Knocking on the Door

Parker Dunshee, pictured on the mound earlier this season, didn't pitch Thursday but scored the go-ahead run as a pinch-runner in the 10th. — Parker Dunshee, pictured on the mound earlier this season, didn’t pitch Thursday but scored the go-ahead run as a pinch-runner in the 10th.

Coming into Thursday’s game with Chatham, Orleans had won five straight games over its East Division brethren, but most of those wins came against the last-place Y-D Red Sox. In 14 games, the Firebirds had played the Red Sox four times..

Chatham finally got a crack at the Firebirds Thursday – the first meeting of the year between the rivals – and the Anglers served notice that the East may yet put up a fight. The Anglers won a terrific pitchers duel 2-1 in 10 innings for its third straight win, and moved within two points of first-place Orleans in the East standings. The Firebirds are 10-4 while Chatham is now 9-5.

Chatham’s T.J. Zeuch (Pittsburgh) and Orleans’ Eric Lauer (Kent State) were as good as advertised in their part of the duel. Each allowed just one hit in six innings of work, though Chatham did manage an unearned run off Lauer. Zeuch struck out five and kept his season ERA at 0.00. Lauer fanned six, with the only run scoring in the third on an error.

Neither starter factored in the decision, after Chatham’s lead was erased in the seventh when Kyle Lewis (Tennessee) tripled and scored on a groundout by Jeremy Martinez (USC).

After two scoreless innings, Chatham manufactured a run in the top of the 10th. Will Craig (Wake Forest) walked and his college teammate Parker Dunshee (Wake Forest) – a pitcher – pinch-ran for him at first. A sac bunt moved him to second and he tagged up on a fly ball to get to third. He then raced home on a wild pitch with the go-ahead run. Not bad for a pitcher.

Andre Scrubb (High Point) came on for the bottom of the 10th and worked around a two-out walk for his fifth consecutive scoreless outing and his fourth save.

Hyannis 2, Cotuit 1

Hyannis bounced back from three straight losses in dramatic fashion, walking off with a 2-1 win over Cotuit to move to 3-0 against the Kettleers this season. The Harbor Hawks led 1-0 from the second inning on and got a dominant start from Nick Deeg (Central Michigan), who struck out six in eight innings and now leads the league in Ks. But Cotuit touched him up for a run in the seventh to tie the game, which set up the Harbor Hawks’ late heroics. In the bottom of the ninth, Ben DeLuzio (Florida) singled on a 1-2 pitch with two outs, and Jacob Noll (Florida Gulf Coast) scampered in from third with the winning run. Thomas Burrows (Alabama) got the win in relief. Noll had two hits, including a single to start the ninth and pushed his league-best batting average to .400. For Cotuit, Jon Woodcock (Virginia Tech) struck out five and allowed just a run in 5.2 innings. Cotuit fell to 4-11 while Hyannis upped its record to 9-6.

What to Watch

Orleans may find itself in another pitchers duel as it visits Falmouth tonight. Kyle Serrano (Tennessee), who struck out eight in five innings in his last start, goes for the Firebirds against Falmouth’s Bryce Montes de Oca (Missouri), who has struck out 13 in 11.1 innings.

June 25, 2015June 25, 2015

Celebrating for the Cavs

University of Virginia players who make their way to Cape Cod often spend their summers with the Harwich Mariners. On the night when the Cavaliers won the national championship in Omaha – with Mariner alumni Joe McCarthy and Kenny Towns in the dog-pile – their brethren in Harwich also picked up a victory. The Mariners beat Brewster 5-3.

The Mariners actually don’t have a Virginia player on the roster this summer, but over the years, Whitehouse Field has been a frequent destination. Every Cape League team has school connections, and Harwich’s Virginia pipeline has remained strong as the Cavaliers have emerged as a national powerhouse. Some of their best players, like Derek Fisher, Steven Proscia, and Towns, have come through Harwich. Towns hit .250 for the Mariners last summer, while McCarthy finished at .314.

As those two got set for game three of the championship series in Omaha, Harwich used a four-run second inning to beat Brewster. The Whitecaps out-hit the Mariners 11-5 but didn’t have an extra-base hit and stranded seven runners.

Connor Justus (Georgia Tech) homered to spark the big second inning and Nick Walker (Old Dominion) had an RBI single. Stevie Berman (Santa Clara) added a sacrifice fly in the eighth as Harwich tacked on an insurance run.

Harwich starter Geoff Bramblett (Alabama) gave up eight hits but allowed just one run in five innings for the win, his third of the year, which is tied for the league lead. Luke Scherzer (Virginia Tech) picked up his league-best fifth save and kept his ERA at 0.00.

Robbie Tenerowicz (California) had three hits to lead Brewster and Nick Senzel (Tennessee) drove in two runs.

The win was the third in a row for Harwich, who moved to 8-5-1. Brewster dropped to 6-8.

Wareham 8, Hyannis 1

The Harbor Hawks still lead the West – as they have almost since day one – but Wareham still has their number. The Gatemen picked up their third victory in as many tries against Hyannis with an 8-1 victory at McKeon Park. Bailey Clark (Duke) matched the aforementioned Bramblett atop the league leaderboard with his third win, as he went five innings and gave up just a run. The offense did the rest, with six players delivering multi-hit games. Andrew Calica (UC Santa Barbara) went 3-for-4 with two RBI in just his second Cape appearance, while Jay Jabs (Franklin Pierce) went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles. Jarett Rindfleisch (Ball State), who was off to an 0-for-25 start this summer, broke out in a big way, going 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. David MacKinnon (Hartford) had two hits and scored three runs. For Hyannis, Blake Tiberi (Louisville) delivered his fourth consecutive multi-hit game with a 2-for-4 night.

Bourne 5, Cotuit 0

Continuing to leave its 0-6-1 start in the past, Bourne won for the sixth time in seven games and suddenly finds itself in third place in the West. Josh Rogers (Louisville) struck out six in 5.2 scoreless innings before Gavin Pittore (Wesleyan) and Austin Conway (Indiana State) finished off the shutout. Reid Humphreys (Mississippi State) and Vince Fernandez (UC Riverside) both homered for the Braves – matching the team’s previous season total in one night – to account for four of the five runs. Cotuit managed just four hits in losing its fifth straight.

Y-D 2, Falmouth 0

The Red Sox won their third straight with a shutout of Falmouth. Brett Adcock (Michigan), who had a very strong spring but had gotten off to a slow start this summer, delivered six scoreless innings and struck out four. Alec Eisenberg (Hofstra) was dominant in relief, striking out six of the nine batters he faced in three perfect innings. Connor Wong (Houston) and Nathan Rodriguez (Arkansas) drove in one run each for all the offense Y-D would need. Luke Bonfield (Arkansas) was on base twice and scored both runs.

What to Watch

Only two games on the schedule, but the first meeting of the year between rivals Chatham and Orleans has the makings of a good one. T.J. Zeuch (Pittsburgh), a 6-foot-7 righty who hasn’t allowed an earned run in two starts, is slated to go for Chatham against Eric Lauer (Kent State), who has a 1.80 ERA for Orleans.

June 18, 2015June 18, 2015

Joining the Club

Charlie Warren, pictured last summer, scored a run as Wareham beat Hyannis Wednesday.

Some statistics lie. Others tell a pretty good story. Runs scored and runs allowed can generally be counted among the more reliable. They tend to have a direct impact on the columns that accompany them in the standings – wins and losses.

A quick glance at those numbers in the Cape League standings shows three teams that should be above everybody else. Orleans, Hyannis and Wareham have all scored 44 runs, best in the league. They have all allowed 30 or under, with run differentials of at least 14. No one else in the league has a differential better than five.

And yet, only two of those teams are above everybody else where it counts. Hyannis and Orleans are 7-2. Wareham is 4-5.

The Gatemen have been the victims of two 1-0 losses and a game they lost in which they scored 11 runs. They have found some unique ways to lose.

Wednesday night, they were happy to find a unique way to win. Taking full advantage of four Hyannis errors, the Gatemen scored five unearned runs off potential Harbor Hawks ace Nick Deeg (Central Michigan) and won 7-0 over the previously red-hot Harbor Hawks.

Hyannis had won five in a row since its only loss, which incidentally came at the hands of the Gatemen in the first week of the season. Wareham had lost four in a row heading into Wednesday.

The Gatemen began capitalizing in the second inning. Deeg’s own error on a sacrifice bunt attempt came back to hurt when the Gatemen pushed three runs across on the extra out. Jarett Rindfleisch (Ball State) had a sacrifice fly and Mark Karaviotis (Oregon) brought in two runs with a two-out single.

An error on a stolen base attempt and another on a ground ball allowed two runs to score in the fifth. Andrew Knizner (NC State) had a two-run double in the seventh to cap the scoring.

Hyannis never got back into the game, as three Wareham pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout. Bailey Clark (Duke) went five innings for the win, Daulton Jefferies (California) allowed one hit in three innings and Shea Spitzbarth (Molloy) pitched a scoreless ninth.

Wareham’s losing skid was over. And for one night at least, the Gatemen were right where the numbers say they should be.

Bourne 4, Falmouth 3

Winless until Tuesday, Bourne has now won two straight after a dramatic 4-3 victory over Falmouth last night. The Braves trailed 3-1, tied it with two in the sixth and won it in the bottom of the ninth when Mike Garzillo (Lehigh) raced home with the winning run on a passed ball. Garzillo had singled to start the inning. The walk-off passed ball came with two outs and the bases loaded. Garzillo had previoulsy tied the game in the sixth with an RBI double. Charles Galiano (Fordham) also had an RBI double in that frame. Bryan Baker (North Florida), who pitched the final two innings in relief, picked up the win.

Harwich 4, Chatham 0

Harwich won for a second consecutive night over the Anglers, and this one was even more impressive than the first. Geoff Bramblett (Alabama) tossed 6.1 innings of two-hit ball and the Mariners had a steady night at the dish for the 4-0 win. Bramblett, who improved to 2-0, gave up just two singles – one of the infield variety – and struck out six. Anthony Ciavarella (Monmouth) and Williams Durruthy (Florida International) finished off the shutout. Cavan Biggio (Notre Dame) went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, continuing a strong start to his second summer in Harwich. He hit .203 last year but is at .360 so far this year as he rides a four-game hitting streak. Connor Justus (Georgia Tech) also had two hits and an RBI. Harwich has won three straight and is 5-3-1, good for second place in the East behind Orleans.

Orleans 6, Y-D 5

Orleans won its fourth in a row and matched Hyannis for the league’s best record with a victory over Y-D. The Firebirds got three hits and an RBI from Bryson Brigman (San Diego). Kyle Lewis (Mercer) added two hits and two runs scored. Eric Lauer (Kent State), who had gone five scoreless in his first start, allowed two runs in five innings this time in moving to 2-0. Donovan Walton (Oklahoma State) had three hits and three RBI for Y-D, which scored three runs in the ninth to get within one before Jason Harper (Southern Connecticut) wiggled out of trouble for the save.

Cotuit 4, Brewster 3

The Whitecaps dropped their fifth straight since a 3-0 start as Cotuit scored a run in the eighth for the narrow margin. An RBI single by Jackson Klein (Stanford) brought in the go-ahead run. Cotuit also got two RBI from Brody Weiss (Riverside CC). Jon Woodcock (Virginia Tech) earned the win with four strong innings of relief. After Brewster scored a run in the top of the eighth – and his team answered – Woodcock worked a perfect ninth to finish off the win.

What to Watch

Just one game on tap today, a make-up of the fogged-out match-up between Chatham and Brewster. The Anglers will have T.J. Zeuch (Pittsburgh) on the hill for his second start. He went 5.2 innings without giving up an earned run in his first start. Brewster counters with Jacob Jenkins (Pacific), who will be making his first appearance.

June 12, 2015June 12, 2015

Catching a Wave

The Brewster dugout makes some noise during a game last season. With a 3-0 start to 2015, the Whitecaps have had even more to cheer about this year.

Brewster had one three-game winning streak all of last summer. With only three games in the books in 2015, the Whitecaps already have one this summer.

After a 6-0 shutout of Chatham Thursday night, Brewster is 3-0 and the only undefeated team in the league. The Whitecaps won their opener by a single run and their next game by two before pulling away from Chatham. The Anglers also came in with a 2-0 record but couldn’t keep up on this night.

It’s just a start, of course, but a lot has gone right. Thursday, it was both pitching and hitting that did the trick. Brewster had 12 hits – four that went for extra bases – and saw five pitchers combine on a three-hitter.

Eli White, a late roster addition who had a solid spring with Clemson, led the way with a 3-for-4, two RBI night. Toby Handley (Stony Brook) also went 3-for-4 and knocked in a run. Catcher Cassidy Brown (Loyola Marymount) homered and Nick Senzel (Tennessee) hit a pair of doubles. Senzel has five hits this season for a .417 average, and four of the hits have gone for extra bases. Ryan Peurifoy (Georgia Tech) went 1-for-2 and has had a hit in each game this year.

On the mound, Georgia Tech’s Brandon Gold picked up where he left off after a strong spring and tossed four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits. Hansen Butler (North Carolina) followed with two innings, before Nick Highberger (Creighton), Gage Griffin (Franklin Pierce) and Alex Schick (California) went the final three innings without surrendering a hit. That continued an early trend – the Brewster bullpen has allowed one run in 12.2 innings of work so far this season.

Brewster takes on Chatham again tonight, this time at Veterans Field. The Whitecaps didn’t have a single four-game winning streak last year, but they’re in position to break that spell quickly in 2015.

Orleans 7, Y-D 0

The Firebirds (2-1) won by shutout for the second time this season in a 7-0 victory over Y-D. Eric Lauer (Kent State), a former 17th-round pick of the Blue Jays who was terrific this spring (1.98 ERA, 103 Ks), delivered more of the same in his first Cape start, striking out seven and giving up two hits in five scoreless innings. Three relievers combined on four hitless innings to finish off the win. Colby Woodmansee (Arizona State) and Alex Call (Ball State) each knocked in two runs to pace the Orleans offense. The Red Sox, who fell to 0-3, got hits from Stephen Wrenn (Georgia) and Connor Wong (Houston).

Falmouth 4, Harwich 1

Falmouth got hits from eight different players and broke through for its first win, 4-1 over Harwich. Both teams are now 1-2. Boomer White (Texas A&M), in his second summer with the Commodores, had two hits, as did Michael Tinsley (Kansas), the second-team All-Big 12 catcher this past season. Andrew Frankenreider (Northern Illinois) picked up the win with 3.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Stephen Villines (Kansas) notched the save.

Wareham 6, Hyannis 2

The Gatemen are 2-1 and have now scored the most runs in the league after Thursday’s 6-2 victory over previously unbeaten Hyannis. Logan Sowers (Indiana), next in a long line of Hoosiers in Wareham, had the best day of his young Cape career, going 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI. David MacKinnon (Hartford) added two hits and five other Gatemen chipped in one apiece. Daulton Jefferies (California) got the start on the mound and made the offense count with five strong innings. Zac Houston (Mississippi State) was dominant in relief, with five strikeouts in three innings. David Martinelli (Dallas Baptist) homered for Hyannis.

Cotuit 7, Bourne 2

Cotuit had only nine hits in its first two games but broke out with 12 in a victory over the Braves. Michael Paez (Coastal Carolina) doubled and knocked in two runs from the leadoff spot. Matthew Dacey (Richmond) added two hits and two RBI, while Spencer Gaa (Bradley) and Matt Albanese (Bryant) chipped in doubles. Jonathan King (Georgia Tech) gave up two runs in 4.1 innings before giving way to Jon Woodcock (Virginia Tech), who was lights out in 4.2 innings of relief. He struck out six and didn’t allow a run. Bourne got three hits each from Corey Julks (Houston) and Ryan Boldt (Nebraska) but remained winless at 0-3.

What to Watch

The second Brewster-Chatham match-up in as many days features an interesting probable starter for the Whitecaps. Missouri’s Alec Rash is a former second-round pick who has seen very limited action in his time with the Tigers. The junior was recently drafted in the 23rd round by the Nationals.

June 9, 2015June 9, 2015

Firebirds have big talent on the way

Orleans finished with the fourth-best record in the league last summer. With 11 incoming players heading to Omaha this week, rather than the Cape, it may be an uneven start to 2015, but on paper, the Firebirds once again have one of the league’s more talented teams.

FIVE TO WATCH

1. Bobby Dalbec
2. David Fletcher
3. A.J. Puk
4. Connor Jones
5. Zack Collins

NOTABLE

Orleans will be hard-hit by the College World Series, with 11 players on teams that are bound for Omaha. So the team on the field in Tuesday’s opener will look different than this one.

That said, there’s a lot of talent with or without the Omaha crew. The Firebirds have two returning standouts in Bobby Dalbec and David Fletcher and three players who were their conference’s freshmen of the year last year.

Dalbec has received a Team USA invite, as well, after he played for Orleans last summer. The two-way standout smacked 15 home runs for Arizona this spring.

Fletcher was great for Orleans last summer, with a .299 average and the same kind of presence at shortstop that made him the Alaska League’s top prospect in the summer of 2013 before he even got to college. He’s as good a building block as any team in the league can claim this year.

Virginia star Nathan Kirby, who was drafted last night, was ticketed for Orleans last year but never made it. His teammate, Connor Jones, who emerged as an ace when Kirby was hurt for part of this season, is now slated to be a Firebird.

Hayden Stone pitched 11 innings for Orleans last summer and allowed just one earned run. He’s slated to be back, although he has missed a lot of time for Vanderbilt this spring. Teammate John Kilichowski has bided his time for the Commodores behind first-round picks Carson Fulmer and Walker Buehler.

Ohio State had some standout freshmen in 2014 and three of them are headed to Orleans. Pitcher Tanner Tully was the Big 10 Freshman of the Year, Travis Lakins has joined him in the weekend rotation and outfielder Ronnie Dawson was one of the Buckeyes’ best hitters.

Kent State seems to churn out pitching prospects more than any other non-power conference program, and Eric Lauer may be next in line. A 17th-round pick out of high school, he struck out 103 this year.

Lauer, Lakins, Tully and Cameron Neff make up a pretty good foundation for a starting rotation, even before you factor in late arrivals. Logan Shore and A.J. Puk are stars for Florida and the aforementioned Jones has been terrific for Virginia.

Two of the best hitters for an Omaha-bound Miami team have Orleans as their next stop. Zack Collins hit 15 homers this year while Willie Abreu is a former 14th-round pick.

PITCHERS

Parker Bean – FR – Liberty – Big right-hander had ERA over seven in debut season
Alec Bettinger – SO – Virginia – Mid-week starter last year slid into full-time bullpen role and has 4.80 ERA
Chandler Blanchard – SO – Pepperdine – Strong reliever as freshman had 4.99 ERA, saved four games as a sophomore
Adam Haseley – FR – Virginia – Two-way player hit .252, put up 2.66 ERA in 10 appearances on the mound
Connor Jones – SO – Virginia – With UVA ace Nathan Kirby ailing, emerged as Cavs’ workhorse, going 7-2, 2.96 ERA, 105 Ks in 103.1 IP
John Kilichowski – SO – Vanderbilt – Lefty has started and relieved for Omaha-bound Commodores and has 2.97 ERA
Travis Lakins – SO – Ohio State – Tossed perfect game in Prospect League last summer, posted 3.75 ERA in weekend rotation this year
Eric Lauer – SO – Kent State – 17th-round pick in 2013 broke out as one of best in MAC this year with 1.98 ERA, 103 Ks
Cameron Neff – SO – St. Mary’s – Workhorse had 5 complete games as a freshman, delivered 2.32 ERA as a sophomore
Stephen Nogosek – SO – Oregon – Led team in appearances this year with 39 and had 2.02 ERA with 60 Ks
A.J. Puk – SO – Florida – Towering righty, Perfect Game’s top Northwoods prospect last summer, has team-best 99 Ks this season
Kit Scheetz – SO – Virginia Tech – Lefty made nine starts this year, had 4.34 ERA in those games
Logan Shore – SO – Florida – SEC Freshman of the Year in 2014 continues to shine with 2.50 ERA this year as Friday starter
Hayden Stone – SO – Vanderbilt – Struck out 80 in 58 relief innings last year but was limited to three appearances this season
Tanner Tully – SO – Ohio State – Reigning Big 10 Freshman of the Year had 4-4 record, 4.32 ERA in sophomore season

CATCHERS

Jeremy Martinez – SO – USC – Steady in first two years with Trojans, hit .296 this season
Sean Murphy – SO – Wright State – Horizon League Freshman of the Year in 2014 hit .329 with 4 HR this year

INFIELDERS

Zack Collins – SO – Miami – ACC’s top freshman in 2014 hitting .303 with 15 HR, 70 RBI as Miami heads to Omaha
Bobby Dalbec – SO – Arizona – Two-way player had huge sophomore season at the dish, hitting .319 with 15 HR
David Fletcher – SO – Loyola Marymount – Started 41 games at SS for Orleans last year, hit .308 and stole 14 bases this spring
T.J. Nichting – SO – UNC Charlotte – All-Star in Great Lakes League last summer scuffled to .198 average in sophomore year
Daniel Pinero – SO – Virginia – 20th-round pick in 2013 has been starting SS for two years, hit .300 with 6 HR this season
Colby Woodmansee – SO – Arizona State – Shortstop had solid sophomore year, hitting .308 with 5 HR, team-best 44 RBI
Nick Zammarelli – FR – Elon – Lincoln, R.I., native hit .288 with 7 HR in first season with Phoenix

OUTFIELDERS

Willie Abreu – SO – Miami – 14th-round pick in 2013, batting an even .300 and ranks fourth on team with six home runs
Ronnie Dawson – SO – Ohio State – Picked up where he left off after big freshman year, hitting .279 with 7 HR, 16 SB
Austin Miller – SO – Loyola Marymount – A Freshman All-American last year like teammate Fletcher, hit .314 with three homers this spring
Bryan Reynolds – SO – Vanderbilt – Consensus Freshman All-American last year hitting .311 with 5 HR, 17 SB this year