Jul

22

Day 37: Chatham @ Bourne Braves

Posted by Greg | Filed Under Games, News | 

josh-satin.jpgMy son and I were in Bourne today for the 2 pm game between the Western Division-leading Braves and number two Eastern Division Chatham A’s. Chatham improved to 17-12, continuing to nip at the heels of the Y-D Red Sox. Bourne did not lose ground today as the fast-advancing Falmouth Commodores also lost.

Photo: Braves OF and reserve all-star Josh Satin (Cal) prepares for the pitch. Satin doubled in the 7th.

All of the scoring today was in Chatham’s 6th inning, when the A’s put 4 on the board thanks to two errors at first base. Bourne second baseman Bill Perry made a major league diving stop that could have resulted in an inning-ending double play, but he couldn’t quite execute the flip from his belly. It was downhill from there as timely hitting, errors and a wild pitch allowed four to score.

Bourne starting pitcher Mitch Harris (Navy) and Chatham starter Zach Putnam (Michigan) limited the hits and scoring for both sides. Both bullpens were strong.

A few notes on this game:

  • Doran Park — First of all, the baseball field at Upper Cape Tech, is fantastic. The playing surface is beautiful and the fan area — though not yet perfect — is nice. We attended games at the old field on the other side of the Bourne rotary several years ago, and this is quite an improvement. I spoke briefly today with Bourne President Tom Fink and he indicated more improvements are coming, including a berm and more terraced seating. The team hopes an all-star game might be played there in the near future. I hope so.
  • Gregg Glime of Chatham had a heck of a throw down to second to throw out Josh Satin.
  • Sean O’Brien of the A’s threw a rocket from left-field to hold runners at second and third on a sack fly in the 7th.
  • All-star Jermaine Curtis is one of the only players I’ve ever seen run so fast to first on a base-on-balls. He really hustles.
  • All-star and batting leader Kevin Hoef (Iowa) was not in the line-up today, but I did get a chance to interview him about the playoffs and the all-star game for a future CodBall Conversation.
  • I was impressed with Chatham’s closer, Rob Wooten (North Carolina). He struck out 5 in the 8th and 9th with what I assume were knee-buckling curve balls?

Comments

One Response to “Day 37: Chatham @ Bourne Braves”

  1. Dave on July 23rd, 2007 6:41 am

    Greg, I fully agree with your comment about the field at Doran Park. It looks great and is easily the best playing surface in the league.
    On a side note, when I was at Spillane Field in Wareham in late June, I was not overly impressed with all of the work that I had read about that was done over the winter. I realize that much of what was done was not visible (ie. the wells and irrigation system) but the outfield grass did not look very good. It was better than what they had there in the past, but for a new outfield, it was not all that impressive. At that time, we were barely into the summer and there was a lot of brown grass behind second base stretching from centerfield toward rightfield.
    When I was there on Saturday, it looked much nicer. Assuming they have been irrigating the field all along, how is it that the field looks nicer now than it did a month ago ? The weather has heated up and we haven’t had that much rain. To be honest, it looks like they have used some of that “spray on” grass !
    I wonder what the outfield will look like after the football season this Fall ?
    There was a very unpleasant aroma for fans in the stands on the first base side. It seems that there is a lot of wet, dead grass and weeds under the stands that, according to the local folks, has been there for awhile. Suffice to say, it is very unpleasant. I’m sure that little problem will be fixed before the All Star game on Saturday.

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