The rivalry that is Falmouth-Cotuit
What is the best rivalry in the Cape League?
Is it Chatham v. Y-D? Wareham v. Bourne? Brewster v. Harwich? Orleans v. Y-D?
These are all good, and you will add obvious match-ups that I’ve missed. But for me Cotuit v. Falmouth is the one I enjoy the most. It’s close to home. The Cotuit fans show up for road games and it seems their games always matter.
Like tonight. After a 4-3 win this evening, Falmouth stays alive in the West with a 14-19 record. Cotuit falls behind .500 with a 15-16 record.
The 5:30 game was surprisingly a pitcher’s duel with Falmouth’s Nick Tepesch (Missouri) squaring off against Cotuit’s ace Chad Bell (Walters State). The score remained a 2-2 tie into the 7th.
Talking with Falmouth GM Dan Dunn before the game, I expected Bell to dominate. But instead Tepesch surprised. I watched him strike out 8 in six innings. He gave up two in the second on doubles by Cody Stanley and Tony Plagman but then really found himself — striking out the top of the order in the 3rd.
Falmouth’s Todd Cunningham was player of the game with an RBI double in the 3rd and then a walk-off single in the 9th.
The defensive play of the game was Falmouth’s 9-4-5 put out in the 5th. Cotuit’s Jeff Rowland drove one to right field. The ball was juggled out in right but then Rowland was thrown out stretching his double into a triple.
The highlight for me tonight was joining the Falmouth Commodores broadcast. I don’t have his full name but the play-by-play announcer, Mike, is a class act. He knows the team, he knows the league and he knows baseball. I believe the full broadcast team is from Syracuse. They do a very good job.
A persistent question I get about why we do CodBall 12 months a year is, why? I said on the broadcast tonight, why do we breath? We have to do it. I am sitting here tonight watching the White Sox – Tigers game. Gordon Beckham is playing in this game. I can remember like it was yesterday watching him play for Y-D, sign autographs and play in the all-star game in Wareham. We do it because the moment they play in the Cape League is the moment just before they become Big Leaguers. It’s important and it’s rewarding to look back on those posts.
I think Hyannis vs. Cotuit is the logical answer followed by Orleans vs. Chatham. Hyannis and Cotuit play for the “Barnstable Cup” every year and I dont think any other teams play annually for a trophy like that.
Greg, nice post. I particularly liked reading why you do CodBall.com, and I think I share your passion. It is the kids’ last stop before moving on to bigger and better things, and it’s just fun to be able to see. I am so grateful that I live on the Cape, and can attend so many games. And it was just awesome watching Gordon Beckham last night on ESPN. It practically WAS yesterday that he was romping around Cape Cod for the Y-D Red Sox. Great to see him make it to the Bigs so quickly, and do so well in his first season. I do wish the announcers mentioned his CCBL pedigree. They talked about his time at Georgia, but no mention of the Cape. Oh well. I’m sorry I was not able to stop by Box 79 at the All-Star game at Fenway to meet the CodBall.com crew and fans. I had some logistical trouble meeting up with a family member at the ballpark, and the delay precluded my making it out to say hello. Sounds like you had a good gathering, and I’m glad Tom Simon made it. I really enjoyed speaking with him about the Cape League, his dice game, and baseball in general. Hopefully, I’ll get to meet him, and you, at a game somewhere down the line. I’m already looking forward to the playoffs with great anticipation. Keep up the great work at CodBall.com!
Some notes and observations thru 7/26/09:
The active hitters have a batting average of .231 and are striking out 23% of their plate appearances. The 5 toughest to strike out so far are Pierre LePage, Alex Hassan, Gary Brown, Blake Kelso, and Jackie Bradley Jr. At the other end of the spectrum, nine players are exceeding 35%.
Bourne is winning again and moving Scott Woodward into the leadoff role looks like a good move with his ability to get on base at a high rate. Outfielders Paul Karmas(St. John’s) and Ben Klafczynski(Kent State) have seen minimal duty the past 20 games. Bourne may have added another SS named Kurt Lee, a Junior to be who just transferred to Iowa.
Some prospects cooling off include Jedd Gyorko(2 for his last 20)WVU; Hunter Morris(1 for his last 16)Auburn; Derek Dietrich(2 for his last 17)Georgia Tech; Nick Schwaner(3 for his last 18)UNO; Brian Fletcher(1 for his last 22)Auburn.
CCBL pitchers are really dominating in 2009 so far and we’ll see if the hitters can get that league average up into the .240 range or better come playoffs. With some prospects struggling at the plate, you can tell teams have different coaching philosophies. Some keep penciling in the the same guys and allow them to have their struggles while some use the doghouse and keep fiddling with their rosters.
As much as pitchers are dominating, the performance Brandon Workman put in last night was pathetic. He would have lost to Bourne High let alone the Bourne Braves last night.
Couldn’t agree more. Was Bourne’s Play by Play guy in 2007 and my entire team is playing in the Minors now.
Heck, look at Mitch Moreland (Mississippi State) The guy is tearing up Double A and shows signs of reaching the Majors in a year or two.
Work now with the Lake County Captains “Single A Affiliate of the Indians” as a Front Office Staff Member and the On-Field MC. I continually get to see guys from the Cape tear through the SALLY League because it’s simply too easy.
The fact is that Cape Leaguers all play Minor League ball if they want to, and 1/7 are going to make it to the show.
Find me a better statistic, because it won’t happen.
Codball, thanks for keeping me into the Cape’s loop year after and year and GO BRAVES!
Andrew
There are terrific and insightful comments. Lloyd, your rivalries are much better than my list.
A special thanks to the Falmouth broadcasters from Syracuse University:
Andrew Allegretta
Mike Couzens
Landon Stolar