BOURNE – Monday night was make-up night for the Cape League as the Brewster Whitecaps and the Bourne Braves were the only squads doing battle to kick-off the week.
Brewster Whitecaps 3
Bourne Braves 5
W: Nick Johnson (2-0) L: Connor Higgins (1-1) S: Ryan Feltner (4)
Bourne and Brewster were familiar with each other as they went into Monday’s tilt having just played a doubleheader on Sunday. Both contests were very tight, but at the end of the day, Brewster sent Bourne home with a two game losing streak. With the help of an excellent effort out of the bullpen, the Braves were able to flip the script on the Whitecaps. Bourne’s starter, Ian Miller (Harvard) had trouble locating the plate to start the game issuing 6 walks and allowing two runs in 2 innings of work. The Braves turned to four pitchers out of the pen, Nick Johnson (Rhode Island), Dylan Coleman (Missouri State), Chad Luensmann (Nebraska), and Ryan Feltner (Ohio State), who combined for 7 innings of 1 run ball, striking out 7 Whitecaps. Feltner shut the door in the 9th for his 4th save of the season, tied for most in the Cape League. Bourne also enjoyed solid performances at the plate by Spencer Brickhouse (East Carolina) and Grant Williams (Kennesaw State). Brickhouse, other than being candidate for best name in the League, went a perfect 4 for 4 with 1 run scored and 1 RBI.
WEEK 2 POWER RANKINGS
- Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (7-3-1 1st East Division)
Y-D, other than having the best record in the league, has given up the least amount of runs and is 2nd in the league in runs scored. Combine that with the most stolen bases (22) and 2nd most HRs, the Red Sox are the class of the Cape League to begin 2017.
- Bourne Braves (7-4 1st West Division)
The Braves aren’t doing anything overwhelming on the stat sheet, but they are finding ways to win games. While the run differential may a cause to worry (44 runs scored to 44 runs against), they are still winners of 7 out of their last 10. Not to mention, Bourne is still waiting on a handful of players to return from the College World Series.
- Orleans Firebirds (7-6 3rd East Division)
The Firebirds, like the Braves, have won 7 out of their last 10 including 3 shutout victories. Orleans is tied for the league lead in team ERA with 3.06 and is 2nd in the league in strikeouts with 112. The pitching has covered for inconsistent hitting (league low 46 runs scored), but they could be considered the hottest team on the Cape going into tonight’s games.
- Cotuit Kettleers (6-6 2nd West Division)
The poster children for streaky play, the Cotuit season has been marked by winning streaks and losing streaks. In the first week of the season, the Cotuit faithful had visions of the 1970s ballclubs who won 4 straight titles, only to be brought swiftly down to earth. Despite the 6-6 record, the Kettleers have a +11 run differential and three of the best hitters in the league in Griff Conine, Zach Kone, and John Kresto. Their record is not indicative of their play, as this team is capable of beating any team on any given day.
- Brewster Whitecaps (6-5-1 2nd East Division)
Looking at their batting and pitching stats, one would think that the Brewster Whitecaps belong higher on this list. They lead the league in runs scored (62) and are tied for the league’s highest ERA (3.06). However, tab over to their fielding stats and they are far and away the league leaders in errors committed leading to 17 unearned runs on the season. If the Whitecaps can tighten it up in the field, with their prowess on the mound and at the plate, they could find themselves at the winning end of the majority of their games.
- Hyannis Harbor Hawks (5-6-1 4th West Division)
The Harbor Hawks put the ball past the defense better than any team in the league hitting .281 as a team. However, they have struggled converting those baserunners into runs with a pedestrian 51 runs scored on the season. However, they seem to be turning the table scoring 6 or more runs in their last 4 games.
- Falmouth Commodores (6-7 3rd West Division)
The Commodores have had the home run ball working with a league leading 10. Early MVP candidate, Marty Bechina, leads the league in both HRs and RBIs while hitting .304. Hitting for power hasn’t been the problem thus far, it’s been the pitching. The Commodore pitching staff currently holds an atmospheric 5.61 ERA through week 2. Hitting puts fans in the stands, but pitching wins championships and with a run differential of -20, Falmouth needs more zeroes on the opponent’s side of the scoreboard to stay relevant in the West.
- Chatham Anglers (5-7 5th East Division)
Chatham enjoyed a hot start to the season jumping out to a 4-1 record and then lost 5 out of their next 6. The middle of the Angler lineup, Nick Patten, Shea Langeliers, and Jacob Olson, have been clearing the bases accounting for half of the team’s RBIs. Similar to Falmouth, Chatham’s issues have come on the mound and in field leading to a -10 run differential on the season. The Anglers have the firepower at the plate, but if they intend to return to the top of the East, the pitching staff needs to follow suit.
- Harwich Mariners (5-6-1 4th East Division)
Harwich’s hitting has been anemic to start the season with only one player hitting above .300 and they are last in the league in batting average (.217) and runs scored (50). Unlike the Firebirds, the pitching has been good, but not good enough with a team ERA around 4 and they find themselves towards the bottom of the league in strikeouts as well as hits surrendered. On a positive, they have played very well in the field with a league low 6 errors. If the Mariner bats start hitting the ball hard and the fielding remains exceptional, look for Harwich to climb the rankings.
- Wareham Gatemen (5-8 5th West Division)
It has been feast or famine for the Gatemen in the 2017 season. They have scored near or in double digits multiple times, but have also been shutout or held to one run on several occasions. However, the Gatemen are not void of talent as they’ve hit 7 HRs as a team and have 12 pitchers on their staff with sub-2 ERAS with half of them yet to allow a run. First year manager, Don Sneddon, may be taking a little time to get acclimated to the Cape League competition, but he needs to do so quickly to turn around the Gatemen season.
All teams are back on the field tonight.
6:00 PM
Brewster Whitecaps (6-5-1)
vs.
Falmouth Commodores (6-7)
Guv Fuller Field
Brew: J.R. McDermott (1-0)
Fal: Scott Politz (1-1)
6:30 PM
Cotuit Kettleers (6-6)
vs.
Harwich Mariners (5-7-1)
Whitehouse Field
Cot: Dylan King (0-0)
Har: Jacob Billingsley (0-0)
Hyannis Harbor Hawks (5-6-1)
vs.
Wareham Gatemen (5-8)
Spillane Field
Hya: Kevin Coulter (0-2)
War: Justin Glover (1-0)
7:00 PM
Bourne Braves (7-4)
vs.
Chatham Anglers (5-7)
Veterans Field
Bou: Christopher Holba (0-1)
Cha: Dan Hammer (0-0)
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (7-3-1)
vs.
Orleans Firebirds (6-7)
Eldredge Field
YD: Hogan Harris (0-0)
Orl: Logan Gilbert (0-1)
For more information on the Cape League, teams, and players please visit www.CapeCodBaseball.org
By MATT ST. JEAN, CapeCod.com NewsCenter
About CapeCod.com NewsCenter
