30 June, 2005

Sport notes

Ballparks to host author book signings

Book-signing events commemorating the publication of the new book "Beach Chairs and Baseball Bats: A Celebration of the Cape Cod Baseball League" will be held at all 10 Cape Cod Baseball League parks from July 3-16. According to author Steve Weissman, first-run signed copies will be available at each location, and signings will begin one-half hour before the games are scheduled to begin.

The dates, locations and game times are:

July 3, Red Wilson Field, Yarmouth, Y-D Red Sox, 5 p.m.

July 4, Coady School Field, Bourne, Bourne Braves, 2 p.m.

July 4, Eldredge Park, Orleans, Orleans Cardinals, 7 p.m.

July 5, Whitehouse Field, Harwich, Harwich Mariners, 7 p.m.

July 7, Veteran's Field, Chatham, Chatham A's, 7 p.m.

July 8, McKeon Park, Hyannis, Hyannis Mets, 5 p.m.

July 9, Guv Fuller Field, Falmouth, Falmouth Commodores, 5:30 p.m.

July 10, Cape Cod Tech, Harwich, Brewster Whitecaps, 5 p.m.

July 15, Lowell Park, Cotuit, Cotuit Kettleers, 5 p.m.

July 16, Clem Spillane Field, Wareham, Wareham Gatemen, 7 p.m.

For further information, call 781-367-9845 or e-mail steve.weissman@theballyard.com.

Reynolds a key returnee for Braves 

It's a long way from Palo Alto, Calif., to Bourne, but it's a trek Stanford's Greg Reynolds has made the past two years. And the 6-7 right-hander hopes his stint on the Cape will help him make another trip - to the major leagues.

Reynolds is the lone returnee from last year's Braves team, and the native of Pacifica, Calif., who was 4-3 with a 2.27 ERA a year ago, is happy to be back with the Cape League club.

"The community couldn't be better," says Reynolds. "My host mom, Sylvia Fuller, has just been awesome. The host families here [in Bourne] are great."

Although Reynolds admits to having an "up-and-down year" at Stanford (2-3, 5.08 ERA), his final performance this season on the mound still has Cardinal fans talking. Facing one of the top teams in the country in Baylor in the NCAA Regionals in Waco, Texas, Reynolds pitched 11-plus innings, leaving after giving up a leadoff home run in the top of the 12th. Reynolds threw 137 pitches in the game, striking out a career-high 10, in a game the Cardinal lost 4-3 to the College World Series-bound Bears.

Reynolds carried over the momentum at Orleans, pitching seven shutout innings, fanning six, in a game the Braves eventually won in extra innings.

"This year I'm trying to locate my pitches [better]," notes Reynolds. "Doing that will help me when I go back and face aluminum bats."

The Braves released Pennsylvania lefthander Nick Francona, son of Red Sox skipper Terry Francona. The younger Francona tore the labrum in his left shoulder and will need surgery to repair the damage.

Scott Sanford, CCBL Website Editor, sanford@capecodbaseball.org

AROUND THE CAPE HORN: The documentary "Touching the Game" has been accepted as an official entry in the prestigious 2005 Woods Hole Film Festival, July 30-Aug. 6.