The Cape is Heating Up Thanks to UCSB's Tom Myers

By Mike Takeuchi

(*Note a truncated version appeared in another publication)

Thanks to a local, “the Cape” starts heating up today. The Santa Barbara Foresters aren’t the only collegiate team area residents are following this week as Tom Myers, the associate head coach for the UCSB baseball team, will lead the Brewster Whitecaps into the first round of the Cape Cod League playoffs today against the Orleans Firebirds.

Myers manages a team that plays in the venerable summer wood bat league that was established in 1885. In addition to its longevity is its prestige-the Cape Cod League has produced over 70 Big League all-stars over the past 30 years, as well as Hall of Famers like Pie Traynor.

“It is special to be part of such a rich tradition in baseball,” Myers said. “It’s even greater to be able manage in their playoffs.”

Established in 1988, the team plays at Stony Brook Field in Brewster, Massachusetts, a town of about 10,000 that is located 85 miles southeast of Boston. Team alumni include Major League players Troy Tulowitzki, Billy Wagner, and Ryan Braun. Under Myers, the Whitecaps have reached the league playoffs for the first time since 2006 and hope to win another championship they last won in 2000. After a steady season attendance of over 1,000 per game, General Manager Ned Monthie said that playoff fever is hitting their area.

“After missing out on the playoffs by (one win) last year, we are very excited to be back in the playoffs,” Monthie said. “And it’s not just the players and the organization, but the entire town.”

And Monthie thinks he has the right guy to lead the team.

“He relates well with the players and is just a solid individual,” Monthie said.

After being ranked No. 1 in the country by PG Crosschecker for most of the summer, an eight-game winless streak at the end of July dropped them down to fifth. By winning four of their last five, the Whitecaps finished second in the east division at 26-17-1, one half game behind regular season champion the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.

In games scheduled today, Saturday, and if necessary, Sunday, Brewster will host the first and final contest of the three-game series, with the winner advancing to face the winner of the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (a team that UCSB’s Mario Hollands and Jesse Meaux pitched for ) vs. the Harwich Mariners in another best-of-three set. The survivor of that series will go on to face the western division winner.

“Hopefully we will have some momentum going into the playoffs,” Myers said. “But it’s going to be a challenge because from top to bottom, the league has a lot of talent, especially the arms.”

Initially blessed with high quality pitchers like LSU ace and 39^th overall Red Sox draft pick Anthony Ranaudo, as well as Georgia’s Mike Pallazzone and Cal State Fullerton’s Daniel Rencken, his staff has whittled a bit due to players leaving for school or the pros.

“That’s the nature of summer ball,” Myers said.

But he added that he still liked his chances with Matt Larkins from UC Riverside throwing tonight, and then Long Beach State’s Andrew Gagnon on Saturday. The Whitecaps are led at the plate by Memphis University’s Drew Martinez who has a .359 average, 52 hits, 22 stolen bases, and 18 RBI. Other run producers include Andy Burns (University of Arizona, 18 RBI and 25 stolen bases), and Danny Oh (Cal, 15 RBI). Taylor Ard is swinging the bat well in a rivalry that is not as fierce as one would suspect a top league would have.

As Myers was going over his team, his Friday opponent’s manager Kelly Nicholson briefly took over the conversation.

“Ask him how he plans to pitch to the Firebirds,” Nicholson shouted into the phone. “Ask him how those (expletive) will try to get us out!”

“We all get along pretty well here, especially Kelly and (Yarmouth-Dennis manager) Scott Pickler,” Myers laughed. “Because Kelly coaches at Loyola Marymount and Scott coaches at Cypress College, we have a nice California connection. Those guys really took me under their wings at first. But that’s the way it is out here. Beat each other up on the field, but go out to dinner afterward.”