Bourne Braves
Encyclopedia
The Bourne Braves are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Bourne, MA. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League
and plays in the league's Western Division. Bourne currently plays its home games at Doran Park
in the town of Bourne. The Braves are owned and operated by the non-profit Bourne Athletic Association, and, like other Cape League teams, are funded through merchandise sales, donations, and other fundraising efforts at games such as fifty-fifty raffles.
The Braves won the Cape Cod Baseball League's Western Division Regular Season title in 2007, finishing the year with 52 points and earning a playoff berth for the first time since 2005. Bourne would be swept in the playoffs, however, by the Falmouth Commodores
, two games to none.
On August 12, 2009, the Braves defeated the Cotuit Kettleers, 5–1, to win their first ever Cape Cod Baseball League Championship.
The present-day Bourne Braves were re-formed in 1988 when both they and the Brewster Whitecaps
joined the Cape League. The next year, the Braves qualified for the post-season after winning the Western Division Regular Season crown for the first time. The Braves would be swept in the Western Division Championship Series by the Hyannis Mets
two games to none.
Bourne would qualify for the playoffs three more times between 1997 and 2001 after finishing in second place in the Western Division each year. The Braves, however, were eliminated each time in the Western Division Championship Series by the division champion Wareham Gatemen
.
The Braves finally broke into the championship series for the first time in 2003 after they defeated the Hyannis Mets two games to one to win the Western Division Post-Season title. The Braves, however, would be swept in two games by the Orleans Cardinals
, dropping the series two games to none. Bourne would make the championship series again in 2005, only to fall to Orleans a second time, losing two games to one. In 2009, Bourne defeated the Orleans Firebirds in the opening round of the playoffs, and went on to sweep the Cotuit Ketleers two games to none to secure their first Cape League Title.
Cape Cod Baseball League
The Cape Cod Baseball League is a collegiate summer baseball league located on Cape Cod in the U.S. state of Massachusetts, in which many college baseball stars play during the summer. Many future Major League Baseball players have started there during their college years; MLB has provided...
and plays in the league's Western Division. Bourne currently plays its home games at Doran Park
Doran Park (ballpark)
Doran Park is a baseball venue in Bourne, Massachusetts, home to the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League and the Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School,...
in the town of Bourne. The Braves are owned and operated by the non-profit Bourne Athletic Association, and, like other Cape League teams, are funded through merchandise sales, donations, and other fundraising efforts at games such as fifty-fifty raffles.
The Braves won the Cape Cod Baseball League's Western Division Regular Season title in 2007, finishing the year with 52 points and earning a playoff berth for the first time since 2005. Bourne would be swept in the playoffs, however, by the Falmouth Commodores
Falmouth Commodores
The Falmouth Commodores are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Falmouth, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division. Falmouth currently plays its home games at Arnie Allen Diamond at Guv Fuller Field, one of 6 ballparks in...
, two games to none.
On August 12, 2009, the Braves defeated the Cotuit Kettleers, 5–1, to win their first ever Cape Cod Baseball League Championship.
The Pre-Modern Era
Bourne's baseball history is one of the longest of all teams on the Cape, dating as far back as the 1860s when the town was still part of Sandwich. Bourne's own baseball team first joined the Cape League in 1933 and, when the league reformed in 1946, was represented by two teams, the Sagamore Clouters and the Bourne Canalmen.The Modern Era
Bourne was eliminated from the first round of the playoffs in 1963, the first year of the Modern Era. The team would not qualify for the post-season again in the next ten years and would cease operations in 1973.The present-day Bourne Braves were re-formed in 1988 when both they and the Brewster Whitecaps
Brewster Whitecaps
The Brewster Whitecaps are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Brewster, MA. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Eastern Division. Brewster played its home games at Cape Cod Regional Technical High School until 2006, when Stony Brook Field was opened...
joined the Cape League. The next year, the Braves qualified for the post-season after winning the Western Division Regular Season crown for the first time. The Braves would be swept in the Western Division Championship Series by the Hyannis Mets
Hyannis Mets
The Hyannis Harbor Hawks, formerly the Hyannis Mets, are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Hyannis, MA. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division. Hyannis currently plays its home games at McKeon Park, which opened for play in 1979...
two games to none.
Bourne would qualify for the playoffs three more times between 1997 and 2001 after finishing in second place in the Western Division each year. The Braves, however, were eliminated each time in the Western Division Championship Series by the division champion Wareham Gatemen
Wareham Gatemen
The Wareham Gatemen are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Wareham, MA. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Western Division...
.
The Braves finally broke into the championship series for the first time in 2003 after they defeated the Hyannis Mets two games to one to win the Western Division Post-Season title. The Braves, however, would be swept in two games by the Orleans Cardinals
Orleans Cardinals
The Orleans Firebirds are a collegiate summer baseball team based in Orleans, Massachusetts. The team is a member of the Cape Cod Baseball League and plays in the league's Eastern Division....
, dropping the series two games to none. Bourne would make the championship series again in 2005, only to fall to Orleans a second time, losing two games to one. In 2009, Bourne defeated the Orleans Firebirds in the opening round of the playoffs, and went on to sweep the Cotuit Ketleers two games to none to secure their first Cape League Title.
Notable alumni
- Brian AndersonBrian Anderson (outfielder)Brian Nikola Anderson is an American professional baseball player who is currently a free agent. He has played all or part of five seasons in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox as an outfielder, a position he played professionally until before the 2010 season...
2001 - Joe BlantonJoe BlantonJoseph Matthew Blanton is a starting pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball.-College career:...
2001 - Chris CapuanoChris CapuanoChristopher "Chris" Frank Capuano is an American professional baseball player.-Early life:Capuano graduated from St. Thomas School in West Springfield in 8th grade...
1999 - Conor JacksonConor JacksonConor Sims Jackson is an American professional baseball outfielder who is a free agent. He bats and throws right-handed. He is 6'2" and roughly 225 pounds. His father is actor John M...
2001 - David DeJesusDavid DeJesusDavid Christopher DeJesus is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball.-Career:DeJesus was raised in Manalapan Township, New Jersey, and played high school baseball at Manalapan High School. He was drafted out of high school by the New York Mets in...
1998 - Mark DeRosaMark DeRosaMark Thomas DeRosa is a Major League Baseball player. DeRosa is a utility player who has been primarily a second baseman, but can play other positions, including the outfield; he played six positions for the Chicago Cubs. He bats right-handed.DeRosa was selected by the Atlanta Braves in the 7th...
1995 - Jeremy GiambiJeremy GiambiJeremy Dean Giambi is a left-handed, former Major League Baseball player for the Kansas City Royals, Oakland Athletics, Philadelphia Phillies, and Boston Red Sox. He also played in the minors for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox. He is the younger brother of Colorado Rockies first...
1994 - Jerry Hairston, Jr.Jerry Hairston, Jr.Jerry Wayne Hairston, Jr. is a Mexican-American professional baseball utility player.-Professional career:...
1996 - Bobby HigginsonBobby HigginsonRobert Leigh Higginson is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Detroit Tigers. He has a career batting average of .272. He attended Frankford High School and Temple University....
1991 - Brandon IngeBrandon IngeCharles Brandon Inge is an American professional baseball infielder for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball. He bats and throws right-handed....
1997 - Mark KotsayMark KotsayMark Steven Kotsay is an American professional baseball outfielder with the San Diego Padres...
1994 - Eric JohnsonEric JohnsonEric Johnson is an American guitarist. Though he is best known for his success in the instrumental rock format, Johnson regularly incorporates jazz, fusion, gospel and country and western music into his recordings...
1992 - Lou MerloniLou MerloniLouis William "Lou" Merloni is an American radio personality and a former Major League Baseball player. Merloni was scouted by hall of fame scout 'Buzz' Bowers, and played for his hometown Boston Red Sox from -...
1991 - Bill MuellerBill MuellerWilliam Richard Mueller is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. Mueller's playing career was spent with the San Francisco Giants , Chicago Cubs , Boston Red Sox , and Los Angeles Dodgers . He won the American League batting title in 2003, and helped the Red Sox win the 2004 World Series...
1992 - Mark MulderMark MulderMark Alan Mulder is a retired left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Oakland Athletics:...
1997 - Josh SatinJosh SatinJoshua Satin is an American second baseman for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball, who also plays first base and third base.He was a First Team College All American at the University of California, Berkeley...
2007 - Ron VilloneRon VilloneRonald Thomas Villone Jr. is a Major League Baseball left-handed relief pitcher who is currently with the Somerset Patriots. He has not been on the same team for more than two years in his major league career and due to his many baseball travels, some of his teammates have affectionately referred...
1992 - Kevin YoukilisKevin YoukilisKevin Edmund Youkilis , also known as "Youk" , is an American professional baseball player with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball...
2000 - Micah OwingsMicah OwingsMicah Burton Owings is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher currently pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks....
2004