Dominant Pitching Carries Over From 2010 Season

By- Will Gasson

After last season’s lights out pitching performances from Grayson Garvin, who led the Braves to the fifth best team ERA in 2010, many were wondering how the 2011 pitching staff would perform. The Tampa Bay Rays drafted Garvin in the 2011 MLB draft, leaving a large window of opportunity for new hurlers to emerge into the Bourne spot light.

They have not disappointed.

The 2011 Braves pitching staff has combined for the second best team ERA in the CCBL (1.79), while holding opposing teams to a .230 batting average. Bourne pitching has also compiled 106 strikeouts in 2011, while only allowing a league best thirty-one walks, over 126.0 innings.

Bourne has many pitchers to thank for such an impressive start; namely Chris Pickering (Rhode Island), Ryan Eades (LSU), and Slade Smith (Auburn), all of whom are ranked amongst the top ten pitchers in the league.

Pickering has shined so far this summer, hurling 16.2 innings for Bourne over three starts. Pickering is ranked second in the CCBL in ERA, boasting a nearly untouchable 0.54 earned run average. The URI standout has only allowed fourteen hits in his three starts, while only surrendering one run. He has also managed nine strikeouts and allowed only four walks.

Chris picked up his first win of the season on Sunday night as the Braves upset Western Division leader Hyannis Harbor Hawks by a score of 5-0. Pickering allowed seven hits, struck out four batters over 5.2 innings pitched in the upset.

Ryan Eades has been keeping pace with Pickering this summer as he ranks third overall in ERA in the CCBL. Eades has compiled 0.64 earned run average over 14 innings pitched in three starts for the Braves. Eades has only allowed seven hits this summer and has surrendered only one earned run. The LSU Tiger has also managed eleven K’s while only allowing 3 three walks over his first three starts. Eades, like Pickering, is also 1-0 in the young 2011 season with two early season no-decisions.

The final Brave amongst the top ten pitchers in the CCBL is Auburn Tiger Slade Smith. Smith has had Bourne fans screaming “War Eagle” as he takes the hill, a sign of respect to the University of Auburn’s athletic teams. Smith boasts a 1.20 ERA coming out of the Bourne bullpen, pitching fifteen innings in six total games in 2011. Smith has allowed ten hits and three runs (two earned) this summer, while boasting eight strikeouts, and only allowing two walks.

Bourne has also seen great pitching from hurlers John Farrell (William and Mary), Kyle Brady (Clemson) and RJ Alvarez (Florida Atlantic), all of whom have contributed to the Braves second ranked pitching staff.

The Braves will be back in action Tuesday as they travel to Harwich in search of their seventh win of the season. Game scheduled to begin at 7pm.