The Enterprise’s
League ape Cod Baseball ouurr GuideGuide ttoo tthehe CCape Cod Baseball League Vool.l. 2,2, #4#4 YYo JJulyuly 5,5, 22007007
INSIDE: Reeviewview: BBrewster’srewster’s FieldField DDominguez:ominguez: LLouisvilleouisville SSluggerlugger JJIMENEZ:IMENEZ: Twwo-Timeo-Time D IIII CChamphamp
PRESORTED STANDARD U.S Postage Paid Falmouth Publishing Co. A Quarter Of The Way Into The Cape League Season
From Last To First Last year the Bourne Braves fi nished the month of June with a record of 1-9 and were anchored fi rmly at the bottom of the Western Division. This summer it is an entirely dif- ferent story in Bourne as the Braves are one of the hottest teams in the league. At the end of June this year the club boasted a 10-3-1 record. “This team competes,” Bourne Head Coach Harvey Shap- iro said. “Everyday they play hard and never give up.” Like many Cape League teams, the Braves were forced to fi ll early roster spots with temporary players, until those playing in the College World Series arrived on the Cape. This year Bourne Shapiro struck gold with several temps that will earn contracts for the remainder of the summer. DAN CROWLEY/ENTERPRISE “We ended up with a bunch of temps that performed,” the Brewster’s Stony Brook School Field coach noted. “The chemistry on this team is good, they like each other and they play hard together.” Over the course of the past week injuries have hit Bourne, Jose Jimenez, but if anything the adversity has made the team stronger. University of Tampa “They’ve been picking each other up,” Shapiro added with satisfaction. “These guys are playing the game the right way. Standout I enjoy coming to the ballpark.” Page Three Ellsbury Arrives At Fenway Pawtucket Red Sox outfi elder and former Falmouth Com- modore (2004) Jacoby Ellsbury made his way to the big leagues Saturday. With center fi elder Coco Crisp still suffer- Mr. Clutch: ing the effects of an injured thumb and Joel Pineiro moved to the disabled list, the door was open for the former Oregon Lousville’s Chris State outfi elder. In his second at-bat Ellsbury picked up his Dominguez fi rst major league hit, when he turned up the jets and beat Page Four out an infi eld ground ball. Ellsbury began the 2007 baseball season with Double A Portland Sea Dogs where he earned Player of the Month in April. On May 4 he was promoted to Triple A and joined the Matt Hague: A Big Pawtucket Red Sox. Saturday Ellsbury reached his goal, Hit In Falmouth making the 46-mile trip from Pawtucket up Route 95 to Fen- way Park. Page Six
DON PARKINSON/ENTERPRISE NNFS The Cape’s Billy Perry getting it done for Bourne 4V 5IF&OUFSQSJTF Gordon Beckham Has That Classic Touch T Page 5
6OL *ULY 9OUR 'UIDE TO THE #A PE #OD "ASEBALL ,EAGU UBS E Summer Jobs – Employed Off The Field 4 ).3)$% Page 9 2EVIEW2 EVIEW Last summer "REWSTERS &IELD"REWSTERS &IELD Review: Brewster’s Stony Brook Field Long Beach State sophomore Shane $OMINGUEZ Page 10 Peterson went -PVJTWJMMF4MVHHFS to Alaska to play Look for this issue online baseball. While *)-%.%: with the Anchorage 4WO 4IME $ )) #HAMP @ www.capenews.net Bucs, as primarily
02%3/2 4%$ 34!.$!2$ a pitcher, he com- 53 0OSTAGE 0AID &ALMOUTH 0UBLISHI piled a 2-1 record NG #O On The Cover: Bourne shortstop Addison Maruszak. with a 3.15 ERA in six starts and 10 appearances. Photo by Don Parkinson Last spring he was 2-2 at Long Beach with a 4.85 ERA, but more importantly he hit .327, slugged .472 and stole 11 bases. Hyannis Mets Coach Greg King knows the publisher operations manager design services manager southpaw can pitch, but it is his bat that has King William Hough Chuck Borge Christine Stutzman excited. This summer the Hyannis outfi elder/fi rst sports editor baseman is tearing up Cape League pitching. sales manager design services Dan Crowley Entering the month of July he is sixth in hitting in Chris Avis Linda Stewart the league, with a .354 average at the plate. He is photo editor Jill Spencer in the top six in the league in fi ve different offen- sales Don Parkinson Julia Balducci sive categories. Danielle Guay Focusing on hitting, he probably won’t pitch on design & layout press supervisor Dawn Mitchell the Cape this summer, however, he is a legitimate Elisabet K. Rodrigues David Pittman two-way player. Adding to his value at the plate Trisha Herlihy Rebecca Whittingdon and on the mound is his work in the fi eld. Last 50 Depot Avenue Nancy Medeiros Enterp spring he committed just four miscues with Long e ri Falmouth, MA 02540 Esther Buchanan h s Beach, while with the Mets this summer his work e 508-548-4700 • 1-800-286-7744 Pam deLala T in the fi eld has been fl awless. Falmouth • Mashpee • Bourne • Sandwich Fax: 508-540-8407 Thursday, July 5, 2007 SUMMER STARS 3 In It to Win It… Orleans’ Jose Jimenez Focuses on Winning
BY MATTHEW M. BURKE 3-for-4 with a two-run homer Two years of Sunshine Orleans’ fi rst baseman in the ninth for the win, 2-0 State Conference play have Jose Jimenez, from the over the Whitecaps. garnered Jimenez, not only University of Tampa, is used “Some guys are given two national championships, to winning. His Spartans speed, ya know,” he said but also First Team All-SSC won the Division II national in regard to his mechanics honors as a freshman, in championship two years in a and raw power. “I was just addition to being named row – in 2006 and 2007. given the ability to put the SSC Freshman of the Year. Jimenez was named a ball in play, at least most of He was also a third team team captain as a sopho- the time. So that’s just what All-American, batting .384, more. I try and do; put the ball in with 78 hits, 63 RBI, and 17 Now the Miami native fi nds play as many times as I can. homers. himself playing baseball on Hopefully something good Despite having a slightly Cape Cod, as the fi rst base- will happen.” less productive season in man for the eastern divi- Jimenez said that com- 2007, Jimenez still hit .298 sion’s second place Orleans ing from a top tier Division with 67 hits, 14 home runs, Cardinals, who have a 9-5 II program, like Tampa, has and 48 RBI. He led the team record. They are two points exposed him to Division in home runs and walks and ahead of Chatham and three I type talent prior to this also displayed versatility behind Y-D, last year’s Cape summer. Tampa has players in the fi eld, being moved League champion. that have either transferred from fi rst base to third base Unlike a lot of players from Division I programs or halfway through the year. who come to the Cape pri- turned them down to play He still fi nished leading the marily looking to refi ne their for the Spartans. He said team with 62 fi elded double game, or to get noticed that he has been adjusting plays, and putouts, with by professional scouts, to the level of play as the 415. Jimenez fi nished the Jimenez just wants to win. summer has progressed and season with a more than In fact, despite the young his numbers are steadily respectable .981 fi elding season, he is concerned climbing (his batting average percentage. He hopes to with little else. had gone up .100 in about a rebound next season and “Yea, [that was a tough week and a half). to win his third consecutive loss],” he said moments “Its good,” he said of national title. after Y-D’s Nick Romero his experience thus far in “It’s been great,” he said (San Diego State) singled the nation’s premier sum- of his time thus far at Tampa. in the winning run over mer league. “A lot differ- “We’ve won two national the weekend to take a 4-3 ent baseball from what I’m championships, I can’t ask decision. “If we had won, we used to, but its just a little for anything else.” probably would have been adjustment period, and Jose is currently a second- in fi rst place by the points then I think I’ll be fi ne … ary education major at Tam- DON PARKINSON/ENTERPRISE or whatever. It’s still early There’s some days where I pa with hopes of becoming Two-time Division II National Champion Jose Jimenez from though …We’re just trying to feel good, and there’s some a physical education teacher the University of Tampa is swinging a big bat for the Orleans gel together as a team and days where I can see that and baseball coach should Cardinals this summer. make a run here. That’s all it’s a little bit different. But, he not fulfi ll his dreams of we’re really worried about I just keep my head up and playing professional base- nals have been off to a great can happen. “We’ve had now.” keep trying.” ball. When asked if he has start thus far this season some tough losses so far,” Through June 30, Jimenez Jose is the son of Josefi na any hobbies, or even other but he added that nobody he said. “We’ve just got to was tied for third on the and Domingo Jimenez. He activities that he participates on the Cardinals team is keep hitting, keep pitching, Cardinals in batting average grew up in Miami, attending in, he cannot think of any complacent; they want to playing some (defense), and (.250), total bases (16), and Miami Pace High School, besides sleeping and watch- fi nish strong and make it to hopefully we’ll be there at hits (10), in 40 at-bats. He where he batted .485 as a ing television because his the playoffs, where anything the end.” is also ranked third on the senior with seven homers life revolves around baseball. team in slugging percentage and 31 RBI. He was named There is no time for anything at .400. Dade County Hitter of the else. The stocky left-handed Year. “Playing pro ball has 4HE 3AGAMORE )NN slugger has exhibited quick Jimenez recalls growing always been my goal since wrists and power this sum- up surrounded by base- I was young kid,” said the 2%34!52!.4 mer as he quietly improves, ball, which was his father’s slugger who reminds of putting up better and better passion. Domingo Jimenez Prince Fielder when he numbers as he adjusts to played baseball and handed swings a bat. “We’ll see how the level of talent going his son a bat and ball set everything goes, but hope- 3%26).' forward, against mostly Di- when he was born, Jose fully I will have a chance to vision I opponents. Jimenez said. “It’s been there my play pro ball in the future.” can hit to both fi elds and whole life,” he added. Jose said that the Cardi- .ORTHERN )TALIAN was raised on wood bats by his father, who he said #UISINE would not allow him to use aluminum. Jose said that after a season with alumi- num it takes him about a 7E !RE .OW /PEN $AYS A 7EEK week to feel comfortable with wood again. (OURS AM PM On June 22, against Brew- ster, Jimenez knocked the ,/#!4%$ 3!.$7)#( 2/!$ s 3!'!-/2% -! cover off the ball every time 4!+%/54 !6!),!",% he stepped up to the plate. He almost hit for the cycle h#OME (UNGRYv (missing by a double), going SS 7411 +7**0.)8(43*[&3>5:7(-&8* 4 SUMMER STARS Thursday, July 5, 2007 Louisville Slugger Arrives on the Cape
BY MARK A. BROWN become a calling card for again played long ball with a Harwich Mariners third Dominquez over the past pair of home runs in Louis- baseman Chris Dominguez month. At the NCAA Region- ville’s 12-4 win. missed the fi rst week of als on June 3, his two-run “We had such a great Cape League action, but he shot in the fi fth proved to season,” Dominguez said. had a good excuse. be the game-winner against “Nobody expected us to He spent the week in #28 Miami as Louisville make it that far.” Omaha, Nebraska, as his eliminated the Hurricanes. Despite his imposing size, Louisville Cardinals became Later that same day, with the Dominguez exhibits sur- the darlings of Rosenblatt Cardinals facing elimination prising speed, quickness Stadium. Thanks in large themselves against the 11th- and agility typically seen in part to his booming bat, ranked host Missouri Tigers, shorter players with more the Cardinals shocked the he launched another two-run wiry builds. In his fi rst at-bat pundits by advancing to the tater in the eighth to break a against Brewster Saturday, national semifi nal game at 5-5 tie and force a deciding he drilled a hard grounder the College World Series. rematch. up the middle for a hit, but Despite bowing out with Missouri pitchers will prob- turned on the jets rounding a 3-1 loss to North Carolina, ably be having nightmares fi rst base and legged out a the collegiate season cer- about Dominguez for months double. He then tagged up tainly fi nished on a high note to come. The Miami native and sprinted to third on a fl y for Dominguez. “I struggled hit a fi rst-inning grand slam ball to right fi eld. a lot early in the season, but and a third inning 3-run shot His ability to pitch comes I kept trying to work things to earn Regional MVP hon- as no surprise to anyone out,” said the redshirt fresh- ors and propel Louisville to who’s seen the gun Domin- man, who missed nearly the the Super Regionals. guez displays while fi elding entire 2006 college season The win provided some third base. Coming out of with a broken left arm. redemption for Dominquez, high school, Chris was the An aggressive swinger, who also pitched for Louis- top-ranked third base pros- he broke a dubious school ville as a reliever this season. pect in the nation by Base- record this year with 84 He had come on in the ninth ball America, which also strikeouts, eclipsing the pre- inning of their opening game ranked him 11th overall. MARK A. BROWN/ENTERPRISE vious mark of 64 set by Isiah against Missouri, which the Yet despite coming from Harwich outfi elder Chris Dominguez (Louisville) has been Howes in 2004. Cardinals trailed 5-4, but the baseball hotbed of swinging a big bat for the Mariners this summer. However Dominguez allowed a pair of insurance Florida, Dominguez chose seems to be putting it all runs on two hits, a walk, and to attend college at a school together of late. He blasted a hit batsmen. better known for producing In fact, Chris listed his playing some outfi eld. Dur- eight home runs in Louis- In Game 1 against Okla- basketball talent such as brother, along with Cuban ing fi elding drills Saturday, ville’s last nine games – all homa State, he nailed a solo Wes Unseld, Darrell Griffi th, actress Vida Guerra and he ranged easily and tracked NCAA tournament contests – shot in the fourth inning and Pervis Ellison, and foot- Baseball Hall of Famer down balls, which were hit and now he appears poised after falling behind 0-2 in ball stars like Johnny Unitas Jackie Robinson, as the purposely from the left fi eld to carry over that success the count. It was his seventh and Bruce Armstrong than three people he would most line to test his ability to cope with the Mariners. home run in 11 games. for the smattering of major want to have dinner with. with a strong afternoon sun. Saturday afternoon at After dispatching the leaguers who wore Cardinal Chris is no stranger to He started in left fi eld versus Brewster the 6-4, 240- Cowboys and earning a red. “They just wanted me playing summer baseball Brewster. pounder displayed his power trip to Omaha, Louisville the most,” he said of his on the New England coast. Still, Dominguez said if before nearly 1,000 fans, dropped their College World recruitment by former head After redshirting in 2006, he had to choose fi elding clobbering a fi rst-pitch fast- Series opener to Rice, but coach Lelo Prado. “I really Dominguez played that just one position, he would ball from Whitecaps starter not before Dominguez sent love it there.” summer for the Newport prefer the hot corner. “You Mike Colle over the 375-foot a fi rst-pitch fastball over Nevertheless, Miami roots (Rhode Island) Gulls in the always have to be alert for mark in left-center fi eld for a the fence in the third inning. run deep for Chris, who New England Collegiate balls hit hard down the line, two-run shot. It was his fi rst With the Cardinals squaring wears an irrepressibly broad Baseball League. He led the and you have to make strong CCBL homer. off against Mississippi State grin and is proud of his circuit with 11 home runs throws,” he said. “You’re Clutch home runs have in an elimination game, Chris Cuban heritage. His parents, – more than the totals of always in the game.” Lazaro and Maria Domin- four NECBL teams. Regardless of where he is guez, both immigrated to the This summer, as Harwich in the fi eld, opponents will US as children. Chris has an Coach Steve Englert looks to have to contend carefully older brother, also named keep as many power bats in with Dominguez whenever Lazaro,. “He’s my best the lineup as possible, Chris he carries his big stick to the friend,” Chris said. is diversifying even more by plate.
ÓFyqmpsf!Dbqf!Dpe!Uispvhi!Jdf!Dsfbn"Ô ѮFTQPUMJHIUJTPO !LL )CE #REAM AND )TALIAN 'ELATO Gbmnpvui Izboojt! Spdlz!Spbe! Ifbui!Cbs Sbdf -ADE ON 0REMISES /0%. %6%29 $!9 4VNNFS4UBST -ON 4HUR &RI 3AT 3UN
6OTED ONE OF THE "%34 Cpvsof! BUX X XDBQFOFXTOFU Psmfbot Psfp Cvuufs! .EW "USINESSES IN -ASSACHUSETTS Qfdbo %DITORS #HOICE !WARD FOR "EST )CE #REAM BY #APE #OD ,IFE -AGAZINE 4VSGJOGPSU IFMBUFTUPOU IF Dibuibn Csfxtufs Ibsxjdi! Cbtt!Sjwfs! Nbzàpxfs! Dpuvju Dipdpmbuf Cfssz Ib{fmovu Cmbdlcfssz Npdib Dpggff $BQF$PE# BT FCBMM- F BHVF Thursday, July 5, 2007 SUMMER STARS 5 Throw Back Talent Gordon Beckham Channels A Cape League Legend To Lead Y-D BY MATTHEW M. BURKE worn out [after my fresh- Gordon Beckham, of the 9- man season] and [Bulldogs 3-1 Eastern Division-leading Head Coach David Perno] Yarmouth Dennis Red Sox, just didn’t let me come up was supposed to play for here. It was good and bad. Y-D coach Scott Pickler last I wanted to play really bad, summer. but [Coach Perno] said he However, after a long thought it’d be better if I freshmen campaign and a rested last summer.” short-lived run at Omaha This summer Beckham (the Bulldogs went 0-2), his has been impressive out of coaches at the University of the gate, and he is one of Georgia decided to shut him the leaders of this year’s down for the summer, even hot Red Sox club, which is though he wanted to play one of the reasons that they ball on the Cape. are favored to repeat as the So Beckham, a speedy Arnold Mycock Award win- shortstop with big power, ners. Going into next season similar to former Orleans for the Bulldogs, Beckham Cardinal Nomar Garciaparra has been asked to become mechanically and statistical- a team leader, and he hopes ly, watched as Y-D won the to be back on the infi eld dirt Cape League Championship, in Nebraska, patrolling the something that he wishes he pocket like a keeper. were a part of. His Georgia Currently the Georgia teammate Josh Fields was a product (Beckham hails from member of that champion- Buckhead) leads the Cape ship winning team. League in homers, with four, Team-wise, for Beckham, and is batting .358, through it was a disappointing 2007 53 at-bats, for ninth in the season. The Bulldogs failed league in hitting. At press DON PARKINSON/ENTERPRISE to make it back to the Col- time, no one else in the top Y-D shortstop Gordon Beckham (Georgia) displays some glovework for the Red Sox. lege World Series, as they 10 had 50 at-bats. won only 23 games, with 19 He has used his sweet the former Georgia Tech Yel- part of his game, the righty in his premier season for the SEC losses. For the year, swing to accumulate impres- low Jacket shortstop, who made a sensational catch, Bulldogs (2006). Beckham hit .307 in 228 sive power numbers, while also balanced power with diving to his left, to quell a Nomar won a champion- at-bats, with 70 hits and 13 also hitting for average. the ability to hit for average, Cotuit rally in the seventh ship with Orleans in 1993 homers. Beckham is currently three to develop more of an up- inning on June 29th off the and was the Cardinals team He was fi nally ready to RBI behind the league-lead- percut swing than Beckham. bat of USC freshman Robert MVP that summer. If Beck- come to the Cape to try and ing Brian Pruitt, of Bourne, But, for both Beckham and Stock. ham stays on his current win a championship for Yar- who has 16, and he is just Garciaparra, this swing has Garciaparra was an All- pace, and the Red Sox mouth-Dennis, which would two hits behind Bourne’s led to a lot of hard hit base- Academic and All-American continue to roll over oppo- be their third in four years. Kevin Hoef for the league balls, which can translate at Georgia Tech while Beck- nents, Beckham could also Beckham said, with a thick lead, with 19. He also leads into home runs and extra ham was voted a Freshman follow the Cape League Hall southern accent, that he the league in slugging (.679) base hits. All-American by Baseball of Famer to a Cape League was a “lil’ bit” disappointed and extra base hits (9). “I think that my swing America and Collegiate Championship and perhaps that he was not a part of the Beckham’s swing is has a tendency to hit home Baseball, and was also even into professional base- championship winning team reminiscent of Garciaparra’s runs,” Beckham said. “I’m named to the SEC Fresh- ball (Garciaparra was chosen of 2006. in the way he transfers his not sure why. I guess I get men Academic Honor Roll in the fi rst round in 1994). “Hopefully, we’ll get an- weight to his back foot and some pretty good backspin other one this year,” he said. explodes through the ball as on some balls …I don’t try to “We played 70 games, I was it crosses the plate. This led hit them. That’s the last thing … In BP I won’t hit one, you know? I just concentrate MADNESS on hitting line drives, hope- fully all over the place. If you Ê âÕÊ*À`ÕVÌÃÊ"Ê->i think about home runs they ain’t gonna come. I just wor- Ê âÕ Ê âÕ ry about hitting it hard and if it goes out it goes out.” - Ê>`Ê // Ê"6 -Ê The former Cape League -"/ Ê /- >`Ê Ê"6 - star, Garciaparra, fi nished seventh in the league in hitting in 1993, batting .321. Îä¯Ê" Óä¯Ê" He collected 50 hits, 18 RBI, and one homer. Garciap- Ài>ÌÊÃiiVÌÊÊÃÌVÊvÀÊÌ iÊLi}iÀÊÌ arra also led the Jackets to Ì iÊ«À]ÊVÕ`}ÊvÕÊÃvÌL>ÊiÊvÀÊ}Àð the College World Series in 1994. The similarities don’t end with stats and mechanics. In #HECK OUT OUR SHOP the fi eld, Beckham combines a strong arm and quick feet. 9OULL LOVE DON PARKINSON/ENTERPRISE He is speedy on the base WHAT YOU SEE 7EST -AIN 3TREET q (YANNIS -! Gordon Beckham (Georgia) has been one of the top hitters paths and, although he cites q this summer in the Cape League. his fi elding as the weakest &AX