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Walk-Off Concludes Festive All-Star Weekend

Alex Gagne Photo
07/21/2019 8:41 PM

Article By: Joseph Barrett

Eldredge Park was a popular destination on Sunday as talent collided for the Cape League All-Star Game and Home Run Contest.

Ten teams across the Cape have been competitors and perhaps even rivals for the past two months. On Sunday however, opponents turned into teammates as East met West once more.

When the gate opened at approximately 2:00 p.m., followers of the League began their action-packed day of baseball.

Fans were given the opportunity to meet their favorite players and turn their once ordinary memorabilia into signed items by the League’s best.

As autograph signing and batting practice came to a close, it was time for the National Grid Home Run Contest. Power was on full display as the six participants gave the children in attendance lots of balls to chase in the outfield.

The crowd reacted to each and every swing as the power hitters portrayed their polished swings and fancy footwork. However, there can inevitably be just one winner, and the contest belonged to Brewster’s Tyler Hardman.

The righty was able to best his Whitecap teammate along with the four other batters in what proved to be a dominant performance for Hardman. The third baseman has seven homers to his name this season to go along with an impressive .281 average.

As the Whitecaps saw two of their players take part in the event, the hitting coaches in Brewster must be preaching the right strategies. It’s also fitting that one of the premier power hitters in the MLB, Aaron Judge, once wore a Brewster uniform as well.

The focus then shifted to the highly anticipated All-Star Game. Even if fans had their favorite players in mind, the talent in front of them was certainly apparent.

Fans of defense must’ve enjoyed the first three innings of play, as defense and fielding dominated the action early on.

The scoring soon picked up in the fourth inning, as an initial West run was answered by Orleans’ Max Troiani. The home crowd appreciated the effort by their very own Firebird to even the score at 1-1.

Cody Pasic grew up a fan of the Cotuit Ketleers as a child and is able to take the field in those same colors this season. As if that wasn’t enough, his home run in the fifth inning put the West ahead.

After another run by the West, the East stormed back with two pivotal runs in the seventh inning courtesy of Gage Workman and Brett Auerbach.

A late score by the West put some well expected pressure on the opposition, but the East Division responded with diligence to win the contest in the final inning.

Auerbach made an impact once again, as his walk-off single sent Chatham’s Brady Smith to home plate, scoring the winning run.

The poke resulted in a 6-5 finish, as the East Division took home the annual contest’s top honors. The official MVPs of the All-Star Game were Matt McLain, Gage Workman, and of course Brett Auerbach.

Sunday was surely a success for the Cape Cod Baseball league and for the players, coaches, and workers who orchestrated the event. As Monday hits, teammates return to opponents as regular season play resumes across Cape Cod.