over before a recent game hosted by the Bourne Braves.

Shaun ���� SEIBERT WHITECAPS KK Codders’ Player of the Week ������������������������������������� Shaun Seibert is having the type of summer that a pitcher �������������������������������������������������������������� dreams about having. The right-hander from the University of Arkansas has been brilliant all summer long, posting a perfect 0.00 earned-run average through his  rst six starts. Seibert has surrendered just 18 base hits in 34.2 innings of work and has a ����������� record of 4-0 for the Brewster Whitecaps. Seibert has fanned 30 ���������������������� and walked 20 with only  ve unearned runs marring his other- wise perfect record. ������������������������������������������ “Cape Cod Dining as it should be!” ���������������������� ����������������� 465 Grand Avenue, Falmouth Heights 508-299-8200 ���������������������������������������� Check out SummerStars on the web @ ������������������������ www.capenews.net ���������

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Smoak Blazing Quite a Trail put on a show in his com- innings and the first two outs lose and always think about a style of play much different The Cape ing-out party to the national of the sixth, the Gatemen saw 'what if,'" said Kopp. than the fast-paced world League is one audience that now follows the first runs cross the plate For Clemson fans and play- of the Cape Cod Baseball full of young the Cape League. on back-to-back singles by ers the loss was hard to swal- League. But he was ready for talent whose By Nicholas Mucci, the Red Sox. Wareham cut low, as this team was one the challenge, and has defi- players go on CCBL Intern the lead to 3-2 in the eighth that brought so much energy nitely risen to the occasion. to become [email protected] on a Seth Henry (Tulane) two- to the park every day and Townsend, who came to the stars of out, two-run double to left one that took their fans on an the Cape confident in his de- tomorrow. Justin Smoak is center. In the ninth, the Gate- amazing ride. No opponent's fensive skills as a shortstop, just one of these young stars. Gatemen Stay Steady in the men viewed men on second lead was ever safe, and fans has excelled for the Mets as After being thrown into the West and third with one out after would seldom leave Doug second baseman. He credits mix as a freshman at one of After post- a single by Bradley Suttle Kingsmore Stadium. the talent of other players in the nation's finest baseball ing a five- (Texas) and a double by Joel Despite the difficult loss the league for helping him programs at the University of game losing Collins (South Alabama), but in Omaha, the Clemson improve upon his own game, South Carolina, Smoak im- streak last they were unable to generate boys have kept their head noting, "Although it's only mediately demonstrated his week, the any more runs. high even though it seemed mid-season, I have noticed talents. Wareham Through Friday, the Gate- impossible to do. Kopp, a a large improvement in my Out of Goose Creek High Gatemen men continue to hold the Florida native, has enjoyed offensive game. The Cape School in South Carolina, returned this week with a second-place spot in the his stay on the Cape and League has been extremely Smoak, along with Gamecock promising record of 3-2. Fol- Western Division. feels honored to be a part of beneficial to me, in that the and Kettleer teammate Reese lowing a two-game road, trip By Daniel Scalia, CCBL Intern the league. fast pace and strong pitching Havens, was named Co-Mr. the Gatemen began the week [email protected] "This scenery has been will help me in my college ca- Baseball in South Carolina. at home when they faced the amazing and the caliber of reer this year when I transfer Drafted in the 16th round by Bourne Braves. athletes among us is hard to to Florida. It will be similar to the Oakland Athletics in 2005, Struggling to find any pro- Kopp Looking For a Summer compare to," said the 6-foot- what I will face next spring he spurned the draft for his duction down offensively until of Improvement 3 righty. and now I have an idea of chance at a College World the seventh inning, Riley Boe- Falmouth Kopp showed signs of what to expect out there." Series title. ning (Texas) held the Braves boasts a improvement as a sophomore At the start of the season, One look at this first base- to two runs (one earned) lineup that and there is no doubt in his he struggled offensively, as man reveals his talent. At over nine innings. Allowing is leading mind, nor in that of his coach most players often do when 6-foot-3 and an even 200 just three hits and striking the league Jack Leggett, that he may switching from the aluminum pounds, Smoak carries an out nine, the Gatemen came in hits, very well become a dominant bats to the wooden bats of intimidating presence similar around in the seventh to home runs pitcher for the Tigers next the CCBL. But at Tuesday's to that of a grizzled major produce five runs on five hits, and, unfor- season. Kopp knows as well game against the Bourne league veteran. giving Boening the win. Ware- tunately, as anyone there is no better Braves, Townsend proved After having an unbeliev- ham received their offense strikeouts. place to hone your skills than to coaches and fans alike able year for the Gamecocks from Jason Ogata (LSU) and The Com- the Cape, where he will face that he had officially arrived. in which he set USC fresh- Ryan Gotcher (Arkansas-Lit- modores have been putting the best of the best day in In the sixth inning he hit his man records with 17 home tle Rock), who both had RBI up some crooked numbers and day out. first home run of the sea- runs and 63 RBIs, Justin singles, followed by a patient all season, but this offensive Things have gone well so son, allowing Jared McGuire was named to the Baseball at-bat by Steffan Wilson (Har- success hasn't turned into far for Kopp, who has started (Boston College) to advance America Freshman All-Ameri- vard) that resulted in driving as many victories as hoped. three games and has two home as well and the Mets to can squad. Not only were in the game-winning run. At 14-15-1, Falmouth is miles wins to show and a 0.77 ERA. take the 3-1 lead. these numbers good enough The Gatemen tested their away from the frontrunners in He started the summer in re- However, the Braves would to set freshman records, but bullpen Monday night when the West, Cotuit, but it is not lief in order to build back his re-capture the lead in the they also were team highs. they traveled to Orleans for too late for the team to turn arm strength and was able to eighth to beat the Mets with After South Carolina was an extra-inning battle. Ware- things around and make a record a save and come up a final score of 4-3. Starter ousted in the College World ham was able to score in the playoff push. with some big innings for the Josh Collementer (Central Series, the young first base- top of the 14th, with Tim Mat- Falmouth has simply been Commodores. Michigan) provided a strong men did what any natural thews working four scoreless unlucky this season, with a With the will and work ethic 5 1/3 innings for Hyannis, fan- competitor would do, shrug- innings for the win. few breaks seeming always Kopp has shown in his two ning four and keeping Bourne ging it off and continuing Heading into the off-day to go in favor of the opposi- years in Tigertown, Kopp hitless the first time through to improve as a ball player. with a three-game winning tion. Their pitching staff is full has the ability to be a star. the lineup. Other standouts Smoak didn't waste much streak, the Gatemen were of talent from top to bot- Improving his velocity and for the Mets offense were time, recording two hits in his anxious to continue their tom and can't be blamed for mixing up his pitches are two Continued on Next Page first game for Cotuit and not success against the recently the early season problems. things he needs to improve looking back since. Although hot bats of the Hyannis Mets. David Kopp is one of the on, and with the guidance his average has dipped below Wareham sent Travis Banwart many young arms Falmouth of the knowledgeable Jeff .300 as of late, by no means (Wichita State) to the hill to fans have been able to enjoy Trundy and the coaching staff is this slugger slowing down. continue the winning streak. watching this season. in Falmouth, fans may see With five home runs good for In an impressive performance A member of the Clemson Kopp develop into a star right It’s not too second in the league, he has Banwart lasted six scoreless Tigers, the sophomore played under their own eyes. helped set the tone for some innings, allowing just seven a key role in their run to the By Nicholas Mucci, late to big innings this season. hits while striking out four. College World Series. Along CCBL Intern Coach Roberts has Smoak Currently, Banwart leads the with his three teammates, [email protected] advertise in in the two-hole, a place team with a 0.90 ERA over 20 Brad Chalk, Stan Widmann where Justin has been very innings pitched. The right- and Taylor Harbin, Kopp is Pack Your Bags, We're comfortable. With a great hander has shown nothing hoping to improve this sum- Heading to J-Town pitching staff that has re- but excellence on the mound mer and help Clemson make Jon Summer corded seven shutouts this for the Gatemen this season. another championship run Townsend season, Justin and his fellow The Gatemen witnessed in 2007. The spring of 2006 (Florida) is position players feel less an impressive performance was magical for the Tigers, not your Stars! pressure to put up big num- at the plate by San Diego and Kopp and the boys felt typical bers. This fits nicely with the State's Brandon Glover, who as though they should have Cape Leaguer. The Hyannis Kettleers' small-ball style of had three hits in five plate ap- been crowned champions, Mets second baseman is a Call the play, in which laying down a pearances while stealing two but that is why they play the far cry from the prototypes bunt or executing a hit-and- bases. games. fans would expect to be play- Enterprise run is commonplace. Despite his strong perfor- "It was an amazing run, ing on the Cape this summer. With the home run contest mance, Luke Putkonen (UNC) full of comeback victories, Townsend, a London, Ky. 508-548-4700 a week away, Smoak is likely received a hard loss after big home runs and just plain native, arrived to Hyannis this to be one of the competitors. throwing the complete game emotion, something I will not year out of Saddleback Com- Look for this power hitter to against Y-D. After five shutout soon forget, but you hate to munity College, a college with 12 SUMMER STARS Thursday, July 27, 2006 Batting Around A weekly roundup of reports from around the Cape Cod Baseball League EASTERN DIVISION W L T PTS STREAK LAST 10 YARMOUTH-DENNIS 21 13 0 42 W 2 8-2 BREWSTER 19 13 2 40 W 1 7-3 West Roundup Continued... ORLEANS 17 14 1 35 W 2 4-6 CHATHAM 14 17 1 29 L 3 5-5 Continued from Page 11 mastered the role to a tee. Braves showed success led by Matt Mangini (Oklahoma) and By Courtney Reilly, Bartles, who went 3-for-5, and HARWICH 12 17 0 24 L 1 3-7 Jared McGuire (Boston Col- CCBL Intern Ty Wright (Oklahoma State), WESTERN DIVISION W L T PTS STREAK LAST 10 lege) who both went 2-for-3 [email protected] who went 2-for-4 and scored COTUIT 21 9 1 43 W 3 7-3 on the night. In addition, Ben the only Braves run on a sac WAREHAM 18 16 0 36 W 2 6-4 Jeffers (Georgia) pitched a fl y in the fi fth. Austin Krum

through July 23, 2006 through FALMOUTH 14 16 1 29 L 1 4-6 perfect ninth inning. Braves Find Cash Valuable (Dallas Baptist), David Cash HYANNIS 13 17 2 28 L 2 3-7 Clearly Townsend's homer Making it (Florida) and Wright all had two DIVISION STANDINGS BOURNE 5 22 2 12 L 5 1-9 proved to be the highlight through for hits for the Braves in the loss. of the game for Mets fans. the fi rst week The Braves have seen BATTING TOP 10 As far as his time spent on this summer, great success at Hyannis (MINIMUM 86 PLATE APPEARANCES) the Cape League, he is just the Braves this summer and continued BATTER CLUB AVG G AB R H HR RBI thankful to be here. "It's were able to their path with another win at Farris, Eric COT .344 29 96 11 33 0 12 always been a dream of complete all their games as McKeon Park. Bourne posted Wieters, Matt OLN .329 23 85 12 28 5 15 mine to play here. Baseball scheduled, including one a three-run rally in the eighth Donaldson, HAR .320 27 103 16 33 4 17 is extremely important to make-up game. Unfortunately to pick up their fi fth win of Josh me, but also, being given the for the Braves, by week's end the season. Bartles and Cash Chalk, Brad FAL .308 23 104 9 32 0 7 opportunity to play in such a they were only able to post both had two hits in the win, great league, I want to take one win over six games. while timely hitting by Krum Mangini, Matt HYA .306 31 121 7 37 1 13 in everything the Cape has to In spite of the number of tied the game in the eighth Cash, David BOU .301 23 93 12 28 0 5 offer, including those things losses the Bourne Braves with an RBI single. Andrew Posey, Buster YRD .299 34 124 17 40 2 15 outside of baseball." have had this season, they Carignan (UNC) earned his Havens, COT .295 25 88 13 26 2 12 As far as a favorite moment still manage to draw a strong second save, throwing two Reese on the Cape, he notes that crowd at all their home scoreless innings of relief to Rea, Jeffrey COT .293 30 123 24 36 0 18 although his home run is defi - games. The relief pitching give the Braves a 4-3 victory. Smoak, Justin COT .287 27 108 18 31 6 19 nitely high on the list, he has continues to present the With an umpire appeal clos- HOME RUNS enjoyed being surrounded biggest problem despite ing the door on a late-inning Smoak, Justin COT 6 by so many great people and the recent changes. Begin- rally for Bourne in the ninth, ning the week by traveling the Braves were unable to McFadden, FAL 6 bonding with his teammates, Warren who will now be his lifelong to Wareham, the Braves saw come back from a 1-0 defi cit Wieters, Matt OLN 5 friends. In addition, he credits starter Tom Farmer (Akron) to the Brewster Whitecaps. his host family, the Conti's, pitch well over six shutout Trailing 1-0 in the ninth, Krum Several Players 4 Tied At with helping him to adjust to innings, allowing just two was called out for missing the life on the Cape and showing hits. The Braves took an early fi rst base bag en route to sec- RBI so much kindness in taking lead coming off the bat of ond in what appeared to be a Rizzotti, Matt CHA 21 him into their home as family. Mitch Mooreland (Mississippi leadoff double. Krum has been Emaus, Brad YRD 20 Townsend and the Mets State), who doubled in Brett his own highlight reel for the Smaok, Justin COT 19 look forward to the coming Bartles (Duke), followed by a Braves this summer with a bat- Rea, Jeffrey COT 18 weeks and hope to have a Cat Everett (Tulane) sacrifi ce ting average that fl irts around Several Players 17 shot at the championship: fl y in the fi fth. The Braves' .300 and performing strong Tied At "We're very optimistic about relief pitching could not hold plays defensively. Meanwhile, STOLEN BASES making the playoffs. We have the small lead, giving up a Cash is the spark for the Carrara, Chris CHA 14 strong hitting and pitching fi ve-run seventh in the loss. Braves in the leadoff spot. Kaiser, Kody OLN 14 and we just need to put it all Stranding 12 runners on 10 With his .310 batting average, Gotcher, Ryan WAR 13 together. I think in the coming hits in the loss to Cotuit, the the outfi elder has performed Several Players 10 weeks we will move up in the team with the best record in well for Bourne this summer. Tied At standings." So although he is the Cape League, was detri- By Daniel Scalia, TEAM AVG AB R H HR BB SO SB CS not your typical Cape Leagu- mental to the late-hitting bats CCBL Intern BATTING er, Townsend clearly has of Bourne. Offensively, the [email protected] Cotuit .268 1027 156 275 17 136 231 40 21

Falmouth .259 1093 134 283 28 84 297 27 22 Hyannis .243 1029 104 250 6 104 234 19 14 Yarmouth- .238 1106 161 263 27 124 224 41 19 Dennis Harwich .226 956 99 216 12 92 228 45 24 Brewster .225 1099 132 247 15 139 228 27 24 Wareham .220 1121 129 247 8 137 263 60 12 Orleans .218 1032 108 225 13 123 254 39 16 Chatham .214 1017 120 218 13 136 289 47 13 Bourne .202 917 75 185 6 97 246 26 13 ADDITIONAL BATTING LEADERS HITS Posey, Buster YRD 40 Mangini, Matt HYA 37 Rea, Jeffrey COT 36 Farris, Eric COT 33 Donaldson, HAR 33 Josh DOUBLES Smoak, Justin COT 9 Donaldson, HAR 9 Josh Satin, Josh OLN 9 Russell, Kyle COT 8 SLUGGING PERCENTAGE Smoak, Justin COT .537 Wieters, Matt OLN .529 Donaldson, Josh HAR .524 McFadden, Warren FAL .487 Bianucci, YRD .460 CHUCK BORGE Michael Brewster’s Andrew Romine is caught in a rundown by Bourne thirdbaseman Matt Hall. Thursday, July 27, 2006 SUMMER STARS 13 Batting Batting Around Around A weekly roundup of reports from around the Cape Cod Baseball League A weekly roundup of reports from around the Cape Cod Baseball League East Division Roundup CAPE COD LEAGUE LEADERS (Through Games Of 7/23/06) Y-D Has Its Eyes on the Prize struggling and, for a short he's been "under the radar" PITCHING TOP 10 (MINIMUM 25 IP) Y-D time, were in last place in the when it comes to scouting, Red Sox standings. Hume feels that which is really hard to imag- PITCHER CLUB W-L ERA IP H BB SO pitcher the turn around came from ine considering his perfor- Seibert, Shaun BRW 4-0 0.00 35 18 20 30 Donnie simply "coming together and mance so far this year. He Hargrove, Ricky CHA 2-0 0.76 36 17 14 27 Hume having some fun, which will ended his sophomore year at *Merklinger, Dan HAR 3-0 1.04 35 25 12 38 (Long hopefully take us all the way Arkansas with a familiar 4-0 Simmons, James COT 4-1 1.24 44 30 1 33 Beach to a championship trophy." record and a 2.79 ERA. Farmer, Tom BOU 1-2 1.56 35 19 20 26 State) The Sox will continue "hav- Now, if for some strange tallied ing fun" on Sunday in an reason the scouts don't come *Bleich, Jeremy WAR 1-1 1.60 34 27 12 26 another win for his record (3- afternoon game at Bourne. knocking, Shaun has other *Atwood, Will BRW 2-0 1.61 28 13 13 20 0) against the Hyannis Mets By Courtney Reilly, plans. He is studying teach- Davis, Ty OLN 2-1 1.62 33 21 18 26 on Saturday, July 15. Two of CCBL Intern ing and would like to one day Staehely, COT 4-1 1.64 38 28 10 18 his three wins are credited to [email protected] join his brother in the field, Christian his strong pitching against though he would prefer to Shunick, Clayton OLN 3-3 1.70 37 25 8 21 Hyannis. Week 2's Coca-Cola The Race Is On have a long career in profes- WINS Pitcher of the Week went The sional baseball first. eight innings and struck out White- In contrast to Seibert, there Several 4 four batters as Y-D beat Hy- caps have has been a lot of talk about Players Tied at annis 4-1. moved into pitcher Scott Maine (Miami). SAVES Although he has exhibited second Scott has endured a lot of Fields, Joshua YRD 9 tremendous talent in his first place pain and maybe some bad Demel, Sam FAL 8 season on the Cape, Hume this week luck over the last couple Cecil, Brett OLN 8 remains humble, stating that behind the red hot Y-D Red years. After having Tommy every time he plays, his main Sox. No worries, though, as John surgery in 2004, he Latham, Daniel HYA 7 goal is to "give my chance a Brewster is putting up some was injured in an automobile STRIKEOUTS team to win and get one win big wins too and keeping accident last summer. Scott Portice, BOU 45 closer to that championship the race for first place very made it back for the spring Eammon trophy." As far as personal tight. A major reason the and ended this season with a Doyle, Terry YRD 43 goals, Donnie hopes to be Whitecaps have kept up their 12-3 record. DeVries, Cole BRW 41 pitching at his home field, winning ways is their pitching This summer, Scott is one Boening, Riley WAR 39 Merrill "Red" Wilson Field, at staff. of the Whitecaps' best start- the All-Star Game on July 29. Perhaps the most over- ers, proving he has what it TEAM W-L ERA H CG SHO SV HR BB SO PITCHING Hume feels that he has im- looked pitching talent in the takes to make it to the big proved on his game by simply CCBL, Shaun Seibert (Ar- leagues. He got his third win Cotuit 21-9 2.25 228 0 7 7 12 80 206 sticking to his routine: "I just kansas) had another great Thursday over the league- Chatham 14-17 2.47 209 2 2 7 9 103 234 keep working hard day in and outing Wednesday against leading Cotuit Kettleers. Wareham 18-16 2.75 277 2 3 10 7 113 262 day out and it seems to fall the Bourne Braves, going six Scott went 7 1/3 innings, Orleans 17-14 2.91 227 0 3 10 16 138 220 together for me. I've been scoreless innings. gave up one run and struck very fortunate." Along with Seibert remains the top out six, leaving him with a Brewster 19-13 3.12 280 1 2 13 18 123 250 his Y-D teammate Terry Doyle pitcher in the league and has 1.80 ERA. Yarmouth- 21-13 3.16 250 2 5 14 22 125 310 (Boston College), Hume is been able to keep his ERA Relief pitcher Adam Mc- Dennis a CCBL category leader for at 0.00 after 34 2/3 innings Daniel (Georgia) is yet anoth- Harwich 12-17 3.27 207 1 4 7 13 112 258 shutouts, with one thus far in of work. He is leading the er name that has been tossed Falmouth 14-16 3.60 232 0 4 9 20 131 258 the season (against the Mets league with a 4-0 record and around. Adam has appeared Hyannis 13-17 3.62 267 0 1 8 18 126 254 on June 20). Hume realizes can take on any hitter that in 11 games thus far and Bourne 5-22 4.16 232 0 2 3 10 121 242 that at this point, another comes to the plate. has struck out 14; and most shutout may be hard to come Whitecaps head coach Bob importantly, he has not given ADDITIONAL PITCHING LEADERS by, as most batters have ad- Macaluso said Seibert has up an earned run. justed to hitting with wood. "been outstanding ... Shaun Adam played his first two GAMES Although his pitching was is pitching smart and not giv- years at Georgia as an in- Cassavechia, WAR 19 a determining factor in Y-D's ing into hitters." fielder. This year was his first Nick victory, the offense proved The Illinois native thinks Continued on Next Page Demel, Sam FAL 17 to be stronger than Hyannis Graham, WAR 15 could handle in the ninth in- Connor ning. The Red Sox, down 1-0 SHUTOUTS in the sixth, tied the game on a Danny Lehmann (Rice) hit Woodard, CHA 1 to left center which allowed Robert Buster Posey (Florida State) INNINGS PITCHED to score. Boening, Riley WAR 46.0 The Sox offense remained Simmons, COT 43.2 quiet and the score tied until James the top of the ninth inning, Doyle, Terry YRD 40.2 when they took advantage Matthews, Tim WAR 39.1 of two throwing errors on the Hume, Donnie YRD 39.1 same play by Hyannis. Alden Carrithers (UC Santa Barbara) LOSSES advanced to second on one Gardner, Matt BOU 5 throwing error and quickly Portice, Eammon BOU 5 to third on another, which al- Dorn, Johnny HAR 4 lowed Mike Bianucci (Auburn) Putkonen, Luke to score. A Luke Sommer WAR 4 (San Francisco) single to WALKS center filed drove home Car- Daly, Matt HYA 24 rithers. Finally a Brad Emaus Several 20 (Tulane) single sealed the Players Tied at deal as Sommer scored the HOME RUNS ALLOWED third run of the ninth, result- Dobrowiecki, FAL 9 ing in the final 4-1 score. Kris Hume and his teammates, DeVries, Cole BRW 6 now in first place in the East- CHUCK BORGE No IPTC Header found Several 4 Brewster’s Andrew Romine is caught in a rundown by Bourne thirdbaseman Matt Hall. ern Division, started the year No Published Caption Players Tied at 14 SUMMER STARS Thursday, July 27, 2006 Batting Around A weekly roundup of reports from around the Cape Cod Baseball League East Roundup Continued...

Continued from Page 13 bottom of the ninth. Cecil for the Chatham A's hitters. won 3-1 behind a Matt Riz- next level without compro- season as a pitcher for the has been one of the league's In the world of baseball, this zotti (Manhattan) home run. mising them physically. Bulldogs. After a rough start, top closers with a 1.59 ERA event is The second game featured The Mariners' philosophy is he turned it around and was a and seven saves. known as a different opponent in the different from what one may big factor in getting Georgia Sunday night was a pitch- the no-hit- form of the Bourne Braves. follow in the spring, so during to the College World Series. ers' duel between Orleans' ter, and on Adrian Ortiz (Pepperdine) had the summer Englert is willing Not only is Brewster's pitch- Clayton Shunick (Georgia Sunday, a Ricky Henderson-type day to "sacrifice things to accom- ing fantastic, but at the plate Tech) and Harwich's Tony July 17, from the leadoff spot, start- plish the goal." And there is the Whitecaps scored 23 runs Watson (Nebraska). Shu- the Cha- ing the game with a homer plenty of evidence that Har- this week. Helping out with nick's only mistake came tham A's and leading the offense with wich has consistently allowed that was Matt Cusick (USC), when Josh Horton (North suffered four hits and three RBIs. Eliot players to showcase their who went 4-for-4 with his Carolina) hit a two-out RBI through the frustrating ordeal Cribby (Washington) got the talents and improve their skills. first home run of the season double in the first inning. The of the no-hitter. Yarmouth- win for the A's with seven That proof is in the draft stats. against the Falmouth Commo- run was all Watson needed Dennis's Terry Doyle (Boston strong innings of work as Harwich has a history of re- dores on Saturday. Also going in 1-0 Harwich win. After a College) was masterful on they cruised to a 6-1 win over cruiting top players and having 4-for-4 was David Cooper (Cal 5-4 loss against the Ware- Sunday and yielded only one the Braves. those players drafted. Since State Fullerton) on Thursday ham Gatemen on Monday base-runner all night. Doyle Through Friday, Chatham the 2000 season, Harwich has against Cotuit. David's Titans night, the Cardinals traveled commented, "When you have sits in fourth place of the had many first-round draft teammate, Jared Clark, was to Chatham to take on the everything going for you, it's Eastern Division with 29 picks and have continued to among the home run hitters A's, against whom they were just a good feeling." The points, nine behind the sec- recruit the top players in the this week, hitting his third of undefeated on the season. Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox ond-place Yarmouth-Dennis nation. Former Mariners who the season. And the ever-reli- After a Wieters walk in the cruised to a 2-0 win and left Red Sox, who control the last have ascended to the ranks able Colt Sedbrook (Arizona) top of the third, Joe Dunigan the A's with a long bus ride playoff spot. The A's hope to of MLB include Adam Stern has continued to get on base hit a three-run homer to put back to Chatham. However, use Woodard in the stopper's of the Boston Red Sox, Kelly and score runs. the Cardinals on top 3-0. the game may have served as role again on Sunday night, Shoppach of the Cleveland It is hard not to mention However, the A's battled back a wake-up call for the A's. In- when he faces the Brewster Indians, Jason Bartlett of the everyone because it really is and took a 5-4 lead heading stead of festering on the loss, Whitecaps. The game will be Minnesota Twins, and most a team effort; all of the guys into the top of the ninth. The the team warmed up their played at Veterans Field at 7 recently Craig Hansen of the are working extremely well Cardinals were able to load bats and went on a mid-week p.m. Boston Red Sox. together and doing their jobs. the bases, but they ultimately run that put them back in the By Jonathan The current Mariners team So, stay tuned to see what came up short and suffered hunt for a playoff spot. French, CCBL Intern is not without its own up-and- the Whitecaps have up their their first defeat of the season Baseball is often noted for [email protected] coming prospects. One can't sleeves this week to keep to their rivals from Chatham. having its own language. In help but notice Josh Donald- them in the race for the play- The Cardinals were in the baseball terms, the word A Summer Philosophy son (Auburn), who hit his fourth offs. midst of a three-game losing "stopper" is used to describe There homer of the season on Friday By Johnna DeChristoforo, streak when they traveled to a starting pitcher who stops are only night, adding two more RBIs to CCBL Intern dechristoforo@c Red Wilson Field to take on a team from going on losing two weeks give him 19 on the season. He apecodbaseball.org one of the hottest teams in the streaks. Robert Woodard before the is still leading the league with league. The Yarmouth-Den- (North Carolina) has been the playoffs nine doubles; he is also sec- nis Red Sox had won nine of Chatham A's "stopper" this and the ond in slugging with a .524 and Dunigan Steps Up for their last 10 games and were season, and he proved this Harwich third in batting average with a Cardinals currently sitting on the top of again on Monday night. Wo- Mariners .320 and hits with 33. The Or- the Eastern Division. But they odard pitched seven effective find themselves in last place Antone DeJesus (Kentucky) leans Car- finally made the mistake of innings to get the win for Cha- of the Eastern Division. Un- has been a steady presence dinals were allowing Matt Wieters to have tham and the offense finally fortunately, it has been many for the Mariners, both by get- extremely a chance to swing the bat, and woke up by smacking 12 hits years since Harwich has seen ting on base and by fielding. happy to he made them pay by smack- and eight runs. Reid Fronk a divisional playoff game and DeJesus is sixth in the league see Danny ing a pair of homers. Wieters (North Carolina) led the offense decades since they captured with a .411 on-base percent- Valencia had spent most of the week with three hits and two RBIs. a championship. age. And his performance (Miami) fulfill his wish of sign- being pitched around while In contrast to Sunday night's The Mariners have so much in center field has saved the ing a professional contract accumulating eight walks, thus performance, eight of the nine talent, but with players com- Mariners from a lot of scored with the Minnesota Twins, elevating his league-leading Chatham batters recorded at ing and going it is hard to runs. but his departure left a hole on-base percentage to .455. least one hit. keep a rhythm and it's difficult Pitcher Tony Watson (Ne- in Cardinals lineup. Valencia In top of the ninth, Wieters After a day off on Tuesday, to know which team is going braska) is 4-1, good for a tie provided protection for Matt received an intentional walk, Chatham took on the Or- to show up on a daily basis. for first place in wins. Team- Wieters (Georgia Tech) in the but Joe Dunigan once again leans Cardinals at Veterans Some days the Mariners are mates Dan Merklinger and middle of the lineup. Orleans proved why he deserved the Field. Chatham was looking doing everything right, but on Dan McDonald (both of Seton needed somebody to step cleanup spot with a three-run to reverse their 0-3 record their off days they can really do Hall) are also both proving to up and provide protection blast that propelled his team to against the Cardinals and a lot of damage. be standouts on the team. for Wieters or risk having an 8-5 win. The game featured would have to do so from In last Saturday's game Friday night, the veteran their star catcher receive the four lead changes and another behind. Joe Dunigan (Okla- against the West-leading Merklinger became the No. Barry Bonds treatment. No, strong performance from Brett homa) hit a three-run homer Cotuit Kettleers, the Mariners 3 pitcher in the league with a not perjury indictments, but Cecil in the bottom of the in the top of the third that put had eight errors, four in the win over Falmouth. He is tied instead being pitched around ninth. the A's down 3-0. However, third inning alone. Obviously for third in the league with 38 and receiving a dispropor- The Orleans Cardinals cur- the A's battled back and took this was a rare occasion, but strikeouts and has a perfect tional number of walks. The rently sit in third place of the a 5-3 lead when a lazy fly it shows that the Mariners' 3-0 record with a 1.04 ERA. 6-foot-2, 240-pound Joe Eastern Division and hope ball from Allan Dykstra (Wake struggles can be contagious McDonald has a 2-0 record Dunigan (Oklahoma) has pro- to make a late-season surge Forest) found a way to drop at times. and also has himself a 1.04 vided sacrifice bunts, steals, towards a playoff berth. The into shallow left field. The It is true that head coach ERA. walks, and a great arm for combo of Matt Wieters and play netted two runs for the Steve Englert is not particularly The list of players could the Cardinals, but this week Joe Dunigan once again pro- A's and gave them a lead thrilled about some of their go on, but what it comes he stepped into the role of vides a great 1-2 punch in the they would never surrender. recent performances, but on down to is that these guys cleanup hitter. heart of the order. The game ended in dramatic the flip side, winning is not the are taking the opportunity Saturday, July 15 saw the By Jonathan fashion when Paul Koss most important thing to him. of playing in the CCBL and Orleans Cardinals travel to French, CCBL Intern (USC) struck out Mark Hall- "The most important things trying to perform at their best Bourne, where they took on [email protected] berg (Chicago-Illinois) with about this league are show- while having fun at the same the Bourne Braves. Joe Ma- the bases loaded to preserve casing talent and getting the time. The Mariners might not honey (Richmond) provided Chatham Goes on Midweek a 6-5 Chatham win. kids better," Englert said. Of have the best record, but one the offense for the Cardinals Run Chatham continued their course the M's would like could argue that they have with three hits and an RBI. Chatham's offense was streak of strong play with to win games and bring a the best philosophy. Brett Cecil (Maryland) was shut out twice the previous a pair of wins in a double- championship home to Har- By Johnna DeChristoforo, extremely impressive as he week and showed signs of header on Thursday. Against wich, but the first priority is to CCBL Intern dechristoforo@c closed the game with a 1-2-3 an ominous event unfolding the Hyannis Mets, Chatham prepare these players for the apecodbaseball.org Thursday, July 27, 2006 SUMMER STARS 15 Batting WOODEN BATS: Around A First For Some Cape Cod Baseball League Players A weekly roundup of reports from around the Cape Cod Baseball League BY STEVE KRAMMES the dynamics of balance and sition from metal to wood. In were immediately successful. jor Baseball League scouts Some things are just meant weight. Not so with wooden fact, one of the main reasons Sometimes the demands of at the games, radar guns in to go together. Blue sky goes bats. To do the same things college players come to play losing bad habits forged by hand, notepads on their laps. with sunshine, hamburgers with wood means longer, in the CCBL is to learn how using metal bats along with Scouts are here to see these go with fries, movies go with heavier and more unwieldy to hit with wood so they can the top-line pitching in the players play it “real” with popcorn, apple pie goes with bats. Never mind the balance pursue a professional career. CCBL means a long summer wood! They’re hoping to hear vanilla ice cream and base- and center of gravity. Professional teams still use for some players. their own “crack of the bat” ball goes with wooden bats. Then there’s the velocity wooden bats, partly because This introduction to failure and make some impressions. And every summer base- with which the ball comes off of tradition and partly be- may be a first-time experi- I’m quite sure pitchers are balls and wooden bats say the bat. With aluminum bats cause of the dangers of using ence for many of the players hoping to break a few bats, Cape Cod League. Even there is actually a “trampo- metal bats at a major league in the league. too. For many of them, it may though the college players line”-type effect wherein the skill level. Professional teams Did these young baseball be a first-time experience who come to the Cape Cod bat compresses during the encourage potential draftees players come here to experi- that they have been looking Baseball League (CCBL) each collision with the ball and to learn how to hit with wood ence the informal atmosphere forward to for a long time. summer to play “authentic springs back, much like a before they are drafted. If of the Cape league? After It’s a fact, wooden bats baseball” have been playing trampoline. That results in the players can prove they can all, the beaches are always mean an advantage to the the sport for most of their ball literally jumping off the make that transition ahead of calling. Not to mention that pitcher, metal bats mean lives the CCBL introduces at barrel of the bat. That doesn’t time, it means money in the after all, they are college- an advantage to the hitter. least one aspect of the game sound like the game Abner bank for them later. aged young men. Enough Wooden bats mean more that may be a first for them: Doubleday invented to me. In the 1980s the CCBL ac- said. The truth is most play- bunts, more hit-and-run wooden bats. From Little Balls hit off aluminum bats tually experimented with us- ers come here to refine their plays, more stolen base at- League, though all the other travel at higher speeds than ing metal bats but switched skills so they can move on tempts, and more defense, levels up to and including the balls hit off wooden bats, back to wood in 1985. to professional careers. I can but less scoring and fewer National Collegiate Athletic which are almost incom- Another less apparent hear virtually every manager home runs. To a purist like Association (NCAA) baseball, pressible and have virtually difference between wooden saying over and over, “You’re me, that’s real baseball! Give they have played America’s no trampoline effect. and metal bats is the way in here to play ball!” That task me a well-pitched, well-ex- pastime using metal bats. How does this affect safety? which some colleges recruit can seem almost impossible ecuted and exciting 4-3, 3-2 What, you say, metal bats? If a ball jumps off an aluminum players. Colleges that use given the distractions here. ball game any time. Summer Why, it’s incomprehensible! bat that much quicker it would aluminum bats look for big- However, one distrac- on the Cape, watching good Who ever heard of, “The ping stand to reason that there ger, stronger hitters. Some tion every player here is baseball using authentic of the bat?” It just doesn’t would be more injuries occur- college conferences, like the most assuredly looking for wood bats, now that’s some- work. “The crack of the ring, especially to pitchers, Northeast 10 Conference, is the large number of Ma- thing worth experiencing. bat”…now that says baseball. right? Yes, in fact, that is true. have actually switched to According to an article in During a recent NCAA base- wood. According to Assistant USA Today, a patent was ball season 375 injuries were Coach Jay Hoyt, from South- issued in 1924 for the first directly attributed to the lack ern New Hampshire Univer- metal baseball bat. Metal of reaction time for pitchers. sity, a member of the NE10, bats gained in popularity in Thirty-four of those pitchers the team now focuses more the 1970s with the manufac- had to exit the game and six of on quickness and defensive turing of aluminum bats. them received injuries so seri- abilities as much as hitting. Most baseball purists agree ous that they missed an entire Chalk it up again to the dif- that metal bats are being season. Now that sounds ference between wooden and used at virtually every level pretty dangerous to me. aluminum bats, according of organized baseball for one How about the hitter’s to Coach Hoyt, wood means main reason: money. Alumi- perspective? When queried more ground balls, so bet- num bats don’t break like about this issue, University ter defense and quickness wooden bats. They dent. You of California catcher Tyler means more outs. get dents in your car, not in LaTorre said he likes metal Since there are only 27 outs your baseball bat, right? Next bats because his confidence per team in a game, it stands thing you know someone grows when hitting with to reason that the easier the will be offering baseball bat them. Part of that confidence outs are to get, the better the insurance. OK, I admit that comes from knowing that his team’s chance of winning the metal bats do last through bat will make solid contact game. several seasons, not just one with the ball and not break. Currently approximately or less. But is it that simple? Any player who has tried both one out of every six major Does money really rule base- wooden and metal bats and league players has come ball? (Well, that’s a whole is being honest will tell you to the Cape Cod League to other story, I guess.) the ball simply goes further learn the subtle differences of Let’s examine a few differ- and faster when it makes hitting with wood after using ences between the traditional contact with metal bats. It’s metal in college or to pitch to wooden bats and aluminum a physical fact proven by sci- batters using wood instead of bats. To start with, aluminum ence more than once. metal. Well-known pro play- bats are hollow, wooden bats I spoke to Al English, a ers such as Jason Varitek, are solid. That fact alone has Falmouth native, who has Nomar Garciaparra, Tino Mar- important consequences. An been watching baseball here tinez, J.T. Snow, Pat Burrell, aluminum bat can be con- on the Cape since the early and Todd Helton all used the structed with length, width 1930s. He said he’s watched CCBL to refine their hitting and weight nearly any way several future major league talents using wood after you like without changing players struggle with the tran- stellar NCAA careers. Not all ���������� � � � � � � ����������� ����� �� � �������������������������� �� � ���� ����������������������������������������������������������� �� ��� �������� ����������������������� ������������ ��������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������� ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 16 SUMMER STARS Thursday, July 27, 2006

Inside The Game The Inside Story Of Jamming Batters BBiittss PPiieecceess Continued from Page 7 && rotate their hips and try to pull inside pitches. “But when it Around the Cape League Horn runs down to the thin part of the barrel, the bat often shat- The Stars Will Come Out: Selections for the 44th annual Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star ters.” Game will be announced Tuesday, July 25 by CCBL Commissioner Paul Galop. Forty-six of The trick, he said, is to learn to avoid the instinct to pull the top players in the Cape League, including 23 on both the East and West Divisions, will and instead hit an inside pitch to the opposite field. comprise the two rosters. The mid-summer classic will be played Saturday, June 29 at 4 p.m. Chris Forbes, the Commodores’ hitting coach, said the and broadcasted live on WCAI (90.1 FM), WNAN (91.1 FM) and WZAI (94.3 FM), The Cape and count can dictate a hitter’s approach on an inside pitch. “If Islands NPR Stations, and streamed at www.capeandislands.org. The CCBL All-Star Game he’s looking for a fastball on the outer half of the plate, and will also be streamed on www.capecodbaseball.org, along with all 10 Cape League team Web he gets one inside instead, and there’s less than two strikes, sites, on the Cape Cod Baseball League Network powered by Cape.Com. Listeners will also he just needs to let it go” and not swing, Coach Forbes said. be able to hear to the broadcast by going to one of the five designated local phone numbers “We’ve got a few guys, such as Warren McFadden, who can available at the league Web site. get the bat around quickly on inside pitches, but for a lot of *** others it takes time to adjust and learn.” Schiffner wins No. 300 The ability to pitch inside is something many Major League Chatham A's head coach John Schiffner won his 300th career Cape League game on Baseball scouts look for in a prospect. “When a kid’s not Monday, July 10 when the A's defeated the Hyannis Mets 1-0 at Veterans Field. Schiffner, who afraid to pitch inside, and he does it consistently, it tells me became head coach of the A's in the 1993 season, joins CCBL Hall of Famers Eddie Lyons and what’s in his head and in his heart,” said Keith Stohr, a for- Don Reed as Cape League skippers who have amassed 300 victories in their Cape coaching mer Hyannis Mets coach, who now scouts the Cape League careers. for the Chicago Cubs. “A lot of us like to see pitchers with a *** bulldog approach.” Leading Banks of Cape Cod There are those who claim that pitching inside at the For the fourth straight year, the CCBL All-Star Game will be presented by the leading banks professional level has become a lost art. Former star re- of Cape Cod: Bank of America, TD Banknorth, Cape Cod Five Charitable Foundation and lief pitcher Rich “Goose” Gossage blames modern flexible Sovereign Bank. Also sponsoring the game are Cape Cod Cooperative Bank, The Community body armor, such as the large, thick elbow pads worn by Bank and Citizens Bank. Don't miss the autograph sessions at 12:30 p.m. and the popular San Francisco Giants slugger Barry Bonds, for reducing a Baseball Factory Home Run Hitting Contest at 2:30 p.m. The gates open at 11 a.m. batter’s fears. Others, such as ex-MLB hurler Jim Kaat, have The All-Star Game will also feature the Eye Health Services-sponsored Field of Dreams cited a shrinking strike zone that’s designed to increase whale from the Cape Cod Whale Trail. The whale will be visiting from its summer home at Heri- scoring and make the game more marketable. tage Museum and Gardens. For the second straight All-Star Game, the national anthem will Joe Rigoli of the St. Louis Cardinals, who’s been scouting feature Hyannis Sound, a renowned group of 10 collegiate men singing a capella. the Cape League for more than 20 years, said the effect has *** trickled down to the amateur level. “There’s been a tendency The Baseball Express to get away from it,” he said. For the second consecutive season, the Baseball Factory and Team One are teaming up to Coach Forbes agrees. “At the college level, there’s not host the Baseball Express Cape Cod High School Classic. The top high school players in the enough emphasis on teaching players how to hit inside country will compete in this All-Star Game on Friday, July 28 at noon at Spillane Field, home pitching effectively,” he said. “It becomes a real challenge for of the Wareham Gatemen. The home run hitting contest starts at 8:30 a.m. Seventeen play- them once they get to the Cape League.” ers from last year's game were drafted by the major leagues in June. traditionally attracts 100 employees and their families. ������������������������������������������������ ���������������������������������������������������

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