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Sr. Ruth heading home Loss ends World Series run By RICH PLANTE ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR CC Times A key hit or two and it could have been different. But after posting a gutsy win on Tuesday, Cape Cod saw its hopes of advancing to the final round of the Senior Babe Ruth World Series dashed yesterday, losing 7-2 to Pacific Northwest champion Beaverton, Ore., at Weimar, Texas. The New England Region champions finished the tournament 1-3. Cape Cod was hoping to build upon the momentum from its wild 10-9 win over Eagle Pass, Texas, on Tuesday. The local team had a promising start yesterday, going up 1-0 in the top of the first on a leadoff home run by Jake Yagjian. And it could have been much more as the Cape stars had the bases loaded with one out in both the second and third innings. But both of those rallies were stifled by double plays. Meanwhile, Beaverton scored two runs in the second and three in the third for a commanding 5-1 lead. The Cape stars got one run back in the top of the fourth, but Beaverton put it away with two in the bottom of the sixth. Eric Maroncelli went the distance for the win, scattering eight hits and two walks, striking out three. And he helped himself at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a homer and three RBIs. "We couldn't break it open," said Cape Cod manager Dan Proto. "We were right on this kid (Maroncelli). But he was effective. "With this team, I think we're always in the game," Proto added. "One guy catches fire and they all catch fire." But Cape Cod couldn't get the one hit off Maroncelli that would turn the game around. Dave Mendosa started and took the loss for the Cape, going 2ª innings and allowing eight hits and five runs, all earned. Mike Wiseman pitched the last 3¤ innings, giving up five hits and two runs (one earned). He had one strikeout and didn't walk a batter. Leading 1-0, Cape Cod loaded the bases with one out in the second on an error, a single by Adam Laplante and a walk to Mendosa. But David Albelo's line drive to second base was turned into a double play. Beaverton struck for two runs on four hits in the second. Andrew Mannex led off with a double to right and one out later came home on a single by Maroncelli. Singles by Ryan Brophy and Jake Carter loaded the bases, and C.R. Braniff brought home the second run with a sacrifice bunt. The Cape again had the bases full with one away in the top of the third as Yagjian singled, Schilling doubled and Josh Porter drew an intentional walk. But Joe Cruise grounded into a double play to end that threat. The Pacific Northwest champs added three more in the bottom of the third, on four hits. The big blow was a two-out, two-run homer by Maroncelli. Tyler Dean had a leadoff double in that frame and was singled home by Mannex for the other run. Cape Cod cut it to 5-2 with a run in the top of the fourth as Jon Rizzo doubled and came around one out later on Wiseman's single to center. Dave Peterson nailed it down for Beaverton with a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth, after an error had put Braniff on first. Yagjian (homer) and Schilling each went 2-for-3 for the Cape, which had lost just one postseason game heading into the World Series. "Only one team will leave happy from here," Proto said of the original 10-team field which has been whittled down to six survivors for the final, single-elimination round, which starts today. "To be one of the top 10 teams in the country is a nice feeling." (Published: August 14, 2003) |
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the party Cape pounds out first win to stay alive By BOB BRADLEY STAFF WRITER CC Times Cape Cod scored five runs in the sixth inning last night and held on to beat Eagle Pass, Texas, 10-9 in a wild one at the Senior Babe Ruth World Series in Weimar, Texas. The victory bolsters Cape Cod's chances of advancing to the next round. The Cape stars overcame deficits of 4-1 and 8-5 for their first win of the tournament, and improved their record in round-robin play to 1-2. It was a must-win for the New England regional champions, whose chances of advancing would have been slim if they had they lost last night. "It was a pressure-cooker game," Cape Cod manager Dan Proto said afterward. "The bats finally came awake and we were pulling together as a team again. We all got back on the same page." Cape Cod will still need some help if it is to finish as one of the top three teams in the five-team American Division and advance to the elimination bracket. First, it will have to beat Pacific Northwest regional champion Beaverton, Ore. (1-2), this afternoon (2:30 p.m. EDT). Then, Eagle Pass (2-1), the South Texas state champion, must lose its game against Pacific Southwest titlist San Leandro, Calif. That game is at 6:30 EDT tonight. David Mendosa is expected to get the start for Cape Cod today, but Proto said he'll have his entire staff ready. Jeremy Schilling led the Cape stars' revitalized offense last night with three hits and five RBIs, including a three-run home run in a four-run fourth inning. Adam DiGiacomo also had three hits and two RBIs while Adam Laplante (two hits) and Mike Soule knocked in one run apiece. Tim Keefe earned the win pitching ª of an inning, allowing two hits and a run, and Marc Hindemith earned the save, striking out one in ª of an inning. Dan Leavenworth got the start for Cape Cod and allowed seven runs, four earned, in four innings. Omar Martinez took the loss for Eagle Pass, allowing three runs, two earned, in one inning of work. Omar Martinez led the Eagle Pass offense, which banged out 14 hits, with a pair of hits and three RBIs. Joe Villa had three hits and knocked in a run. The South Texas team protested a crucial call in the top of the seventh. Trailing 10-9 with a run already in, the potential tying score was ruled out at the plate on batter's interference following a botched bases-loaded squeeze play. "I don't care how it happened, as long as we came out with a win," Proto said. After Cape Cod took a 5-4 lead with its outburst in the fourth, Eagle Pass came right back with three runs in its half of the fifth to take a 7-5 lead, and added a single run in the top of the sixth for an 8-5 cushion. But Cape Cod went to work in the sixth. Tim Keefe started it with a walk and Jake Yagjian reached on an error. DiGiacomo followed with an RBI single, and Schilling raked a double to center for two more runs. A hit batsman, walk and an error plated another Cape Cod run, and Laplante finished the scoring in the inning with an RBI single. (Published: August 13, 2003) |
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Cod All-Stars hoping to bang out a win The Register, August 14, 2003 By Silene Gordon "We have to win the next game," said manager Dan Proto. "There is no bigger game than the next one." The Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth All-Stars were in a must-win situation Wednesday afternoon (after The Register's deadline). In order to advance to the elimination bracket in Weimar, Texas, the Cape squad had to defeat Northwest regional champion Beaverton, Ore. (1-2) Wednesday afternoon, then hope South Texas champion Eagle Pass (2-1) lost to Pacific Southwest champ San Leandro, Calif. Wednesday night. Should those two things happen, the Cape would be one of three teams in the five-team American Division bracket to advance. Jeremy Schilling paced the Cape to a come-from-behind 10-9 victory over Eagle Pass, Texas Tuesday night. Schilling had three hits, including a three-run homer and had five RBIs as the Cape rallied from 4-1 and 8-5 deficits to post its first win for a 1-2 record. The Cape had a five-run sixth inning to earn the victory. Tim Keefe walked, Jake Yagjian reached on an error, Adam DiGiacomo knocked in a run with a single and Schilling's double tied the game a 8. After a hit batter and a walk, Adam Laplante's single scored what was to be the winning run. The Cape lost 5-3 to San Leandro Saturday and 2-0 to Southwest Monday. They've traveled from places like Mobile, Ala., Beaverton, Ore., and Eagle Pass, Texas. From Hammond, Ind., and Iron Area, N.J. And also from Cape Cod. As competitors in the 2003 Babe Ruth World Series, the 10 best teams in the nation have gathered at the Weimar, Texas stadium to see which squad reigns supreme. Yet even though they hail from every corner of the country, these teams undoubtedly have much in common. Not only do they love the game, they also play it well, and they have all brought a rooting section with them. "The home team has been drawing 3,000 people," says Proto. "We have a great group of Cape supporters down here rooting for us. The stadium is beautiful, it's like Cotuit or Harwich." With an atmosphere that is virtually baseball anytime, all the time, the Cape squad is trying to take it all in while not losing sight of its goals. "We got wrapped up in the moment of opening ceremonies, but now we just have to play ball. We are proud that we are representing the region." Cape Cod made its foray into World Series play with a first-round game against the San Leandro, CA squad last Saturday. The Pacific Southwest representative, San Leandro held the local favorites to a meager four hits on the day. "We should have won the first game. They were beatable," says Proto, whose team has one game remaining in the round-robin play. "We didn't play our game. These are the best teams in the country here. They make the plays and some of the pitching has been very impressive." Through six innings, the game was tied at 3 until two fluke plays - an error and a balk - helped open the gates to two more runs. Proto cites the Mobile team as an example of a deeply talented team, with 15 of its 18-member roster playing at the collegiate level. The home team, he adds, is the defending World Series champions and bring with them a third baseman headed for Texas in the fall. Bright spots along the way have been Monday's pitching performance by John Farrell, who went six innings and fought off offensive attacks that could have created a wider differential in the loss. Marc Hindemith has also proven to be effective in relief. Offensively, the Cape bats have been stymied, with few exceptions before Tuesday. Schilling has eight RBIs in the series. The Cape Cod All-Stars are hoping they've saved the best for last. |
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stars drop to 0-2 By BOB BRADLEY STAFF WRITER CC Times The Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth All-Stars have suddenly been silenced. The New England champions lost last night at the Babe Ruth 16-18 World Series in Weimar, Texas, to Southwest regional champion Nederland, Texas, 2-0. Not only has the team gone south for the tournament, its offense has followed suit. The loss gives the Cape team an 0-2 record with two games remaining in pool play. The top three teams in each of the two five-team divisions following pool play will advance to the elimination bracket. Last night, the Cape stars were limited to just two hits by Nederland right-hander Clay Bucholz, who went the distance in earning the win, striking out 10 along the way. A two-run third inning, aided by an error and a wild pitch, was all Bucholz needed in a game pushed back nearly two hours because of a lengthy rain delay in the previous game at Weimar Veterans Memorial Park. Cape Cod has just six hits in its first two contests, managing only four in Saturday's 5-3 loss to Pacific Southwest champion San Leandro, Calif. The team also made three errors last night. The loss spoiled an otherwise solid performance by Cape Cod starting pitcher John Farrell, who gave up just six hits and struck out six in his six innings of work. He also pitched out of bases-loaded jams in the second and fifth innings. But it was the third inning that cost Cape Cod. The fateful frame started when Nederland's Justin Huff walked. Bucholz then reached on an error charged to Farrell, and both players moved up after a sacrifice. Huff scored on a wild pitch and Bucholz came across when Taylor Henkel stroked a single to left. Despite Bucholz' brilliance, Cape Cod had a chance to tie it in the seventh inning with runners on second and third and one out. Josh Porter was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Jon Rizzo cracked a one-out double, sending Porter to third. But Bucholz got Adam Laplante to pop out and struck out Mike Soule swinging to end the game. Jeremy Schilling had the Cape's other hit, a two-out single in the first inning. He was subsequently picked off first by Bucholz. Cape Cod now has some hard work ahead if it wants to make the next stage of the tournament. As it stands, the Cape is in fifth place in the American Division at 0-2. South Texas champion Eagle Pass (Cape Cod's opponent today at 6:30 p.m. EDT), is 2-0; San Leandro is 2-1; Beaverton, Ore. (Pacific Northwest) is 1-1; and Nederland is 1-2. Eagle Pass had an off-day yesterday, after beating Nederland on Saturday, 6-3, and knocking off Beaverton on Sunday, 4-3. Cape Cod will play its fourth and final game of pool play tomorrow against Beaverton at 2:30 p.m. (Published: August 12, 2003) |
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Ruth stars seek rebound By BOB BRADLEY STAFF WRITER CC Times They're deep in the heart of Texas, but not yet in deep trouble. The Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth All-Stars enter today's round-robin game of the World Series in Weimar, Texas, with an 0-1 record, after falling to Pacific Southwest regional champion San Leandro, Calif., 5-3 on Saturday. Following a day off yesterday, New England regional champion Cape Cod takes on Southwest regional titleist Mid County, Texas, out of Nederland, at 6:30 today at Strickland Field at Weimar Memorial Veterans Park. Nederland enters the game having dropped its first two contests - 6-3 to Eagle Pass, Texas, on Saturday, and 5-1 to San Leandro yesterday. Cape Cod sends right-hander John Farrell to the mound today to try to right what went wrong Saturday. "No question mark there," manager Dan Proto said of his choice of hurler for today. Proto knows his team can play better that it did against San Leandro, when the Californians scored twice in the sixth inning to snap a 3-3 tie. Cape Cod's offense was held to just four hits, including another clutch home run by Josh Porter that tied the game in the fourth. Adam DiGiacomo, Jeremy Schilling, and Jake Yagjian had the other Cape Cod hits. It wasn't that San Leandro pitcher Brett Brill was overpowering against the Cape stars. On the contrary, he struck out just one in seven innings. But he also didn't hurt himself with walks - he didn't walk any - and his team made one harmless error. "I think we saw better pitching against Western Mass.," Pro to said. "But we need to put a few hits together and not always leave it up to Josh (Porter). He comes through in the big situations, but we can't expect that every day." The Cape stars, who play in the five-team American Division, will have at least two games after today as part of the round-robin portion of the tournament. The team will play tomorrow against Eagle Pass, the Southern Texas state champion. On Wednesday, it plays a rematch against San Lendro. (Published: August 11, 2003) |
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squad loses opener New England champs resume play tomorrow vs. Mid-County, Texas. By BOB BRADLEY STAFF WRITER It wasn't the start the Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth League All-Stars had hoped for at the Babe Ruth World Series in Weimar, Texas, yesterday. San Leandro, Calif., representing the Pacific Southwest region, scored twice in the sixth inning to snap a 3-3 tie, handing the Cape stars a 5-3 defeat in the opening game of the series at Weimar Veterans Park, Strickland Field. Cape Cod, the New England Regional champion, plays again tomorrow in the round-robin portion of the tournament against the Southwest champion Mid-County, Texas, at 5:30 p.m. John Farrell will take the hill for Cape Cod. San Leandro right-handed pitcher Brett Brill held Cape Cod to just four hits in his complete-game effort. The Cape made one costly error and had a questionable balk call against them that led to the winning runs in the sixth. "He looked hittable, but I wasn't batting," Cape coach Dan Proto said of Brill. "The guys had a couple of hard-hit balls right at people, and they had some that found the gaps. But if we want to advance, we're going to have to play better than we did." Cape Cod is guaranteed to play four games in the round-robin portion, and Proto said his team needs to win at least two of the remaining three games to advance. Yesterday, with the score tied 3-3, Craig Alaniz led off the San Leandro sixth with a walk, and moved to third when Mike Holochuk reached and scooted to second when his fly ball eluded Phil Drew in right field. A balk call on Cape pitcher Marc Hindemith scored Alaniz with the go-ahead run, with Holochuk moving up 90 feet to third. Hindemith got the next two hitters, but John Dominguez doubled to make it 5-3. "We got another great game from Hindemith," Proto said of his pitcher, who took the loss in relief of starter Andy Caplice. "He came in and pitched out of a bases-loaded jam (in the fourth) and gave us a chance to win." Hindemith went four innings, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out two. Caplice went the first three innings, and came out after the first two hitters reached in the fourth inning, giving way to Hindemith. Caplice surrendered seven hits and allowed three earned runs. But the Cape Cod stars didn't go down without a fight. After giving up three runs in the third, Cape Cod rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth on a Jeremy Schilling RBI single and a Josh Porter two-run homer. Adam DiGiacomo started the inning with a single and went to second on a passed ball. David Albelo was hit by a pitch, and Schilling followed with his run-scoring single, but Albelo was cut down at third trying to advance. Porter followed with a blast to right to make it 3-3. "We just need to get enough guys going with the bats," Proto said. (Published: August 10, 2003) |
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Ruth all-stars head to Texas Cape Cod's New England champs hope to add the national championship. By ROB DUCA STAFF WRITER They flew out of Boston's Logan Airport yesterday morning, heading for Weimar, Texas, where the humidity will be thicker than the local chili, the main attraction is the library and, according to those in the know, the finest restaurant in town is attached to a Texaco station. Call it Weimar's version of Tex-Mex. "Fill up and fill up," Cape Cod coach Dan Proto joked. Located in South Central Texas, the tiny town of Weimar boasts a population of approximately 2,000 and sits equidistant between Houston and San Antonio. But it will be the center of the universe for the Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth All-Stars in the coming days as they compete in a field of 10 teams for a national World Series championship. Rest assured, focusing on baseball shouldn't be a problem at this venue. "I heard the closest Dunkin' Donuts is 70 miles away, so I'll have to get up early to get my coffee," Proto said. "But we're thrilled to be going there." Cape Cod opens at noon tomorrow EST and will play a minimum of four games. The Cape All-Stars advanced to the Series by winning the New England Regionals last week in Portsmouth, N.H., defeating Western Mass. 12-8 in a riveting 10-inning finale. Their first opponent is San Leandro, Cal., the Pacific Southwest representative. It's a team they know nothing about. But every finalist is in the same situation once they arrive at the World Series. Advance scouting reports don't exist at this level. "That kind of takes the pressure off," Proto said. "We can't change anything. We've won with pitching and with defense, and that will have to continue." Weimar is not only the Series host, but its defending champion. The area boasts a rich baseball tradition dating to 1895, while the World Series will be contested at 55-year-old Strickland Field. The tournament is split into two five-team divisions, with Cape Cod competing in the American Division alongside San Leandro, Beaverton, Ore., Mid-County, Texas, and Eagle Pass, Texas. The National Division is composed of Hammond, Ind., Missouri, New Jersey, Mobile, Ala., and Weimar. The championship game will be played Aug. 16. Cape Cod has lost only once since coming together as an all-star contingent in June, rolling through the state and New England tournament. It boasts a deep, solid pitching staff in right-handers Andy Caplice (Barnstable High, Keene State), John Farrell (Nantucket) and Dan Leavenworth (Nauset), along with an offense that has shown the ability to manufacture runs when needed. Catcher Adam Laplante (Harwich), first baseman Josh Porter (Middleboro), third baseman Jeremy Schilling (Barnstable), shortstop Jake Yagjian (Nauset) and outfielder Jon Rizzo (Barnstable) have all contributed clutch hits during their run to the Series. Laplante earned New England tournament MVP honors after hitting .647 with two home runs and 11 RBIs. But he wasn't the entire offense. Porter blasted a clutch homer against Western Mass. and has four round-trippers, 15 RBIs and a .424 average in tourney play. Schilling, whose three-run blast sent Cape Cod to the New Englands, is hitting .363, while Rizzo (.363 average) and Yagjian (two homers, 10 RBIs) have been instrumental in the team's success. Not surprisingly, their confidence is high. "Our mantra is 'Happy but not satisfied,' " Proto said. "We don't want to embarrass ourselves. We're going against kids who play baseball year-round. But it all goes back to team chemistry for us. We have many older kids. But mainly, we have 18 kids who believe they can win." Caplice gets the start in the opener. He's 3-0 in tourney play, including two wins in the New Englands, and features a moving fastball and a sharp breaking ball. But his greatest asset is his pinpoint control. He'll be entering his sophomore year at Keene State next month, and Proto said his overall experience is a major reason he's getting the ball over Farrell, who is considered the staff ace. "He's been in big games before," Proto said. Farrell, 3-1, will start the second game on Monday (6:30 p.m.) against Mid-County, Texas. Cape Cod also plays Eagle Pass, Texas, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, and Beaverton, Ore., at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Teams that finish third or higher in each division advance to the championship round. Proto sees no reason why Cape Cod can't be one of them. "Somebody's got to win it," he reasoned. "If we catch fire with our hitting and get solid pitching and defense, why not us?" (Published: August 8, 2003) |
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Teams Bid For National Titles Thursday, August 7, 2003 By Silene Gordon Senior Babe Ruth team World Series bound! Trot Nixon, Todd Walker, Jason Giambi and Bernie Williams. What do these four players have in common with the Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth team? All four of these Major Leaguers have come up the ranks of the Babe Ruth program. That's where the similarities stop for now, though. While the big leaguers can only dream about a World Series appearance, the Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth team is headed for Weimar, Texas, right now and is World Series bound. "I went through the range of emotions. I was up, down, all over the place," shares a pleased-as-punch Dan Proto, who, along with his coaching assistants Steve Ewing and Arty Balzotti, has guided the Cape Cod squad to this weekend's ultimate achievement. "It's taken us 18 guys to get where we want to get. Everyone is doing what he can, whether it's as a pinch runner or hitting a three-run homer. No one wants to see this end." The Cape team had recently been making Portsmouth, N.H., home, playing games over the course of two weeks to determine which team would represent New England in the at the Aug. 9 opener in Texas. The locals sealed their fate with a 10th-inning rally over their nemesis from Worcester and with the victory came the World Series berth, but they had to work for it. The only undefeated team in the tournament, the Cape Cod Seniors were one win away from Weimar when they stepped onto the field on Saturday. The Worcester All-Stars did their best to disrupt the Cape's rhythm, shutting them out 4-0 and forcing a Game Two. "If we lost we would be collecting uniforms right now instead of going to Texas," says Proto, a fact he shared with his players between games. "We came out flat in the first game and couldn't make any plays. We knew this was it and if we played the same game, we were done." Instead, the Cape team came out swinging and took the lead. Then they lost it. Then they tied. In the end, the Cape Cod Seniors used five pitchers before capturing the New England crown with a 12-8 victory. "We caught ourselves looking ahead in the first game. We weren't there yet and we had to refocus. When it became a pitching battle, we knew we could pull it out." With the New England crown in the bank, the Cape team is airborne, literally. The team and a host of its supporters are currently en route to Houston and eventually to its suburb of Weimar. "Just taking a team on a plane is an interesting dynamic," says Proto. "We have a lot of parents coming and everywhere the kids go, people are talking about this. People know about it and the kids are proud of themselves. You have kids making a huge commitment, scheduling work around this, coming over from the island. They should be proud of what they've done." "I want them to enjoy it but don't want them to say we've gotten here and that's it," the coach continues. "They're representing the entire region and there's a responsibility that goes along with that." The World Series competitors represent the top 10 teams out of the tens of thousands of Babe Ruth squads throughout the nation. Although the warmer climates such as California and Florida are known to be breeding grounds for ballplayers, Proto hopes the Cape team can change that perception. That would be a victory in itself, he says. "It's not easy to make it this far and I want them to know the severity of that. This has been a long process and I'd like to get our name out there, get New England on the board." When the team returns to the Cape next week, though, Proto is most hopeful that they'll come home with at least one achievement. "I'm hoping they have an experience that they'll talk about for the rest of their lives." |
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thinking man's player Catcher Adam Laplante gets it done with his bat and his brain By ROB DUCA STAFF WRITER Cape Cod Times It was a quick, measured decision in a pressure-packed situation at the New England Regionals that revealed more about Adam Laplante's contributions to the Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth All-Stars than even his white-hot hitting. Western Mass. had runners on second and third with one out in the seventh inning of a tie game, a berth in the World Series hanging in the balance. In the dugout, Cape Cod coach Dan Proto was rifling through his scorebook, searching for information on the next batter stepping into the box. And then he looked across the field at his catcher. "He was wiggling four fingers in the air (signaling for an intentional walk)," Proto said. "He already knew the guy could hit and we should put him on." The ensuing double play ended the threat, and Cape Cod went on to win in the 10th inning, with Laplante's infield single sparking a five-run uprising. But it was that cool demeanor under fire - when one run would have meant defeat - that signifies the true value of the Cape team's 19-year-old catcher. One player who won't crack when the Ruth All-Stars play in the World Series (beginning at noon Saturday in Weimar, Texas) is the unflappable Harwich High graduate. "He doesn't get rattled," Proto said. "He's our team leader. He's not going to go 5-for-5 with two home runs, but he'll do everything else right." Actually, sometimes he will go 5-for-5, or close to it. During the New Englands, Laplante hit .647 (11-for-17), with two home runs and 11 RBIs. He went 4-for-5, with two doubles and one RBI in the clinching game. It earned him the tournament MVP. Laplante was mired in a deep slump heading into the New Englands. But a "cheap home run" (his description) in the second game of the tournament signaled a turnaround, and he was nearly impossible to retire after that. "I just happened to get into a great groove," he said. "I felt comfortable at the plate and was seeing the ball real well. I got hot at the right time." Started analyzing games early Paying attention to the fundamentals isn't surprising to those who've been around Laplante for a few years. As a youngster, he studied games on television, quietly analyzing pitchers, hitters and their tendencies, occasionally tossing out insightful comments that amazed his parents. "You can learn so much from watching," he says. "You have to be a student of the game to really be successful, especially as a catcher." Having so much knowledge wasn't always helpful, however. Laplante's first organized baseball experience came in his town's Farm League, where players batted off a tee, everyone ran to first base regardless of whether they managed a base hit, and innings ended only after each player made a plate appearance. The everyone-be-happy rules drove the intense 6-year-old crazy. "I'm a competitor. I hate to lose," he said. "I was like, 'This isn't how you play! I've watched the game!' My mom got me moved up to Little League a year early." He's never stopped learning how to properly approach the game. Proto said Laplante saves him two or three trips to the mound each game, because before he can step out of the dugout to calm down a pitcher, his catcher is already halfway there. "He knows when to give a pitcher a pat on the back and when to kick him in the butt," Proto says. "He's like a pitching coach on the field." While Laplante is a vocal leader, his success was overshadowed by more high-profile teammates at Harwich High. The Rough Riders were led last spring by overpowering left-hander Cody Crowell (headed for Vanderbilt) and shortstop Jared Maguire (Boston College). During basketball season, the press went mainly to top scorer Adam Rose, even though Laplante provided a valuable inside presence. But it's no coincidence that Harwich faded over the second half of the hoop season, after Laplante was lost to a left collarbone injury (suffered while sledding) in January. He said the injury has healed completely. Laplante doesn't seem bothered by any lack of recognition. "Real baseball people know what you can do," he maintained. "(Jared and Cody) deserved everything they got. I got into the school I wanted. That's all that counts." Headed to Wheaton Laplante takes his baseball instincts to Wheaton College in the fall, where his savvy is bound to continue paying dividends. He didn't have to think long about that critical situation in the New Englands because he carefully studies every hitter, always looking for any edge. "I love catching," he says, "because you're influential in every play that happens." Laplante constantly monitors where batters set their feet in the box before deciding what pitch to call. He leaves nothing to chance. "He doesn't just automatically ask for a first-pitch fastball," Proto says. Explains Laplante, "I take calling pitches seriously. I study what goes on in their first at-bat, how they swing, how they react. It helps having a good baseball brain, because you can pick up things. Are they leaning over the plate? Leaning back? Little things." Those little things are what make him a special player. So special that Proto said he would take Laplante over Crowell and Maguire. So special that members of the Ruth staff rarely shake off a pitch. "They have such confidence in him," Proto said. "They figure if he's calling for the pitch, it must be the right one." And no one worries about Laplante tightening up in tense situations. That's simply not part of his makeup. He's traveled the country playing AAU ball, his Harwich team was a perennial Division 3 power, and he even once played a Little League tournament in Cooperstown, N.Y. No wonder he told a sweating teammate during the 10th inning of the New England final that he was having fun. "I don't get nervous," he said, "maybe because I've played in so many big games." He's got a few more on the schedule in the next week. The mid-August heat in Central Texas will be suffocating. Figure on Adam Laplante remaining cool, calm and collected. (Published: August 6, 2003) |
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England champs After losing the first game, Cape Cod takes the title with a thrilling, 10-inning clinching victory. By RUSS CHARPENTIER STAFF WRITER Cape Cod Times PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - Cape Cod's Senior Babe Ruth All-Stars did the Texas two-step last night, winning the New England championship and earning a berth in the Senior Babe Ruth World Series in Weimar, Texas. The Cape was forced to play a second game last night after falling to Western Mass. 4-0 in the opener. But the locals rallied in the nightcap for a wild, 12-8, 10-inning victory to earn the trip to the World Series. Harwich's Adam Laplante was named tournament MVP. He went 11-for-17 in the tournament and threw out a pair of would-be basestealers in the championship game. It will open play at 11 a.m. Aug. 9 against the champions from the Pacific Southwest. It is unlikely that can be any more dramatic than last night. "This feels amazing," said Cape coach Dan Proto. "I went through every emotion available, from sky high to who's going to pitch next?" The gutsy Cape squad, which could easily have lost the decisive game at many a turn, used some opportunistic offense and the clutch relief pitching of Nauset's Dan Leavenworth. The Cape finally won the final game in the 10th inning, after the teams played through a pair of scoreless extra frames. Leavenworth gave up just a meaningless 10th-inning run in his three innings of work. "The key was Dan Leavenworth," said Proto. "He got hammered by this team his first time out in the tournament. I looked in his eyes tonight and he said he was ready." Laplante began the rally by beating out an infield hit, took second on a wild pitch and was bunted to third by Leavenworth. Jake Yagjian lined a base hit to left to score Laplante for an 8-7 lead. A Jeremy Schilling sacrifice fly made it 9-7 and Josh Porter's three-run homer to left jumped the cushion to 12-7. This wild championship game went back and forth, with the Cape taking leads of 5-3 and 7-5 (in the seventh), but Western Mass. rallying each time to force the extra frames. The Cape broke a 5-5 tie in the top of the seventh. Jon Rizzo's line drive sacrifice fly to left with the bases loaded scored the go-ahead run. Laplante's ground single to the shortstop hole drove in another to make it 7-5. That lead wouldn't last the bottom of the seventh. Workhorse Andy Caplice, with two wins already in the tournament, tried to pitch the seventh but had control problems. He walked four in his one inning of relief and Western Mass. scored twice to create the 7-7 tie. The first run in the inning scored on a throwing error on a bunt. Caplice walked in the tying run. "I thought Caplice would come in and shut it down," said Proto. "He's been a workhorse all year. Expecting him to come back tonight was probably me being greedy." The Cape fought back from a 3-1 deficit with four runs in the fifth. Nauset's Yagjian lifted the spirits of the Cape in the top of the fifth, launching a one-out, two-run blast to left that scored Laplante (double) in front of him and knotted the game at 3-3. Later in the inning, Porter singled in a pair of runs, making it 5-3. Not nearly enough. Leads weren't lasting in this game. Homers by John Shliapa in the fifth and Jarrett Amant in the sixth, his second of the game, off Cape reliever Tim Keefe tied the game at 5. Cape second-game starter Dave Mendosa breezed through a 1-2-3 opening inning in the nightcap, but was rocked in the second on long solo homers to left by Kevin Renaud and Ament, the fifth and seventh hitters in the lineup. That wiped out an early 1-0 Cape lead and gave Western Mass. a 2-1 edge. It became 3-1 in the fourth. Mark Hindemith, who pitched three scoreless innings of relief in the opener, took over for Mendosa. But he ran into trouble, giving up a run before handing the ball over to Keefe, who fanned a pair to end the inning. Showing no ill effects from the opening loss, the Cape - visitors in the second game - got on the board in the top of the first. After the Western Mass. left fielder made a fine running catch on Adam DiGiacomo's drive down the left-field line, Dave Albelo singled to left. With two outs he stole second, and Jeremy Schilling hit a 1-2 pitch down the left-field line, scoring Albelo. Schilling was out trying to stretch the hit to a double, but the Cape had a 1-0 lead against Baillargean. The Cape threatened in the second when Jon Rizzo drew a leadoff walk and was bunted to second by Phil Drew. Laplante hit a towering pop to the mound which Baillargean caught and Mendosa couldn't help himself, striking out swinging. Western Mass. southpaw Brian Hughes forced the second game with a stellar opening effort. Hughes allowed only three hits, none after the second inning, struck out four and walked three. The Cape squandered a bases-loaded opportunity in the first and stranded two more in the second inning of the opener. In the first, ground singles by Jake Yagjian and Schilling and a walk to Joe Cruise put three runners on with two outs. But Hughes caught Rizzo looking on a fastball on the outside corner to end the threat. In the second inning of Game 1, a walk to John Farrell and a single by Albelo put two men on, but with two outs Yagjian bounced to third to end the threat. Farrell was the opposite of Hughes. The Nantucket hurler had trouble keeping his pitches down and paid the price. Western Mass. scored three times in the second and added a fourth against Farrell in the fourth. Kevin Renaud had two hits for Western Mass. and Tim Raymond, Ament and Matt Pepin drove in the runs |
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of the bunch By Mike O’Neil Porstmouth Herald 8-2-2003 PORTSMOUTH - According to manager Dan Proto, Jake Yagjian can hit pretty much anywhere in the Cape Cod lineup. But in the deciding game of the 2003 New England Regional Senior Babe Ruth Tournament, it was the No. 9 spot that did the trick for the Cape Cod shortstop. Yagjian collected two big hits, including a clutch single, as the Cape Cod stars sent nine men to the plate in the deciding 10th inning on their way to a 12-8 win over Worcester at Leary Field. It was the fifth New England championship for the Cape Cod All-Stars, who are off to Weimar, Texas, for the Senior Babe Ruth World Series starting on Aug. 9. "This is just unbelievable," said Proto. "In a game like this, you go through every emotion available. You go from being sky high to wondering who is going to pitch next." The Worcester All-Stars forced a second game Thursday with a 4-0 win over Cape Cod earlier in the night when lefty Brian Hughes spun a three-hit shutout. "He was something else for us," said Worcester coach Bob Doyon. "He gave up two hits in the first inning, he got 13 in a row at one point. It was just a stellar performance that got us to the second game." With the nightcap tied 7-7 in the top of the 10th, it was a big Yagjian single that started the five-run final frame. With one out and Adam Laplante on second, Yagjian ripped an 0-1 pitch to left, plating Laplante to give the Eastern Mass. champions a 8-7 lead. Earlier, a two-run Yagjian homer keyed a four-run fifth inning as the Cape All-Stars erased an early 3-1 deficit to take a 5-3 lead. "I’ll tell you what, I can put that kid anywhere and he’ll come through," said Proto. "He batted (second) in Game 1 tonight. He could easily be anywhere in this lineup, he’s that good a hitter." The floodgates opened after Yagjian’s RBI single as a Jeremy Schilling sacrifice fly to right and a Josh Porter three-run homer gave Cape Cod a 12-7 lead. The rally made a winner of Dan Leavonworth, who allowed one run in three innings of relief. Leavonworth had pretty much seen it all in the regionals. Tuesday night the right-hander lasted just 11 pitches, surrendering a single and a pair of home runs. "Dan was the key to it," said Proto. "He got hammered against this team on Tuesday. So it was great to see him put that behind him and bounce back the way he did." The way Worcester kept coming back all night long, the Cape Cod All-Stars almost had to plate five runs in the 10th to insure a win. After a Jon Rizzo sacrifice fly and a Laplante RBI single gave Cape Cod a 7-5 lead in the top of the seventh, the Western Mass. champions used four walks from Cape Cod closer Andy Caplice to tie the game in the bottom half of the inning. After Anthony Landini and Ryan Baillargeon led off with free passes, Kevin Chase dropped a bunt to move them up a base, but when third baseman Schilling’s throw sailed wide of first, Landini scampered home to make it a 7-6 game. After an intentional walk to John Shliapa loaded the bases, Tim Raymond drew the fourth walk of the inning to tie the game at 7-7. "(Caplice) has shut guys down all year long for us," said Proto. "He’s been a horse for us, so to expect that again and again, you get greedy." Worcester had a chance to win it, but Caplice got Jarrett Ament to hit into a double play to send the game into extra innings. "I’ve been saying all along, our defense is key," said Proto. "Adam (DiGiacomo) and Jake (Yagjian) up the middle are the two big parts of that, and you saw it tonight." Ament was the guy Worcester wanted at the plate in the seventh. Ament and Kevin Renaud blasted second-inning home runs to give Worcester a 2-1 lead. Later in the sixth, the Worcester third baseman connected off Tim Keefe to tie the game at 5-5. |
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plays for N.E. Ruth title CAPE COD TIMES PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - Taking care of business: That's what the Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth 16-19 year-old All-Stars are doing. The Cape team moved into a dominant position in the New England Regionals Tuesday night with a come-from-behind, 10-7 win over Western Mass. Cape Cod, the Eastern Mass. champs - and at 3-0 the only undefeated club remaining - now go into today's finals against Western Mass. at 5 p.m. A win would give Cape Cod the New England title and a trip to the national World Series in Wiemar, Texas, beginning Aug. 9. Western Mass. edged Rhode Island 3-2 yesterday in eight innings. If the Cape team loses the first game tonight, a second contest between the two will follow to determine the champion. While it's been a team effort throughout the playoffs for the locals, the player leading the charge is clearly Adam Laplante of Harwich. The catcher has gone 7-for-9 (.778 average) in the New Englands, with two home runs and nine RBIs. He's also a solid performer behind the plate. John Farrell of Nantucket is slated to start today's first game. The right-hander was the winner in Saturday's tournament-opening 4-3 victory over Greenwich, Conn. 16-YEAR-OLDS
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Cape 16-19's closing in on NE title Adam Laplante (five RBIs) leads the comeback as the undefeated Cape Cod squad knocks off Western Mass. CAPE COD TIMES PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - Demonstrating that early deficits are no problem, the Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth 16-19-year-old All-Stars came roaring back from a 4-0 hole behind the continued heroics of Adam LaPlante. The result: a 10-7 win over Western Mass., putting the Cape team within a win of capturing the New England championship and advancing to the Senior Babe Ruth World Series. Cape Cod, the tourney's only unbeaten club at 3-0, has today off, then will face the winner of Western Mass. and Rhode Island in the finals at 5 p.m. tomorrow. If the Cape team loses that game, a second game will follow to determine the champion. LaPlante, a catcher who is now 7-for-9 in the tournament with two homers and nine RBIs, went 3-for-3 with a homer and five RBIs last night. The big blow was a two-out, three-run blast by LaPlante in the bottom of the sixth, snapping a 7-7 tie and capping a five-run inning. "This team continues to amaze me with the way they bounce back," said head coach Dan Proto. When Dan Leavenworth struggled in the top of the first, Proto turned to Dan Caplice, who came through with the win for the second straight game. Caplice, a Barnstable High graduate now at Keene State, allowed eight hits and four runs over six innings, striking out five and walking just one. Trailing 4-0, Cape Cod got back into it with three in the bottom of the second. LaPlante and Adam DiGiacomo delivered RBI singles in that rally. After Western Mass. went on tp 7-3 with three runs in the top of the fifth, Cape Cod bounced right back with two in the bottom of the frame, scoring one run on an error and another on a LaPlante single. Cape Cod put together just two hits for its five runs in the fifth, adding two hit batters and a walk in the mix. Jon Rizzo (2-for-2) worked hard for a key walk before LaPlante drilled his three-run shot to center. "Adam has really carried this team through the tourney," said Proto. "It's like having another coach on the field at all times." The tournament champion will go on to the World Series in Weimar, Texas, beginning Aug. 9. (Published:
July 30, 2003) |
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Senior Ruth wins CAPE COD TIMES PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - Andy Caplice was unhittable last night over five strong innings and the Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth All-Stars stayed in the winners' bracket of the New England Championships with a 10-2 win over Vermont. The Cape plays again tomorrow night at 8 against the winner of last night's late game between Worcester and Warwick, R.I. Barnstable's Caplice needed only 43 pitches to get through his five hitless innings, striking out three and not walking a batter. Jared Gresh gave up a pair of runs in two-thirds of an inning, and Dave Mendosa went the final 1¤ innings to finish up. Adam Laplante swung the big bat for Cape Cod. The Harwich catcher went 4-for-4 with four RBIs, including a two-run homer in the second inning. Josh Porter hit a solo blast earlier in the inning to help the Cape build a 4-0 lead. Phil Drew, filling in for injured Dave Albelo, who turned an ankle Saturday night, went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Joe Cruise was also 3-for-4 and scored two runs. Cape Cod will throw Lower Cape's Dan Leavenworth tomorrow night. Should the Cape win, it would advance to Thursday's finals. Cape
16s 13, Vermont 0 |
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Cape wins Senior Ruth opener CAPE COD TIMES PORTSMOUTH, N.H. - The Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth All-Stars won their opening game of the New England regional tournament yesterday, scoring the tiebreaking run in the sixth inning for a 4-3 victory over Greenwich, Conn. The squad of 16- to 19-year-old stars will play Vermont in the winner's bracket today at 5. Vermont defeated Maine yesterday, 7-4. With the score knotted at 3-3, Cape Cod's Jon Rizzo led the bottom of the sixth with a walk and was sacrificed to second by Adam Laplante. Marc Hindemith singled to send Rizzo to third, and Rizzo came in with the go-ahead run when Adam DiGiacomo reached on an error by the Greenwich third baseman. Reliever Tim Keefe shut the door in the top of the seventh on seven pitches for the Cape, striking out two for the save. His work helped make a winner of starter John Farrell, who went the first six innings, striking out six. The Cape stars took took a 3-0 lead in the first when Middleboro's Josh Porter smacked a three-run homer. Greenwich fought back to tie it with a run in the third and two in the fifth. Right-hander Andy Caplice will start for the Cape against Vermont this afternoon. (Published: July 27, 2003) |
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All-Star teams begin New Englands today CAPE COD TIMES The Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth 16-19 year-old All-Stars and their 16-year-old counterparts will both be competing in the New England Championships this weekend, beginning today. The 16-19 year-olds will open against Connecticut this morning at 11 at Portsmouth, N.H. A victory would move the Cape team, which represents Eastern Mass., to a contest at 5 p.m. Sunday, against the winner of Vermont and Maine. A loss in the opener would give Cape Cod an 11 a.m. game Sunday, against the Vermont-Maine loser. The 16-year-olds will face the host Stamford, Conn., team in today's opener at 8 p.m. The tournaments continue until Thursday. (Published: July 26, 2003) |
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Babe Ruth all-stars vie for Regional crown Thursday, July 24, 2003 The Register By Silene Gordon Dan Proto was faced with a tough challenge when gathering his players for this summer's Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth 16-19 all-stars. With only 18 slots and twice as many players trying out, the coach was pressed to make the cuts necessary to field the best Cape team. "It was a tough team to pick," says Proto, who is joined in the dugout by assistant coaches Arty Balzotti and Steve Ewing. "There was more talent in the league than ever before." Proto was able to narrow the field, however, and the result has been a Cape team that has won a second straight state title. This weekend, the team will compete in the New England competition in Portsmouth, N.H. In addition, the Cape's 16 year-old Babe Ruth all-stars will be playing for the Regional crown in Stamford, Conn. "We posted the team and that Saturday morning we went to play at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket," shares Proto. Playing on the Pawtucket Red Sox home turf was a great exercise in team building, says the coach, with every player getting an opportunity to play on the big league grass. "It helps to have 10 guys returning from last year on the team. They keep everyone pretty grounded. They're extremely loose." With players hailing from various points on the Cape and Nantucket plus Middleboro, bringing everyone together has been a literal team-building event. "This team really likes each other and it's a lot of fun to see how they all come together. You have guys coming from Nantucket and other players are putting them up so they don't have to incur the cost of coming over. They're really working together." The Cape team made quick work of the Maplewood team before sweeping Middlesex South in a doubleheader last Saturday. Now with the Massachusetts' title in hand, the competition will continue to deepen with each contest. "At this point, it's always a question of how deep your team is. This year, our pitching is deeper than it was last year and that's made a big difference," Proto says. John Farrell of Nantucket and Any Caplice of Barnstable are the team's go-to guys on the mound, with the rotation further enhanced by David Mendosa, Dan Leavonworth and Mike Wiseman, plus the services of Marc Hindemith, Jared Gresh and Tim Keefe. Offensively, Barnstable's Jeremy Schilling has been making big contributions, while Josh Porter of Middleboro has been a big weapon at the plate and in the field. "There is so much talent on this team," says Proto, "We told them that the Eastern Mass. state title was expected. We absolutely expected to win that. Now they have a great shot at Regionals." Players such as David Albelo, Joe Cruise, Adam DiGiacomo and Adam LaPlante will be critical to the success of this weekend, as will Phil Drew, Jon Rizzo, Mike Soule and Jake Yagjian. The team will travel to Portsmouth on Friday to prepare for a Saturday game with the Greenwich, Conn. all-stars. More games will follow on Sunday and Monday with the survivors heading into another weekend of play Aug. 1 to decide who will represent the region at the national competition. The Senior Babe Ruth tournament culminates with the World Series on Aug. 9 in Weimer, Texas, a place Proto would like nothing more than to visit. "There is so much talent here that nothing would surprise me," says the coach. "They've made a big commitment to this. Last year we won the state and finished third in regionals. The kids remember that and talk about it. They were successful last year, but they'd like to be even more successful this year." |
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All-Stars advance in Sr. Babe Ruth tourney CAPE COD TIMES 6/20/03 BOSTON - Jeremy Schilling highlighted the Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth 16- to 18-year-old All-Star team's first game win with a three-run homer, and the local club went on to sweep Middlesex South yesterday for the Eastern Mass. Championship. Schilling's home run, along with an RBI double by Joe Cruise, helped Cape Cod score all seven runs in the fifth inning of the first game. They won that game 7-1, with John Farrell earning the victory, allowing five hits and striking out seven in seven innings. Run-scoring singles by Josh Porter, Jon Rizzo and Adam Laplante got Cape Cod going with a 3-0 lead in the first inning of the second game. They won that game 10-3. Dan Leavenworth allowed two runs through six innings to earn the win. Cape Cod heads to Portsmouth, N.H., on Friday for the New England Regionals. Cape Cod All-Stars split |
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Sr. Ruth stars gain EMass finals CAPE COD TIMES 6/14/03 FALL RIVER - Cape Cod's Senior Babe Ruth 16-18 year-old All-Stars clinched the Eastern Mass. South championship yesterday with a 4-1 win over District 6 (Taunton) at Maplewood Park. The Cape team, which won all three games over the weekend, now moves on to face Middlesex North in the Eastern Mass. finals next weekend at Kings Field in South Boston. The first game of that best-of-three series is at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Righty Dan Leavenworth of Lower Cape went the first six innings for the win, allowing three hits and one run. He struck out four and walked two. Tim Keefe got the save with a perfect seventh inning. Cape Cod built up a 4-0 lead with two runs in the first, and one each in the third and fifth. Adam DiGiacomo got the first inning going with a single and Dave Albelo followed with a double. Middleboro's Josh Porter (2-for-3) got the first run home with a single, and the second scored on a passed ball. Porter hit a mammoth solo home run to left in the third inning, and Jeremy Schilling doubled home the final Cape run in the fifth. Middleboro's only run came in the sixth. The winner of next weekend's Eastern Mass. finals will advance to the New England Regional in Portsmouth, N.H., beginning Friday, July 25. The survivor of that eight-team, double-elimination tourney will go on to the national finals in Texas Aug. 9-15. Senior Ruth 16's 5 Maplewood 0 FALL RIVER - The Senior Babe Ruth 16-year-olds won the Eastern Massachusetts South Tournament yesterday, beating host Maplewood, 5-0, for a three-game weekend sweep. Pat Tobin pitched the complete game, striking out five. At the plate, Ryan Soares and Tom Dacey each went 2-for-3 while Tobin added a double. The team gave up no runs in its three games, turned an impressive 10 double plays, scored 26 runs and pitched three complete games. Cape Cod now moves on to the Eastern Mass. finals for a double-header against the North champion at 10 a.m. Saturday at Kings Field in South Boston. If a third game is needed, it will be played Sunday. (Published: July 14, 2003) |
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Sr. Ruth Stars sweep first 2 games CAPE COD TIMES 7/13/03 FALL RIVER - Cape Cod's Senior Babe Ruth All-Star team moved to within one win of advancing to the Eastern Mass. finals with a pair of victories in yesterday's opening round at Maplewood Park. Cape Cod beat the host Maplewood team of Fall River 4-1 in the opener, then came back and routed District 6 (Taunton region) 7-0 in the nightcap, getting complete games from its starters in both contests. Andy Caplice (Barnstable and Keene State) went the distance in the opener, striking out eight, walking one and allowing seven hits. The Cape got three runs in the first inning, highlighted by Jeremy Schilling's two-run homer and a Joe Cruise double. Jon Rizzo also had an RBI single. The other Cape run came in the third as Schilling singled, stole second and came home on a double by Josh Porter. Nantucket's John Farrell had a complete game in the nightcap, allowing three hits, striking out six and walking no batters. Despite the final score, this was a 1-0 game until the seventh, when Cape Cod erupted for six runs on five hits. The big blow was a three-run homer to left by Lower Cape's Jake Yagjian. Yagjian was 3-for-6 for the day and Schilling 3-for-7. Cape Cod will go with Lower Cape's Dan Levenworth in today's noon game vs. Maplewood or District 6. If Cape Cod loses that contest, another game will follow to see which team advances to the two-team North-South finals at Kings Field in South Boston on Saturday. Losses from this weekend will carry over to next weekend. Cape 16-year-olds cruise PLYMOUTH - Cape Cod's Senior Babe Ruth 16-year-old All-Star squad won both of its games in Eastern Mass. South double-elimination tournament action at Siever Field yesterday, beating the Maplewood All-Stars 3-0 before turning in a 14-0 triumph over South Shore. The Cape team returns to Siever Field today at 2 to play the winner of yesterday's Maplewood-South Shore game. Matt Costello struck out 11 batters en route to a complete-game shutout in the opener. Tom Dacey had two runs and an RBI single in that game. The mercy rule ended the second game after five innings. Cape Cod had four home runs in that game, and John Clark of Falmouth picked up the win. Ryan Soares went 3-for-3 with a home run, a double and a single, with four RBIs and three runs. (Published: July 13, 2003) |
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Babe Ruth names all-stars; Proto to coach CAPE COD TIMES 7/4/03 The Cape Cod Senior Babe Ruth league announced the roster for the 16- 19-year-old All-Star team. The team will try to improve on its 2002 state championship and third place finish in the New England Regional tournament, with an eye on the World Series in Weimar, Texas, in August. Ten players return from last year for another run. Manager Dan Proto will be assisted by Arty Balzotti and Steve Ewing. Pitching will be plentiful and the offense should be explosive. Pitchers include Dan Leavonworth (Lower Cape), Andy Caplice, Jared Gresh and Mike Wiseman (Barnstable), John Farrell (Nantucket), Tim Keefe & Dave Mendosa (Y-D), Phil Drew (Upper Cape) and Marc Hindemith (Middleboro). Infielders are Adam DiGiacomo and Jeremy Schilling (Barnstable), Josh Porter (Middleboro) and Jake Yagjian (Lower Cape). The outfield will be patrolled by Jon Rizzo and Joe Cruise (Barnstable), Mike Soule (Nantucket) and David Albelo (Y-D). Leading the team behind the plate will be Adam Laplante (Lower Cape) with Cruise, Soule, Drew and Wiseman all capable of giving LaPlante some time off. The team begins the Eastern Mass. tournament July 11 at Fall River's Maplewood Park. The team will play a scrimmage game tomorrow at McCoy Stadium, home of the Pawtucket Red Sox. Sunday night, the Cape stars host the RBI team from Rhode Island for a twinight doubleheader beginning at 5:30 p.m. (Published: July 4, 2003) |
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