The Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox get the pub as the league’s most successful franchise over the last 10 years, but the Orleans Firebirds could make a case. For a decade starting in 2002, the Firebirds had a winning record every year.

That streak actually ended last year, which kind of shocked me as I looked back on it. I remember the Firebirds being one of the league’s best teams last year, but a five-game losing streak to end the regular season dropped them to 22-22.

Of course, success was not elusive for too long. The Firebirds knocked off a talented Harwich team in the first round of the playoffs, a fitting response to the team’s first .500 season in a decade.

And it’s something to remember this year – the Firebirds always seem to find a way.

I would expect nothing less this year. The pitching staff has a bevy of dominant closers, led by national ERA leader David Berg of UCLA, and there’s a good crew of potential starters. The offensive nucleus is small at this point, but quality could make up for quantity. Everyone had a solid spring.

We’ll see how it plays out. The roster may remain more in flux than some Cape League teams in the early going, but it’s a safe bet that the Firebirds will find their way.

 

THE SKINNY

Manager: Kelly Nicholson
Last Year: 22-22; Lost in East Division finals
Returning Players: 1
Juniors: 2
Sophomores: 14
Freshmen: 5

 

NOTABLE

Orleans has the smallest roster in the league at this point and has a ton of guys on Super Regional teams. There will be a lot of players other than the ones listed below in a Firebirds uniform, especially at the beginning of the year.

You will see relievers with more electric fastballs this summer but you won’t see any with the track record of UCLA’s David Berg. The UCLA sophomore throws sidearm and has mystified hitters for two very busy seasons. In 94 (!) appearances, he has a 1.15 career ERA. He has saved 20 games this season and leads the nation in ERA.

Berg is not the only closing option the Firebirds will have. In fact, closers may be the team’s biggest on-paper strength at this point. Kent State’s Brian Clark saved 10 games this year, North Carolina’s Trent Thornton has saved eight for the top-ranked Tar Heels, and Arizona’s Matt Troupe saved nine. The Firebirds will have some options at the back end of the bullpen, I’d say.

Ryne Combs pitched mostly out of the bullpen this spring, but the Kentucky freshman is a likely starter down the road. Orleans may be the perfect spot for the transition to begin.

Cal State Fullerton has two dominant freshman pitchers in Justin Garza and Thomas Eshelman. Both were originally slated for the Cape, but Eshelman was recently removed from Chatham’s roster. Orleans will be hoping Garza doesn’t follow suit. He’s been as good as any freshman in the nation.

Vandy’s Philip Pfeifer pitched out of the bullpen for Orleans last summer but will likely return as a starter – and a good one. He’s not been quite as good as Vandy’s top two starters – stars Tyler Beede and Kevin Ziomek – but he’s been pretty good.

Kyle Twomey will be one of the highest-drafted players on the Cape this summer. He was a third-rounder out of high school last year, though he didn’t have the freshman year he was looking for.

Orleans seems to have a solid player from Loyola Marymount every year and Colin Welmon fits the mold this year. The righty led the team in ERA as a weekend starter this season.

Stony Brook has had quite a few Cape League stars in recent years. Daniel Zamora may be the next one. He led the Seawolves in strikeouts as a freshman this season.

 

FIVE TO WATCH

1. Justin Garza
2. David Berg
3. Trent Thornton
4. Vince Conde
5. Kyle Twomey

 

PITCHERS

David Berg – RHP – 6’0 190 – UCLA – Sophomore
Brian Clark – LHP – 6’3 210 – Kent State – Sophomore
Ryne Combs – LHP – 6’0 185 – Kentucky – Freshman
Justin Garza – RHP – 5″11 160 – CS Fullerton – Freshman
Trevor Kelley – RHP – 6’2 210 – North Carolina – Sophomore
Jared Miller – LHP – 6’6 235 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
Luis Paula – RHP – 6’3 185 – North Carolina – Sophomore
*Philip Pfeifer – LHP – 6’0 195 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
Trent Thornton – RHP – 6’0 170 – North Carolina – Freshman
Matt Troupe – RHP – 6’2 195 – Arizona – Sophomore
Kyle Twomey – LHP – 6’3 165 – USC – Freshman
Colin Welmon – RHP – 6’3 190 – Loyola Marymount – Sophomore
Daniel Zamora – LHP – 6’3 186 – Stony Brook – Freshman
* – returning player

 
David Berg – RHP – 6’0 190
UCLA
Sophomore

Berg has been a dominant reliever from the very beginning of his UCLA career. The side-arming righty led the Pac 12 in ERA last season and set a school record for appearances with 50. After a solid summer with Team USA, he’s out-done himself this year. Entering Super Regional play, Berg had a 0.81 ERA – best in the nation – in 44 appearances, and his 20 saves ranked third in the nation. He struck out 69 and walked only seven in 67 innings.

Brian Clark – LHP – 6’3 210
Kent State
Sophomore

Another dynamic closer, Clark saved 10 games for the Golden Flashes this season. He had a 1.38 ERA and struck out 33 in 32.2 innings. HE earned first-team All-MAC honors.

Ryne Combs – LHP – 6’0 185
Kentucky
Freshman

Combs was one of the jewels of Kentucky’s top-20 recruiting class and was described as an advanced lefty with a great feel for pitching. He showed in 16 appearances – most out of the bullpen – this spring. He finished with a 2.01 ERA.

Justin Garza – RHP – 5’11 160
CS Fullerton
Freshman

A 26th-rounder out of high school, Garza is one half of a tremendous freshman pitching duo that has led Fullerton all season, along with Thomas Eshelman. Garza has been at the top of rotation and carried a 1.92 ERA into Super Regional play. He struck out a team-best 89 in 108 innings.

Trevor Kelley – RHP – 6’2 210
North Carolina
Sophomore

After a tough freshman year, Kelley regrouped and posted a 2.64 ERA as a reliever in the Cal Ripken League last summer. He has continued his upward climb this season. He leads the Heels in appearances with 29 and owns a 3.67 ERA.

Jared Miller – LHP – 6’6 235
Vanderbilt
Sophomore

Miller has been a key bullpen arm throughout his tenure in Nashville. Last season, he had a 3.06 ERA. This year, he’s at 2.31 with 24 strikeouts in 23.1 innings.

Luis Paula – RHP – 6’3 185
North Carolina
Sophomore

Paula had a so-so freshman campaign in Chapel Hill before pitching well in the Coastal Plain League last summer. This year, he has struggled. He has an 8.59 ERA in nine appearances.

Philip Pfeifer – LHP – 6’0 195
Vanderbilt
Sophomore

A 44th-round pick out of high school, Pfeifer is the least-heralded pitcher in a vaunted Commodores weekend rotation, but he’s held his own. Pfeifer is 4-0 with a 3.68 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 63.2 innings pitched. Pfeifer pitched out of the Orleans bullpen last summer and had an ERA over five.

Trent Thornton – RHP – 6’0 170
North Carolina
Freshman

Thornton brought good credentials to Chapel Hill but has out-paced all expectations. Slotting in as the Heels’ closer, Thornton has eight saves and a sparkling 1.17 ERA. He has struck out 71 while walking only 12 in 77 innings.

Matt Troupe – RHP – 6’2 195
Arizona
Sophomore

Troupe was a 16th-round pick out of high school but opted for Arizona and won a national championship as the Wildcats’ closer in his first season. He remained in the closer’s role this season, finishing with nine saves, a 3.29 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 38.1 innings.

Kyle Twomey – LHP – 6’3 165
USC
Freshman

Twomey was one of the highest unsigned picks in the 2012 draft. He went in the third round to Oakland but honored his commitment to USC. He slotted into the weekend rotation this season but didn’t have a great year. He went 2-8 with a 5.55 ERA. He did lead the team in strikeouts with 50.

Colin Welmon – RHP – 6’3 190
Loyola Marymount
Sophomore

Welmon moved into Loyola’s Friday starter role right off the bat last year and has been very good every step of the way. After posting a 3.87 ERA last season, he dropped it all the way down to 2.30 this year. He also struck out 64 in 78.1 innings. He was named first-team all-conference.

Daniel Zamora – LHP – 6’3 186
Stony Brook
Freshman

Zamora came to Stony Brook from La Puente, Calif., and made himself at home in his debut season. Though his season ERA was 4.95, he led the team with 77 strikeouts and dazzled in his last start of the season, striking out 13 in eight innings in the America East Tournament.
 

POSITION PLAYERS

Greg Allen – OF – 6’0 165 – San Diego State – Sophomore
Vince Conde – INF – 6’0 190 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
Zach Fish – INF/OF – 5’11 211 – Oklahoma State – Sophomore
Kevin Kramer – 3B – 6’0 197 – UCLA – Sophomore
Jordan Luplow – OF – 6’1 190 – Fresno State – Sophomore
Chris Marconcini – OF – 6’5 230 – Duke – Junior
Riley Moore – C – 6’3 190 – Arizona – Sophomore
Collin Slaybaugh – C – 6’1 195 – Washington State – Junior

 
Greg Allen – OF – 6’0 165
San Diego State
Sophomore

A San Diego native, Allen has had two good season with the hometown Aztecs. The speedster hit .312 and stole 11 bases as a freshman before batting .299 with 25 steals this year, ranking in the top 50 nationally in stolen bases.

Vince Conde – INF – 6’0 190
Vanderbilt
Sophomore

Conde hit just .195 as a freshman last year but hit eight home runs in the NECBL and was picked by Baseball America as the circuit’s sixth-best prospect. He has picked up where he left off this spring, batting .309 with six homers and 44 RBI.

Zach Fish – INF/OF – 5’11 211
Oklahoma State
Sophomore

Fish hit .248 as a freshman last year but flashed some pop with four home runs. This year, he upped his average to .283 and hit a team-best seven home runs, while driving in 41. He also stole 10 bases.

Kevin Kramer – 3B – 6’0 197
UCLA
Sophomore

Kramer won a Northwoods League championship with the La Crosse Loggers last summer and had a big hand in it, hitting over .500 in the playoffs. This spring, he’s been UCLA’s best hitter, batting .285 with three homers and 40 RBI.

Jordan Luplow – OF – 6’1 190
Fresno State
Sophomore

Luplow was the WAC Tournament MVP last year and rode the momentum into the summer, when he earned an all-star nod in the Alaska Baseball League. He was a steady performer for the Bulldogs this spring, hitting .278 with three homers and 21 RBI.

Chris Marconcini – OF – 6’5 230
Duke
Junior

Marconcini was a Freshman All-American in 2011 but missed all of the 2012 season with an injury. He returned with a vengeance this year, hitting .284 and blasting eight home runs. He tied for 11th in the ACC in homers.

Riley Moore – C – 6’3 190
Arizona
Sophomore

Another Wildcat who starred as a freshman on the team’s CWS run, Moore hit .301 in his debut season. This year, he batted .285 with two homers and 37 RBI. He was a 21st-round pick out of high school.

Collin Slaybaugh – C – 6’1 195
Washington State
Junior

Slaybaugh has had three very consistent seasons with the Cougars. He hit .317 this season with a .383 OBP and a team-best 12 stolen bases.