2024 Cape Cod League All-Star Game: West Defeats East 9-8 In Walk-Off Fashion
Image credit: Cape Cod League (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
In what was one of the more offensive-centric Cape League All-Star games in recent memory, the West squad erased a late four-run deficit to earn a 9-8 victory in walk-off fashion on Saturday.
The East punched first, with Easton Carmichael dumping an RBI single into centerfield in the top of the first inning. Following a scoreless top of the second from USC’s Michael Ebner, the West took a 2-1 lead on a backside RBI double courtesy of Ethan Conrad and a Karson Bowen RBI groundout.
The score was tied at four through four innings after each team traded two-run frames, but the East was able to build up an 8-4 lead through seven-and-a-half innings, with the big blow being a two-run home run—which had an exit velocity of 106—off the bat of potential future first-round pick Nick Dumesnil.
In the bottom of the eighth, the West took advantage of some shoddy defense by the East. Trent Caraway grounded a single—his second of the game—up the middle, but veteran lefthander Gabe Van Emon proceeded to notch a key strikeout for the second out of the inning. With two outs and Caraway on first, the East went to the high-octane arm of Tanner Franklin. Franklin surrendered a single and issued a walk to load the bases, but he induced what appeared to be a routine fly ball to rightfield to get out of trouble. JD Rogers was camped under it, but the ball kicked off the heel of his glove which allowed three runs to score.
Rogers’ error proved to be costly, as Eric Snow lifted an RBI single into right-centerfield to tie the game.
Quality pitching was at a premium on Saturday night at Guv Fuller Field, but sidewinders Jacob Faulkner and Casey Hintz combined to throw a perfect top of the ninth inning. The West wasted no time in the bottom half of the inning, as Jaxon Willits led off with a walk and then swiped second. Brandon Compton drew a walk of his own before a groundout from Caraway moved Compton and Willits up to second and third.
After Snow tied the game in the eighth, fellow Hyannis Harbor Hawk Kane Kepley laced a walk-off single into right-center to lift the West to a win.
Conrad and Carmichael were named the MVPs for the West and East, respectively, but there were a handful of additional standouts. From a position player standpoint, I was impressed with Aiva Arquette, Caraway, Dumesnil and Murf Gray. All flashed their respective carrying tools and looked the part of potential first-round picks in 2025. There wasn’t a lot to write home about on the mound, but keep a close eye on Wake Forest lefthander Joe Ariola.
He needs some refining from a pitchability standpoint, but he had the best pure stuff of any arm. His fastball was up to 95 mph with upwards of 24-inches of carry, and he supplemented the pitch with two distinct breaking balls. Ariola’s high-spin curveball is the better of the two and looks the part of a future plus pitch. As is always the case, Saturday was a blast. It’s a really unique setting to have the best players in the country from the best summer league in the country in an intimate environment, and is a fun day for players, fans and scouts alike.
