15 June, 2005

Mariners open Thursday at home

Harwich High School's baseball team isn't the only local squad in the news. The Harwich Mariners open play this week along with the rest of the Cape Cod Baseball League. 

The Mariners host Chatham at 7 p.m. Thursday at Whitehouse Field, travel to Bourne for a 4:45 p.m. game Friday and are back home against Bourne Saturday night at 7. 

The biggest name on the Mariners, as far as locals are concerned, is Harwich High graduate Cody Crowell. 

The Vanderbilt redshirt freshman hurler compiled a 2-0 record with a 1.23 ERA working out of the Commodores' bullpen this season. Crowell holds the Harwich record for career victories and pitched the Rough Riders into three South Sectional championship games. 

It's the first time since the old town team days that a Harwich native has played on the Harwich team. 

"I wanted to bring a local kid in," coach Steve Englert said. "He pitched very well. He doesn't have a lot of innings. They used him in a closer role a lot. But it looks like he's stronger and bigger and he'll be an impact player this season. He'll be under a microscope here." 

Englert, an assistant coach at Boston College, returns for his third season as the Mariners' field manager. 

"I'm fired up. I'm very excited. I really enjoy being down here," Englert said. "It's a one-of-a-kind job to come here. The Cape has the best players, and this is one of the best jobs you could have." 

Englert believes he has a solid team this summer. 

"Hopefully, you did the right recruiting," he said. "I've seen seven or eight guys we have play. I know they can play in this league. We need to stay healthy, but in this league, anyone can beat anyone. The pitching in the league is tremendous; that makes it the best league in the country. You have to bring it to the game everyday." 

The Mariners' solid talent includes second baseman Jim Negrych of the University of Pittsburgh, who earned first-team all-Big East honors after hitting .358 with seven home runs and 41 RBI. 

"Brian Jerolman (a catcher from Florida) will probably go Team USA," Englert said. "John Shelby of Kentucky is a USA invite, but he's working out with us. Chad Flack of North Carolina will be at first base. He set the home run record at North Carolina." 

Flack hit 12 homers and was batting .345 as the Tar Heels headed into postseason play. 

"Kevin Mulvey is back with us. He had a great season last year," Englert said. 

Mulvey, from Villanova, had a 1-3 record with the Mariners last year and started five games. His ERA was 2.75 and he struck out 31 in 39 innings. Infielder Scott Sizemore of Virginia Commonwealth was a first-team All-America as a sophomore. 

The big question is why Englert, a Boston Collge coach, didn't recruit Boston College sophomore Jared McGuire of Harwich. McGuire was the Big East Player of the Year after batting .381. 

"He had a great year," Englert said. "No one could predict how he'd do. We didn't know if he'd be a fit here. I know he could play in this league now. He'll be down here next year. He's a good learner, and he's an easy kid to coach."