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This Week in the Cape League # 7

07/30/2007 2:47 PM

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THIS WEEK IN THE CAPE LEAGUE
(21 July – 29 July 2007) 

Coca Cola Pitcher and Player of the Week

 

COCA COLA PITCHER OF THE WEEK
    
Matt Daly (Hawaii) of the Hyannis Mets threw a no-hitter Wednesday night against the Wareham Gatemen to earn this week’s Coca-Cola Pitcher of the Week honors. Daly struck out eight batters as he earned the nine-inning victory. Four Wareham runners reached base, all on walks and the Gatemen’s run was unearned, coming in the second inning on a catcher’s throwing error. Daly’s gem helped his Mets go 5-1 for the week, moving to 16-9-2 over-all and climbing to within four points of the Falmouth Commodores in the battle for the last playoff spot in the Cape Cod League’s West Division.

COCA COLA PLAYER OF THE WEEK
    
Conor Gillaspie (Wichita State) was chosen as Coca-Cola Player of the Week for the second time this season thanks to another solid week at the plate. The Falmouth third basemen drove in four runs while hitting .500 for the week. On Thursday against Harwich, he drove in the winning run when he blasted a triple to center field in the fifth inning. He now leads the league in batting (.372) and slugging (.745) and is tied for second in home runs with seven. 

 

EAST DIVISION

Alonso’s Hot Bat Helps Keep
Brewster’s Playoff Hopes Alive

BREWSTER, Mass. -- The Brewster Whitecaps recorded a 3-2 record in the week preceding the All-Star break to keep their hopes alive for a berth in the Cape Cod Baseball League playoffs. 
On Monday, the Whitecaps rolled in to Red Wilson Field in South Yarmouth and proceeded to pound the division-leading Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, 6-1, proving they are capable of beating and team in the league.
    Erik Davis (Stanford) got the start for Brewster and was on target, firing six innings allowing only one earned run. Keith Shinaberry (Texas) and Ben Hornbeck (Kansas State) were perfect in relief allowing no runs to finish the game. Offensively, Yonder Alonso (Miami) padded his numbers by collecting two hits and David Doss (South Alabama) contributed a pair of hits and an RBI.
Brewster returned home Tuesday to face Orleans in a pivotal game in the East Division race, but the Cardinals came out on top, 8-3. Brad Kledzick (Wake Forest) just couldn’t find his control, walking three and giving up five hits in only five innings. The Whitecaps squandered many opportunities offensively and the hot Orleans bats proved decisive. The lone bright spot for the home team was      Charlie Cutler (California), who collected two hits and drove in a run.
    On Wednesday, the Whitecaps visited Cotuit where they handed the Kettleers a 3-1 defeat. Matt Couch (San Diego) pitched six shutout innings, scattering five hits and striking out six, and reliever Lee Land (Wake Forest) pitched a perfect ninth to pick up his sixth save of the season. Alonso led the offense with three hits, including a home run, and drove in two runs. Ryan Hanlon (California) drove in the other run, providing the extra cushion late in the game.
    On Thursday, Brewster’s solid pitching continued against Chatham at Veterans Field, where the Whitecaps won, 1-0. Ryan Cook (Southern California) pitched seven strong innings, scattering four hits and striking out seven A’s. Once again, Land was outstanding, allowing only one base runner in the ninth for his second save in as many days and his seventh of the season. Alonso continued his hot streak as he collected three more hits. Hanlon’s RBI in the seventh won it for the Whitecaps.
To finish off the week, Brewster traveled to Hyannis Friday to face the Mets, but the magic just wasn’t there and the Whitecaps lost, 12-2. Alonso was the sole bright spot, picking up two more hits and driving in a run. 
    Brewster was represented by five players -- outfielder Blake Tekotte (Miami), right-handed pitchers Mike Colla (Arizona) and Couch, first baseman Alonso and left fielder Cutler -- in Saturday’s All-Star Game at Wareham. Alonso and Cutler were both chosen as East Division starters, and Alonso also participated in the Home Run Derby.
John Hannemann, CCBL intern ([email protected])ay
 

 

Chatham’s Dykstra Finds Cape League
To His Liking the Second Time Around

     CHATHAM, Mass. – At 6 feet, 5 inches tall, Allan Dykstra (Wake Forest) is anything but ordinary. But it’s not just his height that puts him above the rest. Dykstra returns to the Chatham A’s this summer for a second round in the Cape Cod Baseball League having gained talent and experience and the A’s are taking notice. With a .317 batting average and 20 runs batted in, Dykstra has proven himself to be a go-to man in the A’s batting order.
    Dykstra played with the A’s as a freshman during the 2006 season. As a first-year player, he received limited playing time. But, he said, he thoroughly enjoyed the experience, so when he was given the opportunity to return, he jumped at it.
    “It’s the best summer league in the nation,” Dykstra said. “They even have a movie (“Summer Catch”) about it.”
    Dykstra, who had watched the film prior to joining the A’s, said that he was not intimidated by field manager John Schiffner’s portrayal on the big screen.
    “I knew coming up here that my coach (at Wake Forest) actually played under coach Schiffner and he said the movie did not come close to showing what he’s really like,” said Dykstra.
    Dykstra said the decision to return was an easy one, in part because of the great host family that he was paired with during his freshman summer.
    “At first, I came in really cautious and didn’t want to mess anything up,” Dykstra said. “But I’m just really comfortable with them now. That was a big thing for me, coming back this summer, just comfort. It made it a lot easier to return to the same team and the same host family, and already knowing what was going on.”
    Dykstra was also familiar with the differences between playing in a wooden bat league, such as the Cape League, versus an aluminum bat league.
    “It’s a completely different game with the wooden bats,” he said. “With aluminum bats, you can get away with a lot more.”
    Dykstra said the bats were not the only thing that separated the Cape League from his college conference. 
    “The pitching is obviously a big deal up here,” he said. “You have the best players in the nation together, so each team is almost like an all-star team and it gets pretty intense … It’s tough competition and you just have to try and do your best. You almost have to know that you are going to fail more often than not here.”
    Despite the tough competition and intense games, Dykstra said that bonding with his teammates has made it an enjoyable ride. 
    “Last year, I didn’t really hang out that much with my teammates,” said Dykstra. “But this year everyone gets along and we’re much more together, I definitely have had more fun this summer, and it’s mostly due to my teammates.”
Gabriella Remington, CCBL intern ([email protected])

 

Mariners Salute Their Fans with Aug. 3
Family Fun Night at Whitehouse Field

HARWICH, Mass. – Although out of the playoff race, the Harwich Mariners haven’t forgotten their faithful fans. In fact, the Mariners are inviting fans of all ages to enjoy face painting, pony rides and other activities, and have their picture taken with Wally the Green Monster, the official team mascot of the Boston Red Sox, prior to the game on Friday, Aug. 3, at Whitehouse Field.
    Fans taking part in this first annual Harwich Mariners Family Fun Night from 5 to 7 p.m. will have the opportunity to be photographed with Wally, ride a pony or test their fastball on the radar gun for a small fee. Food will be available for purchase from the Casey Close Concession Stand and fans will have an opportunity to grab Mariners merchandise from the merchandise stand and then settle into the bleachers or their lawn chairs as manager Steve Englert’s team plays host to defending Cape Cod Baseball League champion and current East Division leader Yarmouth Dennis.
    The hot bats of Johnny Giavotella (New Orleans), J.T. Wise (Oklahoma) and All-Star Cole Figueroa (Florida) lead the Mariners into the last week of the season, with the top three batting averages on the team. The pitching staff has been led by starter Dan Hudson (Old Dominion), who is third in the league in strikeouts. Evan Crawford (Auburn) has been dominating opposing hitters out of the bullpen, carving out a 0.79 ERA and striking out 33 opposing batters in 13 appearances. 
    The Harwich Mariners, members of the Cape Cod Baseball League since 1930, play a 44-game schedule in the nation’s premier summer collegiate wood bat league. Their home park, Whitehouse Field, features the largest scoreboard and message center in New England, south of Boston. The scoreboard was donated by the son of Fay Vincent, former commissioner of baseball, in memory of his late father.
    Harwich concludes its regular season at Whitehouse Field on Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 7 p.m. against Brewster. 
Steven Dodrill, Harwich Mariners intern ([email protected])
 

 

Orleans Cardinal Players Adjust
To Living with Host Families

     ORLEANS, Mass. – Living with a host family can be one of the most enjoyable aspects of playing in the Cape Cod Baseball League – but sometimes the players don’t realize that until they arrive. Players say that it is all about luck, and fortunately for two Orleans Cardinals, living with host families has been an enjoyable experience.
    First baseman, Nate Freiman (Duke) is new to the Cape League this summer, but he had lived with a host family once before. Freiman said that his previous experience helped him know what to expect.
    “I played in the Great Lakes League in Ohio, so I lived with a host family there and at first I was really nervous,” said Freiman. “After last summer, I got used to the idea and my family (in Orleans) sounded really nice, so I was really looking forward to it this summer.” 
    Frieman, whose host family’s son is the Cardinals’ bat boy, said living with his host family has been a great experience because they are all so involved with the Cardinals.
    “They are really supportive of the team,” he said. “They come to all the games and they are really into it. It’s a really nice family.”
    Outfielder Ollie Linton (California-Irvine) is living with a host family for the first time. Linton said he is happy to be living in a house this summer, as opposed to being in a dorm.
    “Last year, I lived in a dorm with all the other guys, but this year they (his host family) have been taking care of me. They have gotten groceries for me and they let me use their car whenever I want. It’s been really good so far.”
    Having never lived with a host family, Linton was nervous about sharing living space with strangers for an entire summer.
    “At first, I didn’t know anything about them and I wanted to know a little bit about them,” said Linton. “But it’s the luck of the draw … sometimes you get a good family and sometimes you get a bad one. Luckily this summer, I got a really good one.”
    While both Freiman and Linton said living with a host family has been a positive experience, they agreed that they preferred living on their own at school. Southern Californian Lipton said, “At school, I live on Newport Beach, so it can be fun. But a host family is cool, too, because they take care of you.” 
Gabriella Remington, CCBL intern ([email protected])
 

 

Yarmouth-Dennis Wins Six of Seven,
Remains Team to Beat in the East Division

     SOUTH YARMOUTH, Mass. -- The Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox remained on top of the East division last week, not giving anyone a chance to take over their spot by winning six of seven games and improving to 26-10-1 overall.
    Powerful bats and solid starting pitching vaulted the Red Sox to the best record in the Cape Cod Baseball League, but gaining the lead means nothing if a team can’t hold on to it -- which is where Nick Cassevechia (Baylor) enters the picture.
    Cassevechia, the Cape Cod Baseball League leader in saves with 10, is cast in the role of closer at Baylor as well, and has adjusted to the Cape League’s wooden bats and talented hitters by having command of his pitches.
    “I think the key to closing, especially with the wood bats, is just throwing a lot of strikes. Last year, I think every run I gave up started with a walk, so my focus is always to just throw strikes,” said Cassevechia who played for Wareham in 2006 and is thoroughly enjoying playing in the CCBL again.
    “I felt very fortunate just to come back to the league with whatever team would pick me up,” said Cassevechia who was chosen to the East Division All-Star Team, an honor he takes very seriously. “It’s a great honor to be here with the best college players and this is the best of the best, so it’s a real honor to be selected.”
    Although Cassevechia is listed at 6 feet tall, he feels his height could be viewed as a disadvantage. “I’d like to play basketball, but my height played a factor in that … It kind of plays a role in baseball, too, but I’ve managed to stick around so far,” said Cassevechia, whose mound mates on the Red Sox include 6-8 Eddie Burns (Georgia Tech), 6-8 Scott Green (Kentucky), 6-6 David Anderson (Coastal Carolina) and 6-4 Terry Doyle (Boston College).
    Cassevechia collected his 10th save last Sunday when the Red Sox beat the Falmouth Commodores 3-0. Collin Cowgill (Kentucky), Aaron Luna (Rice), and Matt Long (Santa Clara) all drove in runs and Scott Green (Kentucky) pitched six innings to improve to 2-1 on the season. The Red Sox had defeated the Harwich Mariners, 8-1, the night before, but lost to the Brewster Whitecaps Monday at Red Wilson Field.
    An 8-1 victory against the Hyannis Mets started a four-game winning streak that included victories over Falmouth, Orleans and Harwich heading into the all-star break. Friday night’s game against Harwich was a high-scoring affair, the two teams combining for 20 runs in just eight innings. Thanks to Jason Castro (Stanford) and Grant Green (Southern California), with three RBI each, and Nich Romero (San Diego State), Gordon Beckham (Georgia) and Mike Tamsin (Northeastern), each of whom drove in two runs of their own, the Red Sox walked away with a 12-8 victory.
    Yarmouth-Dennis is virtually assured of a spot in the playoffs, standing 14 points ahead of the third-place team with just seven games remaining.
Kevin Wolfe, CCBL intern ([email protected])
 
 

 

 

WEST DIVISION

West Leader Bourne Loses Some of Its Thump
As Pitching Overtakes Hitting in the Cape League

     BOURNE, Mass. — Field manager Harvey Shapiro knew his Bourne Braves couldn’t keep it up. In a league where the average hitter has gone .234/.319/.336 for the past two seasons, the numbers the Braves were putting up through the first third of the Cape Cod Baseball League season simply couldn’t last.
    “I told the guys that we’re not going to hit as well as we were hitting,” he said. “In the long run, you can’t just out-hit teams all summer and expect to keep winning.”
    Success in the Cape League is about adjustment, Shapiro said, as both pitchers and hitters adapt to the new hardware, new style of play and new level of talent. Early on, the Bourne batters were simply adjusting better than the league’s pitching and were reaping the rewards. They jumped out to a comfortable lead in the West Division and it seemed that their offense could carry them straight to the league championship.
    But in the past two weeks, the Cape League’s best arms are catching up with its best bats, and the Braves are no longer steamrolling the competition with their offense. In the past two weeks, they have sustained tough losses to Brewster, Yarmouth-Dennis Falmouth and Chatham. While they turned things around last week with a three-game winning streak, it is only because of Falmouth's slow start to the season that the Braves are still on top in the West Division.
    “Pitchers are throwing better now than they were at the start of the season and we’re not going to hit .300 any more,” Shapiro said. “Once people settle in, it becomes more of a pitching and defense league.”
    Underscoring Shapiro’s assessment, the Braves were held to their three lowest offensive outputs of the season as Falmouth, the consensus pick for the league’s top rotation, held Bourne to just six hits in a 7-0 win on July 13, and Brewster ace Ryan Cook (Southern California) did the same in a 5-2 Whitecaps win on July 19. Last Sunday, the Braves were shut out for just the second time all season, again managing only six hits that went nowhere against Chatham. The A's Zach Putnam (Michigan) held Bourne to just one hit in the first five innings. 
    “I still have same concerns as I did at the start of the season,” Shapiro said. “Our starting pitching has not been that good recently and our bats are slowing down. Luckily our relief pitching has been good and that’s kept us in there.” 
    Two Braves batters have been especially strong in the past two weeks, offsetting some of the team's offensive sputtering and jumpstarting its improved offense in recent games.
    Matt Hall (Arizona State) had 13 hits and eight RBI, and packed much of that offense into several big Bourne wins, including a bases-clearing, three-run double in the Braves' 4-2 win over Orleans on July 25. Defensively, Hall has earned a rotating spot at shortstop for the Braves with some nifty fieldwork and good range on the diamond. 
    Mitch Moreland (Mississippi State) was also strong last week, hitting .333 with five RBI and two multi-hit games. Moreland was a late arrival for his second season in Bourne, as his Bulldogs pulled off a magical run to the College World Series, and has continued to make his presence felt. He had a hit and drove in a run in his summer debut on July 3, and has hit .277 with 12 RBI since, lending his bat as a designated hitter when not in the lineup at first base. 
    He is also notoriously hard to strike out. He had 14 K’s in 76 at-bats, and his 14 walks demonstrate the patience that goes along with his power. His stats this season are similar to his 2006 numbers, with the exception of an extra 50 points on his .239 average from last year. 
    “He gives us a presence,” Shapiro said of Moreland. “He’s been in the league, he knows what it’s all about, and he’s a quality ballplayer and a quality person. He’s not only a good player, but he can give us the leadership and maturity that all teams need.” 
Liz Hoffman, CCBL intern ([email protected])
 

 

Struggling Cotuit Places One Starter,
Three Reserves on West Division All-Star Team

     COTUIT, Mass. -- Although the Cotuit Kettleers went into a tailspin in the past couple of weeks, struggling through a horrendous 13-game losing streak, there was a small measure of solace for their fans when four Kettleers were named to the West Division All-Star team for the Cape Cod Baseball League’s annual showcase game July 28 at Spillane Field in Wareham. 
    Sophomore Reese Havens (South Carolina) was selected as the starting shortstop for the West All-Stars. Havens was batting .311, had belted five home runs and accumulated base 38 hits. Havens also was doing an impressive job defensively. 
    Three Kettleers earned reserve spots on the all-star roster -- pitcher Josh Lindblom (Purdue) and catchers Robert Stock (Southern California) and Caleb Joseph (Lipscomb).
    Lindblom had a 4-1 won-lost record with a 3.34 ERA and had struck out 37 batters in 32-1/2 innings. In his latest outing against the Brewster Whitecaps, Lindblom pitched three shutout innings, giving up just three hits while striking out four. 
    Stock was also one of the best two-way players in the league, leading the Kettleers with 17 RBI and a .370 slugging percentage and committing just three errors behind the plate. 
    Stock’s teammate and fellow catcher Joseph was batting .237, with 22 hits and 12 RBI.
Erica Bailey, CCBL intern ([email protected])
  

 

Seven Commodores Earn West All-Star Honors;
Crow, Hague, Barto, Gillaspie Selected as Starters

     FALMOUTH, Mass. -- Seven Falmouth Commodores earned All-Star honors, including four at starting positions, making Falmouth the team with the most selections on the Cape Cod Baseball League’s West Division roster for the July 28 game at Wareham. 
    Falmouth starters were third baseman Conor Gillaspie (Wichita State), left fielder Aja Barto (Tulane), right fielder Matt Hague (Washington) and right-handed pitcher Aaron Crow (Missouri). On the reserve were starting pitchers Kyle Gibson (Missouri), Christian Friedrich (Eastern Kentucky) and closer Luke Burnett (Louisiana Tech). 
    Crow had posted a remarkable 0.52 ERA in 34 innings of work while striking out 32 batters and giving up just six bases on balls. Crow had compiled a 3-1 won-lost record and led the league in just about every pitching category. 
    Gillaspie was leading the league with a .367 batting average and had cracked six home runs. He was the league leader in slugging percentage (.722) and extra-base hits (18) and was second in the league in on-base percentage at .462. 
    Hague had a .303 batting average with 40 hit. He also led the Commodores in walks with 18. 
Outfielder Barto used his speed and defensive skills to win an all-star berth. He had 15 stolen bases and had been charged with just one error. Offensively, Barto stroked two home runs and four doubles. 
    The three Falmouth reserves represent some of the best pitching in the league. Closer Burnett led the league with six saves in 19.2 innings of work. Gibson had yet to lose (2-0) and was second in the league behind teammate Crow with a 1.13 ERA. Gibson had struck out 43 and walked only nine walks in 40 innings of work. 
Erica Bailey, CCBL intern ([email protected])
 

 

Daly’s No-Hitter Helps Keep Hyannis
In the Running for a Playoff Berth

     HYANNIS, Mass. -- A good week for the Hyannis Mets was highlighted by an excellent start for Matt Daly (Hawaii), who on Wednesday pitched a no-hitter as the Mets defeated the Wareham Gatemen, 4-1. It was the Cape Cod Baseball League’s first no-hitter of 2007.
    The only runner to score, Luke Murton (Georgia Tech), reached on a walk in the second and came home on a throwing error by catcher Shea Robin (Vanderbilt). Most of the fans weren’t aware that the Gatemen had been held hitless by the 5-foot, 11-inch California native until they heard the announcement at the end of the game. And what was even more surprising was that neither did many of his teammates.
    “At the end of the game in the meeting, coach (manager Greg King) asked who didn’t know that he had thrown a no-hitter and about half the team raised their hands,” said first baseman Kiko Vazquez (Central Florida). Vazquez and Daly both knew what was going on because they heard the chatter emanating from the Gatemen dugout.
    “ (The no-hitter) crept into my mind in the sixth inning when I heard the guys in the Wareham bench talking about it, and talking about getting a hit to break it up,” said Daly. It was his first no-hitter since high school and also happened to be his first win of the season. 
    The Mets started the week off with a loss to Bourne on Saturday but quickly turned things around Sunday by defeating Brewster, 5-2. Dan Brewer (Bradley) led the offensive charge with a 4-for-5 day at the plate and driving in two runs. Jason Franzblau (Winthrop) threw 7-1/3 innings, giving up just two hits.
    Vazquez drove in the only two runs against Bourne on Thursday, tying the game in the second inning on a fielder’s choice and winning it with a solo shot in the 10th. Vazquez said he enjoys playing in the Cape Cod Baseball League with the best collegiate talent in the country. He said he spends his spare time making money on weekends and working on his golf game.
    “On Saturdays and Sundays we caddy at Hyannisport, and we also go putt-putt down in Yarmouth,” said Vazquez. As for the playoff push, Kiko credits the entire team.
    “It’s just been everything coming together now. Everyone’s been playing well and our pitching’s been good recently,” he said. 
    Next, Hyannis traveled to Spillane Field, where they defeated Wareham, 1-0, on Monday before losing to Yarmouth-Dennis, 8-2, on Tuesday. Wednesday’s win, coupled with victories against Bourne and Brewster, left Hyannis just four points out of a playoff spot with seven games to go in the regular season. 
    Friday’s win over Brewster was a change of pace for the Mets who have been winning games by just two or three runs. They broke loose for a 12-2 romp over Brewster as Brewer led the offensive charge with four RBI and designated hitter Robin added two more to help right-hander Austin Hudson (Central Florida) cruise to his second win of the season. 
Kevin Wolfe, CCBL intern ([email protected])
   

 

When the Door Opens, Chris Hicks Closes:
Former Starter Shining in Closer Role for Wareham

     WAREHAM, Mass. — Team USA’s annual harvest of Cape Cod Baseball League-bound players creates a lot of losers. General managers and managers lose top talent from their rosters, the league loses some big names from its ranks and fans lose the chance to see some of baseball’s future stars performing locally. 
    But this process also has its share of winners. The players who are able to step the doors opened by player losses are given an opportunity to hone new skills and maybe even turn a few heads.
    Chris Hicks (Georgia Tech) has done both with the Wareham Gateman. 
    When the Team USA tornado had torn its path through Cape League rosters, Wareham found itself short a closer – and a good one -- as Jordy Mercer (Oklahoma State) had taken his arm (drastically undersold by his 3.81 ERA and three saves) to the national team’s roster. Plan B was scratched when word came that the Baylor coaches wanted freshman Kendall Volz to remain a starter. So Wareham pitching coach Ryan Beggs held an open call for closers, and the right-handed Hicks was more than willing to step in. 
    “Chris immediately said, ‘I’d love to give it a try’,” Wareham general manager John Wylde recalled. “One thing that’s attractive about closing is that you can come in for an inning and let it all hang out, and you don’t have to worry about pacing yourself early, and that appealed to Chris. He has outstanding closer mentality. He says, ‘Give me the ball, I’m going to go out there and have a battle and we’ll see who comes out on top’.” 
    Much has been said this year about the Gatemen’s starting pitching, and rightfully so. Wade Miley (Southeastern Louisiana), Andy Oliver (Oklahoma State) and company deserve a nod, and have indeed had some solid starts wasted by faltering middle-relief pitching. 
    But Hicks has emerged as a standout closer to balance one of the league’s best starting rotations. The 6-foot, 4-inch right-hander was fourth on the Cape in saves through last week with seven in as many opportunities. But for a rough outing — rough for Hicks, anyway, with four hits and one run in two innings in a 5-2 loss to Chatham on June 26 — he has been almost untouchable, striking out 19 in 18 innings of work. 
    Most impressive is his control. Through July 19, he had just a single walk to go with his 15 strikeouts, and while that number has risen slightly, Wylde still points to Hicks’ pinpoint precision as his greatest weapon. 
    After transitioning from a middle reliever to a starter during his freshman year with the Yellow Jackets, Hicks had a rough spring season in his new role. His ERA shot up after a few bad outings early in the season, and he was replaced in the rotation in mid-March. But he has returned to his roots as a reliever with the Gatemen, and Tech coach Danny Hall may have a new late-game gem in 2008. 
    Hicks has tremendous power. He is the only Gateman, and one of only a handful on the Cape, to have hit 95 miles per hour on the radar gun this season. His fastball is deadly, with a smooth delivery and, according to Wylde, he throws with good deception. 
    He clocked at 94 in his untouchable performance in Wareham’s 3-2 win over Hyannis on July 13, in which he struck out two in a 1-2/3 inning. That outing earned Hicks his first of three saves in four days. He also picked up saves on July 15 (1 inning, 1 hit, 0 runs,) and July 16 (1-2/3 innings, 0 hits, 0 runs, 3 strikeouts). 
    “Danny [Hall] told me that Chris had told him before he left to come here that he wanted to try closing next year at Georgia Tech, so this is a chance for him to try it out and learn something in the process,” Wylde said. “I’ve talked to Danny, and I told him, ‘I think you’ve got yourself a closer’.”
Liz Hoffman, CCBL intern ([email protected]
 


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Director of Public Relations & Broadcasting
(508) 790-0394
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Web Editor
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Interns: Erica Bailey, John Hannemann, Liz Hoffman,
Gabriella Remington, Kevin Wolfe