HYANNIS, Mass. ? The Cape Cod Baseball League announced its 2014 first-round playoff schedule Tuesday afternoon, with playoff action slated to begin on Wednesday, August 6.
The third-seeded Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox will face the second-seeded Orleans Firebirds in the Eastern Division Semifinals, with game one of the best-of-three series being played at Eldredge Park in Orleans on Wednesday evening at 7 p.m.
(2) Orleans (24-18-2, 50 Pts) vs. (3) Yarmouth-Dennis (24-19-1, 49 Pts)
Dates | Times
Wednesday, August 6, 2014-Friday, August 8, 2014 | 7 p.m./4 p.m./7 p.m.
Location | Forecast
Orleans, Mass. (Game 1, Game 3 if nec.)
South Yarmouth, Mass. (Game 2)
Game 1: Chance of T-Storms, 64 degrees, Chance of Rain: 40 percent
Game 2: Sunny, 76 degrees, Chance of Rain: 20 percent
Game 3 (if nec.): Clear, 64 degrees, Chance of Rain: 0 percent
? Live Audio/Video
Y-D Red Sox Network (audio-only games 1 and 3; audio and video game 2)
Social Media
@YD_RedSox ? | @FirebirdsCCBL ?| @Official_CCBL
Probable Starters
TBA
Series Notes
This summer?s playoff matchup between Yarmouth-Dennis and Orleans will be the seventh series between the two clubs and first since Y-D swept the Firebirds in the 2012 Eastern Division Finals. The Red Sox have won four of the six previous series against Orleans and 10 of 14 playoff games all-time.
The Firebirds got the upper hand over Y-D in their playoff matchups in 1988 and 2002, while Y-D defeated Orleans in 1990, 2010, 2011, and 2012.
Both teams split the 2014 regular season series, winning three games apiece.
About the Orleans Firebirds
The Firebirds finished the regular season with a regular season record of 24-18-2, totaling 50 points in the standings.
David Thompson (Miami) and Bobby Dalbec (Arizona) headline the Firebirds bats. Of all players appearing in multiple games, Thompson leads the ?Birds in batting average (.331).
Dalbec has made a name for himself as a two-way player, hitting five homers and driving in 18 runs, while also making 11 relief appearances in which he has held opposing batters to a .255 average. He boasts a 1.31 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 13.2 innings pitched.
R.J. Ybarra (Arizona State) has seen the ball well against Y-D, tallying six hits off Red Sox pitching in 13 at-bats (.462).
Jacob Cronenworth (Michigan) highlights the ?Birds bullpen with 15 appearances and has been solid in the closer role, earning five saves over 23.2 innings of work in relief.
Red Sox Pitching Dominant in 2014
After finishing with an 8-2 record at UC Santa Barbara last spring, Justin Jacome has continued his dominance with the Y-D Red Sox. The southpaw had a 5-1 mark in seven regular season starts with Y-D, throwing 38 innings and striking out 28.
Rising junior Walker Buehler (Vanderbilt) has made two starts with Y-D since taking home the College World Series Championship. He received the win in both of his Cape League starts and made one relief appearance, allowing only two earned runs in 13.1 innings pitched.
The role of closer has largely been held by Phil Bickford (Cal State Fullerton), who has made eight saves for Y-D this season. Originally from Newbury Park, Calif., he was drafted 10th overall by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013.
As a team, Y-D has been very successful in the strikeout column, sending down 343 batters by way of the ?K?, third only to Orleans (357) and Falmouth (345).
Tarsovich Turning Heads
Since making his Y-D debut on June 14, Jordan Tarsovich (Va. Military Institute) has gained the attention of many, posting a .322 batting average in 40 games. A rising senior, he clubbed three home runs in the 2014 regular season.
He was named an East Division All-Star by the Cape Cod Baseball League and was the starting third baseman for the East in the 52nd CCBL All-Star Game in July.
Shining Stars
In addition to Tarsovich, four other Y-D Red Sox players were named East Division All-Stars: Phil Bickford; Rob Fonseca (Northeastern); Justin Jacome; and Andrew Stevenson (LSU).
It Keeps You Running?
Following nine steals at school, Andrew Stevenson has swiped 21 bases this summer, leading the Red Sox and the Cape Cod Baseball League.
The LSU Tiger has helped form the foundation of the Y-D outfield in 2014, appearing in all 44 regular season games and making only one error.
D-II Players Making an Impact
Entering the playoffs, the Red Sox roster is comprised of four players who play their school baseball with NCAA Division II programs: Jack Fowler (Felician College), Marcus Mastrobuoini (Cal State Stanislaus), Josh Staumont (Azusa Pacific), and T.J. Wharton (Catawba College).
Pick?s Playoff Push
At the helm since 1997, Y-D manager Scott Pickler has led the Red Sox to 11 playoff appearances. Pickler?s Y-D teams have won three Cape League Championships (2004, 2006, 2007) and appeared in two others (2010, 2012).
Around the Cape League
The winner of the Y-D vs. Orleans series will face the winner of the (1) Harwich vs. (4) Brewster matchup in the Eastern Division Finals.rn The Western Division Semifinals will feature the (1) Bourne Braves vs. (4) Cotuit Kettleers as well as the (2) Falmouth Commodores vs. (3) Hyannis Harbor Hawks.
