Colleen Loftus/Web Reporter
The West Division took the 5-0 win earlier tonight over the East in the 2014 Friendly’s Cape League All Star Game. For the second year running, Falmouth provided the most players to the squad. All nine Commodores saw time in the full nine innings, each contributing greatly to the West win.
Three Commodores held starting positions. Jake Madsen (Ohio) played all nine innings at first and managed to keep East hitters off the diamond. He hit a single into right-center in the first, and reached base on an infield error in the sixth. Madsen scored a run from second on Commodores teammate Matt Eureste’s (San Jacinto) RBI double. Madsen’s composure and solid performance kept a calm infield for the West.
Conner Hale (Louisiana State) started at third, and was the second Commodore to play the entire game. Hale went two for four at the plate with a single to center field in the third and a single to left field in the seventh. He also made two out assists in the top of the first, delivering his throws to teammate Madsen like clockwork. Hale made what would have been the game ending snag in the top of the ninth, catching a foul ball in front of the West’s dugout. However, the All Star Game played a full nine innings to provide players and fans a complete night of baseball.
The final starter for Falmouth was Kevin Newman (Arizona), who dominated at short stop. Newman provided four groundouts for the West, delivering each throw to teammate Madsen with ease. Newman assisted in a double play in the top of the second, and recorded an infield single to third base in the bottom of the fourth.
Falmouth brought in three new faces in the sixth who changed the fate of the game. Eureste cracked a two RBI double to left-center in the sixth, scoring Madsen and Cameron O’Brien (West Virginia). O’Brien knocked a lead off home run over the center fence in the seventh, and led the West’s defense well behind the plate. Despite striking out and grounding out, Steven Duggar (Clemson) helped keep a tight outfield for the West in left field.
All three Commodores pitchers saw time on the mound, even if just for one moment. Matt Hall (Missouri State) pitched the top of the fifth, making the East batters swing and recording two strikeouts. Closer Matt Eckelman (St. Louis) entered the game in the top of the ninth. The righty caught one batter looking and allowed his defense to work behind him well to tally two outs. With one out remaining, Alex Young (Texas Christian) replaced Eckelman and allowed a pop up to Hale at third for the final out. The West’s pitching kept the East at bay, sealing the 5-0 shutout.
The West ended the East’s All Star Game winning streak at one. The nine Commodores players commented that they were honored to be a part of the game, and were just looking to have some fun with the other League players. For more information on the 2014 Friendly’s Cape League All Star Game, visit http://www.capecodbaseball.org/. The Commodores will travel to Hyannis to face the Harbor Hawks at 6:00 p.m. For more information about the Falmouth Commodores, visit the team’s website at www.falmouthcommodores.com.
The Commodores Corner 