Brewster’s Chandler Taylor (Alabama) was the runner-up at the College Home Run Derby in Omaha earlier this summer. Last week, he was the runner-up in the Cape League All-Star Game Home Run Derby.
But if the season were a home run derby, he’d be winning.
With his second home run in as many days Friday night, Chandler took over the league lead in home runs at nine. He has one more than Falmouth’s Marty Bechina (Michigan State) – the leader since early in the year – and Cotuit’s Griffin Conine (Duke).
Taylor mashed 16 home runs for Alabama in the spring, among the best college tallies for any 2017 Cape Leaguer. He’s done a lot of his damage for Brewster in spurts – a pair of two-home run games and now the homers on back-to-back days. He now has 24 RBI on the season and is hitting .250.
Friday, Taylor’s blast was part of a 2-for-4, three RBI night as Brewster edged Bourne 7-6. Most of Taylor’s home runs have come in Whitecap victories, and the last two dingers followed that trend and got the Whitecaps within one game of .500.
Nick Dunn (Maryland) and Christian Molfetta (Stanford) also had RBI in Friday’s win. Bradley Spooner (Saddleback CC) allowed four runs in six innings and Jonathan Stiever (Indiana) held Bourne off just enough over the final three frames for the win.
Chatham 4, Y-D 2
Chatham won its third straight and jumped a game over .500. The Anglers also took a 3-2 lead in their season series with Y-D. Johnny Aiello (Wake Forest) and Josh Stowers (Louisville) – late arrivals who are providing a very nice boost in the middle of the order – knocked in three of the four runs, with Nick Patten (Delaware) plating the other. Mason Koppens (Northeastern) doubled and went 2-for-4, stretching his hitting streak to nine games. He’s now top 10 in the league in hitting. Justin Lasko (UMass) delivered his second strong start since rejoining the team, allowing two runs in five innings for the win. Jack DeGroat (Liberty) notched the save with a pair of strikeouts in a perfect ninth.
Orleans 7, Hyannis 2
With Y-D losing, the Firebirds’ win restores their three-point first place cushion, which had dwindled to one when the Red Sox beat them Thursday. Niko Decolati (Loyola Marymount) homered while Jimmy Herron (Duke) and Kevin Strohschein (Tennessee Tech) had two hits each. Jaxx Groshans (Kansas) and Jeff Houghtby (San Diego) added an RBI each. Five different Firebirds were hit by pitches. Daniel Lynch (Virginia) allowed two runs in six strong innings for the win.
Falmouth 2, Wareham 1
It appears there’s just going to be a different team in first place in the West every day. With Bourne losing, Falmouth is back to the lead after its 2-1 win over Wareham. Trevor Larnach (Oregon State) and George Janca (Texas A&M) drove in the only runs Falmouth would need in a two-run fifth inning. James McArthur (Ole Miss) – riding an 11-inning scoreless streak – was touched up for one run, but only one in five strong innings. Israel Fuentes (Faulkner), Derrick Adams (Jacksonville State), Brian Gadsby (UCLA) and Ryan Zerferjahn (Kansas) pitched a scoreless inning each to keep Falmouth’s slim lead intact. Mason Feole (UConn) pitched four scoreless innings and Blake Sabol (USC) homered but Wareham lost for the sixth straight time.
Harwich 7, Cotuit 2
Harwich is the only team out of playoff contention, but the Mariners can still play spoiler and they did it well Friday. After falling behind 2-0, they scored seven unanswered runs for a win over the Kettleers. Cobie Vance (Alabama) and Max Burt (Northeastern) had two RBI each. Jake McCarthy (Virginia) went 2-for-4 with three runs scored. Cullen Dana (Seton Hall) – who came in with a 9.00 ERA – struck out five and allowed two runs on just two hits in seven innings for the win. Cole Aker (North Carolina) went two scoreless innings to finish it off.
What to Watch
The gap among the top three teams in the West has grown from three points to four. Falmouth could stretch it further tonight – or, more likely given the way things have gone in the West, Cotuit could close it – when the Commodores and Kettleers meet at Lowell Park.