After 7 Years, the East Tops the West 

The best of the East bettered the best of the West as the Cape League All-Stars battled each other at Veterans Field in Chatham on Saturday, August 1, by a score of 3-2. 
 

Both 1998 All-Star squads with  members of the Boston Red Sox  who are Cape League alumni Photo Courtesy of Angela Johnson

The estimated crowd of 4,500 was entertained early as the Homerun Hitting participants pounded balls deep from both sides of the plate to all sides of the field. The East contestants were Edmund Muth (Y-D), Bobby Kielty (Brewster) and Matt Cepicky (Chatham. The West participants were Kelley Gulledge (Bourne), Pat Magness (Cotuit) and Jason Lane (Hyannis). Hometown favorite Cepicky ousted Gulledge by launching two-of-five pitches out of the park to win the Homerun Hitting Contest title. 

After team introductions, Chatham resident and longtime member of the Chatham Athletic Association Tom Desmond threw out the ceremonial first pitch. 

After longtime former Cape League umpire Curly Clements called out "Play Ball," the players did just that. The East wasted no time, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning. Yarmouth-Dennis' Cory Slavik reached on a fielding error and scored on Matt Cepicky's RBI single. The West struggled against East's Pat Collins (Orleans), who struck out four in two innings. However, the West did get on the board in the top of the sixth inning as Hyannis' Eric Nelson doubled and scored on a passed ball. The East scored what would be the winning run in the same inning. Slavik walked off Jeff Carlsen (Bourne), stole second and came across the plate on Matt Cepicky's sacrifice fly to center. Bobby Kielty singled and moved to third on a Rodney Nye (Harwich) double, his second hit of the game. Daylan Holt's sacrifice fly scored Kielty. 

The West threatened in the eighth inning, as Todd Donovan (Cotuit) had a lead-off walk, stole second, and scored on a Garrett Atkins (Cotuit) groundout. In the ninth, the West was not able to take advantage of two walks issued by East closer Bobby Kielty and a single by Matt Griswold (Bourne). Kielty retired the next two batters to earn himself the save and a 3-2 victory for the East. Despite giving up an earned run in the sixth inning, Chatham's Jeremy Ward was awarded the win, while the tough-luck loss went to Bourne's Jeff Carlsen. 

For the first time in seven years, the East All Stars defeated the West behind the coaching of former Cape League All Star Billy Best. Best, who played for Falmouth in 1979, was the field manager for the Harwich Mariners. The East had been winless since 1991, when they played at Falmouth's Guv Fuller Field and won 7-4. Honorary coach and former Red Sox player and manager Butch Hobson visited each dugout for four innings, finding himself back in the coach's box at first and third base. 

The evening concluded with the announcement of the game MVP's, voted on by the Major League scouts in attendance. Hometown hero Matt Cepicky added to his accomplishments of the day, being named MVP of the East for his two RBI's and a one-for-four day at the plate. The West MVP trophy went to Cotuit's Todd Donovan. Donovan enjoyed a fine afternoon, going 2-for-4 and setting an All-Star record with four stolen bases.