Bourne Braves Off To Strong Start

22 June 2007


 

  
Posted in: Sports 
By Dan Crowley
Jun 22, 2007 - 12:40:36 PMDigg this story!

     A late seventh inning rally by the Chatham A’s spoiled Wednesday night for the Bourne Braves (3-2-1) as they came out on the short end of a 4-3 loss. Bourne had a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the ninth, but couldn’t get the job done.

     Steven Hensley (Elon) took the loss for Bourne in three and two-thirds innings of three run, four hit relief.

     Bill Perry (Hartford) finished the day 3-for-4 as Bourne knocked out 10 hits.

     Memories from last season were laid to rest quickly as the 2007 Bourne Braves opened the Cape League season with a 7-6 victory over Cotuit and then continued to win. Bourne won its first three games of the season, each one of them in noteworthy fashion.

     The Braves had a 7-1 lead at Cotuit opening day, but allowed the Kettleers back in with five runs in the bottom of the eighth. Jordan Flasher (George Mason) took over on the mound in relief in the eighth and stopped the bleeding, while earning his first Cape League save.

     Mitch Harris (Naval Academy) was strong in his first start of the season going six innings, allowing one run on three hits and striking out six to pick up the win.

     Saturday the Braves fell behind the visiting Falmouth Commodores 8-2 before exploding for a 15-8 victory. Jeff Wojnar (Babson) and Jeff Richard (Central Michigan) held Falmouth to just one run over four and a third innings of work. Wojnar killed a Falmouth threat in the fourth and Richard slammed the door, allowing just one hit over the final three frames to earn the win. Shortstop Addison Maruszak was 3-for-6, collecting three RBI and scoring a run. Center fielder T.J. Steele (Arizona) also feasted on Falmouth pitching, going 3-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored. Steele had two doubles in the seven-run Bourne seventh.

     According to former Cape League Historian Bruce Hack, the 15 runs is one short of the team record last accomplished July 3, 2005 at Y-D in a 16-3 win. He also noted that the eight Bourne batters hit by pitches is a league, and team, high. Kevin Hoef (Iowa), who was hit four times, now holds the league, and team, record for most times hit by a pitch in a game.

     Ben Guez (William & Mary) recorded the game-winning RBI Sunday in an 8-7 victory over the Harwich Mariners. In the 10th inning, with the score tied at 7-7, Guez drew a bases loaded walk off Harwich pitcher Mark Willinsky (Santa Clara), scoring Steele for the win.

     The Mariners got to Bourne starter Wade Kapteyn (Evansville) for six runs in the top of the first. Arric Mather (Franklin Pierce) took over, going five and two-thirds frames, allowing just one hit, while striking out four. Steve Hensley (Elon) pitched an inning and a third in relief of Mather, allowing one run before turning it over to Flasher, who allowed just three hits over two and two-thirds innings earning the win.

     Bourne cut into the Harwich lead in the third scoring four times. Bill Perry (Hartford) got the inning going for the Braves with a lead-off double and later scored. Three hits and a Harwich error gave Bourne a 7-6 lead in the bottom of the sixth.

     Steele continued to swing a hot bat, finishing the day 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Guez was 2-for-3 with, two walks and four RBI, three of them coming when he doubled into left field in the bottom of the sixth. Hoef was 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI.
Hack points out that the last time the Braves began the season at 3-0 was in 2001.

     The first loss of the season for the Braves came late in the game Monday as Bourne fell to Orleans, 4-2. The Braves struck first on a two-run double down the left field line by Maruszak scoring Andrew Clark (Louisville) and Brian Pruitt (Stetson). The Cardinals got one back in the sixth and another in the seventh to tie the game. Joe Kent (Oklahoma State) blanked the Cardinals for the first five frames before turning it over to the bullpen, which struggled, allowing four runs on five hits. Jesse Haney (UNC Wilmington), who pitched the final two frames for the Braves, allowed two runs and was tagged with the loss.
Hoef and Pruitt each had two of Bourne’s 10 hits, while Clark was 1-for-2 with two walks and a run scored.

     Nick Christiani (Vanderbilt) picked up the win in relief for Orleans.

     Bourne came back to tie Hyannis 2-2 in the top of the eighth Tuesday at McKeon Field, sending the game into extra innings. Before either team could push a run across the plate darkness brought the contest to a close.

     The Braves struck first when Guez tripled and scored on a fielder’s choice off the bat of Steele. The Mets plated runs in the sixth and seventh. In the top of the eighth Steele was hit by a pitch and made his way around to third before being lifted for a pinch runner. Kyle Smith (Cal Poly) took over at third base and scored the tying run on a Chris Drechsel (Wagner) single into right field.

     D.J. Mitchell (Clemson) got the start and went five and a third frames, allowing one run on six hits before turning it over to Richard, who gave up a run on two hits. Harris and Rick Zagone (Missouri) each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.

     The Braves are home today at Doran Park on the campus of Upper Cape Tech where they will host Cotuit, with the first pitch slated for 5 PM. 
 


 


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