18 August, 2004

Red Sox Teach Chemistry Lesson, Take Crown

     You didn't have to be a rocket scientist this season to know that the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox possessed a singular quality that could propel them to the heights of Cape Cod Baseball League excellence. 

     Chemistry, say coaches, players, and administrators. Chemistry, like they've never seen before. That was the crucial element, one that led them down the championship path. 

     "They are a great group of kids and they have great chemistry," says General Manager Jim Martin, who is savoring the first championship under his watch. "They had the little extra that a championship team needs at the end. These players have had a long year but they still wanted to be here in August." 

     So when the 2004 Arnold Mycock Trophy was presented to the Red Sox Saturday evening at Guv Fuller Field in Falmouth, supporters had cigars at the ready, joyfully anticipating the team's newest piece of hardware. Despite the topsy-turvy events of the evening's contest, the faithful never lost faith. 

     "This is the highlight of my Cape Cod career, this was incredible," says field manager Scott Pickler, who was visibly moved by the victory. "This game had everything. And to win it, these kids deserve every bit of this. They came in day-in and day-out prepared to work hard. They never doubted themselves." 

     The Red Sox won the East Division outright with a 26-17-1 record that kept them atop the standings for much of the season. The team continued to key into that momentum in the playoff round and made quick work of the Brewster Whitecaps in two straight games in the first round. 

     The championship series was more of a duel. Sweet pitching and stingy defense by both teams put the offense on the spot. In game one Friday, the teams headed into the eighth inning at a 3-3 stalemate, with the Commodores not getting much production against the tandem of Justin Meier and Justin Blaine. In the bottom of the inning, Y-D's Ryan Rohlinger sent a clutch homer soaring to left-center to break the tie and seal the win for the Red Sox. 

     The Friday the 13th thriller was followed by Saturday's early evening meeting at Guv Fuller Field. With the Red Sox up 1-0 in the series, the air surrounding the well-attended game was thickened by the incoming effects of tropical storm Charley and the passions that ran high on both sides of the field. 

     Falmouth scored in its first at-bat and the Red Sox tied it in the next inning when Falmouth started Jensen Lewis was called on a balk. The call sent Falmouth head coach Jeff Trundy steaming out of the host's dugout for his first of several discussions with umpires. 

      The Y-D cheering section applauded the call loudly but the Commodores silenced them in the bottom of the inning. Paul Christian hit a blast to center and the lead held for two more innings before Y-D knotted it when Ramon Glasgow doubled in Ben Crabtree in the fourth.

     The Commodores' bats came to life again in the fourth when solo homers by Mark Hamilton and Chris Lewis made it 4-2. 

     Down by two, the Red Sox went into the ninth determined. Frank Curreri came up after walks to Adam Davis, Joe Anthonsen, and Will Harris quickly loaded the bases. As he has so many times this season, Curreri found the pitch he needed and cranked a hard single to the left side of second base to bring in two runs. 

     The 4-4 tie stuck until the top of the 11th after a heroic catch made by Jim Rappaport ended Falmouth's scoring threat in the bottom of the 10th. With no outs and two men on, Curreri dragged a textbook bunt down the first-base line, advancing Anthonsen and PJ Finigan. Hoping to pitch around Rohlinger, Falmouth relief pitcher Kyle Young threw his first pitch of the game over the head of catcher Barry Gunther, allowing Anthonsen to score. 

     Nick Moresi then put the finishing touches on the 8-4 final with a home run to left. 

     "To win a championship in the Cape Cod Baseball League when there is so much parity among all the teams, it's a very difficult thing to accomplish," says Martin. "But this team wanted this. They were willing to work as hard as they needed to as a team." 

     "Chemistry ... and the passion for the game," are the words that Pickler found most fitting for his club. "There were no superstars on this team. There were just kids who were willing to come to the park every day and play the hardest that they could. I've got 22 guys who want to compete every day. 

     "You get a guy like Curreri who could have signed and reported to Arizona, but he wanted to stay and get accomplished what he got accomplished. That's got to tell you something about the players on this team." 

     Curreri, who opted to postpone signing with the Arizona Diamondbacks until the championship series had been completed, was the first to admit he made the right decision. "To win this championship with these guys, I couldn't miss that. These guys are family. Nothing beats this right now." 

     While the team hoisted the championship trophy, the supporting players - the many volunteers and community members that make the season a reality - received their own awards. Hugs, handshakes, and thank you's were shared on the grassy infield of Guv Fuller, with players and coaches sharing the glory with the extended Y-D family. 

     "It's a 12-month job, but there's so much activity in such a short time during the season," says longtime organization member, Jerry Winer. "You never know when it's going to come together. Last year we had a lot of talented players but it wasn't to be. This year, we all did feel like it could be the year." 

     "Amazing," is how Martin describes it all. "We have received so much support from the whole community. It's blown us away," he says, noting that town and school department officials, business owners, and residents all had a hand in this crown. 

     "Yesterday I told Scott that I know he's won all kinds of awards and championships but this is new for us. I said it must be like second nature for him, that it probably gets old," says Martin. "He said it never gets old."