Photo Courtesy Bourne Braves
Better late than never. Cliche? Yes. story of the summer for Buckeye All-American pitcher Alex Wimmers in his time in the prestigeous Cape Cod Baseball League? Yes.
You can't fault Wimmers for the tardiness in making his first start as a Bourne Brave, he spent two weeks in late June competing for a spot on Team USA's collegiate roster which is an OK excuse. It wasn't in the cards for the ace to be selected as one of the 22 college players to represent the Red, White, and Blue of America, but the Red, White, and Blue of the Bourne Braves will gladly have him on their team.
Wimmers made his CCBL debut July 5th against the Wareham Gateman. Ironically, though it was a game played in the heart of New England, a quick glance at the box score would have made it seem like another day in mid-April as Indiana University's Blake Monar was on the mound for the opposing Gatemen. Wimmers topped Monar and the Hoosiers on their Florida trip, winning 2-0 in a complete game shutout, while Monar gained a bit of revenge defeating the Buckeyes during the Big Ten Tournament. In the rubber match Wimmers would take the upperhand.
Coming in to pitch the 6th and 7th innings was the right-handed flamethrower from Cincinnati Moeller. Wimmers who finished the 2009 season third all-time in single season strikeouts, and in the top 5 nationally, continued a to make opposing hitters look foolish. Wimmers would strike out two batters over the two innings, he would allow a two-out solo home run off the bat of Shea Vucinich in the 6th, but responded with a perfect 7th inning, that included a induced ground out off the bat of Indiana and Big Ten Freshman of the Year Alex Dickerson. Wimmers and the Braves would win 8-5.
Wimmers return to the mound for an inning July 8th, as the Braves faced off against the Falmouth Commodores. Alex tossed a one walk, one strike out performance in pitching the 6th inning as the Braves would win 3-1.
After two solid outings in relief pitching, allowing one run in three innings, following a traditional five days length of rest, Wimmers made his debut in the Bourne rotation. The calendar showed July 13th, the opponent was the Orleans Firebirds, and the Big Ten Pitcher of the Year finally show the rest of the collegiate world what those in Columbus and cities across the Midwest knew. The Bucks have one of the nations best.
Wimmers pitched five very solid innings Monday night in a no decision, Braves loss. Wimmers allowed a solo home run to start the 4th, it would be just one of the two hits he allowed on the night. Three Firebirds reached base on walks, but six went down as strike out victims, a situation all too familiar for opposing hitters facing Wimmers. The box score for the night.
Wimmers numbers on the year after his first start are: 8 innings pitched, 3 hits, 2 earn runs, 4 walks, 11 strike outs. Oh and opponents are batting .111 off of the All-American.
After as fine of a season as you'll see out of a sophomore, to receive an invite to the Team USA trials, to come out on fire in the Cape, it appears the sky is the limit for Wimmers. This coming from someone who no-hit Michigan, it appears Wimmers might now just be scratching his potential. The Buckeyes as Big Ten Championships will be getting everyone's best shot, with a bullseye and microscope on Wimmers. With the way he's thrown against the cream of the crop, don't expect Wimmers to lose sleep over it as he anchors the Buckeyes in 2010.
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