In the last two days, Cape League teams have made 21 roster moves, way more than the average two-day span. Late arrivals are getting here and Team USA invitees are heading out.
Amid all the changes, though, one thing remained the same: Brewster and Y-D can’t seem to get away from each other.
The teams have been in a first-place tie for a while now and they stayed in it last night. Brewster topped Harwich 11-3 behind a 15-hit attack, and Y-D held up its end of the bargain a little later, edging Hyannis 5-4 in 12 innings.
For the Whitecaps, the win over Harwich was a solid performance all around. Drew Martinez, the league leader in hitting and a fixture in the leadoff spot, got the night off. In his stead, Cohl Walla (Texas) stepped into the leadoff spot and promptly went 5-for-5 with two doubles, three runs scored and an RBI. Walla, a talented freshman who will be draft-eligible next year, had been off to a slow start. He was hitting .182 before last night’s explosion. Now, he’s hitting .289. Maybe it’s something about the Brewster leadoff spot.
And Walla wasn’t the only one hitting. Tony Ard (Mt. Hood CC), who’s quietly become a force in the middle of the order, went 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBI. He’s now hitting .271 with six extra-base hits. Chris Ellison (Oklahoma), who just arrived, hit a home run in his debut. Andy Burns (Kentucky) and Nathan Melendres (Miami) also had two hits.
Matt Crouse (Ole Miss) got the win in relief for Brewster, allowing a run in 2.1 innings.
As for Y-D, Monday’s game was another thrill ride. On Sunday, Hyannis and Y-D met and the Harbor Hawks came away with an 8-7 victory in 10 innings. This time, they played 12 before the Red Sox prevailed 5-4. They scored two in the top of the 12th on a Hyannis error then held off a charge from the Harbor Hawks to win it. Caleb Ramsey (Houston), Joe Panik (St. John’s) and Matt Hamlet (Boston College) had two hits apiece for Y-D. Johnny Ruettiger (Arizona State) and Cam Seitzer (Oklahoma) had three hits each for Hyannis.
Y-D and Brewster now have matching 14-6 records, the best marks in the league. They won’t play each other again until July 16.
Elsewhere
What to Watch
Three games on the schedule tonight, with some interesting match-ups in the East. Orleans, who’s tied for last but still looks dangerous to me, visits Y-D. Chatham hosts Brewster.