3 Aug, 2005

East tips West 1-0 in All-Star tilt

It's a pitcher's league. 

That's what they say about the Cape Cod Baseball League and that was proven out when the top pitchers took on the top hitter's in Saturday's annual All-Star Game at McKeon Park in Hyannis. 

The 4,000 plus fans, assembled early on a cloudy afternoon, saw slick infield play, nifty out fielding and 16 ace pitchers showcasing their curves, sliders and fastballs. What they didn't see was much hitting, after eight frames the score stood West 0, East 0.

 Colin Curtis of the Orleans Cardinals gave the scouts someone to cast an MVP ballot for when he doubled to open the ninth off Justin Masterson of Wareham. It was Curtis third hit of the day and took third on a single by Evan Longoria of Chatham. He scored on Chris Coughlin's double play grounder to give the East a 1-0 victory. 

"We were just trying to make something happen," Curtis said. "We didn't want it to end in a tie. He (Masterson) is a good pitcher and he was keeping the ball away. I got down in a hole 0-2. The pitch was on the outside corner. The only thing I could do was hit it the other way." 

Curtis, the Cards' lefthanded-hitting center fielder out of Arizona State, slapped the ball on a line right up the left field line into the corner. 

"All these pitcher are All Stars. You pretty much have no chance as a hitter," Curtis said. "But hitters still want to hit. Up here it's just a challenge. They say this is a pitcher's league and that was evident here." 

Curtis hit well enough to be named MVP and he's hitting .321 on the year. 

"It's a great feeling," he said. "I came up a little lucky. In the fourth inning the four outfielders all drew straws to see who would some out and I came op short but then (Alex) Presley hurt his leg a little so I had to go back in." 

P.J. Walters of Brewster pitched the ninth for the save, Brandon Morrow of Y-D, who threw the eighth, was the winner. Eight East pitchers; Jared Hughes, Derrick Lutz, Andrew Miller and Robert Woodward of Chatham, Tim Lincecum of Harwich, Tim Gustafson of Y-D, Walters and Morrow held the West best to two infield singles, struck out six and walked 1. 

"It was lots of fun," said the 6-foot-5 Miller, who pitched the seventh, striking out two. "I look at it as the highlight of the summer so far. You know you're with the best of the best and people are recognizing you. This is my second summer and I'm glad to be back." 

The East hitters didn't fare much better, Curtis collected two singles with his ninth inning double. Evan Longoria of Chatham doubled in the first and Chris Emanuele of Harwich, Keff Kindel of Y-D and Aaron Bates all singled. 

The East loaded the bases in the first of starter Daniel Bard of Wareham but Bard struck out Kindel. 

Orleans' Manny Burriss, the league's stolen base leader got picked off first by Wade LeBlanc but he turned in some terrific plays in the field, swooping in on softly hit grounders from both short and second base. He ended the day with five assists and a put out. 

"It was a wonderful time," Burriss said. "We had another shortstop so it was no problem to switch up. I was happy to be able to show what I could do. To play two positions and do it in an All-Star game was a wonderful experience. I usually play shortstop but it doesn't make a difference, I just like to play." 

Longoria also busy at short and second with three assists and three putouts. He didn't mind playing in front of dozens of scouts. 

"A lot of guys are used to it. There are 50 scouts here tonight but there are 10-15 at every game," he said. "It's a good experience. All these guys are competitive. You just have to relax and play the game the way you know how to play. It's fun going out and talking with each other about the game and enjoying it." 

The West hit only three balls into the outfield as the East's pitching aces had them chopping balls into the dust. 

Tim Lincecum of Harwich pitched the third, chalking up three ground outs. 

Daniel Bard was named the West MVP.