Wednesday, August 19, 2009

“Play-off Season to Remember!”

My coaching staff on the Cotuit Kettleers just completed our final meeting for the season after the 2009 Cape League Play-offs. Even though we had lost to the Bourne Braves in the Championship series the team had accomplished a great deal and many players improved their skills during the season. The team finished 2nd during the regular season in the Western Division then won a 1 game play-off vs. Wareham that was necessary due to the expanded league play-offs. The Kettleers then defeated the Y-D Red Sox (who had the best overall record in the league during the regular season) 18-4 in the final game of a 3 game series to move onto the finals vs. Bourne Braves where we lost the 1st two games in a three game series. Congratulations to Coach Harvey Shapiro and the Bourne Braves in winning the 2009 Cape League Championship!!
Our main goals are always to Lead the league in pitching as a team, steal the most bases, and play excellent defense. We struggled defensively but were very good in the other categories.
Base Stealing: 1st in Team stolen bases with 109 in 44 games. (All time Cape League record is 134 set by a team I coached at Wareham in 2000)
Base Stealing by Individuals: Chris Bisson led the league with 36.
Pitching: Jake Buchanan led the league with 0.84 era in 43 innings and only 6 walks
Play-offs: Finals for 2nd year in a row
Finally: The Kettleers only had 9 position players for the 6 play-off games. Those young men, along with a very competitive pitching staff, held the team together, competed every inning like it was their last of the season, and carried the coaches on their backs to the Championship series. The coaching staff is so appreciative of the effort put forth by these student/athletes from around the country. The “Cotuit 9” will go down in history as a team that loved the game, played the game with respect, and gave the Kettleer fans a “Play-off Season to Remember!”

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Cape Cod League All-Star Game and Recognition at Historic Fenway Park –

Home of the Boston Red Sox!
The Cape League All-Stars were recognized today at Fenway Park in Boston before the Red Sox and Oakland A’s game. The Cape Cod League All-Star game was played on Thursday July 22nd in Fenway Park as well. I was privileged to be the head coach of the West Squad which won the game 3-0 (Game was shortened to 4 ½ innings due to rain). Zach Cox, from the University of Arkansas and my starting 3B on the Cotuit Kettleers was the Most Valuable Player for the West Squad and Chris Sale – LHPitcher from Gulf Coast University in Florida and plays for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox was the MVP for the Eastern Division team.
As I spoke with the players during batting practice, the home run hitting contest, and the game it was very obvious how much they enjoyed the opportunity to play in a historic major league stadium. Many of these All-Stars will play professional baseball but few will actually have the opportunity to play in the major leagues. The memory of pitching or hitting at Fenway Park will always be a day in their baseball career they will remember.