10-Time Cape Cod Baseball League Champions



Y-D gets some timely offense in 4-2 extra inning win of Harwich

By Michael McCleary

Harwich- Kyle Isbel roped a ball to center field. ?On only the second pitch of the game, a near packed Whitehouse Field got their first taste of the reigning champions of three straight Cape Cod titles. ?The Y-D Red Sox name provides all the glamor and it looked like they were going to repeat their past dominance. ?Until it didn?t.

“We had some missed opportunities,? said Manager Scott Pickler. ?I feel we swung the bad well. ?It?s early, nobody hits early.?

The Red Sox scored a quick run off of second baseman Isbel?s triple and Christopher Sharpe?s RBI groundout. But, it could not get much offense going for a large portion of the game. ?The Sox scored just one run in the next 34 at-bats and couldn?t capitalize in situations with runners in scoring position.

In what proved to be the final inning of the contest, Isbel delivered a RBI single that jumpstarted Y-D?s mostly stagnant offense. The Red Sox scored two runs in the 10th, which were the deciding runs in its 4-2 victory over the Harwich Mariners.

“We just did enough,? Isbel said. ?My teammates put me in a good spot, I was always up with guys on.?

To compensate for the lack of bats, Y-D buckled down on defense for most of the game. Starting pitcher Tim Brennan put together a solid outing, going five innings, allowing two Runs, five hits, while striking out seven and walking just two. The rest of thew pitching staff followed, shutting the Mariners out after Brennan was pulled.

Y-D, as a team, struck out a combined 14 batters in the game while only walking five.

“Pitchability is the key,? Pickler said. ?It?s nice to have a good fastball, but these guys are in a league with elite hitters, they?re going to turn on a fastball. The secondary pitches, those are the key.?

The excellent pitching was not without some stellar play in the field as well. Isbel provided some excitement as he made an outstanding double play on a hard-hit ball off the foot of pitcher Troy Terzi.

Pickler added that Isbel isn?t a primary infielder. He was brought on the team to play outfield, but the team is giving him run in the infield due to lack of personnel. ?He expressed pleasure with Isbel?s willingness to come in and play any position the team needed him to play.

The offensive struggles of the Red Sox don?t seem to be a concern, however, as the team only struck out six times in 41 at-bats.

Additionally, the team routinely made solid contact with the ball, only to have Harwich deliver some great defensive plays to rob them.

First baseman Carter Pharris ripped a ball to left field in the fourth inning and the left fielder of the Mariners made of diving catch on what could?ve gotten the Red Sox bats going again.

Kyle Isbel was the team?s offensive spark, going 3-5 with a triple and two RBI. Carlos Cortes hit the ball all over the field in the win, but only finished 1-5 while reaching on an error.

“We?re all athletes: we do what coach says and play our asses off,? said Isbel. ?We could do a lot of damage. ?We?re all pretty good hitters and we should succeed.?


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