The first week of the 2025 Cape Cod Baseball season is officially in the books. The week belonged to the Brewster Whitecaps, who won their first six games to mark the best start to a season in franchise history.
With a record of 6-2, the Whitecaps top the standings in the East Division after eight games. Brewster’s leadoff man, right-fielder Josiah Ragsdale, won Franklin Sports Player of the Week — his .435 batting average leads the league. He also has the league’s best OBP (.567) and has swiped the most bags with ten.
On the mound for the Whitecaps, right-hander Jacob Dudan has logged nine innings in two starts, allowing only one earned run. Lefty Haiden Leffew has appeared in three games in relief without allowing a run.
The Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox were the first team to beat Brewster with a 3-0 victory on Saturday. Third baseman Chris Hacopian delivered the big blow, a three-run homer in the sixth, while the Red Sox pitching staff held Brewster without a hit through the first seven innings. Winners of four straight, the Red Sox are the hottest team on the Cape and sit right behind the Whitecaps in the East standings at 5-2-1.
The Harwich Mariners secured a big win Sunday night, walking off the Wareham Gateman, 3-2. They are third in the East with a record of 5-3. Left-hander Jake McCoy boasts a perfect 0.00 ERA for Harwich after eight and a third innings over two starts. He leads the league in strikeouts with 17, and he claimed the Cape League Pitcher of the Week award. The Mariners’ team ERA (2.06) is the best in the league.
In the West Division, the Hyannis Harbor Hawks are in first place with a 5-2-1 record. The league’s best offensive team with 43 runs scored and a team OPS of .770, Hyannis is the only club in the West above .500 after the first week. Harbor Hawks’ second baseman Chris Rembert leads the league in OPS at 1.430 and is tied for the league lead in homers with three.
There was only one day without games during the first week, but it wasn’t quite an off day. On Wednesday, all ten Cape League teams travelled to Fenway Park in Boston for the league’s annual Fenway Day workout. Players completed infield and outfield drills and took batting practice in front of Major League scouts.
Another highlight of the week came on Friday when Red Shirt Friday returned around the league in partnership with the Massachusetts State Lottery. The home teams wore red uniforms to honor military personnel and first responders.
Cotuit Kettleers’ outfielder Andrew Wiggins traded in his bat for his saxophone on Saturday night. Wiggins, a talented musician, performed the National Anthem in front of the Lowell Park crowd before getting on base three times in the game.
This coming week on Wednesday, the division leaders Brewster and Hyannis will meet at McKeon Park for a showdown between the league’s best.
(Featured image by Sydney Ciardi)
