September 15, 2011
Cape Cod League notebook: Koneski shines for Falmouth
by Ed Flaherty/
Nate Koneski (North Dighton, Mass.) posted a 1.03 ERA for CCBL runner-up Falmouth. (photo: Matthew Scott/SportsPix)
MORE IMAGES 
Each summer, the Cape Cod Baseball League presents the John Claffey New England Top Prospect Award, given to a New England-born player who attends a New England college.
Falmouth pitcher Nate Koneski (North Dighton, Mass./Holy Cross) was blissfully unaware of the award’s existence before being honored as the 2011 recipient.
“I was very surprised,” said Koneski, who has spent parts of three summers as a pitcher on Falmouth’s staff. “I wasn’t expecting it at all. I didn’t know there was an award like that. I definitely realize the prestige of it. It’s just an honor to be presented with it.”
While Koneski went about his business for the Commodores without knowing of the Claffey Award’s existence, it had his name written all over it.
Koneski, the first Falmouth player to win the award — named for long-time Wareham official John Claffey — turned in his second consecutive dominant summer for the Commodores.
A 6-foot left-hander, Koneski made 2011 appearances in relief for Falmouth, which had the best team ERA in the Cape League. Koneski pitched 26⅓ innings for the Commodores, allowing just three earned runs (1.03 ERA) and striking out 24.
In the playoffs, Koneski made three appearances, striking out eight over eight innings with a 2.25 ERA as Falmouth reached the Cape League championship series before being swept by Harwich.
In 2010, Koneski made eight appearances for Falmouth, striking out 18 in 17⅓ innings of work while surrendering just two earned runs. He posted a 1.04 ERA.
Koneski’s Cape League experience began in 2009, when he served as a replacement player. He impressed the Falmouth coaching staff, earning a temporary contract for the 2010 season, which resulted in a permanent contract following his continued success.
The Commodores relied heavily on Koneski out of the bullpen, calling on him for lengthy appearances in relief.
“We know we are going to get good innings out of Nate,” Falmouth field manager Jeff Trundy said in a Cape League press release. “He’s very steady and dependable and knows how to pitch. He has a quiet confidence in his abilities and so does the coaching staff, he has filled that left-handed bullpen role for us.”
Holy Cross coach Greg DiCenzo isn’t surprised by Koneski’s success with Falmouth.
“Obviously he’s a player who’s had three years of experience in the Cape Cod League,” DiCenzo said. “He might be the only player in Holy Cross history to play three years on the Cape. He’s done a great job, and I know they love him down there.”
DiCenzo said playing on the Cape provides a sense of confidence for players returning to their college programs.
“Being able to go out there and pitching with the success he has had,” he said, “you come back with a sense of accomplishment from being able to play with the best college players in the country.”
Koneski agreed: “It’s known as the best summer league,” he said. “To be from a small college and be able to compete down on the Cape is special.”
Playing at Holy Cross and in the Patriot League, Koneski said he felt the pressure to fit in with some of his highly touted teammates and opponents.
“Coming from a small school, you always feel you have to prove yourself to the kids from the bigger schools,” he said.
Koneski’s numbers on the Cape over the past two summers have proven he belongs among the best college players in the country and DiCenzo expects the left-hander to translate his summer success into an outstanding 2012 season at Holy Cross.
“I think he’s the best pitcher, undoubtedly, in our conference if not New England going into this year,” DiCenzo said. “He’s an 86-88 mph pitcher with super pitchability. He has three pitches (fastball, curve, changeup) he can throw for strikes. His No. 1 asset is his ability to pitch. He’s probably the most even-keeled pitcher I’ve had the chance to work with here at Holy Cross.”
DiCenzo said Koneski has a future in baseball beyond college.
“I think he can have great success at the next level,” DiCenzo said. “He is a consummate pitcher for the next level. He (can be) a professional starting pitcher. He can give you a lot of innings. He’s a talented, hard-nosed kid.”
Harwich wins title
The Harwich Mariners swept the Falmouth Commodores in two games to claim the 2011 Cape Cod Baseball League championship.
Harwich edged Falmouth in Game 1, 5-4, then came back to win Game 2 the next night, 7-5, sealing the title.
Harwich broke open a tie game in the seventh inning of the clincher when Jake Davies doubled in a run and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Davies and Matt Garza were both 3-for-5 for Harwich, while John Wooten was 1-for-2 with three RBI, including a two-run homer in the fifth.
Billy Ferriter, Jeremy Baltz and Eric Garcia had three hits apiece for Falmouth.
In Game 1, Harwich edged Falmouth on Wooten’s go-ahead home run in the sixth.
Garza paced Harwich, going 2-for-4 with two RBI.
Harwich won the title for the second time in four years, following up the Mariners’ 2008 championship.
Falmouth has gone 31 years since last winning the championship in 1980.
CCBL awards
In addition to Nate Koneski being named New England Top Prospect, other 2011 Cape Cod Baseball League award winners included:
MVP: Bourne center fielder Travis Jankowski (Stony Brook) was named the 2011 Cape League Pat Sorenti MVP Award recipient. Jankowski hit .329 with 22 RBI and 15 steals for Bourne, while leading the league in hits (57), runs (31) and triples (7).
Sportsmanship award: Bourne’s Pat Cantwell (Stony Brook) earned the Daniel J. Silva Award for sportsmanship, which is voted on by the league’s umpires. A catcher, Cantwell hit .277 while handling the Bourne pitching staff, which was second in the league with a 2.77 ERA.
Pitcher of the Year: Ryan Eades (LSU) earned the BFC Whitehouse Outstanding Pitcher Award. Eades made six starts and one relief appearance for Bourne, posting a 3-0 record with a 0.84 ERA over 32⅓ innings. He struck out 23, walked seven and allowed 19 hits for the Braves.
Top pro prospect: Cotuit outfielder Victor Roache (Georgia Southern) was presented with the Robert A. McNeece Award as the league’s outstanding pro prospect. Roache was among the league leaders in the Triple Crown categories and finished with a .316 batting average, six home runs and 28 RBI.
Relief pitcher of the year: Orleans pitcher Trevor Gott (Kentucky) shut down the competition in 2011 and was named the Russell Ford Award recipient as the league’s top relief pitcher. Gott had a league-leading 13 saves in 13 chances for the Firebirds, posting a 1.23 ERA in 18 relief appearances.
Batting title: Yarmouth-Dennis’ Steve Piscotty (Stanford) won the Thurman Munson Award for the Cape League batting title, barely edging Chatham’s Dane Phillips (Oklahoma State). Both players officially hit .349, but Piscotty edged Phillips by .0002 percentage points. Piscotty was 4-for-5 on the final day of the regular season, with a home run, double and three RBI for the Red Sox.
10th Player Award: Orleans first baseman Ben Waldrip (Medford, Mass./Jacksonville State) was presented with the Manny Robello 10th Player Award as he helped the Firebirds win the East Division title while hitting .276. Waldrip finished tied for second in the Cape League with six home runs and was tied for third with 23 RBI.
Commissioner’s Cup: Wareham became the Cape League’s first three-time winner of the Commissioner’s Cup, presented to a franchise each year based on professionalism and integrity.
General Manager of the Year: Hyannis GM Bill Bussiere earned the John Wyle General Manager of the Year Award as he presided over a Harbor Hawks team that was a league-best 29-15 in the regular season while drawing 32,314 fans, an average of 1,539 per game.
Field Manager of the Year: Hyannis’ Chad Gassman earned the Mike Curran Manager of the Year Award after leading the Harbor Hawks to a 29-16 record and the West Division title.
Top umpire: Mark Ottavianelli earned the Curly Clement Award, presented for officiating excellence and contributions over the years to umpiring in the Cape League.
This article originally appeared in the September 2011 issue of New England Baseball Journal.
Ed Flaherty can be reached at feedback@baseballjournal.com
