07/31/2023 7:28 AM Article By: Brian Butler
As the Cape League regular season winds down, the teams that will be appearing in the postseason have been decided. The final week of the regular season will see the playoff teams jockeying for seeding and home-field advantage in their respective series, and the other teams attempting to play spoiler. As the last week of the regular season looms on the horizon, let’s take a look at some of the standout performers from the past seven days.
Bourne Braves: Tristan Smith, LHP, Clemson
Tristan Smith was absolutely lights out for the Braves in his lone appearance this past week. Smith got the start in Bourne’s 7-1 win over Wareham on Monday night, tossing five innings without allowing a hit. The Clemson southpaw struck out eight Gatemen, including an incredibly rare four-strikeout inning. In his five appearances this season, totaling 18.0 innings, Smith has struck out 26 batters while allowing just 15 to reach base. As the Bravos push into the playoffs, Tristan Smith will likely continue to be a big factor.
Brewster Whitecaps: Darien Smith, RHP, Southeastern
Darien Smith got the ball twice for the Whitecaps this past week and made the absolute most of both opportunities. In his seven total innings, Smith allowed just one run. His major appearance was his start against Chatham on Wednesday, where he went six innings, allowing just one run and walking just one batter. Continued strong outings from Darien Smith will be key as Brewster moves into the postseason.
Chatham Anglers: Kyson Donahue, SS/3B, Hawaii
Kyson Donahue played a big role for the Anglers this week as they looked to keep their postseason hopes alive. Donahe rose to the occasion as the playoff push continued, slashing .333/.440/.714 on the week, homering and doubling twice each, scoring three runs of his own as well. The Hawaii infielder helped Chatham significantly this week, and has contributed an altogether very strong summer.
Cotuit Kettleers: Sean Keys, 3B, Bucknell
Sean Keys made his debut for the Kettleers this past week and took Lowell Park by storm. Through his first six games for Cotuit, Keys slashed .500/.500/1.000, hitting three home runs, doubling three times, and scoring five runs of his own. In his six games this week, Keys also racked up a whopping 15 runs batted in. The Bison third baseman made up for lost time following his debut, going three for four in his second game, homering and driving in five in the process. As the Kettleers look to move into the postseason, Sean Keys looks poised to dominate the playoffs.
Falmouth Commodores: Travis Bazzana, 2B/CF, Oregon State
Travis Bazzana went absolutely bananas in Falmouth this week. The Aussie outfielder slashed .583/.655/.958 on the week, adding five stolen bases as well. Bazzana’s absurd week was solidified by an other-worldly performance during the Commodores’ rout of Cotuit on Friday, where he went an unheard-of 6-7 with two homers, two doubles, eight RBI, and six runs scored, as well as stealing a base and being hit by a pitch. Travis Bazzana has thrust himself firmly into the MVP conversation in the past week, and will likely be a big part of Falmouth’s postseason lineup.
Harwich Mariners: Kevin Keister, 2B/SS, Maryland
Kevin Keister played his first games for Harwich this past week, and wasted no time getting acclimated. Through his first week with the Mariners, the Terrapin infielder slashed .450/.522/.700, recording a hit in each game, three of which were multi-hit outings. Keister added two doubles and his first home run as well, driving in seven runs while scoring six of his own. Keister has recorded three RBI in each of his last two games, and his continued strong performance will be crucial to the Mariners’ playoff success.
Hyannis Harbor Hawks: Mason Nichols, RHP, Ole Miss
Mason Nichols made one start for the Harbor Hawks this week and was nearly perfect. In the Hawks’ shutout win over Y-D on Monday, Nichols pitched five and two-thirds no-hit innings, allowing just one baserunner on a walk. The Mississippi righthander’s strong outing was part of an incredible week for the Hawks, as they are locked in a tight battle for first place in the West Division. As the Hawks look to lock down home-field advantage, Mason Nichols will likely continue to be a big factor.
Orleans Firebirds: Matt Halbach, 3B/1B, California San Diego
As Orleans has stormed into the second spot in the East Division, Matt Halbach has been a huge factor. The Firebird corner infielder slashed .435/.480/.826 on the week, homering twice as well as adding a double and a triple. Halbach also added eight RBI and scored six runs himself, getting hit by pitch as many times as he struck out (twice). The Firebirds have gotten hot in the midst of the playoff push, and Matt Halbach will look to be a big part of their championship aspirations.
Wareham Gatemen: Grant Hussey, 1B/OF, West Virginia
The Huss bus absolutely left the station for the Gatemen this week. The Mountaineer first baseman assembled a dominant showing for Wareham this week, homering twice, driving in seven, and scoring six times. One of Hussey’s long balls was a grand slam, and he also doubled twice and stole a base to cement his strong seven days. The All-Star has had a very strong summer for the Gatemen, and will look to continue it for the rest of the season.
Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox: Finnegan Wall, RHP, California Irvine
Finnegan Wall made one start for Y-D this past week, but he certainly made the most of it. In the Red Sox 14-0 shutout of Bourne on Friday night, Wall went six innings, allowing just four hits while striking out six. The strong outing lowered the Anteater righthander’s ERA on the season to 2.91, and he has held opposing hitters to just a .193 batting average. As the Red Sox move into the playoffs, Finnegan Wall will look to be a strong part of the postseason rotation.
