CAPE LEAGUE PLAYOFFS: Y-D Red Sox Roll On, Brewster Whitecaps Denied (SLIDESHOW)

SOUTH YARMOUTH – The Y-D Red Sox (24-22) rode the sheer brilliance of southpaw starting pitcher Ricky Thomas (Fresno State), survived a brief scare in the 8^th inning, and then slammed the door shut on the Brewster Whitecaps’ season with a pair of efforts from two superstars from the University of Cincinnati.

The Y-D Red Sox convene on the mound at Red Wilson Field Tuesday night as they wait for reliever Dalton Lehnen to arrive from the bullpen to shut the door on the Whitecaps.
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports

Ahead 6-0 through the top of the 8^th inning, host Y-D saw Brewster bounce back for three runs with two outs before Cincinnati southpaw Dalton Lehnen came on in relief of Hofstra righty Alec Eisenberg to close out the frame.

Brewster (24-21-1) then went to its pen to start the bottom of the 8^th down 6-3 and brought in Rollin Lacy (Creighton) for Gabe Mosser (Shippensburg).

Cincinati’s Ryan Noda then stepped in and hammered Lacy’s first offering of the inning deep into the centerfield trees at Merrill “Red” Wilson Field and that blast all but sealed the Whitecaps’ fate.

Noda’s Cincinnati teammate Lehnen went out for the top of the ninth and notched the save with a steely cool demeanor necessitated by such situations and except for one infield miscue, retired the side as the Red Sox completed the two-game sweep of the Whitecaps.

Thomas, who made this victory his 8^th against no losses this season, struck out seven in six innings of work and walked just one while scattering five hits. Eisenberg was credited with all three of Brewster’s tallies in the 8^th inning and Lehnen allowed the ‘Caps nothing in 1.1 innings of work.

Cincinnati southpaw Dalton Lehnen with Y-D Red Sox catcher Chris Hudgins (Cal State Fullerton)
Sean Walsh/Capecod.com Sports

Noda went 2-4 on the night with three RBI while Cal-State Fullerton catcher Chris Hudgins was the portrait of old-school back-stopping as he went 2-4 with one RBI and brought his lunch-pail to what could only be deemed a superlative, all-around effort.

Oklahoma State’s Donnie Walton also went 2-4 for the rock-solid Red Sox.

Brewster starter Jordan Sheffield (Vanderbilt) took the loss. He allowed four earned runs in five innings of work and struck out six while also giving up seven hits and three walks.

Washington’s Jack Meggs went 3-4 for the ‘Caps while Florida International slugger JC Escarra went 2-3 with one RBI.

— Story and photos by Sean Walsh, sports editor for www.capecod.com. His email is [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @coachwalshccbm

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