24 Aug, 2005

Burris and Meyers named postseason MVPs

In what is the most prestigious individual award of the Cape Cod Baseball League's postseason, speedy infielder Emmanuel Burris and pitcher Brad Meyers of Orleans have both been awarded the Sports Ticker/ESPN Playoff MVP. 

Both players were instrumental in not only helping the Cardinals win the championship, but also played a tremendous role in Orleans' success during the regular season. 

Burris (Kent State), a Washington, D.C., native and starter for the East Division All-Stars, was one of the top leadoff hitters in the Cape League and continued this trend in the postseason. Arguably the fastest player the Cape had to offer, Burris led his team with seven runs scored in the postseason, hit .304 and drove in three runs. Burris led all players in postseason runs scored and was in the top five in many other categories. 

Burris' biggest play of the year occurred when he scored from home in the ninth inning during the first game of the championship series. With the bases loaded and one out in a scoreless game, a popup near the Orleans dugout appeared to have Bourne one step closer to getting out of the jam. But a heads-up play by Burris to tag up caught everyone off guard. On a close play, Burris scored from third to end the game in dramatic fashion. In the deciding game of the championship, Burris went 4-for-6, reached base five times, scored three runs and stole one base. 

The winning pitcher of that game was 6-foot-6 195-pound right-hander Meyers (Loyola Marymount), a Yorba Linda, Calif., native, who pitched 6 1/3 innings. 

Meyers struck out three batters and only allowed one run in a game that ended 10-1 in favor of Orleans. Meyers ended the playoffs with 12 2/3 innings pitched and only one run allowed, good for a sparkling 0.71 ERA.