Gavin Kelly shines in Cape Cod, propelling his team to a championship

West Virginia’s Gavin Kelly capped off a standout summer in the Cape Cod Baseball League, leading the Bourne Braves to a league championship. 

Kelly earned his spot in the nation’s most competitive summer collegiate league after a strong freshman campaign at WVU. His role with the Braves was similar to what he saw with the Mountaineers. 

This summer, He logged innings at second base, all three outfield positions, and catcher. He spent the most time in left field at 60 innings. 

With the departure of the former WVU backstop Logan Sauve, now in the pros, Kelly is expected to spend more time behind the plate next spring. In 56.2 innings, he caught seven runners stealing in 14 attempts in the Cape.

At the plate, Kelly remained consistent, slashing .275/.357/.314 with one home run, 16 RBIs, and nine stolen bases. But it was the postseason where he broke out. 

As the Braves’ leadoff hitter, he totaled a .375 batting average, drove in 12 runs, and saved his only season home run for the biggest moment– a 397-foot shot in the championship clinching game. 

He delivered in the semifinals, sending the Braves to the championship with a walk-off single in a thrilling 12-inning contest on Aug 10.

In game one of the championship series, Kelly showed the Cape Cod league his WVU roots as he stole home, extending the team’s lead to 5-1 in the fourth inning.

“I had an aggressive lead. The third baseman was off. It was a left-handed pitcher. He never came set,” Kelly said after the game. “His focus point was completely at first base, and it was long enough that I could get home safely.”

With his breakout summer finished, Kelly is poised to take a larger role at WVU next spring, anchoring the lineup and battery.

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