Offense defined opening night in the Cape League – four teams scoring double-digit runs, Peyton Burdick mashing three homers, a grand slam at Veterans Field.
Back to a full slate of games Thursday after postponements the day before, there was still a lot of offense to go around, but at least a few pitchers exacted some revenge. Three Chatham hurlers combined on the first shutout of the season as the Anglers rolled over Brewster 8-0.
Big 12 Pitcher of the Year Cody Bradford (Baylor) started the proceedings. Fresh off a spring season in which he struck out 87 in 96.2 innings, the 6-foot-3 lefty fanned six in four innings in his first Cape League start. He walked one and allowed two hits, both singles.
Out of the bullpen came Hunter Gaddis (Georgia State), a scary sight in relief. The 6-foot-5 righty struck out 98 in 100.2 innings this spring and matched Bradford on this night with four scoreless innings. He struck out three and also allowed only two hits.
Gregory Veliz (Miami) came on to finish it out. A member of the Hurricanes’ weekend rotation as a freshman, Veliz missed much of this past season with an injury, pitching just once since March. Back on the mound Thursday, he struck out the side around a double in the ninth to cap off the shut-down performance.
The trio was pitching with a lead throughout thanks to two runs in the top of the first inning, and the advantage only grew from there. National home run leader Spencer Torkelson (Arizona State) hit his first Cape League blast and drove in three runs. John Rave (Illinois State) added two hits and two RBI.
The win was the first of the season for the Anglers. Brewster fell to 0-2.
Wareham 4, Cotuit 2
The Gatemen are the only undefeated team in the league, moving to 3-0 with a victory over the Kettleers. Making a cameo before heading to Team USA, Mason Feole (UConn) struck out six in four innings of no-hit ball. Connor Lunn (USC) followed him to the hill and allowed one run in four innings. The run he gave up was the first of the game, but Wareham responded with two in the bottom of the sixth and two more in the eighth. Parker Phillips (Austin Peay) had two RBI and Michael Amditis (Miami) had one. Andrew Vaughn (California) had two hits and scored two runs. Wareham’s late burst made moot a strong performance by Cotuit starter Zane Collins (Wright State). Back this summer after posting a 2.25 ERA with Cotuit last year, Collins allowed two hits in five shutout innings. Peyton Burdick (Wright State) proved to be human with a 1-for-4, 0 HR day. He’s now hitting just .625.
Bourne 5, Falmouth 2
Three teams picked up their first wins of the season, starting with Bourne. The Braves scored two runs in the first and led throughout. Alika Williams (Arizona State) drove in two runs, while Anthony Prato (UConn), Spencer Brickhouse (East Carolina) and Oscar Serratos (Georgia Tech) knocked in one apiece. All four of those guys are hitting .375 on the young season, as are two of their teammates, so six of nine in Thursday’s lineup. Weird. On the mound for Bourne, Justin Lasko (UMass) allowed two runs in four innings and Trey Van Der Weide (SC Upstate) went three scoreless innings of relief.
Hyannis 5, Harwich 3
The Harbor Hawks rallied from a 2-0 deficit with a four-run fifth and went on to their first victory of the summer. Braden Comeaux (Rice), Matthew Barefoot (Campbell), Colin Hall (Georgia Tech) and Taylor Garris (Samford) each had an RBI in the big inning. Mike Mokma (Michigan State) got the win with five strong innings, allowing two runs. Dylan Thomas (Hawaii), who finished top-15 nationally in saves in the spring, picked up his first in Cape League action with a scoreless ninth.
Orleans 5, Y-D 4
The Firebirds scored two runs in the first and two more in the third, then held off a push by the Red Sox for their first win. Logan Wyatt (Louisville) led the early offense with a two-run home run. Carter Aldrete (Arizona State) knocked a two-run double in the third. Jaxx Groshans (Kansas) hit his second home run in as many games for what came to be an important fifth run. Groshans hit four homers for the Firebirds last summer and four for Kansas this spring. Y-D came back with runs in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings, but Aaron Ochsenbein (Eastern Kentucky) came into the game with two runners on in the ninth and escaped the jam to preserve the win.
What to Watch
Wareham puts its perfect mark on the line at Falmouth. Two pitchers who didn’t see a lot of innings this spring will get the ball – Justin Glover (Georgia) for Wareham and towering righty Mitchell Stone (Oklahoma State) for Falmouth.