Writers’ Player of the Game vs Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox: Cam Smith
By: Matt Coates
For the sixth time this season, Hyannis Harbor Hawks superstar Cam Smith is our Writer’s Player of the Game.
Smith is no longer just a Harbor Hawks superstar, as he is easily a Cape Cod Baseball League superstar at this point. He is third in the entire league in batting average, fourth in home runs, and fifth in RBIs. Not to mention, Smith leads the league in both at-bats and hits this season. Smith was an All-Star starter at third base, and very well may be in the league MVP discussion when this season ends.
The Harbor Hawks got up at the crack of dawn to travel to Hartford, Connecticut for a game at Dunkin’ Park, home of the Colorado Rockies Double-A affiliate Hartford Yard Goats.
“It was awesome,” Smith said. “I was looking around the stadium the whole game just soaking it all in.”
Smith was not going to take this opportunity to play in a professional ballpark for granted, going 4-5 with two extra-base hits and two RBIs.
“Hopefully one day I’ll get to play [at Dunkin’ Park],” Smith said. “Whether I’m on the [Yard Goats] or playing against them, I hope to play at this level.”
All Harbor Hawk fans are rooting for Smith to get that opportunity, but he has an even greater support system cheering him on. “Cam’s Crew” has been in full effect this summer, traveling to the Cape to watch and cheer on Smith through this phenomenal summer he has been having.
“It means everything,” Smith said. “It’s really my only motivation is just to make [my family] proud.”
It would have been hard not to be proud of Smith in Wednesday’s game against the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, as he wasted no time making an impact. Smith helped Zach Ehrhard advance to third on a single to centerfield in the bottom of the first inning, putting a runner in scoring position for Zach Yorke to drive in. In Smith’s next at-bat, he ripped a double to left field to lead off the fourth inning. He rounded the bases to score later in that inning.
Smith had another single in the fifth inning, this time with two outs. However, his big blast came in the bottom of the sixth inning. Smith took one on a ride to right centerfield, hitting the grass just shy of the warning track. That shot allowed Nick Mitchell to waltz his way in from second base and Ehrhard to hustle in all the way from first, giving Smith two RBIs with one swing of the bat.
This is Smith’s sixth Writer’s Player of the Game Award, and he earns it with six games left in the regular season. Luckily for us fans, the Hawks have clinched a playoff berth, so we are guaranteed two extra games in the form of playoff baseball.
Hopefully, Hyannis stays hot and earns some home playoff games, and Smith can continue his success to finish off the summer.
Matt Coates can be reached at coatesm@misericordia.edu or followed on Twitter @MattCoates14
