COTUIT – The Orleans Firebirds are the hottest team on the Cape right now. Here’s a recap of Wednesday’s nights play in the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Orleans Firebirds 13
Cotuit Kettleers 2
W: Taylor Sugg (1-0) L: Jayce Vancena (2-1)
The Firebirds were nearly flawless in their 13-2 victory over the Kettleers. Save a pair of runs scored in the 9th on a pinch-hit 2 run jack by John Cresto (Santa Clara), Orleans utilized 6 arms to shut down Cotuit. Before being pulled, starter Kevin Smith (Georgia) had a no hitter going through 4 innings with 6 strikeouts improving his ERA to 1.92 for the season. But the Firebirds did their most damage at the plate jumping on the Kettleers with a 3 run top of the 2nd and a 7 run onslaught in the 8th. First baseman, Steve Passatempo (UMass Lowell) broke out of his early season slump going 3 for 5 with a home run and 4 RBIs. 2nd baseman, Ethan Paul (Vanderbilt) blasted a home run as well, his first on the season. Orleans increases their winning streak to 5, which is the longest of the 2017 summer.
Chatham Anglers 1
Brewster Whitecaps 11
W: Tony Locey (1-1) L: Adam Hill (0-1)
Losing 7-1 must have left a sour taste in the mouths of the Whitecaps, because they erupted on Wednesday night. Bryant Bulldog Michael Gasper launched his 3rd home run of the year, additionally, he scored 3 runs and batted in 2. In fact, including Gasper, 4 Whitecaps had multi-RBI games at the plate. Starter, Tony Locey (Georgia) pitched 5 scoreless innings to pick up his first win on the season. The Anglers got 9 hits off of Brewster pitching, but were unable to turn the production into runs. Defensively, they coughed up 3 errors and Chatham pitchers surrendered 7 walks on the evening.
Hyannis Harbor Hawks 5
Bourne Braves 3
W: Chase Haney L: Kyle Marman
The cardiac kids aka the Bourne Braves brought the home crowd to the edge of their seats in the bottom of the 9th, but in the end were unable to complete the comeback and fell to the Harbor Hawks. The game was quiet until Hyannis strung some hits together and put up a 4 spot on the Braves in the top of the 3rd. With the help of strong bullpen performances by Chase Haney (Florida State) and Davis Vainer (Bama), those 4 runs would be the only support they would require to win the game. Reece Hampton (Charlotte) enjoyed another fine game at the dish going 2 for 5 with a RBI and a stolen base.
Falmouth Commodores 8
Wareham Gatemen 4
W: Thomas Ponticelli (2-1) L: Riley Gates (0-1) S: Ryan Zeferjahn (3)
What an exciting game in Wareham last night! With two excellent efforts out of their starters, the game was tied 1-1 going into the bottom of the 7th inning. Shortstop Ben Baird (Washington) broke the tie with a RBI single, which was followed up by a frozen rope triple by Tanner Dodson (Cal) that cleared the bases putting the Gatemen on top by 3. Falmouth would answer with a run of their own in the top of the 8th to make the score 4-2. In the top of the 9th, with two outs, Hunter Steinmetz on 1st and Clayton Daniel on 2nd, Falmouth put on the risky double steal. The risk paid off as the throw down to third skipped into the outfield allowing Daniel to score and Steinmetz to take 3rd. The momentum was in favor of the Commodores and the very next batter, Alec Bohm, sent a single up the middle and scored Steinmetz to force extra innings. After a scoreless 10th, the Commodores plated 4 in the 11th and Ryan Zeferjahn closed the door on the Gatemen, securing Falmouth’s 3rd win in a row.
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox 12
Harwich Mariners 1
W: Tim Brennan (1-0) L: Christopher Gau (1-1)
Y-D went into Wednesday’s tilt with a two game losing streak and they did not leave any doubt that they didn’t want the streak extended to 3. They launched a devastating assault on Harwich pitching, batting in 12 runs on 18 hits. Kyle Isbel (UNLV) would knock home 4 runs by himself and Nick Quintana (Arizona) would deposit a three run home run over the outfield wall for his 3rd of the year. Red Sox starter, Tim Brennan (St. Joseph’s) went 7 innings only surrendering 4 hits, one run and he sat down 10 Mariners for his first win of the season. He also boasts a remarkable 20:2 strikeout to walk ratio through 16.2 innings pitched thus far. Y-D broke their losing streak only to add to Harwich’s, which now stands at 3.
Orleans and Wareham are off tonight, but the rest of the teams are ready to take the field:
4:00 PM (Game 1)
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (8-4-1 1st East Division)
vs.
Bourne Braves (7-6 1st West Division)
Doran Park
YD: Josh McMinn (2-0)
Bou: Brian Eichhorn (2-0)
5:00 PM
Chatham Anglers (6-8 4th East Division)
vs.
Brewster Whitecaps (7-6-1 3rd East Division)
Stony Brook Field
Cha: Cameron Bishop (0-0)
Brew: TBD
6:00 PM
Cotuit Kettleers (7-7 3rd West Division)
vs.
Hyannis Harbor Hawks (6-7-1 4th West Division)
McKeon Park
Cot: Adam Scott (1-1)
Hya: MD Johnson (0-1)
7:00 PM (Game 2)
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox
vs.
Bourne Braves
Doran Park
YD: Karl Kauffman (0-0)
Bou: Zach Mort (0-1)
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