By Annie Papadellis/Web Reporter
Ever since high school, the Maryland Gatorade Player of the year Kevin Mooney knew he wanted to play in the Cape League.
“Hearing different guys talk about the different leagues, I knew that the Cape League was definitely the league to be in,” Mooney said. “I set it as a goal about halfway through my high school career to go to college and play in the Cape League at some point.”
The 6-foot-1, right-handed pitcher from the University of Maryland came to the Cape after an impressive 3-2 record in his freshman year on the mound. Mooney was third on the team with a 2.18 ERA in 28 appearances for the Terps.
“When my coach told me halfway through the season this year that I would be playing up [on the Cape] this summer, I was just ecstatic,” Mooney said. “I couldn’t believe it.”
The Commodores are certainly ecstatic that Mooney chose Falmouth as his home for the summer as he has recorded 16 strikeouts and surrendered only one walk in 11 appearances. As of July 21, the rising sophomore has the third lowest ERA (3.09) of the Commodores’ relievers.
Last summer, Mooney played in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League near his hometown of Forest Hill, Md. The pitcher went 3-2 on the season with a 2.17 ERA. Compared to that league, Mooney claims the disparity in talent is incredible, and that “it’s awesome” to play in the Cape League.
In high school, the 205-pound pitcher not only made appearances on the mound, but in the outfield and at the dish as well.
“I wanted to go two-way in college,” Mooney said. “But once I got there, I knew it wasn’t going to happen as I was recruited mostly as a pitcher. I figured maybe there would be a chance, but pitching is where I am at now.”
Mooney wasn’t only a baseball player growing up; he was also a star soccer player. He realized, however, during his sophomore year in high school that baseball was his sport.
“I had more of a future in baseball. Soccer was too much running,” Mooney said. “Being a pitcher we don’t have to run at all.”
But that wasn’t the only reason why Mooney elected to continue baseball over soccer. The righty looked up to his father who also played collegiate ball.
“My Dad played in college,” Mooney said. “He introduced [baseball] to me, and ever since I was a little kid, I just loved it.”
The Commodores Corner 