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Veteran hitters lead Harbor Hawks

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Hyannis had the second-worst team batting average in the league last year but held its own and grabbed a playoff spot in the West. The offense looks ready to have a much better showing this year, with a host of sophomores coming off strong seasons. The Harbor Hawks should also be closer to a finished product in the early part of the season than many of their counterparts.

 

FIVE TO WATCH

1. Matt Thaiss
2. Nicholas Pappas
3. Nick Deeg
4. Ryne Birk
5. JaVon Shelby

 

NOTABLE

  • With only one player headed to Omaha, Hyannis should be ahead of the curve in the early part of the season, compared with a lot of Cape League clubs.

  • That one player is a big one, though. Virginia’s Matt Thaiss has been one of the ACC’s best hitters and leads the team with 60 RBI.

  • College relievers dominate the Hyannis staff and several have had big success. Nolan Blackwood of Memphis heads the list. He gave up two runs the whole season while closing 14 games.

  • Returning Harbor Hawk Nick Deeg looks like the top incoming starter. The sophomore lefty stand 6-foot-5 and had a solid summer last year. Look for him to build on it this season.

  • Catchers Arden Pabst and Jake Rogers have yet to put it all together at the plate, but both are strong defenders. Rogers, of Tulane, led the nation in runners caught stealing this season.

  • College of Charleston’s Nicholas Pappas was an extra-base machine this year, with 12 homers and 28 doubles.

  • Kentucky’s JaVon Shelby was near the SEC lead with nine home runs.

  • Two incoming Hawks – Ryne Birk of Texas A&M and David Martinelli of Dallas Baptist – both hit 10 home runs this spring.

  • Ben DeLuzio hit under .200 with Hyannis last year, but this is a guy who was a third-round pick out of high school. Set to return, he’ll be poised for improvement.

  • Ole Miss infielder Colby Bortles is the younger brother of Blake Bortles, the third overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

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    PITCHERS

    Nolan Blackwood – SO – Memphis – Dominant closer this season saved 14 games and allowed two runs all year
    Thomas Burrows – SO – Alabama – Standout reliever for two years running owns 18 career saves, had 3.22 ERA this year
    Nick Deeg – SO – Central Michigan – Had 3.89 ERA for Hyannis last summer, posted 3.11 ERA in sophomore season with Chippewas
    Zach Girrens – SO – Saint Louis – Bumped to weekend rotation this year and went 7-1 with 4.20 ERA, team-best 75 strikeouts
    Ryan Hendrix – SO – Texas A&M – 17th-round pick in 2013 saved five games this year and struck out 64 in 54.1 innings
    Dakota Hudson – SO – Mississippi State – Has had success in two seasons in Bulldog pen, posting 4.32 ERA in 17 appearances this year
    Chris McGrath – FR – Duke – Made 11 appearances as a freshman, put up 3.48 ERA with 20 Ks in 20.2 IP
    Logan Salow – SO – Kentucky – Lefty has pitched mostly in relief for Wildcats, delivered 27 strikeouts this year with 5.32 ERA
    Marc Skinner – SO – Troy – Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in 2014, had 4.46 ERA with two saves this year
    Devin Smeltzer – SO – Florida Gulf Coast – Struck out 41 while starting and relieving, with ERA of 6.19
    Vance Tatum – SO – Mississippi State – Struck out 42 in swing role but had ERA over five this spring
    James Teague – SO – Arkansas – After limited duty as freshman, went 6-4 with 3.36 ERA in swing role this season
     

    CATCHERS

    Arden Pabst – SO – Georgia Tech – Scuffled to .138 average in 28 games with Hyannis last year, batted .235 for Tech this year
    Jake Rogers – SO – Tulane – Standout defensive catcher led NCAA in runners caught stealing this season, while batting .227
    Matt Thaiss – SO – Virginia – Former late-round pick of Red Sox, having enormous year for Cavs, .332 AVG, 9 HR, 60 RBI
     

    INFIELDERS

    Ryne Birk – SO – Texas A&M – Started all but two games for Aggies and hit .280 with team-high 10 home runs
    Colby Bortles – SO – Ole Miss – Brother of NFL QB Blake, hit .281 with seven homers in solid sophomore season
    Nicholas Pappas – SO – College of Charleston – Freshman All-American in 2014 had no sophomore slump: .337, 12 HR, 42 XBH
    Errol Robinson – SO – Ole Miss – Opening day starter at shortstop last year, continued to hit well this year .297 average, 1 HR
    JaVon Shelby – SO – Kentucky – Emerged as UK’s most dangerous hitter, batting .312 with team-highs of 9 homers and 44 RBI
    Blake Tiberi – SO – Louisville – NECBL all-star last year hit .261 with four homers for Cardinals this season
     

    OUTFIELDERS

    Corey Bird – FR – Marshall – Led team in hitting as a freshman and was second this year with .309 average, 1 HR, 9 SB
    Ben DeLuzio – SO – Florida State – Former 3rd-rounder had freshman struggles on Cape last year, hit .241 this spring with 14 SB
    Austin Hays – SO – Jacksonville – JUCO transfer hit .271 with three homers in first year with Dolphins
    David Martinelli – SO – Dallas Baptist – Burst onto the scene for emerging powerhouse DBU with .267 average, 10 homers
     

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    Wareham Looking to Regain Form

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    gatemen_logo_opt.jpgWareham followed up one of the franchise’s most memorable seasons with one of its most forgettable. After winning the Cape League title in 2012, the Gatemen just didn’t have the horses last year and won only nine games. They finished second-to-last in the league in both batting average and ERA, an easy recipe for a rough season.

    As 2014 rolls around, the Gatemen would love a step back in the right direction, and they’re bound to get it just based on how much they struggled last year. If things come together well, they may get a good-sized step.

    Four players return from last year, including two SEC pitchers who could anchor the rotation in Kyle Cody and Trey Killian. The lineup lacks the thumpers that Wareham had in 2012, but there’s some certainly some potential.

    For the Gatemen, there’s nowhere to go but up.

     

    THE SKINNY

    Manager: Cooper Farris
    Last Year: 9-33; Missed playoffs
    Returning Players: 4
    Juniors: 2
    Sophomores: 10
    Freshmen: 9

     

    NOTABLE

  • Kentucky’s Kyle Cody pitched all of nine innings with the Gatemen last summer but made enough of an impression to check in on the league’s top prospect lists. This could be a big summer for him.

  • Wareham got a longer look at Trey Killian last year and had to like what they saw. He struck out nearly a batter an inning in the Gatemen rotation and will be a good bet for an even better summer this year.

  • Indiana’s Scott Effross may have the inside track at the closer’s job, based on college numbers. He’s saved five games each of the past two years.

  • It wasn’t too long ago that Wareham brought in UConn stars George Springer and Matt Barnes. Anthony Kay and Andrew Zapata may not be at their level, but the freshman pitchers are coming off solid debuts.

  • Elliot Surrey has been the second-best starting pitcher for a talented UC Irvine team that is headed to Omaha.

  • Also headed to Omaha are the Louisville Cardinals, who have three players pegged for Wareham. All would provide a boost, so the Gatemen will be waiting.

  • Texas-San Antonio catcher John Bormann was a 19th-round pick of the Angels in last week’s MLB draft.

  • If Bormann is in town, Wareham will have a dynamic catching duo. The other half is Rice junior John Clay Reeves, a juco transfer who was Conference USA’s Newcomer of the Year this season. LSU’s Chris Chinea can also catch but could bounce around the diamond as well.

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    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Kyle Cody
    2. Trey Killian
    3. John Clay Reeves
    4. Elliot Surrey
    5. John Bormann

     

    PITCHERS

    *Kyle Cody – RHP – 6’7 245 – Kentucky – Sophomore
    Scott Effross – RHP – 6’2 195 – Indiana – Sophomore
    Max Engelbrekt – LHP – 6’3 200 – Oregon State – Sophomore
    Myles Gentry – RHP – 6’0 200 – Mississippi State – Sophomore
    Drew Harrington – LHP – 6’1 215 – Louisville – Freshman
    Anthony Kay – LHP – 6’1 185 – Connecticut – Freshman
    *Trey Killian – RHP – 6’3 205 – Arkansas – Sophomore
    Ryan Olson – RHP – 6’3 185 – San Diego – Freshman
    Elliot Surrey – LHP – 5’11 185 – UC Irvine – Sophomore
    Andrew Zapata – RHP – 6’0 190 – Connecticut – Freshman
    * – returning player

     

    Kyle Cody – RHP – 6’7 245
    Kentucky
    Sophomore

    Cody worked his way into Kentucky’s weekend rotation by the time conference play hit last season, starting the emergence that has him among the best sophomore arms in the country. He played briefly for Wareham last summer and offered a tantalizing glimpse for scouts. Perfect Game rated him as the Cape’s 30th-best prospect. This spring, he started six games and made 12 relief appearances, posting a 2.84 ERA.

    Scott Effross – RHP – 6’2 195
    Indiana
    Sophomore

    Effross saved five games with a 2.44 ERA last year en route to Freshman All-America honors. The 11th-best prospect in the Great Lakes Collegiate League, Effross followed up with an even better sophomore campaign. He saves five games again while dropping his ERA to 1.98. He struck out 40 and walked just 11 in 54 innings.

    Max Engelbrekt – LHP – 6’3 200
    Oregon State
    Sophomore

    Engelbrekt has been a valuable left-handed arm out of the bullpen throughout his stay in Corvallis. He made 17 appearances this year and posted a 2.84 ERA.

    Myles Gentry – RHP – 6’0 200
    Mississippi State
    Sophomore

    A Mississippi high school standout, Gentry jumped into the Bulldogs pen as a freshman and turned in a strong season, limiting opponents to a .200 batting average and posting a 3.69 ERA. This year, he had a 4.78 ERA in 20 appearances.

    Drew Harrington – LHP – 6’1 215
    Louisville
    Freshman

    Kentucky’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2013, Harrington has flashed his potential in his freshman season with the Omaha-bound Cardinals. Though his ERA is 4.95 in 21 appearances, he has struck out 34 and walked only seven 36.1 innings.

    Anthony Kay – LHP – 6’1 185
    Connecticut
    Freshman

    Kay was drafted in the 29th round by the Mets but stuck with UConn and had a strong first season in a swing role. He had a 3.49 ERA and struck out 56 in 67 innings. He was second on the team in strikeouts.

    Trey Killian – RHP – 6’3 205
    Arkansas
    Sophomore

    The top high school prospect in the state of Arkansas in 2012, Killian made a splash for the Razorbacks last spring when he posted a 3.19 ERA in a swing role. He moved into the weekend rotation full-time this year and didn’t miss a beat, putting up a 2.30 ERA while striking out 62 in 94 innings. Killian made six starts for Wareham last summer and struck out nearly a batter an inning with an ERA a shade over four.

    Ryan Olson – RHP – 6’3 185
    San Diego
    Freshman

    Olson struck out 31 in 36 innings for the Toreros in his debut season but finished with an ERA over six.

    Elliot Surrey – LHP – 5’11 185
    UC Irvine
    Sophomore

    Surrey didn’t see a ton of innings as a freshman but has made up for lost time this year. Taking over as a weekend starter, Surrey has a 1.99 ERA and ranks second in innings pitched on the Omaha-bound UC Irvine club. He has struck out 75 and walked 27 in 108.1 innings.

    Andrew Zapata – RHP – 6’0 190
    Connecticut
    Freshman

    Another UConn freshman from New York, Zapata also pitched in a swing role and had some success in his debut season. The right finished with a 2.57 ERA despite walking one more batter than he struck out.

     

    POSITION PLAYERS

    John Bormann – C – 6’0 200 – Texas-San Antonio – Junior
    Willie Calhoun – INF – 5’9 180 – Arizona – Freshman
    *Christopher Chinea – C – 6’0 215 – LSU – Sophomore
    Nick Halamandaris – INF – 6’1 225 – California – Sophomore
    Anderson Miller – OF/LHP – 6’3 205 – Western Kentucky – Sophomore
    Corey Ray – OF – 6’0 190 – Louisville – Freshman
    John Clay Reeves – C – 6’0 200 – Rice – Junior
    Kramer Robertson – INF – 5’10 170 – LSU – Freshman
    Errol Robinson – INF – 5’11 170 – Mississippi – Freshman
    *Danny Rosenbaum – INF – 6’1 200 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Charlie Warren – OF/RHP – 6’2 185 – Rice – Freshman
    * – returning player

     

    John Bormann – C – 6’0 200
    Texas-San Antonio
    Junior

    Bormann was just selected by the Angels in the 19th round of this year’s draft. If he plays in Wareham, he’ll come in off a strong junior season. Bormann hit .288 with four homers and 24 RBI.

    Willie Calhoun – INF – 5’9 180
    Arizona
    Freshman

    Calhoun was a 17th-round pick of Tampa Bay last season but headed to Arizona. He finished his freshman year with a .247 batting average.

    Christopher Chinea – C – 6’0 215
    LSU
    Sophomore

    Chinea hit .247 as a freshman in part-time duty last year. After holding his own with Wareham, he made more solid contributions to the Tigers this year. He hit .250 with two homers.

    Nick Halamandaris – INF – 6’1 225
    California
    Sophomore

    Halamandaris was an eighth-round pick of the Mariners out of high school but has yet to make big waves at Cal. After hitting just over .200 last year, he batted .244 this year.

    Anderson Miller – OF/LHP – 6’3 205
    Western Kentucky
    Sophomore

    Miller was off to a strong start in his freshman year before it was cut short due to injury. Upon returning this year, he picked up where he had left off in a big way. Miller hit .335 with three homers, 18 extra-base hits and 33 RBI. He was a second-team all-Sun Belt selection.

    Corey Ray – OF – 6’0 190
    Louisville
    Freshman

    Ray was Seattle’s 33rd round pick last year but the Chicago native headed to Louisville. With the Cards, he has forced his way into more and more playing time thanks to a .347 batting average, a .434 OBP and eight extra-base hits.

    John Clay Reeves – C – 6’0 200
    Rice
    Junior

    Reeves started his career at Arkansas before a stint at Navarro Junior College last year. He burst onto the scene at Rice this year, hitting .317 with six homers en route to the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year award. Reeves has also been praised for his work behind the plate.

    Kramer Robertson – INF – 5’10 170
    LSU
    Freshman

    The son of Baylor women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey, Robertson headed East after a strong high school career in Texas. He played in 47 games for the Tigers this spring, starting 30 of them, and hit .200.

    Errol Robinson – INF – 5’11 170
    Mississippi
    Freshman

    A Maryland native, Robinson has had a strong debut in Oxford. Playing regularly for the CWS-bound Rebels, Robinson has a .290 batting average.

    Danny Rosenbaum – INF – 6’1 200
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    Rosenbaum has been one of the top hitters in a loaded Louisville lineup that begins play in the College World Series this week. The sophomore is batting .297 with 11 extra-base hits and 24 RBI. He played in Wareham last summer and hit .246.

    Charlie Warren – OF/RHP – 6’2 185
    Rice
    Freshman

    A Texas high school star, Warren started 35 games for the Owls this spring, finishing with a .264 batting average.