17 August 2006

Cape League notes

Some players were leaving right after the game either to go home for the first time in months or head back to college. Tournament MVP David Robertson, however, was sticking around Yarmouth for a few days "to see what happens." He's been drafted by the New York Yankees.

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Y-D players stayed on the field for an hour after the final game, posing for photos, signing baseballs, programs and autographs on youngsters' shirts or anything else they came up with. Robertson, one of the fan favorites, was ready to sign a baseball and politely said, "I signed this one already." The boy shrugged and walked away.

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There were several big plays in Y-D's Division final against Brewster. In the first inning, the Whitecaps' Colt Sedbrook was thrown out by leftfielder Steve Strasbaugh while trying to score on Justin Snyder's single. Catcher Danny Lehmann made an outstanding short-hop pickup and sweep tag for the out. Matt LaPorta followed with a two-run homer that could have been a 3-0 lead.

In the ottom of first, Alden Carrithers walked after battling back from an 0-2 count and Brad Emaus' two-run homer tied it. Strasbaugh singled to left, moved to second on an infield out and Buster Posey singled him home.

In the fourth inning, Y-D strung together singles by Posey, Michael Taylor, Lehmann and Henley for a 5-2 lead, but Lehmann was thrown out at home. Evan McArthur then singled home what turned out to be the sixth and deciding run.

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Coca Cola Bottling Co. of Cape Cod General Manager John Laflamme threw out the first ball. The company just concluded its 20th consecutive year of sponorship of the league.

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The announced crowd of 8,272 might have been a bit overstated, but league commissioner Paul Galop said it probably still was the largest crowd in league history. One record there was no doubt about was the 50-50 winner's share of $3,758. Galop said he thought the previous record was about $2,500 for a USA vs. Chatham game.

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Umpiring in the championship series was almost flawless. Except for a few ball-strike calls, the managers and players had little to complain about with the men in blue.

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Until Sunday's final game, Y-D and Wareham didn't have a victory at home in their regular-season and post-season matchups this season.

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Galop, who is part of a team hoping to open a new bank on the Cape at the end of this year or early next year, said he was going to head home to Chatham to introduce himself to his wife.

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The four finalists for the first CCBL Richard (Dick) Sullivan Executive of the Year Award are Chuck Sturtevant, retiring GM of the Falmouth Commodores; Steven Wilson, CCBL treasurer and web-master; John Wylde, president/ general manager of the Wareham Gatemen and head statistician; and CCBL Deputy Commissioner Sol Yaz.

The honoree will be announced at the CCBL Hall of Fame induction ceremony in November.