Cape League: Firebirds fly past Hawks, but not without a fight

ORLEANS, Massachusetts (Saturday, July 17, 2010) – Despite a rocky start out of the gate, the Hyannis Harbor Hawks would not go down without a fight as the Orleans Firebirds hung on for a 7-5 win at Eldredge Park on Saturday.

With the win, the Firebirds leap-frog over the Chatham Anglers into the final Eastern Division playoff spot at 13-16-0. Hyannis and Falmouth are tied for last in the West at 12-17-0.

Orleans jumped on the scoreboard right from the top when second baseman Kolten Wong (Hawaii), who hit a leadoff double, scored on a double play ball by first baseman Jayce Boyd (Florida State). The 6-4-3 twin killing cut down left fielder Kevin Muno (San Diego) who laid down a bunt single to reach first.

Hyannis starter Trent Howard (Central Michigan) struggled in the second inning. After third baseman Riccio Torrez (Arizona State) grounded out, Howard walked the next two batters and catcher Matt Koch (Loyola Marymount) delivered with a three-run home run to deep left-center field.

The ball landed over a second fence to protect cars parked near the playground area. It was not needed in this case as Koch hit this ball way out of the park for his first dinger of the summer. Koch is an experienced home run hitter as he a solid .273 with 15 home runs for the Lions during his college season.

While Howard was struggling, Firebird starter Martin Viramontes (Loyola Marymount) was dealing. He was superb over seven innings to improve to 2-1 on the summer. He allowed just three hits, an unearned run and a walk.

After the game, Orelans manager Kelly Nicholson put it short and simple: It was the “best I’ve seen him throw in a long time…maybe ever.” This was by far his longest outing of the season as he had not gone more than five innings in any of his previous three starts.

Center fielder Marc Micowski (Georgia State) got the Harbor Hawks on the board in the fourth inning when first baseman Cam Seitzer (Oklahoma) scored on an infield grounder to second base to record the second out. Seitzer reached on a throwing error by Viramontes who threw the ball away from his knees with one out in the inning.  

Boyd got credit for driving in a run in the fifth inning when he doubled to left-center field to score Muno to give the Firebirds a 5-1 lead with two outs.

The teams traded a pair of runs in the eighth inning. Left fielder Johnny Ruettiger (Arizona State) hit a two-run single to left field to bring Hyannis within two runs. Then in the bottom of the frame, Boyd scored on a squeeze bunt by center fielder Will Piwnica-Worms (Duke). Torrez, who hit a double, scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by shortstop Shon Roe (Loyola Marymount).

Hyannis made it interesting with two runs in the ninth. Third baseman Casey McElroy (Auburn) scored on a force out at third base that cut down Micowski. Shortstop Zach Osbourne (Tennessee) was able to reach first on the play, while the run crossed home.

Substitution Jason Nappi (Harding) hit a bunt single and scored the second run on a sacrifice bunt by defensive replacement Hector Crespo (Appalachian State).

The Firebirds have now won three straight and four of their last five at home. Riccio Torrez spoke of their recent successes after the game and had positive things to say about the recent performance. “I’m seein’ the ball better,” said the Arizona State Sun Devil. “Everyone’s just doing their jobs and gettin’ better pitches to hit.”

After Viramontes exited, Nolan Belcher (South Carolina) was unable to record an out as he allowed two runs on no hits. Mansfield native John Brebbia (Elon) allowed two hits and a run over one inning, while closer Mitchell Lambson (Arizona State) earned his first save, despite allowing his first run of the season.

Howard fell to 1-4 on the summer as he allowed six hits and five runs over five innings, while walking two and fanning three. Kevin Brandt (East Carolina) threw three innings and allowed three hits and a pair of earned runs.

Orleans travels to Falmouth on Sunday, while Hyannis hosts Bourne.

KCT Baseball Game Preview: Cape Cod Baseball League

This is the big one! Today, we embark on our fifth annual Cape Cod Baseball League visit. We hope to stop at four games this week and report back to you on the best of the best in college baseball from all over the country.

If the weather cooperates, we will be at the Stony Brook Elementary School in Brewster where the East-leading Whitecaps host their Route 124 rivals Harwich Mariners. Brewster is 18-8 and in first place in the East, while Harwich is 13-13 and in third. Both teams have won seven of their last ten games. Red Sox draft pick Anthony Ranaudo (LSU) is set to take the ball for the Whitecaps at 2-0, while Harwich’s starter TBA.

On Thursday night, the Y-D Red Sox travel to Veterans Field to take on the Chatham Anglers in another East Division showdown. The Red Sox sit in second at 16-10, while Chatham is 12-12-1 and in fourth. Michael Goodnight (Houston) is scheduled to toe the rubber for Y-D, while Logan Verrett (Baylor) brings in a perfect 1-0 mark for Chatham.

Harwich travels to Cotuit for a Friday matchup against the Kettleers at picturesque Lowell Park. Cotuit stands at 11-12-2 in the West, which is third place. Pierce Johnson (Missouri State) is the probable starter for the Mariners at 2-0, while Brady Rogers (Arizona State) is 1-0 for the Kettleers.

Our final game will be at Eldredge Park in Orleans on Saturday night when the Firebirds host the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. Both teams are looking for a mid-season push in their respective divisions as they sit at 11-15. The Firebirds are in last in the East and the Hawks are fourth in the West. Martin Viramontes (Loyola Marymount) is the scheduled starter for Orleans, while Hyannis has not yet announced theirs.

Get a quick lodown of everything Cape League with this audio podcast.

No-Hit Night

* In his Advanced-A debut, Frederick (Orioles) lefthander Nathan Moreau tossed the first nine-inning individual no-hitter in the Carolina League since 2002, as the Keys shutout Salem (Red Sox), 7-0, on Wednesday night at Lewis-Gale Field. Moreau did not walk anyone and struck out six, including Alex Hassan to end the game.

* Yarmouth-Dennis righthander Jordan Pries (Stanford) tossed a no-hitter tonight as the Red Sox topped the host Orleans Firebirds, 2-0, at Eldredge Park. Pries struck out four and allowed three walks, while he had a perfect game going through six innings.

Cape League: From Riverhawks to Firebirds; D-II products Kneeland and Leathersich make Cape Ann proud

The Cape Cod Baseball League is a dream come true for baseball players and fans alike. The CCBL showcases the nation’s elite talent, but New England is usually under-represented in each summer’s crop of players. In a weekly series, KCT Baseball will profile local stars that will be chasing their Major League dreams on the diamonds of Southeastern Massachusetts this summer. This is our first installment.

Being New England products, Cam Kneeland and Jack Leathersich are not among the first gasp of players recruited in the Cape Cod Baseball League, but being Division II stars at UMASS-Lowell puts them even further down on the list. The two Riverhawk sophomores are looking to change those opinions and put themselves on the minds of MLB scouts as members of the Orleans Firebirds.

Kneeland

Kneeland, an infielder and Rowley native, was the Riverhawks leader in team batting this season with a .313 average in 46 games as the regular third baseman, after a freshman season in which he appeared in just ten games. His stats consistently ranked among the top 20 leaders in the Northeast-10 Conference during the spring, including the league’s third-best average with two outs at .362 as well as third-best RBI per game total at 0.93.

He was a two-year standout at Triton Regional High School, where he earned Cape Ann League MVP honors in 2008, as well as CAL All-Star as a junior and senior. As a senior, he hit a scorching .520 with 25 RBI and posted a 4-2 record as a pitcher.

On the Cape, he is struggling early in the season as he has collected just one hit in 12 at bats, while scoring two runs. His on base percentage of .313 is among the team’s best at sixth.

Leathersich

Leathersich is a crafty lefty from Beverly who is a key contributor to Ken Harring’s weekend rotation. During the spring, he was 3-2 over 12 games and nine starts with a 4.26 ERA, while he did not allow a run during the 2009 fall season. He has a good breaking ball and has the capability to throw a fastball that tops out at 90 mph. Over 57 innings this year, he surrendered just 27 earned runs and three home runs.

He was named the NE-10 Rookie Pitcher of the Year, as well as a NE-10 All-Star First Team and All-Rookie selection to earn him a slot on  the New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association All-Star Team as a freshman in 2009.

At Beverly High School, he earned Northeast Conference all-star honors as a senior, as well as all-star status from The Salem Evening News and The Daily Item of Lynn. He set school records for strikeouts and wins in a career and was named the Panthers’ team MVP.

He has been a large contribution to the Firebird bullpen this summer as he has compiled a 1.13 ERA in eight innings over four relief appearances and allowed just five hits and an earned run.

The UMASS-Lowell boys are making Cape Ann proud as new members of the Orleans Firebirds.

**Photos from GoRiverhawks.com.