27 July 2007

All Star squads set for Saturday

By Matt Rice
GateHouse News Service

Brewster - This year’s Cape Cod Baseball League All Star game will be played Saturday in Wareham, and as usual, local fans will have plenty to cheer about as a number of players from local teams have been selected to represent the East Division.

    With division leader Yarmouth-Dennis leading the way with four starters selected, including starting pitcher Eddie Burns, Chatham and Brewster will also send two of their own to start the game for the East squad, while Harwich and Orleans will field one starter for the 45th annual All Star game.
Chatham’s Allan Dykstra (starting designated hitter) and Jermaine Curtis (starting third baseman) got the nod after putting up solid numbers all season for the A’s. Curtis is currently second in the East with a .330 average while Dykstra is third in the division with 25 RBI and is batting .321.

    Brewster first baseman Yonder Alonso made the starting lineup after posting a .328 average and leading the team in RBI (18), total bases (57) and on-base percentage (.470). He’ll be joined by fellow Whitecap Charlie Cutler, who earned the start in left field for the East with a .303 average.

    The lone starter for Orleans is power hitting right fielder Dennis Raben, who is leading the league with 32 RBI, he’s also second in homeruns with 6 and is second in the East with 15 extra base hits.
Harwich’s Cole Figueroa will get the start at second base after hitting over .300 for most of the season.

    East reserves include Harwich’s Kyle Day (.268, 46 total bases), Corey Young (2-1, 3.93 ERA) and Evan Crawford (.79 ERA, 13 appearances). Orleans will send pitchers Brad Boxberger (1.24 ERA in six starts), Will Atwood (3-0, 1.44 ERA) and Ryan Perry (1-2, 4.32 ERA).

    Brewster speedster Blake Tekotte (league-high 19 stolen bases) will join teammates Mike Colla (3-1, 1.70 ERA) and Matt Couch (2-1, 38 strikeouts) on the bench for the East.

    After leading the NECBL (New England Collegiate Baseball League) in homeruns last summer with 11 in 42 games, Harwich’s Chris Dominguez was selected to participate in this summer’s homerun derby.

    The six-foot, five-inch Dominguez has only one roundtripper so far this summer, but is confident he’ll do well.

    “I’ve been in a few before and not done so well but I think this time will be a different story.
He’ll compete against Orleans’ Dennis Raben, who is second in the league with 8 homeruns and Brewster’s Alonso, who has 3.

    Former Orleans Cardinal Frank Thomas, who now plays for the Toronto Blue Jays and recently hit his 500th career homerun, won the first homerun derby back in 1988.