16 June, 2005


Braves last stand at Coady


Anticipating a move to a state-of-the-art facility next summer, the Bourne Braves franchise is looking to make its Coady Field swan song a chart topper. 

"We hope to go out with a bang," says general manager Mike Carrier, now in his second-year at the helm of the Bourne organization. The team is in the midst of a field-building campaign that would put them on the hill at Upper Cape Regional Technical School next summer. 


Bourne head coach Harvey Shapiro takes his team through a workout at Coady Field in preparation for today's 5 p.m. Cape League opener at Cotuit.
Staff photo by Silene Gordon

The Braves know recent success, having earned an appearance to the league finals in 2003. Although they lost the last game of the series to Orleans, it was a taste of winning. Since that time, the Braves have been beleaguered by low-offensive production, an area that has come under head coach Harvey Shapiro's microscope in the off-season. 

"Coach Shapiro has done an outstanding job recruiting this year," says Carrier. "Our pitching has always kept up, but we wanted to become a better offensive team. That's something that was deliberate." 

Shapiro enters his third season with the Braves, coming in with an overall Cape League record of 160-144-4, putting him 10th on the all-time win list for the league. 

Despite dealing with the conflicts posed by so many CCBL players involved with the College World Series or Team USA tryouts, the Braves' roster is nearly full. With the exception of a few players, Bourne has permanent ballplayers, including several two-way players. Brad Lincoln (Houston), a first basemen/pitcher, led his Cougars' team with a .358 batting average and finished with a 4.18 ERA. 

Mike McBryde (Florida Atlantic) is an outfielder/pitcher who "can fly" according to Shapiro, who also cited Josh Rodriguez (Rice) as a player to watch after he posted a .980 fielding percentage this season. 

Players like Beau Mills and Nick Francona created some off-season chatter when they were selected by the Braves. The players - sons of Red Sox bench coach Brad Mills and manager Terry Francona, respectively - gave the Braves some public relations help, but will have to prove themselves daily as will their teammates.

"We have those name names, but they're both classy young men," says Carrier. "It created some buzz for the team and maybe even more people will show up to see them, but it won't be just for those two." 

Francona, who pitches for Penn, is a 6 foot 3 inch southpaw, while Mills, a third baseman from Fresno State, caught the eye of Team USA as well as the Braves. 

The Braves open on the road tonight against Cotuit before welcoming back the Bourne faithful tomorrow evening at home against Harwich. The Braves will host the Mariners in what Carrier hopes to be the kick-off to an exciting season for players and fans at Coady Field and throughout the Cape. 

"We've made a conscious effort to get the right guys here and also make it a place where the fans want to come," said Carrier. Among the highlights this season, aside from the baseball, will be drawings for road trips to Camden Yards, as well as raffles for PawSox tickets, and upgraded 50/50 prizes. 

"The organization is growing," says Carrier, "and it's showing."


By Silene Gordon
sgordon@cnc.com