Bourne 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
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.