26 June 2008


Despite the rain, Whitecaps capture East lead

By Matt Rice

REGIONAL -

Brewster

The Whitecaps found themselves in a tie for first place with Harwich after winning four straight this week. The duo of Ryan Wheeler and Nate Lape has been the biggest spark for the Whitecaps so far this season.

Both have three homeruns while Wheeler leads the league with seven extra-base hits. He currently leads the team with a .342 average.

Also doing well for Brewster is Derek Poppert, batting .294 and Connor Powers, batting .278, including a 2-for-3, three runs scored night against Falmouth on Wednesday.

On the mound, Tim Clubb is 2-0 and hasn’t allowed an earned run this season. He’s struck out 10 batters in 13 innings pitched and has given up seven hits.

The Whitecaps will face division leader Cotuit on Saturday night. They’ll return home to face Hyannis on Wednesday. They travel to Harwich on the Fourth of July. 



Chatham

Despite their slow start to the season, the Chatham A’s have won two f their last three games to full themselves out of the East cellar.

Chatham starter Sammy Solis pitched a gem on Tuesday night as the A’s dealt with a long delay, then defeated Wareham 2-0 for their third win of the summer.

Solis struck out eight in seven innings and allowed only a pair of hits. Kevin Couture relived him in the eighth.

Brad Boxberger picked up his second save of the season as he pitched a perfect ninth.

Grant Green provided the only offense the A’s would need as his two-run double in the second inning proved to be the game-winner.

Green currently leads the team with a .385 average with three doubles and a homerun. He’s also tied for second in the league with 15 hits and carries a .590 slugging percentage.

On the mound, the A’s are led by Solis, who’s second in the league with 16 strikeouts in two appearances and is tied for the league lead with two wins without allowing an earned run.

As a team, the A’s are second from the bottom with a 4.40 ERA.

They’ll host Hyannis on Saturday and will travel to Orleans for a Fourth of July battle with their local rival.



Harwich

Harwich’s hot start continues as they picked up their fifth win of the summer with a 6-1 win over Wareham on Wednesday. Brian Kemp was a threat all night at the plate for the Mariners as he collected four hits to raise his average to .345. He’s also second in the league with six stolen bases, including one on Wednesday.

Joe Saunders leads the team with a .371 average, with four doubles and a .571 slugging percentage.

On the mound, Ryan Quigley is 1-0 in his lone start against Chatham where he struck out 13 and didn’t allow an earned run.

Willie Kempf is 0-1 but hasn’t allowed an earned run in eight innings pitched. J.J. Hoover is also 1-0, with a 2.84 ERA in one start.

The Mariners look to remain at the top of the East division as the season heats up.

Harwich will face fellow East leading Brewster at 5 p.m. tonight, then they’ll host Chatham on Sunday night and Brewster on the Fourth of July.



Orleans

The Cardinals have lost four in a row and find themselves in the basement of the East division. The team batting average, the Achilles’ Heel of the team last summer, continues to be a problem. They’re currently last in the league with a .188 average.

The pitching staff has been decent, posting a 3.55 ERA, good for third in the league.

Angelo Songco currently leads the Cardinals with a .350 average, with 12 total bases, six RBI and a homerun.

On the mound, Matt Thomson has a 1-0 record in seven relief innings pitched. He carries a 1.23 ERA with six strikeouts.

Orleans will try to get out of last place as they host Hyannis tonight, Y-D on Sunday and Cotuit on Monday. They’ll also host Chatham on the Fourth of July.


They’ll travel