2012 Early Look: Chatham Anglers

Chatham Anglers
Manager: John Schiffner
2011 Record: 15-28-1

The Chatham Anglers are the only team that hasn’t made the playoffs in the last two years, when the league expanded to include eight of 10 teams in the postseason.

They don’t plan to miss out again, and if their roster is any indication, they’ve very clearly drafted a blueprint for making it happen. They aren’t going to their typical powerhouses, taking three or four players and crossing the fingers when the College World Series and Team USA have their say.

The Anglers have their team and they’re ready.

I read an article back in the fall where manager John Schiffner said this would happen. He watched what Hyannis did last year. The Harbor Hawks took a team of less-heralded players, had them for the whole season and posted the best record in the league. Now the Anglers look like they’re taking similar steps.

They’ve still got a few top prospects and some guys from powerhouse schools, but they won’t be waiting on four players from North Carolina like they used to or banking on pitchers who threw a ton of innings on the way to the College World Series. A player like Tom Bourdon, who had a big season at a Boston College, is kind of the model. The Anglers have a lot of Bourdons. They also have veterans, with 10 juniors who will have a lot to play for this summer, and few freshmen.

Will it work? I don’t know, but I do know that Chatham doesn’t have a single player on Team USA and has only one at the College World Series.

From day one, the Anglers will be ready to go.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 2
Juniors: 10
Sophomores: 20
Freshmen: 4

Notable

Like Harwich, the Anglers have a big roster right now, so there will be some adjusting as we get into the season.

North Carolina used to send a lot of its top players to Chatham. That’s been changing in recent years, and this season, the Anglers just have one Tar Heel — reliever Tate Parrish.

Parrish is part of an interesting bullpen that Chatham is assembling. The Anglers don’t just have closer-types and guys who made a lot of appearances for their college teams. They also have Parrish and Joe Dye of Stetson, who were essentially situational relievers at school. They may get more of an opportunity with Chatham or they may just reprise those roles as the Anglers try to develop a Major-League style bullpen.

That bullpen should have a pretty good back end. San Diego’s Michael Wagner was one of the top closers in the nation, finishing in a tie for second nationally in saves.

I mentioned Bourdon above, and he’s coming off a great season with BC. He earned second-team all-ACC honors, which is no easy task for an Eagle in that conference.

In addition to some mid-major players, the Anglers will also be giving a shot to a few small-school guys. Brewster native Alex Powers had a tremendous season at D-II Southern New Hampshire, two players are coming from Franklin Pierce and Chatham even has Andrew Hillis coming from NAIA Lee University.

I don’t know if Chatham will have any top-of-the-league starting pitchers, but — fitting in with the aforementioned theme — there are a lot of guys who should be solid. Veterans like Ryan Thompson, Kurt Schluter and John Soldinger may lead the way.

Andrew Knapp may end up as the top catching prospect on the Cape. He hasn’t had fantastic numbers at Cal but he caught a lot of attention when he won the Northwoods League batting title last summer.

Louisville has turned into a Big East powerhouse in recent years, and the Cape League has benefited. I’m from Louisville and when I used to come to the Cape as a kid, it was a rare treat to see a player from Louisville. Now, they’re regulars. Chatham has four Cardinals coming in this year.

There’s something to be said for bringing in a lot of juniors. They’re not going to be the top-shelf prospects because if they were, they probably wouldn’t be on the Cape. But these are older guys who know this might be their best opportunity to showcase themselves before their final season in college. We’ll see how it plays out, but I think it could be good for Chatham.

Fairfield pitcher Mark Bordonaro is still on the Chatham roster but it was announced yesterday that he had signed a contract with the Seattle Mariners, who had drafted him in the 25th round.

Five Players I’m Excited to See
1. Tom Bourdon
2. Michael Wagner
3. Andrew Knapp
4. Dace Kime
5. Alex Powers

Pitchers

Ryan Atwood – LHP – 6’1 180 – Navarro College – Sophomore
Nick Burdi – RHP – 6’3 220 – Louisville – Freshman
Joe Dye – RHP – 6’3 210 – Stetson – Junior
Michael Fagan – LHP – 6’0 175 – Princeton – Sophomore
Scott Frazier – RHP – 6’7 220 – Pepperdine – Sophomore
Andrew Hillis – RHP – 6’8 215 – Lee University – Sophomore
Jake Joyce – RHP – 6’0 185 – Virginia Tech – Junior
*Dace Kime – RHP – 6’5 215 – Louisville – Sophomore
Thomas Lawrence – RHP – 6’0 195 – Maine – Junior
Jimmy Litchfield – LHP – 6’1 185 – UC Irvine – Sophomore
Brian McIlhenny – LHP – 6’6 195 – Pepperdine – Junior
Tate Parrish – LHP – 6’1 184 – North Carolina – Sophomore
Alex Powers – RHP – 6’4 170 – Southern New Hampshire – Sophomore
Austin Robichaux – RHP – 6’5 160 – Louisiana-Lafayette – Freshman
Kurt Schluter – RHP – 6’3 185 – Stetson – Junior
John Soldinger – RHP – 6’3 230 – Manhattan – Junior
Eric Stevens – RHP – 6’5 208 – Boston College – Sophomore
Ryan Thompson – RHP – 6’3 190 – Franklin Pierce – Junior
Michael Wagner – RHP – 6’4 185 – San Diego – Sophomore

Ryan Atwood – LHP – 6’1 180
Navarro College
Sophomore

Junior college baseball stats can be spotty so I know very little about Mr. Atwood, other than the fact that he pitched well in Navarro’s regional championship game against powerhouse San Jacinto. I’m guessing he’s pretty good, though, if he’s coming to the Cape from a junior college.

Nick Burdi – RHP – 6’3 220
Louisville
Freshman

Burdi was a 24th-round pick out of high school but stuck with his commitment to Louisville. He had some ups and downs in his freshman year with the Cards, finishing with a 5.56 ERA in 13 appearances.

Joe Dye – RHP – 6’3 210
Stetson
Junior

Dye had been a good situational reliever for Stetson each of the last two years. This spring, he made 24 appearances, pitched 13.1 innings and had a 4.05 ERA.

Michael Fagan – LHP – 6’0 175
Princeton
Sophomore

Fagan was a 45th-round pick out of high school. He’s had some struggles at Princeton, where he finished this year with a 7.57 ERA. While he walked more than he struck out, he also struck out 27 in 27.1 innings pitched.

Scott Frazier – RHP – 6’7 220
Pepperdine
Sophomore

Frazier was on the Chatham roster last year but didn’t end up making it to the Cape. If he does this time, he’ll be coming in off a strong sophomore season. Frazier went 7-5 with a 3.93 ERA while pitching a workhorse load of 103 innings.

Andrew Hillis – RHP – 6’8 215
Lee University
Sophomore

Hillis hails from NAIA Lee University, where he was a standout closer this spring. He finished with seven saves and a 2.73 ERA. He struck out 24 in 29.2 innings.

Jake Joyce – RHP – 6’0 185
Virginia Tech
Junior

Joyce had high ERA’s in his first two years as a reliever with the Hokies but always posted good strikeout numbers. This year he put it all together, putting up a 3.63 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 34.2 innings pitched.

Dace Kime – RHP – 6’5 215
Louisville
Sophomore

An eighth round pick out of high school, Kime had a good freshman season in 2011 before pitching with Chatham last summer. While he had mixed results with the Anglers, he flashed plenty of potential. This spring, he had an ERA of 4.87 but struck out better than a batter an inning.

Thomas Lawrence – RHP – 6’0 195
Maine
Junior

Lawrence sat out the 2012 season after transferring from Winthrop. At Winthrop last year, he had a 4.03 ERA in 21 appearances.

Jimmy Litchfield – LHP – 6’1 185
UC Irvine
Sophomore

Litchfield was very busy as a freshman in 2011, making 34 appearances while posting a 2.89 ERA with a great strikeout-to-walk ratio. Litchfeidl got a lot of calls again in 2012, pitching in 26 games and posting a 3.60 ERA. He struck out 30 and walked 13 in 45 innings.

Brian McIlhenny – LHP – 6’6 195
Pepperdine
Junior

Another tall pitcher from Pepperdine, McIlhenny was an all-star in the Alaska League last summer. He didn’t have as much success back at Pepperdine this spring, finishing with a 6.48 ERA in 19 appearances.

Tate Parrish – LHP – 6’1 184
North Carolina
Sophomore

Parrish has been used as a situational lefty throughout his career with the Tar Heels and has done well in that role. This year, he pitched in 21 games and was often used to just get one out as he finished with only eight innings pitched. He had a 3.38 ERA and struck out 10 of the 33 batters he faced.

Alex Powers – RHP – 6’4 170
Southern New Hampshire
Sophomore

Powers is a native of Brewster and comes to Chatham off a great season with D-II Southern New Hampshire. Pitching exclusively out of the bullpen, Powers turned in a 1.52 ERA and struck out 48 in just 29.2 innings pitched. Opponents hit .181 against him.

Austin Robichaux – RHP – 6’5 160
Louisiana-Lafayette
Freshman

Robichaux is the son of Louisiana-Lafayette pitching coach Tony Robichaux and he joined his father with the Ragin’ Cajuns this year after getting selected in the 50th round of last year’s draft. He had a good debut, finishing with a 2.91 ERA and striking out 21 in 43.1 innings.

Kurt Schluter – RHP – 6’3 185
Stetson
Junior

Schluter was a 39th-round pick of the Red Sox this year so Boston will have a chance to keep an eye on him for a few weeks if he ends up in Chatham. Schluter was the Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Year in 2011. His numbers weren’t as good this year, as he finished with a 5.45 ERA.

John Soldinger – RHP – 6’3 230
Manhattan
Junior

Soldinger was the MAAC Pitcher of the Year last season after leading the league with 10 victories and putting up a 3.57 ERA. Soldinger was good again this year, going 6-5 with a 3.43 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 94.1 innings.

Eric Stevens – RHP – 6’5 208
Boston College
Sophomore

A tall righty, Stevens led the Eagles in appearances as a freshman. He moved into the rotation this year with mixed results. He went 5-3 with a 5.64 ERA. Control seems like it was the biggest issue. Stevens struck out 40 but walked 37.

Ryan Thompson – RHP – 6’3 190
Franklin Pierce
Junior

Thompson is a native of Calgary and started his career at UConn before transferring to Franklin Pierce. Last season was his first with the Ravens and he made a huge splash, ranking fifth in the nation in ERA and eighth in strikeouts. This year, Thompson went 5-2 with a 3.47 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched. Thompson is also an academic All-American.

Michael Wagner – RHP – 6’4 185
San Diego
Sophomore

Wagner had solid numbers as a reliever in 2011 but vaulted into the national consciousness with a great season in the closer’s role this year. Wagner ended up as one of the top closers in the nation, tying for second nationally in saves with 19. He also had a 2.58 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 59.1 innings pitched.

Position Players

Tom Bourdon – OF – 5’11 181 – Boston College – Sophomore
Aaron Brown – OF/LHP – 6’1 200 – Pepperdine – Freshman
*Alex Calbick – INF/OF – 6’0 190 – Maine – Sophomore
Dale Carey – OF – 6’2 184 – Miami – Sophomore
Alex Chittenden – SS – 6’0 186 – Louisville – Sophomore
Adam Engel – OF – 6’2 213 – Louisville – Sophomore
Dante Flores – INF – 5’10 160 – USC – Freshman
Mike Fransoso – INF – 6’0 180 – Maine – Junior
Andrew Knapp – C – 6’1 191 – California – Sophomore
Nick LaCroix – OF – 6’0 200 – Franklin Pierce – Junior
Louie Lechich – OF/LHP – 6’4 205 – San Diego – Sophomore
John Martinez – C/OF – 5’10 185 – Michigan State – Junior
Chad Morgan – C – 5’10 190 – Virginia Tech – Sophomore
Chad Pinder – INF – 6’2 192 – Virginia Tech – Sophomore
Pat Valaika – INF – 5’11 195 – UCLA – Sophomore

Tom Bourdon – OF – 5’11 181
Boston College
Sophomore

Bourdon was a 38th-round pick of the Red Sox after high school and headed to Boston — just not to the Red Sox. At Boston College, Bourdon had a solid freshman campaign before breaking out in a big way this year. He led the Eagles in almost every offensive category, hitting .324 with 10 home runs, 18 doubles and 37 RBI. He earned second-team all-ACC honors.

Aaron Brown – OF/LHP – 6’1 200
Pepperdine
Freshman

Chatham has had a couple of highly-touted freshmen from Pepperdine over the years, and Brown is the latest. A 17th-round pick out of high school, Brown hit .265 in his first year with the Waves. He also made 16 appearances on the mound, finishing with a 4.64 ERA.

Alex Calbick – INF/OF – 6’0 190
Maine
Sophomore

Calbick was an America East all-rookie pick last year then played 35 games with Chatham, where he hit .205. He followed that up with a strong sophomore season this year. He hit .287 with five homers, 18 doubles and 43 RBI.

Dale Carey – OF – 6’2 184
Miami
Sophomore

Carey was a 21st-round pick out of high school, and some doubts about his bat kept him from going higher. He is in the process of erasing some of those doubts at Miami. He hit .271 this spring with two homers, 11 doubles and 20 RBI. He stole nine bases.

Alex Chittenden – SS – 6’0 186
Louisville
Sophomore

After hitting .233 as a freshman last year, Chittenden was an all-star in the New England Collegiate Baseball League last year. He’ll be trying to replicate that New England success this summer, and he’s got a good season to build on. Chittenden hit .303 for the Cards this year while playing an outstanding defensive shortstop.

Adam Engel – OF – 6’2 213
Louisville
Sophomore

Engel was an all-star in the Coastal Plain League and he, too, has a good spring to build on as he looks for another big summer. Engel hit .308 and was one of the top speedsters in the nation, finishing with 37 stolen bases. That was good for fifth nationally.

Dante Flores – INF – 5’10 160
USC
Freshman

Flores was a 41st round pick out of high school who stuck with his commitment to USC. He had a solid freshman season with the Trojans, batting .310 with two homers and 19 RBI.

Mike Fransoso – INF – 6’0 180
Maine
Junior

Another Maine standout, Fransoso is coming off a tremendous sophomore season. He hit .327 with five home runs, 18 doubles, four triples and 26 RBI. He also stole 19 bases and had a .419 on-base percentage.

Andrew Knapp – C – 6’1 191
California
Sophomore

Knapp is no stranger to summer league success. After hitting .212 as a freshman with the Bears, Knapp headed to the Northwoods League and won the batting title with a .400 average in 43 games. Baseball America named him the league’s second-best prospect. This spring, Knapp hit .265 with five home runs and 26 RBI.

Nick LaCroix – OF – 6’0 200
Franklin Pierce
Junior

After hitting well as a sophomore, LaCroix had an even better junior campaign with Franklin Pierce. He batted .355 with four home runs and 44 RBI. He’s native of Grafton, Mass.

Louie Lechich – OF/LHP – 6’4 205
San Diego
Sophomore

Lechich transferred from Cal to San Diego and made an immediate impact for the Toreros this year. He hit .311 with a homer and 33 RBI. He also made three appearances on the mound, posting a 7.88 ERA.

John Martinez – C/OF – 5’10 185
Michigan State
Junior

Martinez didn’t see a ton of action in his first two years in East Lansing, but he made the most of an opportunity this year. Martinez hit .306 with three home runs, eight doubles and 32 RBI while starting 48 games.

Chad Morgan – C – 5’10 190
Virginia Tech
Sophomore

After redshirting in 20120, Morgan hit .245 in his debut last season. He slipped a bit this year, finishing with a .184 average.

Chad Pinder – INF – 6’2 192
Virginia Tech
Sophomore

Pinder wasn’t an everyday starter as a freshman but hit well when he had the chance. This year, he took a starting spot and ran with it, hitting .325 with seven homers, 22 doubles and 37 RBI.

Pat Valaika – INF – 5’11 195
UCLA
Sophomore

Valaika batted .238 as a freshman last year and put up similar numbers in the West Coast League. He broke out this year and is hitting .271 with 11 doubles as the Bruins head to Omaha.