The Western Division Champion Bourne Braves plan to open the 2006 Cape Cod Baseball League June 15 at their new field complex at Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical High School this year. For the sixth straight season, Bourne will open against the Cotuit Kettleers.

     The Braves have four players from last year's team back for another season on the Cape. Coming off a tremendous spring with the Fresno State Bulldogs, third baseman Beau Mills will be back with the Braves. This spring, he led Fresno State in batting average (.355), slugging percentage (.675) and in doubles (20). He also tied for the most home runs (14) and RBIs with 58. Mills, whose father, Brad, is the bench coach for the Boston Red Sox, was drafted in 2004 by the Red Sox.

     Also back this year is right-handed pitcher Andrew Carignan (UNC) who posted a record of 1-3 and an ERA of 3.03 in 28 appearances in relief for the Tarheels. He has struck out 37 and walked 14 in 29.2 innings of work. Last summer for the Braves, Carignan had an ERA of 1.44 over 25 innings in relief with 32 strikouts.

     Infielder Andy Goff (Wake Forest) returns to Bourne this summer. Goff hit .266 for the Demon Decons this spring in 50 games with eight steals. He will be joined by Brett Bartles (Duke), a versatile infield who saw most of his time last year with the Braves at first base. Bartles hit .292 for the Blue devils this spring in 55 games slugging .453 with seven home runs.

     Three players on the Bourne roster have invitations to try out for Team USA. University of Texas catcher Preston Clark, University of Mississippi shortstop Zack Cozart, and Dallas Baptist outfielder Austin Krum will all receive the opportunity to try out for the 2006 USA National Team.

     The Braves may also have to wait for Bobby Bell (Rice), as the top ranked college team, the Owls could reach Omaha and the College World Series. Bell had a regular season ERA of 3.67 with Rice and an 8-0 record. He made 16 appearances for the Owls, 10 of them starts compiling 59 strikeouts while allowing 21 walks in 68.2 innings of work.

     Freshman Kyle Walker of Texas is expected to cause a few sparks this summer. A hard throwing power pitcher, he was 4-1 for the Longhorns this spring with an ERA of 3.89. In 39 innings of work, he struckout 48 hitters.

     Florida Atlantic sophomore Mickey Storey, who will be joining the Braves this summer, saw a lot of action for the Owls. In more than 119 innings he posted a record of 7-9 with an ERA of 3.84 in 17 starts.

     Ben Hunter (Wake Forest) finished the spring strong. He was named to the Louisville Slugger NCAA Division I All-American third team. Hunter, a right-handed pitcher, was one of only three relief pitchers to receive the honor. He finished the spring at Wake Forest 1-2 with an ERA of 1.47 and converted 14 out of 15 save attempts. He struck out a team-best 70 opponents, posting an average of 11.54 strikeouts per nine innings to lead the Atlantic Coast Conference. Hunter opened the season pitching 26.2 consecutive scoreless innings.
Sophomore Mitch Moreland of Mississippi State is a two-way player who pitches from the left side. He was recently named to the 2006 Clemson Regional All-Tournament team where, over the weekend, he hit 7-for-15 (.467) with three doubles and three walks in a losing effort for the Bulldogs. This spring, Moreland posted a 2-1 record on the mound with a 3.75 ERA in eight relief appearances for Mississippi State. He finished the regular season hitting .313 with a slugging percentage of .481 with five homeruns.

     Behind the plate, the Braves will look to Preston Paramore (Arizona State). Drafted last year by the New York Mets, Paramore hit .318 for the Sun Devils this spring while slugging .428.