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2012 Early Look: Bourne Braves

TeamLogo_Bourne2003.jpgBourne Braves
Manager: Harvey Shapiro
2011 Record: 22-20-2

With its run of championships, the Yarmouth Dennis Red Sox were the team of the last decade, but if you’re looking at just the past few years, I don’t know if anybody’s been as successful as the Bourne Braves. The Braves won just nine games in 2006, but since then, they’ve posted winning records every year, and they won a championship in 2009.

Last year, though they weren’t at the very top of the division, they were two games over .500 and were a playoff threat. They also had the MVP — Travis Jankowski — for the second time in three years.

With Doran Park looking better and better every year, the Braves are turning into one of the league’s top franchises, and with the roster they’re fielding this year, there’s no reason to think they won’t take another step forward.

In a cursory evaluation of all the rosters when they came out, I thought Bourne had the most talent. When you bring back the pitcher of the year and probably the top freshman on the Cape last year, you’ve got a pretty good head start. We’ll see how it all shakes out. Things could change, but with Harvey Shapiro at the helm, the Braves have proven they can win in a variety of ways. I wouldn’t bet against them.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 4
Juniors: 2
Sophomores: 20
Freshmen: 6

Notable

  • Last year was kind of a weird year for pitchers on the Cape, a year in which nobody seemed to be the total package. But regardless of the landscape, Ryan Eades stood out. He allowed three earned runs in seven starts for an ERA of 0.84. If he does make it back to the Cape as expected, he’ll be the first returning Pitcher of the Year since Terry Doyle in 2007.

  • Eades and North Carolina’s Colin Moran would make a heck of a returning nucleus. Moran was the ACC Freshman of the Year and had a solid summer with Bourne. There’s been no sophomore slump either. He’s hitting .389 this year.

  • Moran’s teammate Tommy Coyle, another returnee, hasn’t put up the best numbers this spring, but he has also started every game, a hint at what he brings to the table. He was great for Bourne last summer, and I could see him coming up big again this year.

  • Ryne Stanek had just a cameo with Bourne last year, pitching in three games and then spending some time with Team USA. Stanek was a third-round pick out of high school and has been great for Arkansas this spring. The Braves would love to see more of him this summer.
  • Louisville’s Jeffrey Thompson will be back in New England after earning New England Collegiate Baseball League Top Prospect honors last summer. That’s five years in a row that the NECBL top prospect has been on a Cape roster the next year. They haven’t always made it to the Cape, but they’ve always been on a roster. Thompson struck out 68 in 50 innings last summer, so Bourne is certainly hoping he makes it.

  • The Bourne pitching staff might make a pretty good basketball team if the whole baseball thing doesn’t work out. The Braves have three pitchers who are 6’4, three who are 6’6, one who’s 6’7 and one who’s 6’8.

  • Sometimes, Cape pitching staffs are populated by guys who did a lot of relief work in the spring. Bourne has its share of those guys, but also has five starters who have put together very good seasons. That could be another leg up for the Braves.

  • If you haven’t heard the story of future Bourne outfielder Kevin Jordan and his Wake Forest coach, Tom Walter, go ahead and read this. Jordan needed a kidney transplant last year, and his coach was the donor.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Colin Moran
    2. Ryan Eades
    3. Ryne Stanek
    4. Jeffrey Thompson
    5. Chris Harvey

    Pitchers

    Hawtin Buchanan – RHP – 6’8 245 – Ole Miss – Freshman
    Dan Child – RHP – 6’4 225 – Oregon State – Sophomore
    *Ryan Eades – RHP – 6’2 189 – LSU – Sophomore
    Chad Green – RHP – 6’4 210 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Jon Keller – RHP – 6’6 225 – Nebraska – Sophomore
    Tyler King – LHP – 6’0 190 – Nebraska – Sophomore
    Jaron Long – RHP – 6’0 180 – Ohio State – Sophomore
    Brandon Moore – RHP – 6’3 228 – Arkansas – Sophomore
    Javier Reynoso – LHP – 5’11 190 – Coastal Carolina – Freshman
    Tyler Skulina – RHP – 6’6 225 – Kent State – Sophomore
    *Ryne Stanek – RHP – 6’4 180 – Arkansas – Sophomore
    Shane Taylor – RHP – 6’1 185 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    Jeffrey Thompson – RHP – 6’6 240 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Brian Ward – LHP – 6’3 185 – Connecticut – Sophomore
    Patrick Young – RHP – 6’7 208 – Villanova – Sophomore

    Hawtin Buchanan – RHP – 6’8 245
    Ole Miss
    Freshman

    A towering presence on the mound, Buchanan was a 19th-round draft pick out of high school. At Ole Miss, he’s pitched very well out of the bullpen as a freshman, posting a 3.06 ERA and 29 strikeouts against only eight walks in 17.2 innings.

    Dan Child – RHP – 6’4 225
    Oregon State
    Sophomore

    Child was a late-round pick out of high school and saw only limited action with the Beavers in 2011. But after earning all-star honors as a reliever in the Northwoods League last summer, Child has become an ace in Corvallis this spring. Pitching as a starter, he’s 5-3 with a 2.55 ERA. He has struck out 75 in 91.2 innings.

    Ryan Eades – RHP – 6’2 189
    LSU
    Sophomore

    A 19th-round pick out of high school in 2010, Eades didn’t have great overall numbers as a freshman with the Tigers, but he pitched well near the end of last season. Then came the summer, when Eades carried that momentum into a huge season with the Braves. Eades went 3-0 with a 0.84 ERA and earned Cape Cod League pitcher of the year honors. This spring, Eades has been solid again. He’s 5-2 with a 3.75 ERA.

    Chad Green – RHP – 6’4 210
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    Green has been a standout reliever for two seasons running with the Cardinals. He had a 1.93 ERA in 21 appearances last year, and he has a 2.41 ERA in 20 games this year. He has struck out 37 in 37.1 innings.

    Jon Keller – RHP – 6’6 225
    Nebraska
    Sophomore

    Keller was an 11th round pick out of high school and jumped into Nebraska’s weekend rotation immediately last year. He ended up going 3-6 with a 3.62 ERA. This year has been more of a struggle. Keller is 4-1 but had an ERA of 5.37.

    Tyler King – LHP – 6’0 190
    Nebraska
    Sophomore

    Kind was a standout reliever for the Huskers last season, but like his teammate Keller, he’s had his struggles this season. He currently has a 5.40 ERA. Still, King had been a key part of the bullpen and leads the team in appearances.

    Jaron Long – RHP – 6’0 180
    Ohio State
    Sophomore

    The son of New York Yankees hitting coach Kevin Long, Jaron Long is making his mark on the mound rather than at the plate. Long is 6-2 and he leads the Buckeyes with a 2.29 ERA. Though he has struck out only 61 in 98.1 innings, he’s also walked just 12.

    Brandon Moore – RHP – 6’3 228
    Arkansas
    Sophomore

    Moore pitched as both a starter and a reliever last season, and had success regardless of what he was doing. He finished the year with a 3.45 ERA. This year, with the focus almost solely on the bullpen, Moore has been even better. He’s got a 2.61 ERA to go with 29 strikeouts and just four walks in 58.2 innings.

    Javier Reynoso – LHP – 5’11 190
    Coastal Carolina
    Freshman

    A 39th-round pick out of high school last year, Reynoso has put together a solid freshman season for the Chanticleers. He’s 2-2 with a 3.96 ERA.

    Tyler Skulina – RHP – 6’6 225
    Kent State
    Sophomore

    An Ohio high-school star, Skulina started his career at Virginia before transferring back to his home state. After sitting out last year, Skulina is 8-2 this season with a 4.14 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 76 innings pitched. Out of high school, Skulina was drafted in the 46th round.

    Ryne Stanek – RHP – 6’4 180
    Arkansas
    Sophomore

    Stanek was a third-round pick in the 2010 draft so he came to Arkansas with considerable hype. He was solid as a freshman, then spent time with Bourne and with Team USA last summer. This spring, Stanek has become the ace the Razorbacks hoped they were getting. He’s 6-3 with a 2.99 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 69.1 innings.

    Shane Taylor – RHP – 6’1 185
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    Taylor pitched well out of the bullpen as a freshman and has been even better with a year under his belt. Taylor ranks third on the team in appearances with 24 and is 5-0 with a 3.09 ERA. He has struck out 31 in 35 innings.

    Jeffrey Thompson – RHP – 6’6 240
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    Thompson pitched mostly out of the bullpen as a freshman last year but then turned a lot of heads in the New England Collegiate Baseball League, where he took home the top pro prospect award after striking out 68 in 50 innings pitched. Thompson has been impressive again this spring, going 9-2 for UofL with a 3.64 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 71.2 innings.

    Brian Ward – LHP – 6’3 185
    Connecticut
    Sophomore

    Ward saw a ton of action as a freshman last year and put up good numbers, finishing with an ERA just over three. This year has been a bit of struggle, with Ward sitting at 3-4 with a 5.96 ERA.

    Patrick Young – RHP – 6’7 208
    Villanova
    Sophomore

    Another towering presence for the Braves, Young has been the leader of Nova’s rotation this season. He’s 6-4 right now with a 4.25 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 78 innings.

    Position Players

    Will Allen – C – 6’3 218 – Ole Miss – Sophomore
    *Tommy Coyle – INF – 5’9 170 – North Carolina – Junior
    Josh Dezse – 1B/RHP – 6’5 220 – Ohio State – Sophomore
    Trent Gilbert – INF – 6’1 175 – Arizona – Freshman
    Chris Harvey – C – 6’5 215 – Vanderbilt – Freshman
    Kevin Jordan – OF – 6’1 191 – Wake Forest – Freshman
    Chase McDonald – 1B – 6’4 255 – East Carolina – Sophomore
    *Colin Moran – 3B – 6’3 180 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    Aaron Payne – INF – 5’11 175 – Oregon – Sophomore
    Jordan Patterson – OF/LHP – 6’4 206 – South Alabama – Sophomore
    Dario Pizzano – OF – 5’11 200 – Columbia – Junior
    Jack Reinheimer – SS – 6’0 170 – East Carolina – Sophomore
    Mason Robbins – OF/LHP – 6’1 200 – Southern Mississippi – Freshman

    Will Allen – C – 6’3 218
    Ole Miss
    Sophomore

    After getting some time as a freshman and hitting .227, Allen has become one of the top players for the Rebels this spring. He ranks fourth on the team with a .329 batting average, and he’s also totaled 13 extra-base hits.

    Tommy Coyle – INF – 5’9 170
    North Carolina
    Junior

    Coyle is a veteran presence for the Tar Heels, and he has a strong track record, which includes a stop on Cape Cod. Coyle played for Bourne last year and was one of the team’s top hitters, finishing with a .315 average and eight extra-base hits. This spring, Coyle has slumped a bit and is hitting .245, but he has still started every game for the Heels and has shown some pop with 14 extra-base hits.

    Josh Dezse – 1B/RHP – 6’5 220
    Ohio State
    Sophomore

    Desze burst onto the scene in Columbus last year, leading the team in hitting and saving six games on the mound. He has continued to shine this spring. He’s hitting .319 with five home runs and 31 RBI. On the mound, Dezse has saved seven games and has put up a 3.16 ERA.

    Trent Gilbert – INF – 6’1 175
    Arizona
    Freshman

    Gilbert was drafted in the 40th round out of high school but stuck with his commitment to Arizona and has made an immediate impact for the Wildcats. Gilbert has started 48 of the team’s 49 games and is hitting .271.

    Chris Harvey – C – 6’5 215
    Vanderbilt
    Freshman

    Harvey followed in the footsteps of a handful of top prospects in recent years when he graduated high school early and started his college career. It’s been a bit of a struggle so far, with Harvey hitting only .229. Seven of his 16 hits have gone for extra-bases.

    Kevin Jordan – OF – 6’1 191
    Wake Forest
    Freshman

    Jordan was a 19th-round pick out of high school but missed all of last season after a kidney transplant. Back in action this year, Jordan is hitting .233 with a homer and 14 RBI.

    Chase McDonald – 1B – 6’4 255
    East Carolina
    Sophomore

    McDonald was one of the top freshman in Conference USA last year when he hit .314 with four home runs. McDonald is hitting .236 this year with three home runs.

    Colin Moran – 3B – 6’3 180
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    Moran was the ACC Freshman of the Year in 2011 and followed up his big debut with a good summer in Bourne. He hit .289 with a home run. This spring, it’s been more of the same for Moran, who continues to cement his status as one of the nation’s top sophomores. Moran is currently hitting .389 with three home runs and 34 RBI.

    Jordan Patterson – OF/LHP – 6’4 206
    South Alabama
    Sophomore

    Patterson is a two-way player for the Jaguars but does most of his damage at the plate, where he’s one of the top hitters in the Sun Belt Conference. Patterson is batting .313 with seven home runs, 14 doubles and a team-best 39 RBI. On the mound, Patterson has made six appearances, with an ERA of 3.60.

    Aaron Payne – INF – 5’11 175
    Oregon
    Sophomore

    Payne struggled in limited action last year, but he’s gotten a chance this year and has seized it. While starting every game for the Ducks, Payne has hit .289 with 10 extra-base hits.

    Dario Pizzano – OF – 5’11 200
    Columbia
    Junior

    Pizzano burst onto the scene for Columbia as a freshman, earning Ivy League Co-Freshman of the Year honors. He hasn’t slipped at all since then. Pizzano batted .359 with nine home runs as a sophomore. This year, he’s hitting .360 with four home runs and 36 RBI.

    Jack Reinheimer – SS – 6’0 170
    East Carolina
    Sophomore

    Like his teammate McDonald, Reinheimer had a strong freshman season with the Pirates and he’s been a key contributor again this year. Reinheimer is hitting .287 with two homers and 21 RBI.

    Mason Robbins – OF/LHP – 6’1 200
    Southern Mississippi
    Freshman

    Robbins was drafted in the 20th round out of high school this year, and has so far been the most successful member of Southern Mississippi’s vaunted recruiting class. Robbins ranks third on the team with a .328 average, and he ranks second on the team in RBI with 36. He has hit three home runs to go with 10 doubles.

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    2011 Early Look: Bourne Braves

    TeamLogo_Bourne2003.jpgBourne Braves
    Manager: Harvey Shapiro
    2010 Record: 24-20

    The last two years, Bourne has become very good at adjusting on the fly.

    Two seasons ago, their patched-together roster won the Cape League championship. Last season, the Braves looked like one of the top two or three most talented teams in the league in the preseason then had to deal with significant personnel losses.

    Still, Bourne went 24-20 and won the West Division regular-season title.

    That’s why it’s tough to figure out how the 2011 Braves stack up. They have some talent, but again they might lose some of it. Still, though, I’d never count them out.

    Looking at what they do have, the Braves will welcome back seven players from last year’s team, which is among the highest number in the league. All the pitchers coming back had strong summers, too, like R.J. Alvarez, Will Jolin and Michael Morin. Those experienced guys should carry the load for a staff that doesn’t have huge prospect hype.

    As for the offense, the Braves have some potential stars, like North Carolina freshman Colin Moran and Florida sophomore standouts Austin Maddox and Nolan Fontana. But all those players are also still alive in the NCAA tournament, meaning the Braves will have to adjust as much as any team in the league.

    But if anybody can do it, the Bourne Braves can.

    Roster Rundown
    Returning Players: 7
    Juniors: 0
    Sophomores: 19
    Freshmen: 7

    Notable

  • R.J. Alvarez will probably be happy to be back in Bourne. He’s had his struggles at Florida Atlantic but dominated out of the bullpen for the Braves last summer, emerging as one of the top relievers in the league.

  • We’ll see what happens with Clemson’s Kevin Brady. He was drafted in the 17th round earlier this week but he also might want to show the Indians what he can do this summer after battling injuries this spring. If he gets to Bourne and is healthy, he has the potential to be a top-flight pitcher.

  • Florida’s Austin Maddox was perhaps the best freshman in the nation a year ago. He was slated for Bourne last year but never made it. When I saw him on the roster again this year, I figured he was a shoo-in for Team USA, but he’s had somewhat of a sophomore slump — at least compared to what he did last year — and could certainly end up in Bourne. And he’d be looking for a resurgence

  • Nolan Fontana is another Florida kid I’d love to see. He committed four errors all of last season, and this year started to hit more on top of his stellar defense.

  • Ryne Stanek is among the highest unsigned picks from the 2010 draft. After a solid first season, he might be ready for big things this summer.

  • North Carolina’s Colin Moran hasn’t just been the best freshman hitter on the UNC squad — he’s been the best hitter period. Moran is UNC’s first ACC Freshman of the Year since Dustin Ackley, and he’s now chasing Ackley’s freshman RBI record.

  • Travis Jankowski seized the day last summer when he was a late sign by the Braves. He continued his success in his sophomore season and will be trying to have another good summer in Bourne. This time, he’ll be doing it from day one.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Austin Maddox
    2. Nolan Fontana
    3. Colin Moran
    4. Kevin Brady
    5. Ryne Stanek

    Pitchers

    *R.J. Alvarez – RHP – 6’1 200 – Florida Atlantic – Sophomore
    *Kevin Brady – RHP – 6’3 200 – Clemson – RS Sophomore
    Ryan Connolly – RHP – 6’0 180 – Coastal Carolina – Sophomore
    Josh Conway – RHP 6’1 175 – Coastal Carolina – Sophomore
    Ryan Eades – RHP – 6′ 2 189 – LSU – Freshman
    John Farrell – RHP – 6’2 210 – William & Mary – Sophomore
    Chad Green – RHP – 6’4 200 – Louisville – Freshman
    *Will Jolin – RHP – 6’3 205 – UConn – Sophomore
    *Michael Morin – RHP – 6’4 180 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    Daryl Norris – RHP – 6’1 220 – Mississippi State – Freshman
    *R.C. Orlan – LHP – 6’0 175 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    Slade Smith – RHP – 6’2 178 – Auburn – Sophomore
    Ryne Stanek – RHP – 6’4 180 – Arkansas – Freshman
    Brian Ward – LHP – 6’3 185 – UConn – Freshman
    Alex Wood – LHP – 6’4 216 – Georgia – Sophomore

    R.J. Alvarez – RHP – 6’1 200
    Florida Atlantic
    Sophomore

    Alvarez has flashed electric stuff since day one at Florida Atlantic but hasn’t posted great numbers there. Last summer in Bourne, though, he was lights out. After posting an ERA over five last spring, he came to Bourne and dominated out of the bullpen, putting up a 0.79 ERA and striking out 29 in 22.2 innings. He was one of the top relievers in the league, earned a spot in the All-Star Game and was named the league’s 26th-best prospect by Baseball America. Back at FAU this spring, he moved into the rotation with mixed results — he went 6-6 with a 5.23 ERA but did strike out 72 in 74 innings.

    Kevin Brady – RHP – 6’3 200
    Clemson
    RS Sophomore

    Brady had some great peripheral numbers as a redshirt freshman for the Tigers last year, then had an ERA of 0.96 in nine relief appearances on the Cape. He wasn’t fully healthy this spring for the Tigers, but still showed off his swing-and-miss stuff, striking out 33 in 23.1 innings and walking just one. He was drafted in the 17th round this week by Cleveland.

    Ryan Connolly – RHP – 6’0 180
    Coastal Carolina
    Sophomore

    Connolly was a dynamic and very busy reliever for the Chants as a freshman, pitching in 40 games with a 2.15 ERA and 48 strikeouts. He was a little less busy this year, but just as good. Connolly pitched in 32 games, posting a 2.79 ERA and striking out 36. He also had three saves.

    Josh Conway – RHP – 6’1 175
    Coastal Carolina
    Sophomore

    Conway was solid as a freshman and was even better this year. As a sophomore, he made 20 appearances — 12 starts — and went 8-2 with a 2.69 ERA. He struck out 70 in 77 innings of work.

    Ryan Eades – RHP – 6′ 2 189
    LSU
    Freshman

    Eades was a 19th-round pick out of high school and had a decent debut with the Tigers. He finished with a 4-1 record, a 4.81 ERA and 31 strikeouts.

    John Farrell – RHP – 6’2 210
    William & Mary
    Sophomore

    Farrell had a strong freshman season a year ago, saving six games and posting an ERA of 3.99. His ERA jumped to 6.55 this year and he didn’t record a save. He did strike out 26 in 22 innings.

    Chad Green – RHP – 6’4 200
    Louisville
    Freshman

    Green was a 37th-rounder out of high school last year and turned in a very strong first season in Louisville. Pitching out of the bullpen, Green had a team-best 1.93 ERA. He struck out 23 in 42 innings and opponents hit just .217 against him.

    Will Jolin – RHP – 6’3 205
    UConn
    RS Sophomore

    Jolin transferred to UConn from Florida and sat out last season. When he finally got some work with Bourne, he was solid, starting seven games and putting up a 2.60 ERA. This spring, Jolin has been a valuable reliever for the Huskies on their run to the super regionals. Jolin is 2-2 with a 3.76 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 38.1 innings.

    Michael Morin – RHP – 6’4 180
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    As a freshman, Morin made 24 appearances and though he had an ERA over five, he struck out better than a batter an inning. This year, Morin has kept his ERA in the fours and has saved eight games for the Tar Heels. He has once again struck out more than a batter per inning. In between his two years in Chapel Hill, Morin pitched as a starter for Bourne last summer and had a 3.29 ERA.

    Daryl Norris – RHP – 6’1 220
    Mississippi State
    Freshman

    A late-round pick out of high school, Norris has been one of the most solid arms in the Mississippi State bullpen as a freshman. He’s pitched in 12 games and put up a 2.49 ERA, striking out 19 in 25.1 innings.

    R.C. Orlan – LHP – 6’0 175
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    Orlan has been a solid situational reliever throughout his UNC career. This year, he’s made 30 appearances and has put up a 3.77 ERA. Last summer for Bourne, Orlan had a 1.62 ERA out of the bullpen.

    Slade Smith – RHP – 6’2 178
    Auburn
    Sophomore

    After an up-and-down freshman year, Smith went 2-2 this season for the Tigers with an ERA of 5.83.

    Ryne Stanek – RHP – 6’4 180
    Arkansas
    Freshman

    Stanek was a third-round pick out of high school last year but still honored his commitment to Arkansas. Immediately tabbed as one of the top freshmen in the country, Stanek had a pretty good debut season. He went 4-2 with a 3.94 ERA and struck out 41 in 64 innings.

    Brian Ward – LHP – 6’3 185
    UConn
    Freshman

    Ward has been a key contributor to UConn’s pitching staff since day one. He’s made 10 starts as a freshman and has been very solid, putting up a 6-1 record and a 3.28 ERA.

    Alex Wood – LHP – 6’4 216
    Georgia
    Sophomore

    Wood spent most of his freshman season on the shelf after Tommy John surgery. He came back strong this year, though, pitching over 100 innings as a weekend starter. He finished with a 4.44 ERA and 79 strikeouts.

    Position Players

    Zach Alvord – INF – 6’0 173 – Auburn – Freshman
    Johnny Bladel – OF – 6’1 190 – James Madison – Sophomore
    Garrett Cannizaro – INF – 6’0 185 – Tulane – Sophomore
    Tommy Coyle – INF – 5’9 170 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    Blake Crohan – C – 5’11 170 – Tulane – Sophomore
    *Josh Elander – C/OF – 6′ 0 205 – TCU – Sophomore
    Nolan Fontana – INF – 5’11 190 – Florida – Sophomore
    *Travis Jankowski – OF – 6’3 185 – Stony Brook – Sophomore
    Austin Maddox – C – 6’3 225 – Florida – Sophomore
    Colin Moran – INF – 6’3 180 – North Carolina – Freshman
    Kamm Washington – OF – 5’10 180 – Florida – Sophomore

    Zach Alvord – INF – 6’0 173
    Auburn
    Freshman

    An 18th-round pick out of high school and Auburn’s top recruit, Alvord didn’t have a great first season with the Tigers. HE played in 35 games and hit .197. He could be primed for a turnaround this summer.

    Johnny Bladel – OF – 6’1 190
    James Madison
    Sophomore

    After hitting .324 as a freshman, Bladel did it all for James Madison this spring. On his way to all-conference honors, Bladel hit .360 with 12 doubles, five triples, four homers and 41 RBI. He also stole 26 bases. Last summer, Baseball America had Bladel as the seventh-best prospect in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League.

    Garrett Cannizaro – INF – 6’0 185
    Tulane
    Sophomore

    A C-USA all-freshman pick last year, Cannizaro hit a bit of a sophomore slump this year. He finished hitting .240 with no home runs and 30 RBI. Cannizaro was a 26th-round pick out of high school in 2009.

    Tommy Coyle – INF – 5’9 170
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    Coyle hit .282 last year, and this year ranks second to UNC and Bourne teammate Colin Moran for the team lead in batting average. Coyle is at .322 with two homers and 36 RBI. He’s also stolen 18 bases.

    Blake Crohan – C – 5’11 170
    Tulane
    Sophomore

    Like his teammate Cannizaro, Crohan was also an all-freshman pick last year before struggling with the bat this season. He hit .235 with two homers and 30 RBI.

    Josh Elander – C/OF – 6′ 0 205
    TCU
    Sophomore

    Elander was a Freshman All-American last spring but had his struggles in Bourne, finishing with a .186 average. He followed that up with a good sophomore season, finishing with a .333 average, five homers and 38 RBI.

    Nolan Fontana – INF – 5’11 190
    Florida
    Sophomore

    Fontana was a consensus Freshman All-America pick last season, in large part because of his wizardry with the glove. He committed just four errors while starting at shortstop all season and was named to the national Rawlings Gold Glove team. This year, Fontana has made a few more errors — 10 total — but he’s upped his batting average to .309 and smacked four home runs. Last summer, Fontana played for Team USA.

    Travis Jankowski – OF – 6’3 185
    Stony Brook
    Sophomore

    Jankowski was a late-season addition to the Braves last summer and made the most of his opportunity, hitting .346 in seven games. Back at Stony Brook this spring, Jankowksi had a huge year, hitting .355 with two homers and 38 RBI. He was a first-team all-conference pick.

    Austin Maddox – C/INF – 6’3 225
    Florida
    Sophomore

    A top prospect out of high school, Maddox had a huge first season in Gainesville, earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors after hitting .333 with 17 homers and 72 RBI. Maddox has slumped at times this year and is hitting .280 with six home runs.

    Colin Moran – INF – 6’3 180
    North Carolina
    Freshman

    From an undrafted high-schooler to the best hitter on one of the best teams in the country. That’s the journey Moran’s taken this year. He leads the Tar Heels in all the major offensive categories, hitting .335 with nine home runs, 19 doubles, 69 RBI and a .552 slugging percentage. Moran was recently named ACC Freshman of the Year.

    Kamm Washington – OF – 5’10 180
    Florida
    Sophomore

    Washington hit .308 in limited action as a freshman and has been solid with a little more playing time this year. Washington is hitting .284 with a homer and eight RBI.

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    Early Look: Bourne

    TeamLogo_Bourne2003.jpgBourne Braves
    Manager: Harvey Shapiro
    2009 Record: 25-17-2

    It would be difficult for these Bourne Braves to make their summer as special as last year’s Bourne Braves.

    For the first time in franchise history, the Braves won the Cape League championship. They did it in style, with league MVP Kyle Roller and a host of other talented players helping the Braves steamroll through the playoffs.

    The most amazing thing was that the Braves did it on the fly. Roller was draft-eligible and wasn’t even on the initial roster. He was the perfect representative for a team that had to make a lot of moves and made all the right ones. As long as it leads to the same ending, I’m sure the Braves staff wouldn’t mind having a little less excitement in that department. If that’s the case, they’ll be bringing a talented group across the bridges.

    Team identities don’t often carry over from one summer to the another, and that’ll probably be the case for the Braves, who only have three returning players. But one of them is Pierre LePage, who was one of the leaders on last year’s team. His presence can only help.

    Offensively, the Braves have a ton of potential. If he doesn’t go to Team USA, Anthony Rendon will be a shoo-in for the league’s top prospect honor. Players like Zack MacPhee, Ryan Wright, Austin Maddox and Daniel Bowman are also having outstanding seasons at the dish. The pitching staff doesn’t seem to be quite as deep, but Anthony Meo and several other starters have ace potential. And of course, in the Cape League, it’s probably better to have pitching as a question mark than hitting.

    All in all, I think the Braves have assembled a team that can certainly compete, just like their predecessors. Since winning nine games in 2006, the Braves have had a winning record every season. I think they’ll keep it up.

    Then they’ll shoot for something special.

    Roster Rundown
    Returning Players: 3
    Juniors: 2
    Sophomores: 17
    Freshmen: 9

    Notable

  • We can begin with Anthony Rendon, who probably deserves a separate category outside the “Five Players I’m Excited to See” grouping below. Because I’m really excited. He might be the best college hitting prospect since Mark Teixeira. It follows that if he makes it to the Cape, he’ll be the hitting prospect in the league since Teixeira. Unfortunately, there is an if at play, thanks to Rendon’s Team USA invite. But I’m really hoping we get to see him. The sophomore class is a talented one and Rendon sits at the head of it. I’ve read some suggestions that if Rendon were eligible for this year’s draft, he might go ahead of phenom Bryce Harper.

  • On to another Anthony who gets a special mention. Coastal Carolina’s Anthony Meo hails from Cranston, R.I., and for my real job, I covered him many times in his high school days. I can tell you he’s been a success from day one. I still remember his first varsity start. It was the state semifinals, and his team had lost its ace earlier in the playoffs. For a decisive game three of the semis, they gave the ball to Meo, then a wispy sophomore who had never pitched on varsity. He proceeded to throw a complete-game victory, and the rest was history. His team won the championship and the next year, he blossomed as a major prospect and almost threw a no-hitter in that championship. At Coastal, he’s become one of the best sophomore pitchers in the country.

  • Arizona State’s Zack MacPhee didn’t turn many heads with his statistics when he was in Bourne last summer. I think he will this time around. MacPhee is currently one of the best hitters in the Pac 10.

  • I think North Carolina’s Mike Morin will be good for the Braves, but his summer might be a little less eventful than last year. Pitching in the MINK League, one of the leagues that allows incoming freshmen to play, Morin earned top prospect honors and pitched so well that he caught the attention of North Carolina coaches. By the time his summer was over, his commitment to a junior college had turned into a commitment to the Tar Heels.

  • More than any other team with any other player, I think the Braves know what they’re getting in Pierre LePage — and they’ll be thrilled with it. He’s draft-eligible but if he ends up on the Cape, it’ll be his third summer with the Braves. He’s only 5’7 and he doesn’t have home run power, but every team would love to have him. In conversations about the top returning Cape Leaguers, you can’t forget LePage.

  • Austin Maddox is the early favorite to be the top freshman on the Cape. He was a major prospect coming out of high school but he slid in the draft because of his strong commitment to Florida. He is delivering eye-popping numbers this year.

  • It’ll be interesting to see who actually plays catcher for the Braves this year. Maddox is listed as a catcher but hasn’t played there much this year. Same for Josh Elander.

  • The Braves have a wealth of middle infielders, and they’re all good. Ryan Wright and Zack MacPhee are having All-American type seasons, and LePage is a mainstay. Nolan Fontana is having a great freshman year, Sam Mende has been solid in his two years at South Florida and Garrett Cannizaro is a highly-touted freshman. It’s going to be crowded.

  • This is pretty amazing. Bourne has four players who were the top prospects in other summer leagues last year, according to Baseball America: Morin in the MINK, Mississippi State pitcher Devin Jones in the NECBL, Coastal Carolina outfielder Daniel Bowman in the Valley League and Clemson pitcher Kevin Brady in the Cal Ripken Sr. League.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Anthony Rendon
    2. Zack MacPhee
    3. Austin Maddox
    4. Anthony Meo
    5. Ryan Wright

    Pitchers

    Kevin Brady – RHP – 6’2 190 – Clemson – RS Freshman
    Brian Busch – LHP – 6’2 237 – Florida State – Sophomore
    Garrett Bush – RHP – 6’5 178 – Auburn – Freshman
    *Michael Dimock – RHP – 6’2 177 – Wake Forest – Sophomore
    Grayson Garvin – LHP – 6’5 217 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
    Devin Jones -RHP – 6’3 170 – Mississippi State – Sophomore
    Tyler Joyner – LHP – 5’10 182 – East Carolina – Freshman
    Anthony Meo – RHP – 6’1 180 – Coastal Carolina – Sophomore
    Mike Morin – RHP – 6’4 180 – North Carolina – Freshman
    R.C. Orlan – LHP – 6’0 175 – North Carolina – Freshman
    Will Roberts – RHP – 6’4 205 – Virginia – Sophomore
    Chance Sossamon – RHP 6’2 185 – Wichita State – Sophomore
    Tony Zych – RHP – 6’3 175 – Louisville – Sophomore

    * – returning player
    (Stats as of May 2)

    Kevin Brady – RHP – 6’2 190
    Clemson
    Sophomore

    Brady was a 44th-round pick out of high school but only saw limited action last year before taking a medical redshirt. His injury didn’t hurt him in the summer, though. He posted a 1.53 ERA in the Cal Ripken Sr. League with two complete games and was named the league’s top prospect by Baseball America. He has pitched well as a reliever this spring, with a 3.22 ERA in 12 appearances. He has 25 strikeouts in 22.1 innings.

    Brian Busch – LHP – 6’2 237
    Florida State
    Sophomore

    Busch started his freshman campaign in the bullpen before working his way into the starting rotation and delivering a strong season. He finished with a 3.97 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 90.2 innings and earned Freshman All-America honors. This season, Busch is back in the bullpen and he’s currently 4-0 with a 3.20 ERA. In 39.1 innings, Busch has 37 strikeouts.

    Garrett Bush – RHP – 6’5 178
    Auburn
    Freshman

    Though he was a starting catcher in high school, Bush became a pitching prospect thanks to some relief appearances and the big arm he showed in those outings. Bush was drafted in the 15th round last year by the Orioles but opted not to sign. He has seen only limited action this year for Auburn, with just four innings pitched.

    Michael Dimock – RHP – 6’2 177
    Wake Forest
    Sophomore

    Dimock led the Demon Deacons in strikeouts and innings pitched as a freshman then had a solid summer with the Braves. He made nine appearances, eight out of the bullpen, and had a 3.42 ERA. He struck out 25 in 23.2 innings. This spring, Dimock is 2-7 with a 6.10 ERA. He leads the team in strikeouts with 50.

    Grayson Garvin – LHP – 6’5 217
    Vanderbilt
    Sophomore

    Garvin was a 45th round pick out of high school but saw limited action with Vanderbilt his freshman year and not much more action with Falmouth last year. Battling elbow pain, Garvin finally learned he had a stress fracture. It kept him out for part of the spring season, but he’s pitched well since returning. In five appearances, he hasn’t allowed an earned run. He has 13 strikeouts and just one walk in 10.2 innings.

    Devin Jones -RHP – 6’3 170
    Mississippi State
    Sophomore

    Jones battled injuries and some struggles in his freshman campaign with the Bulldogs, but he left them behind in a great summer. Pitching in the NECBL, Jones had a 2.79 ERA and struck out 35 in 29 innings. Baseball America picked him as the league’s top prospect. This spring, Jones has pitched out of the bullpen with mixed results. He has 24 strikeouts in 21.1 innings but also a 5.48 ERA.

    Tyler Joyner – LHP – 5’10 182
    East Carolina
    Freshman

    As one of the top high-school pitchers in North Carolina, Joyner came to East Carolina with some potential, but he hasn’t given himself the chance to live up to it. Joyner made one appearance in the first series of the season before getting suspended indefinitely along with another teammate for a violation of team policy.

    Anthony Meo – RHP – 6’1 180
    Coastal Carolina
    Sophomore

    Meo was a high-school star in Rhode Island and a 43rd-round pick in 2008. He has blossomed at Coastal Carolina, earning Freshman All-America honors last year before really emerging this season. At 9-1 with a 1.76 ERA, he’s among the national leaders in ERA. In 61.1 innings, he has struck out 58 and walked 23. Opponents are hitting .229 against him.

    Mike Morin – RHP – 6’4 180
    North Carolina
    Freshman

    Morin, a Kansas native, played in the MINK Collegiate League after his senior year of high school and made quite an impression. Baseball America tabbed him as the league’s top prospect and his performance earned him an offer from North Carolina. A 40th-round pick out of high school, Morin has pitched out of the bullpen in his freshman campaign. He’s got a 5.28 ERA but he’s also struck out 33 and walked only 10 in 30.2 innings.

    R.C. Orlan – LHP – 6’0 175
    North Carolina
    Freshman

    Orlan was a 44th-round pick out of high school, and he has pitched well in his first season with the Tar Heels. In 15 relief appearances, he has a 3.65 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 12.1 innings.

    Will Roberts – RHP – 6’4 205
    Virginia
    Sophomore

    Roberts has pitched as both a starter and a reliever for the Cavaliers this spring. In eight appearances, he has a 3.94 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 29.2 innings. Roberts pitched for Newport in the NECBL last summer and had a 1.00 ERA with 24 strikeouts and only three walks in 27 innings.

    Chance Sossamon – RHP 6’2 185
    Wichita State
    Sophomore

    Sossamon pitched as a reliever as a freshman with the Shockers and finished with more strikeouts than innings pitched. This season, Sossamon has made 17 relief appearances. While the strikeout numbers are still good — 25 in 23 innings — Sossamon’s ERA is sitting at 7.83.

    Tony Zych – RHP – 6’3 175
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    Zych was a 46th-round pick out of high school and he showed off his mid-90’s fastball in his first season with the Cards, going 6-2 with a 3.25 ERA and earning Freshman All-America honors. Zych pitched well for Team USA last summer but hasn’t had quite as much success this spring. He has struck out 37 and walked only 11 in 37 innings, but he’s also allowed 47 hits. He has an ERA of 6.45.

    Position Players

    Josh Elander – C/OF – 6’0 205 – TCU – Freshman
    Miles Hamblin – C – 6’0 188 – Mississippi – Junior
    Austin Maddox – C – 6’3 230 – Florida – Freshman
    Garrett Cannizaro – SS/2B – 6’0 185 – Tulane – Freshman
    Nolan Fontana – SS/2B – 5’11 190 – Florida – Freshman
    *Pierre LePage – INF – 5’8 165 – Connecticut – Junior
    *Zack MacPhee – SS/2B – 5’9 180 – Arizona State – Sophomore
    Sam Mende – SS – 6’3 195 – South Florida – Sophomore
    Anthony Rendon – 3B – 5’11 180 – Rice – Sophomore
    Travis Shaw – 3B/1B – 6’4 215 – Kent State – Sophomore
    Creede Simpson – INF/OF – 6’1 185 – Auburn – Sophomore
    Austin Stadler – 1B/LHP/OF – 6’2 207 – Wake Forest – Sophomore
    Ryan Wright – SS – 6’1 198 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Daniel Bowman – OF – 6’1 210 – Coastal Carolina – Sophomore
    Kameron Brunty – OF – 6’1 160 – Southern Mississippi – Sophomore

    * – returning player

    Josh Elander – C/OF – 6’0 205
    TCU
    Freshman

    A high-school standout in Texas, Elander got drafted in the 36th round last year but stuck with his commitment to TCU and is having a fantastic freshman season. He has played in every game and is hitting .383 with two homers, 12 doubles, four triples and 31 RBI. He has also stolen 10 bases.

    Miles Hamblin – C – 6’0 188
    Mississippi
    Junior

    Hamblin was an All-American last year at JUCO powerhouse Howard College, where he hit .429 with 17 home runs and helped Howard win the national championship. Hamblin hasn’t had as much statistical success in first season with the Rebels. He’s currently hitting .235, though he does have 11 extra-base hits.

    Austin Maddox – C – 6’3 230
    Florida
    Freshman

    Maddox was highly-touted out of high school and he’s becoming one of the nation’s best freshman in his first season in Gainesville. A 37th-round pick who slipped because of signability concerns, Maddox is hitting .350 with 13 home runs, 13 doubles and 50 RBI. He’s among the SEC leaders in all the major offensive categories.

    Garrett Cannizaro – SS/2B – 6’0 185
    Tulane
    Freshman

    Cannizaro is following in the footsteps of his brother Andy, who played for Tulane and saw some big league action. Garrett was a 26th-round pick out of high school but stuck with Tulane, where he’s having a pretty solid freshman season. He has started every game and he’s hitting .301 with three home runs.

    Nolan Fontana – SS/2B – 5’11 190
    Florida
    Freshman

    Like Maddox, Fontana is having a strong freshman season with the Gators. The numbers might not be as eye-popping, but Fontana has been a spark atop the lineup and is hitting .280 with an on-base percentage of .429. In the field, Fontana has been outstanding. He’s made just one error in 42 games.

    Pierre LePage – INF – 5’8 165
    Connecticut
    Junior

    LePage made his first Cape appearance in 2008 as a late-season addition. Given the chance, he has shined ever since. Last summer, he hit .308, stole 17 bases and was one of the driving forces in Bourne’s run to the league championship. This spring, LePage is hitting .316 for Connecticut with 22 steals.

    Zack MacPhee – SS/2B – 5’9 180
    Arizona State
    Sophomore

    MacPhee had a good freshman season and a not-so-good summer in Bourne last year. This year, he’s had one of the most dramatic coming-out parties in the nation. He opened up by hitting .727 with six extra-base hits in ASU’s season-opening series. Amazingly, he hasn’t cooled down much. He’s hitting .432 with eight home runs, 5 doubles and 12 triples. He leads the Sun Devils with 51 RBI.

    Sam Mende – SS – 6’3 195
    South Florida
    Sophomore

    Mende was an impact player as a freshman, starting every game at shortstop for the Bulls and hitting .319. This season, Mende is hitting .281 with three homers and 18 RBI. Mende was a 40th-round pick out of high school.

    Anthony Rendon – 3B – 5’11 180
    Rice
    Sophomore

    I don’t mean to sound like a broken record, but everything you read says Rendon is a really special player. This season, he’s right on pace with where you’d think he’d be. He’s hitting .378 with 14 home runs, nine doubles and 49 RBI. Last year, Rendon was probably the top freshman in the country when he hit .388 with 20 homers and 72 RBI. He was slated to play for Bourne and also had a Team USA invite, but he had to take the summer off because of an injury.

    Travis Shaw – 3B/1B – 6’4 215
    Kent State
    Sophomore

    Shaw was a 32nd round pick out of high school and had a solid freshman season at Kent State, hitting .331 with seven home runs while bouncing around the diamond. He’s settled into a full-time job this year and is again having success. He’s hitting .314 with 10 homers, 16 doubles and 42 RBI.

    Creede Simpson – INF/OF – 6’1 185
    Auburn
    Sophomore

    A native of Auburn, Simpson spent his first collegiate season away from home, at Northwest Florida State College, a junior-college program. He transferred into Auburn this year and has had a solid first season. He’s hitting .306 with three homers, nine doubles and 26 RBI.

    Austin Stadler – 1B/LHP/OF – 6’2 207
    Wake Forest
    Sophomore

    Stadler has done it all in his first two years at Wake. As a member of the weekend rotation this year, Stadler is 2-3 with a 6.25 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 59 innings. At the plate, he’s hitting .278 with two homers. Stadler was a 40th round pick out of high school in 2008.

    Ryan Wright – SS – 6’1 198
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    Wright was a consensus Freshman All-America pick last season after hitting .335 with five home runs. This season, Wright has taken things to another level. He’s hitting .364 with 12 home runs, 10 doubles and a team-best 53 RBI. Wright’s big season has earned him an invite to Team USA trials.

    Daniel Bowman – OF – 6’1 210
    Coastal Carolina
    Sophomore

    Bowman has been trending upward since the moment he stepped foot on campus. A late-round pick out of high school, Bowman hit .333 with 13 home runs as a freshman then earned top prospect honors in the Valley League after hitting .298 with eight homers. He’s having another strong season this spring, hitting .316 with 10 homers, nine doubles and 34 RBI.

    Kameron Brunty – OF – 6’1 160
    Southern Mississippi
    Sophomore

    Southern Miss teammate B.A. Vollmuth got more pub for his summer on the Cape, but back in the spring, Brunty had a debut that was just as impressive. He hit .336 for the Golden Eagles and led the team with 77 hits. This season, Brunty is hitting .293 with seven home runs, 10 doubles and 29 RBI.