East defeats West in 2007 CCBL All-Star Game

The East defeated the West by a score of 3-2 in the 45th annual Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game which took place in Wareham this year. The East team picked up all three runs in an exciting fourth inning. Yonder Alonso (Miami, FL) got a single with one out in the inning off of Christian Friedrich (Eastern Kentucky). He was driven in on a ringing triple by Gordon Beckham (Georgia) to get the East squad on the board. Beckham would then score on a wild pitch to put the East up 2-0 but the East was not finished in the fourth as Dennis Raben (Miami, FL) homered to finish off the scoring in the top of the inning. The West would respond in the bottom of the fourth with Matt Hague (Washington) scoring on a fielder's choice. James Darnell (South Carolina) would homer later in the game but it was too late as the East was able to squeak out a 3-2 victory.

Dennis Raben was named the MVP for the East squad for hitting that homer and Aaron Crow (Missouri) of the West squad was named that team MVP for striking out all three batters in the first inning.

Remember that the Game will be shown on Monday, July 30th on NESN if you want to watch the premier college baseball players.

CCBL Recap
Box Score
CodBall Recap

Team USA hammers Holland 14-0

FROM PRESS RELEASE

DURHAM, NC— Tyson Ross (3-0, California) took a no-hitter into the sixth, striking out eight over seven innings in leading Team USA (19-7) to a 14-0 victory over the Netherlands in the first of a three-game, two-day series. Ross allowed just two hits while walking none, in his first appearance since the Gold Medal Game eight days ago.

Brett Wallace (Arizona State) drove in five with a three-run home run and a two-run double, while Ryan Flaherty (Vanderbilt) went 3-for-5 with four RBIs a day after turning 21 years old. Roger Kieschnick (Texas Tech) went 3-for-4, as the trio all hit home runs.

Flaherty, Kieschnick and Jordan Danks (Texas) all hit home runs as part of an eight-run eighth inning.

Ross was perfect through the first 14 batters, before an error by second baseman Ryan Flaherty allowed the first Dutch base runner to reach base in the fifth. Ross finished off the inning by striking out the side. Ross’ no-hit bid was broken up an inning later, by Danny Rombley, with a one-out base hit to center field.

Five of the Americans first six runs came with two outs to give them a 6-0 lead after three.

The Americans tallied back-to-back, two-out RBI singles from Logan Forsythe (Arkansas) and Kieschnick to take a 2-0 lead in the first. Wallace’s two-out, two-run single in the second then made it 4-0.

A Kieshnick homer in the third gave the Americans a 5-0 lead in the third, before a two-out, RBI double from Josh Romanski (San Diego) made it 6-0. Dutch righthander Rob Cordemans gave up six runs on seven hits over the first two and two-third innings.

Wallace’s homer in the eighth made it 9-0, after reliever Diegomar Markwell pitched four and one-third scoreless innings. Wallace’s blast was one of three homers and eight runs in the inning, as Flaherty added a three-run shot and Danks followed with a solo shot.

TEAM NOTES
It was second baseman Ryan Flaherty’s 21st birthday last night... shortstop Danny Espinosa made a nice play off the glove of Ross in the first inning to rob Dirk van’t Klooster of a base hit... these same two teams will play in Holland in Rotterdam starting next week at the World Port Tournament... the four home runs was a summer-high... high school senior Tyler Stovall, a Team USA junior team invitee, pitched the ninth inning.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The nine-game American trip will continue with the Netherlands on Sunday in Cary (morning game at 11 a.m.), and Durham (afternoon game at 5 p.m.), before closing out with and Russia on Monday (one night game) in Cary, NC at 7 p.m... the team closes out their schedule at the World Port Tournament in the Netherlands starting on August 2.

CSTV checks in on Cape Cod League

Eric Sorensen of CSTV recently made a trip down to the Cape Cod Baseball League and filed a report on the league. The article is very good in terms of getting looks at a bunch of players including Wake Forest's Allan Dykstra. The one problem with the article is that Sorensen did very little research for some of the background information on the league. He states that all the games he attended (only 3) that admission was never charged and he was not sure if any of the other teams in the league charge for games. He only needed to go over to the Cape Cod Baseball League's website and it is clearly stated that no admission is charged for games. Sorensen also takes the chance to complain about the umpiring in the league saying that they must be high school or small college umpires. Actually, The umpires are members of the CBUAO which just started up this past college season and sent many umpires to NCAA Regionals and World Series at different levels. They also provide most assignments in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. They have a full website available here.

Eric Sorenson Article

Doug Kroll who also works with CSTV checks in with an article previewing the Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game which will take place tonight at 6 pm (weather permitting). He breaks down the All-Star game by each school and their representation in the league.

Doug Kroll Article

As always for the best Cape Cod League coverage head over to CodBall and for the best coverage of prospects head to Cape Prospects.

Final Game in China Series Cancelled

Team USA jumped out to a 6-0 lead against China after two innings but the game would be called in the fourth inning as rain started to fall. The game will not be made up and Team USA will play the Netherlands on Saturday and a doubleheader on Sunday.

Team USA Release

Team USA adds four players

Team USA announced today that UC-Irvine pitcher Scott Gorgen, NC State pitcher Eric Surkamp, UNC-Wilmington pitcher Seth Frankoff, and Tyler Stovall from Hokes Bluff (HS) have joined the team starting on Friday when the team completes their series against China. They replace Brian Matusz, Jacob Thompson, and Lance Lynn who have all left the team to rest their arms until the next college season.

UC-Irvine Release
NC State Release
UNC-Wilmington Release

Team USA wins 16-0 over China

Team USA won 16-0 over China on Thursday evening behind seven strong innings from starter Ryan Berry who only gave up four hits and walked no batters. Team USA was led on offense by Tommy Medica who went 3-5 with three RBI. Pedro Alvarez, Roger Kieschnick, and Jordy Mercer each added a home run.

Team USA Recap

Daly throws No-Hitter

Matt Daly of Hawaii threw a no-hitter on Wednesday in a 4-1 victory for the Hyannis Mets over the Wareham Gatemen. Daly gave up four walks and his team made one error to allow the Gatemen to score a run. He had been struggling throughout the summer accumlating a 0-4 record with a 5.46 ERA entering the game. The victory gave him his first win of the season and lowered his ERA to 4.14.

South Coast Today
Cape Cod Times

China drops Team USA 2-1

PRESS RELEASE
BIRMINGHAM, AL— China’s Kun Chen, Youhua Guo and Quansheng Zhao out dueled Team USA’s Lance Lynn (2-1) and Jordy Mercer as the Chinese (1-2) won the third game of the five-game series over the Americans (17-7), 2-1, on Wednesday evening. Team USA had won the first two games of the series.

Chen went the first six and two-thirds, giving up one run on seven hits, before yielding to Guo. Guo went an inning and one-third before yielding to Zhao in the ninth, who posted the save, despite putting the tying run on second base.

Brett Wallace (Arizona State) and Danny Espinosa (Long Beach State) each had three of the Americans nine hits, who rested starting outfielders Jordan Danks (Texas) and Logan Forsythe (Arkansas) to begin the night.

Espinosa’s bunt base hit in the ninth sent the winning run to the plate against Zhao with one out. Espinosa was then balked to second. Zhao though got a flyout and strikeout to end the game.

An RBI single followed by a groundout gave China a 2-1 lead in the second, the second time in two nights the Chinese led early.

Lynn went the first four innings, giving up two runs on two hits. Mercer went the final six innings, not allowing a hit the rest of the way. He struck out eight on the night and did not walk a batter.

Wallace gave the Americans a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI single.

TEAM NOTES
The game was delayed by over an hour due to a rain storm which started around 90 minutes prior to first pitch... Manager Mike Weathers played in the Oakland A’s minor league system in Birmingham, AL in the mid-1970’s for three years... RHPs Jacob Thompson (Virginia) and Brian Matusz (San Diego), neither of which are injured, left the team for precautionary reasons due to a high number of innings pitched over the previous eight months... Thompson finished the summer 1-2 with a 1.27 ERA, Matusz was 3-1 with a 1.33 ERA... junior national team invitee, Tyler Stovall, a lefthander/outfielder from Hokes Bluff (AL) High School joined the team on Wednesday and will be with the team through the end of the week... Team USA is now 2-2 against Communist-led governments over the last four games (China and Cuba).

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The five-game series with China continues in Rome, GA on Thursday and Ft. Mill, SC on Friday, finishing off the nine-game (two-day) American trip with the Netherlands and Russia in North Carolina... the team closes out their schedule at the World Port Tournament in the Netherlands starting on August 2.

O Canada??

We recently came across some information that Illinois has added another player from Canada for next season in catcher Aaron Johnson from Sussex, New Brunswick. He is now the fourth player in the last seven years from Canada to join the Illinois program. He is following in the footsteps of Lars Davis who was a third round pick of the Colorado Rockies in 2007. Johnson is currently playing for the Lethbridge Bulls in the Western Major Baseball League in Canada which is a summer league which is comparable to many of the top summer leagues in the United States. He is hitting .341 with the team this summer. The full press release is available here.

Team USA picks up second win over China

Team USA got four runs in the middle innings to knock off China 4-1 in the second game of their five game series. Team USA was led on the mound by Josh Romanski (San Diego), Brett Hunter (Pepperdine), and Cody Satterwhite (Ole Miss). Romanski started for Team USA and went four innings while giving up one run on six hits with six strikeouts. He ended up getting a no decision as Brett Hunter (1-0) picked up the win by going the middle four innings without allowing a run on one hit and two walks. Cody Satterwhite pitched a perfect ninth inning to get his fourth save. Pedro Alvarez (Vanderbilt) went 2-4 with a run scored to lead the offensive attack for the national team. Brett Wallace (Arizona State) got a run-scoring double to help the offensive attack. Team USA and China will play on Wednesday at 7 pm in Birmingham (AL).

Team USA Recap

Valley League Players of the Week-July 23

The Valley League has released players of the week for July 23rd. Ryan Sontag and Luke Greinke each were named Players of the week while Wade Korpi and Zac Blakney were named Pitchers of the Week. Ryan Sontag of Arizona State hit .433 last week in seven games while scoring nine runs, getting 13 hits, and driving in six runners. Luke Greinke of Auburn hit .619 last week while leading the league with 13 hits. Wade Korpi of Notre Dame pitched seven shutout innings last week while only allowing three hits as he led his team to a victory on Saturday night. Zac Blakney of the University of Montevallo threw six shutout innings while giving up only five hits and a walk with 10 strikeouts.

Valley League Release

Team USA Articles

Kendall Rogers of Rivals.com checks in with an article about Team USA and how successful the team has been this summer. They are currently in the midst of a five-game set against China coming off a silver medal finish in the Pan-Am Games. Before the Pan-Am Games, Team USA dropped a five game series to Japan which is the first time the National team had dropped a series to Japan. They will head to the World Port Tournament in Holland after finishing their series with China, Netherlands, and Russia over the next three weeks.

Team USA Article

Starting Pitcher Tyson Ross (Cal-Berkeley) of Team USA is having a solid summer with a 2-0 record and a 1.19 ERA. The Cal Sports Quarterly has written an excellent article about how Ross came through the Cal Baseball Camps as a youngster and is now pitching for his favorite team.

Cal Sports Quarterly Article

Maine picks up four transfers

According to multiple sources, The University of Maine has picked up four transfers for the 2008 season. Joe Mercurio is coming from Illinois where he was the backup to All-American catcher Lars Davis. Mercurio was only able to get into eleven games while only starting three games. (The Baseball Zealot has more on Mercurio.) The Black Bears also picked up High Point University right-hander Joe Miller. he pitched in only six games in 2007 while making one start with no record and a 8.31 ERA. The other two players are Greg Doogan and Tony Patane who played with UConn-Avery Point in 2007. Doogan is a 6'5 230 pound right-hander while Patane is a 6'0 shortstop from New Milford CT. It should be interesting to see how this Maine program does under second year head coach Steve Trimper who led the program to a disappointing 22-31 record in his first year.

Cape Cod Baseball League Awards for Week 6

The Cape Cod Baseball League has released their weekly Player of the Week awards for the week ending on July 20th. Chatham starting pitcher Tom Milone (USC) picked up the Coca-Cola Pitcher of the Week award after pitching 15 innings over two games while only giving up two hits and one earned run. The Coca-Cola Player of the Week was Falmouth's David Adams (UVA) who hit .524 with six RBI last week. The Cape Cod League All-Star game will take place on Saturday and I hope everyone in the New England area make the trip down to Wareham to see some great baseball.

Cape Cod Baseball League Week 6 Report

Minor leads Team USA to 10-0 victory

Mike Minor (Vanderbilt) pitched six strong innings while striking out twelve batters to lead Team USA to a 10-0 victory in seven innings over China in Mobile AL. The offense was led by Jordan Danks (Texas) who went 2-3 with two runs scored. Pedro Alvarez (Vanderbilt) and Roger Kieschnick (Texas Tech) each homered in the game also. Team USA will be back in action on Tuesday when they face off against China again in Mobile AL.

Team USA Recap