Speier Breaks CCBL Saves Record Bourne Relief Ace Signs Big League Deal

Bourne Braves righty relief ace Ryan Speier (Radford) broke the all-time Braves' record for saves this season. Sean Walsh/CCBL 2001

BOURNE -- The night before he was scheduled to appear in the 2001 Sprint PCS Cape League All-Star Game (July 21), Bourne Braves' relief ace Ryan Speier broke the Cape League all-time saves record with his 16th save over Falmouth in a 5-3 win at Fuller Field (July 20).

     At Saturday's (July 21) all-star game, Speier stepped in to hurl a perfect ninth inning for the West Division squad, and Sunday evening followed suit by leaving the Bourne Braves to sign a free agent contract with the Colorado Rockies. Speier is slated to head for the Rockies' Tri-Cities Minor League affiliate in Washington and turned in his Braves' uniform Sunday.

     The Radford University 6'7" righty did not allow a run in 20 appearances for the Braves this summer (0.00 ERA), serving in the role of closer. In his record-breaking performance versus Falmouth, Speier threw one inning, striking out two and walking one. In 20 innings of work he has allowed 10 hits, struck out 35 and walked just six batters. Bourne righty ace Joe Blanton (Kentucky) notched the victory to bring his record to 3-1 on the season with a 2.63 ERA. Speier's mark breaks the all-time saves record held by Derrick DePriest who collected 15 saves for the Chatham A's in 1999. Speier also holds the all-time Bourne Braves' saves. 

     Also signing a Major League contract Monday (July 23) was two-year Brewster Whitecaps southpaw Ryan Olsen (UNLV) who went 2-1 with 30 Ks in 30.1 innings pitched this summer and made six appearances. Olsen signed with the New York Mets. The 6'5" lefty went 4-1 with a 2.65 ERA for the CCBL Champion Whitecaps last summer.

 

Around the Horn

     They Earned it -- The Coca-Cola Cape League Player of the Week, for the second straight week, was Wareham's Eric Reed (Texas A&M). In four games for the Gatemen, Reed hit .556 (10-for-18) with three RBI and 2 stolen bases. On the mound, reliever Raymond Clark earned the nod as the Pitcher of the Week. In three appearances for Falmouth, Clark (Grapevine, TX/Texas) threw eight innings of one-hit ball. He walked just one while striking out 13 Braves, Kettleers and Mets. He also earned the save on July 15 against Hyannis

Whitecaps' southpaw Ryan Olsen (UNLV) departed for the New York Mets Monday, amid his second year in the Cape League. Sean Walsh/CCBL 2001

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     Stars Shined at Fuller Field -- The East won the 2001 Sprint PCS Cape League All-Star Game , 10-1 on July 21 at Falmouth's Guv Fuller Field. The crowd surrounding the field and jamming the bleachers was estimated at 3,000 as the East cranked out 16 hits. Orleans' Russ Adams (Laurinburg, NC/UNC) was named the East MVP as he went two-for-three with two walks and three RBI, including a three run home run in the 6th to give the East a 6-1 lead. Harwich's southpaw Joe Saunders (Virginia Tech), the starter for the East was the winning pitcher. Wareham's Matt Murton (Georgia Tech), who had two of the West's six hits in the game was named his division's most valuable player.

     Goodnight, Mr. Spalding -- The Hyannis Mets will host an inaugural home run hitting contest on Saturday, August 4th at McKeon Field in Hyannis. The fundraiser, which benefits both the Mets' organization and Cape Cod and Islands Special Olympics, is slated from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. for adult participants and 1 - 2 p.m. for children. The grand prize for the adults is a $150.00 cash gift with other awards announced on August 4. All participants may pre-register at the Hyannis home games or contact the Mets interns: Jay at jaycarberry@hotmail.com or Kara at kmcgillicuddy@hotmail.com for more information. Registrations are also accepted on the day of the contest.

     Pagliarulo Named Honorary Chair of Summer Catch Benefit Screening -- Former Cape Leaguer and Major Leaguer Mike Pagliarulo will serve as the honorary chair of the Summer Catch Benefit Screening, which will take place on August 2. "Pags" played for Chatham in 1980 before going on to play for the Yankees, Padres, Twins, Orioles and Rangers.

Orleans' righty Jeff Watchko (Georgia Tech) delivers versus Cotuit on July 17. Sean Walsh/CCBL 2001

     Braves to Honor Former Players -- On Saturday, August 4 the Bourne Braves will host a recognition night for all its CCBL alumni. In addition, there will be a tribute to George Karras who played 20 years on the Cape - from pre World War II through the 60s. Karras, who also served as president of the league, manager of Sagamore and manager/general manager of Barnstable during his tenure also tossed a shutout for West Barnstable vs. Sagamore in 1942 - and then threw another for Sagamore vs. Otis Air Force Base in 1962.

     Copeland Can Cope With The Best -- Whitecaps' righty Stephen Copeland (Oregon State) spun six scoreless innings and surrendered just six hits while fanning five batters without issuing a walk to get the
win in a 9-3 victory against Orleans on July 19. Outfield slugger Jay Garthwaite (Washington) was tied for first the league in home runs (5) through July 22 with Jason Perry (Georgia Tech) of the Hyannis Mets. Second-year Whitecaps southpaw Ryan Gloger (Stanford) tossed a scoreless inning in the Cape Cod League All-Star game.

     He's In-Zane - Chatham A's righty relief ace Zane Carlson (Baylor), who was three-time All-State first-team member in high school, allowed just four runs -- three earned -- and six hits while saving eight game over his first 12 appearances, covering 14 innings. Southpaw Frasier Dizard (USC) pitched six scoreless innings (6 H, 3 BB, 9 Ks) but did not get a decision in a 6-0 loss at Wareham on July 19. Starting All-Star second baseman Mike McCoy (San Diego) went 1-for-3 in the All-Star Game, led the league in on-base percentage (.420) and was second in runs (21) through July 22.The Athletics had allowed more than three runs in just one of their last eight games through July 22, of which they won six. On roll of late, the A's found themselves squarely in second place in the East Division standings Monday (July 23) after downing the Bourne Braves 6-2 Sunday evening (July 22). The A's have missed the playoffs just twice since 1989 and have been in the playoffs each season since 1995.

Mets' all-star catcher Ryan Garko (Stanford) drives one deep at Eldredge Park in Orleans. Sean Walsh/CCBL 2001

     Still Working Hard -- Brantley Jordan (Texas) did not allow a run in four games July 10-20. Jordan surrendered just two hits and four walks while fanning 11 batters and recording one save in 12 1/3 innings over that span. Kettleer righty Ryan Combs (NC State) pitched six scoreless innings (4 H, 3 BB, 4 SO), but did not get a decision in a 2-1 loss to Falmouth on July 22. Kettleer outfielder Ryan Russ (Navarro) stole three bases on July 17 in a 5-4 victory over Orleans. Cotuit tied three of their last seven games through July 22.

     Commodore Aces Abound - 6'2" Texas righty Ray Clark, who was awarded the league's Pitcher of the Week on July 22, did not allow a run in four outings July 11-20. Clark surrendered just two hits and a pair of walks while striking out 13 batters and recording a save over 9 2/3 innings in that span. Fellow Falmouth righty Gary Hogan, Jr. went 3-0 with a 1.93 ERA in four games July 1-22 (18 2/3 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 8 BB, 15 SO). All-Star first baseman Jarrod Schmidt (Clemson), who played with the Commodores last year but had to leave the team early due to knee surgery, was second in the league in hits (39) and was tied for sixth in batting (.307) through July 22. Falmouth had not allowed their opponents to score over six runs in any game through July 22.

Y-D righty relief ace Brandon Luna (Auburn) shuts the door on Harwich (July 19).  Sean Walsh/CCBL 2001

     Mariners No Slouch in Pitching Department - Clemson righty Matt Henrie, a junior this fall, threw a three-hit, 2-0 shutout at Orleans on July 22. Henrie allowed just one walk while fanning seven batters. East Division All-Star starting southpaw Joe Saunders (Virginia Tech), who pitched two shutout innings to pickup the win in the All-Star game, allowed no earned runs in three consecutive games July 2-17. Saunders went 3-0 in that span (21 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 26 SO). Fellow mariners' southpaw Matt Lynch (Florida State) went 2-2 and allowed just 10 runs -- eight earned - in his first six starts (40 IP, 26 H, 6 BB, 51 SO) and was fourth in the league with 51 strikeouts. Righty Paul Harrelson (Clemson) allowed no walks in 11 consecutive games June 19-July 20. Harrelson saved a game and allowed one run and six hits while fanning 13 batters over 15 1/3 innings in that span.

Harwich relief ace Paul Harrelson (Clemson) throws gas versus Y-D (July 19).  Sean Walsh/CCBL 2001

     He's Perry Good - Starting West Division All-Star first baseman Jason Perry (Georgia Tech), who went 1-for-3 in the Cape Cod League All-Star game, was leading the league in triples (3), was tied for first in home runs (5), second in slugging (.505), tied for third in extra-base hits (10), seventh in on-base percentage (.381) and was ninth in batting (.294) through July 22. Mets' second baseman Cameron Coughlan (Brigham & Young) stole bases in four consecutive games July 16-20.

     Cardinals Keep At It - Righty Scott Autrey (UNC Chapel Hill) went 1-0 and allowed just six runs -- five earned -- over 20 innings in three starts July 6-20. First Baseman Larry Broadway did not commit an error in any of his first 33 games this season. All-Star MVP second baseman Russ Adams (UNC-Charlotte) was leading the league in stolen bases (20), runs (22), was third in hits (38) and eighth in batting (.299) through July 22.

Falmouth southpaw Pat Misch (Western Michigan) bears down to pick up his second win of the season versus Hyannis on July 15 at McKeon Field. Sean Walsh/CCBL 2001

     Wareham May Be Stacked - All-Star outfielder Eric Reed (Texas A&M), the league's reigning Player of the Week, hit safely in 21 straight games June 20-July 22 (40-92, 5 2B, 1 3B, 11 RBI, 15 SB), raising his batting average from .200 to .377. Reed hit .540 (27-50, 1 2B, 1 3B, 6 RBI, 11 SB) in 11 games July 9-22 to take the lead in hits (46) and batting (.377). Gatemen righty Clark Girardeau (South Alabama) threw a one-hit, 5-0 shutout at Brewster on July 22. He struck out 11 batters and issued just one walk in the victory. Girardeau went 3-0 and had allowed just four runs and twelve hits while striking out 40 batters and walking just eight in 31 innings over four starts July 3-22. League-leading southpaw Chris Leonard (Miami of Ohio), who started the All-Star game for the West, went 4-0 and allowed just three runs -- two earned -- and 28 hits while fanning 44 batters and walking just eight in 40 innings over five starts June 25-July 19. Leonard hurled eight scoreless innings (6 H, 4 BB, 7 SO) to get the win in a 6-0 triumph over Chatham on July 19. He was leading the league in ERA (0.45) at the break.

Y-D Red Sox third baseman Ryan Klocksein (Kansas) runs down a pop fly versus Harwich at Red Wilson Field (July 19). Sean Walsh/CCBL 2001

     Luna Keeps Shutting the Door on Opponents - 6'5" righty relief ace Brandon Luna (Auburn), who participated in his second straight Cape League all-star game, allowed no earned runs in 11 consecutive games June 18-July 19. Luna went 2-1 and saved five games in that span (17 2/3 IP, 10 H, 3 R, 4 BB, 26 SO). Fellow righty and all-star Jim Brauer (Michigan) went 2-1 and allowed just five runs -- three earned -- in five starts June 21-July 19 (32 2/3 IP, 24 H, 11 BB, 25 SO). Fellow Wolverine Bobby Korecky, who had a 2.45 ERA last season with Chatham, spun 7 1/3 scoreless innings and surrendered just three hits and two walks while fanning six batters but did not get a decision in a 2-0 loss to Brewster on July 17. The Red Sox did not hit a home run in 13 straight games July 3-19, but Y-D slugger Jason Cooper (Stanford) more than made up for it last Saturday at Fuller Field in Falmouth: "Coop" won his second All-Star Game Home Run Hitting Contest in a Row, the first Cape Leaguer to ever do so.

Orleans Cardinals righty Scott Autrey (UNC-Chapel Hill) brings it to Hyannis at Eldredge Park in Orleans last Friday night (July 20).  Sean Walsh/CCBL 2001

Special thanks to Missy Alaimo, CCBL Publicist and Josh Goldfine of Sportsticker.com for adding to this week's report.

-- Sean Walsh