One of the great traditions of the cape is the Cape Cod Baseball League. It has been the premier amateur baseball league in the nation since 1885. There are 10 teams and all have the most talented college players on their roster. 

     There are currently 183 former Cape Cod players in the Major Leagues including some of the current Red Sox players. Players like Doug Mirabelli (Hyannis), kevin Youkilis (Bourne), and many former Red Sox players like Nomar Garciaparra (Orleans),Carlton Fisk (Orleans) and Mo Vaughn (Wareham). The Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame is currently at the Heritage Museum and Gardens in Sandwich, MA until 2008. 

     Books and movies have even been made about the league. Movies like, "Summer Catch", starring Jessica Biel and Freddie Prince Jr. was filmed in Chatham with Prince Jr. starring as a Chatham A looking to been scouted to the majors by playing in the Cape Cod Baseball League. Also a documentary recently aired on WB56 and WGN Superstation (Chicago) called "Touching the Game: The Story of the Cape Cod Baseball League". The documentary is now available on DVD with bonus features. 


     Bourne Braves: It should be an exciting season for Bourne Braves fans as they not only welcome a team full of talented ballplayers, but also get to enjoy their brand new digs at Upper Cape Tech. With a brand new stadium opening, in a much more fan-friendly spot, the crowds for Braves games should be bigger than ever and it looks like those crowds will have plenty to cheer about.

     Three players return from last year’s CCBL runner-up squad as Andrew Carignan, of North Carolina, Andy Goff, of Wake Forest and Bret Bartles, of Duke, all make their way back to the Cape from the ACC. Carignan was very good last year on the hill for Bourne, compiling a 1.44 ERA over 25 appearances. At UNC he has been a lights out closer for the Heels, saving 13 games as the team headed into the Super Regionals. Goff has posted a .266 average for the Demon Deacons and Bartles hit .297 with seven home runs for the Blue Devils.

     Following the leadership of Carignan, out of the bullpen will be a core number of talented pitchers, including right-handers Bobby Bell (Rice), Thomas Farmer (Akron), Trevor Holder (Georgia), Ben Hunter (Wake Forest), Jared Koon (Mississippi State) and Mickey Storey (Florida Atlantic). Storey has been heavily relied upon during the regular season at Florida Atlantic, pitching 94 innings. Balancing the powerful right-handers will be lefties Mitch Moreland (Mississippi State), Kyle Walker (Texas) and Mitch Houck (Central Florida). Walker has been dominant in his collegiate season, registering 37 strikeouts over a span of 31 innings.
Team USA has invited four Braves players to its annual tryout: right-handed pitcher Austin Graham (Alabama), catcher Preston Clark (Texas) and shortstop Zack Cozart (Ole Miss). Based on regular season statistics, these three are considered to have excellent chances of making the team. Austin Krum (Dallas Baptist) has also been selected to try out. 

     The catching duties will be occupied by Preston Paramore (Arizona State) while the corners will be covered by veteran third baseman Beau Mills (Fresno State), who had his season shortened in Bourne last year by injuries, and infielder Cat Everett (Tulane). Complementing Bartles and Goff in the middle infield will be versatile player Matt Hall (Arizona State).

     The Braves will depend upon Brett Linnenkohl (Wake Forest) in the outfield.


     Cotuit Kettleers: It would be hard to pick one fan base as the most rabid in the Cape Cod Baseball League, but the small village of Cotuit certainly packs the house on a daily basis for Kettleer games and supports its baseball in a big way. Those fans look forward to another great season at beautiful Lowell Park and hope that the team they watch is as good as it can be.

     Coach Mike Roberts, who led the team to the playoffs last year, has been known for his hectic running style as locals have dubbed the club the Go-Go Kettleers. This year expect those baserunners to continue zipping around the bases, but fans can expect to see the ball flying toward the fences as well.

     Two returning players highlight the Kettleers roster as 2005 team MVP Sean Gaston, of Notre Dame, and Dan Moskos, of Clemson, will be back sporting maroon, black, and white. 

     Gaston was one of the best hitters on the team last year, putting up an average of .287. Moskos was 3-4 in 15 appearances for the team last summer and credited his experience with the team as learning experience in the art of how to pitch.

     Texas’s Kyle Russell and James Madison’s Kellen Kulbacki will provide power, with Kulbacki having one of the premier power seasons in the nation this past spring, setting a new homer record at JMU. JT Wise, of LSU, is an on-base machine, leading the Tigers in hitting this spring as a freshman.

     Other Kettleers that will be in town include: Jeff Dunbar (UC Riverside), Reese Havens (South Carolina), Justin Smoak (South Carolina), Tony Delmonico (Tennessee) and Brett Lilley (Notre Dame).

     The pitching staff will be headlined by six-foot, nine inch Dave Duncan, of Georgia Tech, who was drafted in the 14th round last year by Minnesota, but elected instead to pitch for the Yellow Jackets. Duncan has been one of the most reliable pitchers for the Ramblin Wreck this season, posting a 7-2 record. Also taking the hill will be Tim Ladd, of Georgia Tech, Charles Blackmon, of Young Harris, Mike Cisco, of South Carolina, Josh Lindblom, of Tennessee, and James Simmons, of UC Riverside. Stetson’s Corey Kluber is another strong arm that the Kettleers look forward to seeing throw.


     Falmouth Commodores: Led by veteran field manager Jeff Trundy, the Falmouth Commodores will field another strong team in 2006, headlined by four players from the No. 1 team in America, the Clemson Tigers. Oregon State and Tulane will also send several players each. 

     Although Falmouth fans may have a little waiting to do with these teams hoping to make it deep into the tournament, they will be happy to welcome their players whenever they arrive. 
Representing Clemson are second baseman Taylor Harbin, centerfielder Brad Chalk, starting pitcher David Kopp, and shortstop Stan Widmann. Chalk recorded a .351 batting average, good for second on the team, and will bring great speed and strong baseball sense. Harbin hit .316 for the Tigers, and holds the South Carolina high school state record for home runs with 52. Kopp won four games for the Tigers this season and has found himself in all sorts of roles helping the Tigers win. 

     The Beavers of Oregon State will send catcher Mitch Canham, and pitchers Eddie Kunz and Joe Patterson. Canham is hitting .302 and has belted seven homers with 43 RBIs, good for second on the team. Kunz has four victories this season and hopes to follow in the footsteps of former Commodore and Beaver Dallas Buck. 

     Baseball powerhouse Tulane will contribute the trio of outfielder Aja Barto, catcher Max Kwan, and outfielder Warren McFadden to the cause this summer. McFadden has posted a .381 batting average with a team-leading 83 hits and 48 RBI, good for second. 

     The remainder of the squad will consist of Ryan Anetsberger (Illinois State), Sam Demel, a returner from last year’s club, and Andrew Walker (Texas Christian), Ross Detwiler (Missouri State), Jeremy Farrell and Shooter Hunt (Virginia), Cory Luebke (Ohio State), Corey Riordan (Fordham), Jay Sferra and Brett Wallace (Arizona State), and Aaron Shafer (Wichita State).

     For Missouri State, Detwiler has compiled a great season and was named Louisville Slugger’s national player of the week. Detwiler is 7-4 and has posted a 2.81 ERA with 99 strikeouts. Just recently in the Missouri Valley conference tournament, he fired a one-hitter against Creighton to help the Bears win their sixth straight game. 
Farrell has posted big numbers for a Virginia team that has been the only club in the nation to sweep Clemson in a weekend series, hitting .343 for the Cavaliers. Left-hander Cory Luebke (Ohio State) was recently named to the All-Big Ten tournament team.


     Hyannis Mets: After one of the worst seasons in Cape League history last summer, things can only get better for the Hyannis Mets this summer. In 2005, the Metropolitans posted a record of 7-36-1, but things look much better this time around as the team welcomes back four key returnees along with some new standouts.

     Two of the four players returning this season to the Mets are standouts: Texas Longhorns pitcher Adrian Alaniz, who totaled 19.2 innings last summer and St. Joseph’s (Maine) ace Charlie Furbush, a temporary player at the start of last summer who wowed coaches and spectators alike, ending the season with a team-high 50 innings and 55 strikeouts in 12 appearances. The Mets pitching staff this year will be dominated by right-handed hurlers, with only two lefties (including Furbush). The rest of the staff includes left-handed Longhorn Austin Wood, Jake Arrieta (TCU), Aaron Brown (Houston), Josh Collmenter (Central Michigan), Andrew Cruse (South Carolina), Matt Daly (Hawaii), Ben Jeffers (Georgia), Ryan Reid (James Madison), and Adam Reifer (UC Riverside).

     Also returning to the roster are outfielder Mark McGonigle (Houston) and catcher Brian Juhl, whose first season with the Mets was cut short by injury. During his time with the Mets, McGonigle batted .204 and stood out as a top defensive outfielder. Joining McGonigle and Juhl to round out the roster are infielders including NC State’s Ramon Corona and Matt Mangini, James Darnell ( South Carolina), Walter Diaz (Miami), Ryan Flaherty (Vanderbilt), Spence Nagy (Tallahassee CC). Catcher Alex Hale (Richmond) and outfielders Jordan Danks (Texas), Milan Dinga (West Point), David Macias (Vanderbilt), and Sean O’Brien (Virginia Tech) complete the squad in 2006.


     Wareham Gatemen: If there is a team that you can almost always count on to be in the hunt for the division championship of the west division it is the sons of John Wylde, the Wareham Gatemen. After falling just short of making the playoffs in the 2005 season, the Wareham Gatemen are anxiously awaiting a fresh start to a new season.

     With 23 years of experience with the Cape Cod Baseball League, Wareham president and general manager John Wylde approaches the new season with optimism. Even with an intense recruiting process, the 2006 team will be one of Wareham’s youngest teams in recent years. In spite of the relative inexperience at this level, Wylde is still encouraged by this year’s prospects.

     With their mix of veterans and newcomers, the Gatemen will be looking for an all-out team effort. Veterans include right-hander John Lalor (Mississippi State), catcher Joel Collins (South Alabama), outfielder Jordan Dodson (Rice), and right-hander Martin Beno (Mississippi State), among others. Beno is expected only for a short time pending the annual June draft. Outfielder Bobby Bramhall (Rice) also has the talent to provide some spark in the Gatemen bullpen. 

     Based on strong regular season statistics at their given schools, the Gatemen will receive strength through the pitching staff, including top talents Luke Putkonen (North Carolina) and Scott Gorgan (UC Irvine). Tim Mathews (Baylor) will add to the young talent to the team. The Gatemen will rely on left-handers Jeremy Bleich (Stanford) and Riley Boening (Texas) to take spots in the rotation. Rounding out the pitching staff are right-handers Travis Banwart (Wichita State), John Ely (Miami OH), Connor Graham (Miami OH), and Chris Hicks (Georgia Tech).

     The Gatemen will certainly experience the effects of losing last year’s ace Daniel Bard (North Carolina), who was picked in the first round of the MLB draft by the Boston Red Sox. 

     With the middle infield help of shortstop Baylor teammates Beemer Weams and Ben Booker, who will perform at second base, the Gatemen expect few errors in their core defense. On the corners will be first baseman Luke Murton (Georgia Tech) and third baseman Bradley Suttle (Texas). Murton’s name should be familiar to Gatemen fans, who saw his older brother Matt play for Wareham in 2001 and 2002 before reaching the big leagues last year with the Chicago Cubs. Both Murton and Suttle are showing prospering talent as the collegiate season is coming to a close. Balancing the infield will be Dominic de la Osa (Vanderbilt), Seth Henry (Tulane), Brad Miller (Cowley County CC), and Jason Ogata (LSU). 

     Leading the outfield will be the veteran Dodson, who will be accompanied by Jared Bogany (LSU), Diallo Fon (Vanderbilt), and Brandon Glover (Texas A&M).
** These previews include excerpts from Cape Cod Baseball League sources