Bourne Braves
Last year, the Bourne Braves came just short of winning their third straight Cape Cod Baseball League title, falling to the Harwich Mariners in three games in the championship series. Manager Scott Landers returns for his fourth season in 2025; since the pandemic, the Braves have appeared in every Cape League championship and are aiming for their third championship in four years.
Returning to Doran Park this summer is Arkansas infielder Cam Kozeal, who transferred from Vanderbilt. Kozeal has emerged as one of the top bats in the SEC and, with a year of Cape League experience under his belt, could be even better than he was last summer. His former Vanderbilt teammate and 2024 Cape League All-Star Braden Holcomb is also back. Holcomb drove in 25 runs for Bourne last season and returns after a standout campaign. Right-handed pitcher Chase Meyer, from West Virginia, will return as well, a year after posting a 1.77 ERA in 20.1 innings pitched.
New to Bourne in 2025 is Wake Forest corner infielder Kade Lewis, who posted an OPS north of 1.200 this spring. Clemson shortstop Jarren Purify adds a power-speed combination to the Braves’ lineup. The team also welcomes two new Arkansas Razorbacks: Kuhio Aloy, coming off a strong sophomore season, and Cole Gibler, one of the top-ranked freshman left-handed pitchers in the country.
In 2025, the Braves will host the U.S. Coast Guard Honor Guard, accompanied by a flyover, on June 27 for their 6:00 p.m. game against the Chatham Anglers. Additionally, they’ll hold a Team IMPACT game on July 17 and a Stand Up To Cancer night on a date to be announced.
Bourne begins its 2025 campaign to engrave its name in league history with a bid for a fifth straight Cape League championship appearance—a feat not achieved since the Falmouth Commodores appeared in six straight from 1966 to 1971.
Cotuit Kettleers
After falling to Bourne in three games in the semi-finals of the playoffs last year, Cotuit will look to capture its first title since 2019. Last season, the Kettleers finished with a 22-17-1 record, second in the West Division. Reflecting a new coaching regime, field manager Loren Hibbs begins his tenure at Lowell Park in 2025.
The Kettleers have some returning firepower, with Thurman Munson Batting Award recipient Jarren Advincula returning to try and claim a second title. Outfielder Easton Winfield will also be returning to Cotuit, following his first season at Texas after transferring from Louisiana-Monroe.
Internationally acclaimed first base prospect Rintaro Sasaki will be making his Cape League debut after wrapping up his first season at Stanford. In Japan, Sasaki holds the record for most high school home runs in the country’s history—surpassing MLB superstar Shohei Ohtani.
Cotuit has always been known for its defensive prowess and proficiency on the base paths, and this summer will be no different. Watch for the Kettleers to be stealing bases as they so often do, and putting pressure on opposing defenses from the very first pitch.
The Kettleers are holding a variety of fan engagement nights this summer: Costume Night on June 21, Community Outreach Night on July 5, and Christmas in July on July 17.
Falmouth Commodores
Following the passing of longtime manager Jeff Trundy, a new era of Commodores baseball begins with 2013 World Series champion Jarrod Saltalamacchia stepping in as manager. Saltalamacchia is already a two-time Cape League champion, having won both titles as the hitting coach in Bourne. Despite finishing last in the West Division last season, the Commodores have all the tools to make a playoff push in 2025.
Returning to Guv Fuller Field this summer are Louisville outfielder Zion Rose, Texas Tech right-handed pitcher Mac Heuer, and Stetson third baseman Isaiah Barkett. Rose followed up his 2024 All-ACC Freshman campaign with a standout .335/.400/.547 slash line in Falmouth, giving fans plenty of reason to be excited about his return. Heuer struck out seven in 6.2 innings last summer, while Barkett showcased some of the best plate discipline in the league.
Two exciting new Commodores joining the roster are Texas A&M’s Connor “Bear” Harrison and West Virginia’s Carson Estridge. Harrison, a catcher with tremendous power, brings All-Star potential behind the plate. Estridge, a right-handed pitcher, features some of the most electric stuff out of the bullpen and could serve as a lockdown reliever for Falmouth.
The Commodores will host Military Night on June 27 at Guv Fuller Field against the Harwich Mariners, honoring military members past and present. On July 10, a local meet-the-coaches event will give fans the chance to connect with Saltalamacchia and the rest of the staff. The summer ahead will be a fun ride as the Commodores look to win their first Cape League championship in over 40 years.
Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Although they were defeated by the Bourne Braves in the first round of the 2024 playoffs, the Hyannis Harbor Hawks had a wildly successful season under first-year manager Mitch Karraker. They finished first in the West Division with a 24-14-2 record and recorded the league’s best run differential at +66. The Harbor Hawks were especially dominant at home, going 16-3 at McKeon Field to lead the Cape League. Karraker returns for his second season, and Hyannis will look to reclaim championship glory for the first time since 1991.
Two returning Harbor Hawks are Coastal Carolina’s Dominick Carbone and Southern Missippi’s Josh Och. Carbone made significant adjustments to his pitching arsenal mid-season with Hyannis, which paid off as he evolved into the team’s reliable late-inning lefty. He carried that momentum into his sophomore season at Coastal Carolina, where he became one of the nation’s most formidable relievers. Och was fantastic last year and allowed just one hit in eight relief appearances. Now, they both return to McKeon Park to add to their Cape League resumes.
One of the most anticipated additions to the 2025 Harbor Hawks roster is Andrew Williamson, a left-handed hitting outfielder from UCF. A consistent force in the Knights’ lineup, Williamson is expected to be a key contributor for Hyannis and could emerge as both a league MVP candidate and a major breakout prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft. NDSU shortstop Jake Schaffner will make his Cape League debut and will quickly stand out as one of the league’s top defenders. His ability to put the ball in play, steal bases, and make difficult plays look routine will make him a vital piece of the Harbor Hawks lineup.
As always, the Harbor Hawks will be a central part of Hyannis's Fourth of July festivities, featuring a float in the Main Street parade and hosting the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox the night prior at 6:00 p.m. The team will also recognize local first responders on a date to be announced.
With a strong tie to the community around them, the Harbor Hawks continue to be a proud symbol of summer baseball on Cape Cod.
Wareham Gatemen
Wareham took the league by storm in 2024, surging ahead in the standings for the majority of July. Building off a season where they tied Cotuit for second place in the East Division at 22-17-1, the Gatemen now turn their attention to the 2025 campaign. Manager Ryan Smyth enters his third year at the helm of the team. From top to bottom, the roster is loaded with talent, and fans can expect to see some of the league’s top prospects on a nightly basis at a new look Spillane Field.
Three of the top new additions to the Gatemen come from the SEC. Right-handed pitcher Jordan Stephens, a flame-thrower from Georgia, will make his Cape League debut with Wareham. His fastball consistently sits at 97-99 mph and can touch triple digits. Utility player Levi Clark, a 2025 Midseason Freshman All-American from Tennessee, will bring versatility and pop to the lineup. Riley Nelson Jr., a corner infielder from Vanderbilt, was one of their best hitters and was described by his college coach as a “Sean Casey type with very good bat-to-ball skills.”
Wareham will also benefit from a strong group of returning players. Two right-handed pitchers and 2024 Cape League All-Stars—Jacob Faulkner and Tate McGuire—will be back at Spillane Field. Additional returning arms include Mississippi’s Patrick Galle, Arizona State’s Brock Eddy, and Lehigh’s Cole Leaman. UCF shortstop Antonio Gimenez will also return to anchor the infield.
For the third straight year, Wareham will host First Responder’s Night at Spillane Field, scheduled for Saturday, June 28, against Y-D. A Massachusetts State Police helicopter will land in center field prior to the game, an exciting and meaningful tribute that’s become a highlight for the Wareham community. With a mix of fresh talent and returners, the Gatemen find themselves as strong contenders to win the 2025 Cape League championship.
Featured image by Grace Kinney
