The Orleans Firebirds are the best team in the league and is it any wonder? In the Right Field Fog Midseason Awards, the Firebirds take two.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Kyle Lewis, Orleans
Lewis was not on the first roster that the Orleans Firebirds posted on their web site earlier this year, but it’s safe to say he was a pretty good addition.
Lewis is hitting .338 with five home runs and 13 RBI while leading the powerful Firebirds to the best record in the league. Lewis ranks second in the league in hitting, first in home runs and second in RBI. He also leads the league in slugging percentage and is eighth in on-base percentage.
At 6’4, 205, he’s the kind of athlete that scouts love, and his production is now right in line with his tools. He grew up playing basketball and baseball and has said that, of the two, he took basketball more seriously. But after giving it up, he’s emerging as a bona fide star who may be in line for Cape League Top Prospect honors, as well.
The big summer represents another major step for a guy who had a breakout sophomore season at Mercer. He hit .367 and smashed 17 home runs on his way to a host of accolades, including Southern Conference Player of the Year honors. He was coming off a decent debut, in which he hit .281 as a freshman. He then had a strong summer in the Great Lakes League before he played briefly for Cotuit at the end of last season, getting two hits in six games.
His return trip has been a little bit better.
IN THE RUNNING
Jacob Noll, Hyannis
Donnie Walton, Y-D
Cavan Biggio, Harwich
Nick Senzel, Brewster
Errol Robinson, Hyannis
OUTSTANDING PITCHER
Mitchell Jordan, Orleans
Jordan had a good summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League last year then was solid for Stetson as a sophomore.
This has been better than good or solid.
Jordan started on opening night for Orleans and tossed five shutout innings in a 1-0 win over Bourne. He has started five more games since and has gone at least five innings in each one, without allowing a single earned run. That’s right – the guy who’s second in the league in innings pitched also has a 0.00 ERA. He’s 4-0 and leads the league in strikeouts with 31.
Jordan, a 6’2 righty, has simply been untouchable. Opponents are hitting .106 against him, which is a pretty amazing number. To make that number even crazier, he has allowed nine hits and none – NONE – have gone for extra bases.
A lot of pitchers have been very good this summer, but nobody can match up with Jordan.
Good, solid – and pretty spectacular.
IN THE RUNNING
Nick Deeg, Hyannis
Ricky Thomas, Y-D
Zac Gallen, Chatham
Eric Lauer, Orleans
Devin Smeltzer, Hyannis
Jon Woodcock, Cotuit
OUTSTANDING RELIEF PITCHER
Andrew Frankenreider, Falmouth
Saves typically trump everything else for this award, but for bullpen work of all kinds, Frankenreider takes the cake.
The Northern Illinois standout has saved three games while sharing Falmouth closer duties with Stephen Villines. Frankenreider has allowed two hits and no runs – earned or unearned – in eight games (11.2) innings. He has also struck out 17, second-best among full-time relievers.
Northern Illinois is not a school that sends many players to the Cape – he’s just the third in school history – but he’s certainly making a good impression after saving nine games for the Huskies in the spring.
Harwich’s Luke Scherzer leads the league in saves – and four other guys have four saves – but Frankenreider has been too good to pass over.
IN THE RUNNING
Luke Scherzer, Harwich
Stephen Villines, Falmouth
Austin Conway, Bourne
Jason Harper, Orleans
Andre Scrubb, Chatham
Thomas Hackimer, Brewster
Aaron McGarity, Chatham