10 August 2006

THIS WEEK IN THE CAPE LEAGUE
Championship Week


 

     Cape League fans could not ask for a more dramatic Eastern Division Playoffs to put either Y-D or Brewster in the CCBL Championship Series. It literally came down to the wire in all three games due to the determination, talent, and competitive nature of both teams. One player in particular who really stepped it up for his team in this nail-biting series is Red Sox third baseman Brad Emaus.

     Emaus came into the playoffs with an average of .247 and six home runs. The main statistic which stands out is his .427 slugging percentage. So, not only has he had big clutch hits in the regular season, but when he did, they were usually “big” extra-base knocks. In this playoff series, Emaus proved that he could be even better. 

     The Tulane sophomore instantly found his swing in Game 1 at Y-D’s Red Wilson Field. He put the Sox ahead in the seventh, driving in the first run of the game and series with a single to right field. In Game 2, while playing in Brewster, he was quiet yet patient at the plate, as he drew just a walk and went 0-for-3. 

     However, in the final game where the Sox returned to play at home, Emaus bounced back and re-ignited the spark for the Y-D offense. In this deciding game, he hit a tying two-run bomb to get the Sox immediately back in the game in the first inning. The Whitecaps pitched him carefully in his next at-bat, as he drew a walk. However, he came right back up swinging in the seventh with a leadoff single, setting the tone for his offense once again. His clutch hitting has consistently turned the momentum in his team’s favor, and all baseball fans know how important the notion of momentum can be in games like these. 

     It takes an over-the-board sense of determination to step it up in such an important series where a team either packs its bags or lives the baseball player’s dream of being in the championship hunt. Mental toughness and competitiveness is where Emaus excels, especially in these kinds of games. “I’m just going to try to remained focus and keep doing what I’ve been doing,” Emaus said after helping his team to the finals. “I’ve been feeling great these past couple of weeks. I’m just going to keep taking good batting practice and keep working on all aspects of the game.”

     Emaus’s offense and tough attitude have certainly been contagious throughout the Red Sox, the newly crowned champions of their Eastern Division. Emaus has faith in his teammates - as they do in him - for the upcoming Championship Series game versus the hot Wareham Gatemen. The Western Division champs used two shutouts to defeat the Cotuit Kettleers, who put up the best offensive and defensive numbers in the regular season. Nevertheless, Emaus isn’t too worried: “I know we are the best team out there. Wareham has a great team and style of play but we are the team to beat.” 

     Brad Emaus has without a doubt earned the honors of “Series MVP” with his clutch hitting and outstanding defensive efforts at third base. If he carries this type of confidence and maintains his “hotness,” he will be a lethal weapon for the Sox and a major threat to the Gatemen in the upcoming Cape League Championship. 

By Jason Itzkowitz, CCBL Intern itzkowitz@capecodbaseball.org
 

Interns 2006 : Chad Burkart, Johnna DeChristoforo, Jonathan French, Michael Kydd, Lauren Malone
Adam McGillen, Nicholas Mucci, Courtney Reilly, Daniel Scalia, Shannon Taylor, Kevin Wolfe