Every Thursday (or Friday before the games), the Braves Blog will (as objectively as possible) rank the league's teams. The criteria is a combination of team statistics, overall record, and how the team has done in the past week in particular. Think of the general rule as follows: Which team would you want your team to play the least right now (no. 1) to the team that would be the most appealing to play (no. 10).
NOTE: Because Thursday is typically a scheduled off day for the CCBL, that is when the week is considered to begin for the power rankings
1. Hyannis (11-5, first in Western)
Three straight weeks, and still no change at the top, even though the Harbor Hawks didn't have as good of a week as usual. Parity was the theme of the last seven days, and having the best record and finishing the week on a two-game winning streak was good enough for the top spot. An easier next couple games ahead — a Friday night fight with Chatam and a home-and-home against YD stand out — could get the team's offense back on track after scoring a mere 2 runs during a three-game losing streak last week.
2. Harwich (10-6, first in Eastern)
The Mariners five-game winning streak was finally snapped last week, and the squad actually finished the week having lost two straight games (hence Hyannis' hold on the top spot). In the scope of the whole season, Harwich has won despite having underachieved on offense, recording the fewest hits in the league (101) and possessing the second worst team batting average (.214). Darnell Sweeney (Central Florida) is making an impact in his first seven games with the team though, already having recorded 5 RBI and an unthinkable .381 average.
3. Falmouth (8-9, fourth in Western)
It seems ludicrous that the fourth-best team in what was initially thought to be the much worse conference would be this high. But for once in baseball, that number lies. The Commodores are 8-2 in the team's last ten games, and in the team's last five victories they have given up more than 2 runs just once. Falmouth also had the Week 2 Coca-Cola Pitcher of the Week Joe Bircher (Bradley), well deserved since he has 25 strikeouts in 16 innings this year, and in three starts has recorded a 2.25 ERA. Expect success to continue at Arnie Allen Diamond for the foreseeable future.
4. Brewster (8-6-1, second in Eastern)
The team with arguably the best offensive potential in the CCBL is finally putting together wins, recording victories its last three games. The Whitecaps have the league's two best hitters by average, Andrew Toles (Tennessee) and Taylor Davis (Morehead State) who are hitting .383 and .381 respectively. The Independence Day week slate is a test for Brewster though, with two games against Orleans and tonight's game against Falmouth.
5. Orleans (8-7-1, third in Eastern)
Just 2-4 over the last week, the Firebirds gave up at least three runs in all of the team's losses, but still have the league's best ERA (1.87). Essentially, the last week should be an anomaly, and expect them to come back during the important Fourth of July stretch. Ben Waldrip (Jacksonville) grabbed Week 2 Player of the Week likely because he's tied for the league lead in home runs (3) and is tied for third in the CCBL in RBI with 10. His teammate Steve Selsky (Arizona) also has 10 RBI in 15 games.
6. Wareham (8-8, second in Western)
The Gatemen will see a lot of the rival Braves in the next week, with four games against Bourne in 9 days. The first match already took place (an 8-4 victory for Wareham), but the next three will be important in solving the close Western race. Robert Refsnyder (Arizona) leads the league in triples (3) and is one of four Wareham hitters batting above .300. Pitching has been decent for the Gatemen too, and the team leads the league with three complete games.
7. Bourne (7-7-2, third in Western)
The Braves continue to get better, and considering the lack of separation the Western (three teams currently have 16 points), this team could be near the top next week. An 8-4 loss to Wareham ended an otherwise good week in Bourne in which the team went 4-0-1 behind good pitching. Currently, the Braves lead the league in shutouts, holding teams scoreless 4 times in 2011. On offense, Jason Coats (TCU) is a mainstay in the essential three-spot, and leads the team in batting average (.333) and doubles (4).
8. Yarmouth-Dennis (7-8-2, fourth in Eastern)
Probably the worst of the four teams that currently have 16 points in the CCBL, the Red Sox have won 3 games out of its last 10. Even worse news for YD, the next four games are against the Power Ranking's top three teams, including a home-and-home with Hyannis. Still, the Sox are in the Eastern race (and currently in the playoffs thanks to Chatam), but need to quell the team's pitching woes. Its 152 hits given up are the worst in the league, as is its .274 average against.
9. Chatam (5-10-1, fifth in Eastern)
1-4 in its last five games isn't what the Anglers need to climb back into the playoff hunt, and games in the coming week against Harwich and Hyannis probably won't help either. Neither the offense or defense is terrible in Chatam, but neither are overwhelming. Only one player that's played in a majority of the team's games has an average over .300, and the only starter with four games started (Wake Forest's Tim Cooney) has an ERA of 7.13.
10. Cotuit (5-11-1, fifth in Western)
The Kettleers are just 2-8 in the team's last 10 games, perplexing considering its offense. Hitting .257 as a team, second in the CCBL, and possessing two of the league's best hitters Kyle Wren (Georgia Tech) and Victor Roache (Georgia Southern). But even the best offense needs a good defense, and that hasn't been provided from the pitchers. They're the only team in the league with a staff ERA over 4, despite the work of Bobby Wahl (Ole Miss), who has 16 strikeouts in 8.2 innings of bullpen work this year.
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