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Shutting it Down

stock_orleans14

 

On paper, it looked like the Orleans Firebirds had the best pitching in the league coming into the 2014 season. Some of their best – Virginia’s Nathan Kirby and Josh Sborz and Vanderbilt’s Tyler Ferguson – are in Omaha, but that hasn’t slowed the Firebirds down too much.

Orleans has won five games this summer, and four have been shutouts.

No. 4 was authored last night by Kolton Mahoney (BYU) and Ryne Combs (Kentucky) in a 7-0 victory over Wareham.

The Gatemen were riding a string of four straight games with double-digit hits, but Mahoney and Combs didn’t let them come even close to their fifth in a row. They combined to allow five hits and all were singles.

Mahoney, who threw a no-hitter for BYU this spring, was a draft-eligible sophomore this year and was selected by the Brewers in the 23rd round. He’s certainly catching their attention on the Cape, where he’s allowed four hits and no runs in 10 innings of work.

Mahoney’s previous outing was a four-inning relief stint in another shutout. Making his first start Saturday, he went six innings and allowed just two hits while striking out six. He allowed single in the second, an infield single in the sixth and nothing else. He’s now tied for the league lead in strikeouts.

Combs finished it off. The Kentucky reliever allowed three hits in three scoreless innings.

Orleans also had plenty of offense. Johnny Sewald (Arizona) went 3-for-5 with an RBI at the top of the lineup. Mitchell Tolman (Oregon) drove in two and David Thompson (Miami) had two hits and an RBI.

Orleans improved to 5-5 while Wareham dropped to 3-7.

 

Bourne 4, Harwich 2

Bourne beat Harwich for the second night in a row, and in doing so, created a tie for the best record in the league. Both teams are now 7-3. Samuel Kmiec (Winthrop) turned in six good innings for the Braves, allowing two runs and striking out six. Brett Morales (Florida) and John Gorman (Boston College) combined on three hitless innings of relief. Gorman picked up his third save, which is tied for the best in the league. The Braves offense, though it only scored four runs, smacked 13 hits. Richard Martin Jr. (Florida) went 3-for-5, while Mark Laird (LSU), Billy Fleming (West Virginia), Blake Davey (Connecticut) and Brett Sullivan (Pacific) had two hits each.

 

Y-D 9, Cotuit 1

The Red Sox handed Cotuit its fourth straight loss in a 9-1 victory. Andrew Stevenson (LSU) and Vincent Jackson (Tennessee) homered for the Red Sox as they hit a season-high in runs. Rob Fonseca (Northeastern) went 3-for-3 and A.J. Simcox (Tennessee) had two hits. On the mound, Justin Jacome (UC Santa Barbara) scattered eight hits in 5.2 scoreless innings for the win. Cotuit got three hits from Kyle Holder (San Diego).

 

Chatham 6, Falmouth 2

Max Tishman (Wake Forest) gave Chatham its best starting pitching performance of the season and the Anglers ran with it in a 6-2 victory over Falmouth. Tishman didn’t allow a run in 5.1 innings, striking out three and working around four hits. Michael Wallace (Fairfield) pitched 3.2 innings for the save. Patrick Mazeika (Stetson) hit the team’s second home run of the season while Ty Moore (UCLA) drove in two runs.

 

Hyannis 4, Brewster 1

The Harbor Hawks overcame a solid start from Brewster’s Andrew Lee (Tennessee) and got a good start themselves from Jordan Minch (Purdue) in a 4-1 victory. Minch allowed one run and struck out six in six innings. Lance Thonvold (Minnesota) went three scoreless for his third save. Lee gave up two runs in five innings, and the Harbor Hawks added to their lead once he departed. Donnie Dewees Jr. (North Florida) had a double, a triple and two RBI while Dylan Bosheers (Tennessee Tech) had two hits. Mikey White (Alabama) homered for Brewster.

 

What to Watch

Another set of Sunday doubleheaders are on tap today. The best one may be in Hyannis, where two second-place teams – Orleans and Hyannis – square off.

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Star-powered Braves Set to Go

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TeamLogo_Bourne2003.jpgThe Bourne Braves have had the Cape Cod Baseball League MVP in two of the last three years and three of the last five. It’s never a guarantee of success – the Braves were a .500 team with last year’s MVP Max Pentecost – but the awards represent the fact that good things are happening in Bourne more often than not these days. And look what Bourne did after its .500 season last year. The Braves made a surprising run to the West finals.

As the 2014 season begins, the Braves are bringing in one of the youngest teams in the league, so there are some unknowns there. But it’s also a talented club, led by a host of proven college pitchers like Ryan Kellogg and Jimmy Herget.

Maybe there’s another MVP in the mix, too. Either way, the Braves are hoping for continued success.

 

THE SKINNY

Manager: Harvey Shapiro
Last Year: 21-21-1; Lost in West finals
Returning Players: 2
Juniors: 1
Sophomores: 11
Freshmen: 11

 

NOTABLE

  • Arizona State pitchers Ryan Kellogg and Ryan Burr both have a shot to be among the best pitchers on the Cape this summer. Kellogg returns to Bourne for a second year, off another strong season in Tempe. Burr, who’s also been invited to Team USA, has been a dynamic closer for the Sun Devils.

  • Few pitchers on Cape rosters can boast a better 2014 college season than South Florida’s Jimmy Herget. The righty was one of the top pitchers in the American Athletic Conference, and led South Florida’s conference tourney upset of now Omaha-bound Louisville.

  • Bourne has three Louisville pitchers who have done very well this year. That’s the good news. The bad news from Bourne’s perspective is that the Cards are headed to Omaha, so the future Braves may be late arrivals.

  • Harrison Bader has done nothing but hit in two years with the Florida Gators, leading the team in batting average as a freshman and a sophomore.

  • Mississippi State freshman Gavin Collins was a top-notch catching prospect who slid in the draft last year due to an injury. He had a solid debut in Starkville this season.

  • Bourne has seven freshman hitters. Considering the struggles freshmen often have on the Cape, that could be a challenge, but this crew has a lot going for it. Brett Sullivan had a terrific freshman campaign at Pacific and Stephen Wrenn looks like a star-in-the-making at Georgia.

  • The Braves will have one veteran to anchor the lineup in Mark Laird, who returns for a second year. He’s been a steady player for LSU.

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    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Ryan Kellogg
    2. Ryan Burr
    3. Harrison Bader
    4. Brett Sullivan
    5. Mark Laird

     

    PITCHERS

    Ryan Burr – RHP – 6’4 225 – Arizona State – Sophomore
    Thomas Hatch – RHP – 6’1 200 – Oklahoma State – Freshman
    Dylan Hecht – RHP – 6’2 195 – UC Santa Barbara – Sophomore
    Jimmy Herget – RHP – 6’3 165 – South Florida – Sophomore
    *Ryan Kellogg – LHP – 6’6 225 – Arizona State – Sophomore
    Anthony Kidston – RHP/INF – 6’2 195 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Sam Kmiec – LHP – 6’0 210 – Winthrop – RS Sophomore
    Lucas Laster – LHP – 5’11 175 – Mississippi State – Junior
    Brett Morales – RHP – 6’1 200 – Florida – Freshman
    Josh Rogers – LHP – 6’3 210 – Louisville – Freshman
    Andrew Sopko – RHP – 6’2 200 – Gonzaga – Sophomore
    Jacob Sparger – RHP – 6’5 197 – Louisville – Freshman
    * – returning player

     

    Ryan Burr – RHP – 6’4 225
    Arizona State
    Sophomore

    A 33rd-round pick out of high school, Burr grabbed the closer’s role last year and set a school freshman record for saves with 11. Despite pitching out of the bullpen, he ranked second on the team in strikeouts. He continued to pitch as a closer this season, saving 12 games while striking out 56 in 44 innings. Burr has been invited to Team USA.

    Thomas Hatch – RHP – 6’1 200
    Oklahoma State
    Freshman

    According to Baseball America, Hatch was the 95th-best high school prospect in the 2013 draft, and he was selected in the 33rd round. He headed off to Stillwater, where he had some ups and downs as a freshman. Hatch finished with a 5.28 ERA in a swing role.

    Dylan Hecht – RHP – 6’2 195
    UC Santa Barbara
    Sophomore

    Hecht closed for the Gauchos as a freshman last year and picked up nine saves. He played in the West Coast League last summer and was tabbed as the league’s third-best prospect by Perfect Game. Hecht moved off the closer role this season and had an ERA over six in just nine appearances.

    Jimmy Herget – RHP – 6’3 165
    South Florida
    Sophomore

    Herget was thrown into the fire last year when he made his first collegiate start against powerhouse Florida State. He responded with four strong innings and parlayed that into an outstanding freshman season. He was even better this year as he emerged as an ace. Herget had a 1.26 ERA and struck out 90 in 107.1 innings. He earned first-team all-conference honors.

    Ryan Kellogg – LHP – 6’6 225
    Arizona State
    Sophomore

    Kellogg was a 12th-round pick out of high school and starred as a freshman in Tempe, putting up a Freshman All-American season that included a no-hitter. In Bourne last summer, Kellogg had an ERA under two in six starts. This spring, he continued to be steady, going 8-3 with a 3.76 ERA and leading the team in innings pitched.

    Anthony Kidston – RHP/INF – 6’2 195
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    Kidston pitched in a swing role last year and saw occasional two-way duty. He has focused exclusively on pitching this spring with good results. Kidston has been the Cardinals’ Sunday starter and hasn’t lost a game, going 9-0 with a 3.54 ERA.

    Sam Kmiec – LHP – 6’0 210
    Winthrop
    RS Sophomore

    Kmiec had a strong freshman season for the Eagles last year and was even better this year, putting up a 2.95 ERA as a weekend starter. In 103.2 innings, he struck out 73 and walked just 17.

    Lucas Laster – LHP – 5’11 175
    Mississippi State
    Junior

    A junior-college transfer, Laster was a valuable member of the Bulldogs’ staff this season as he made four starts and five relief appearances with a 2.60 ERA. He struck out 25 in 34.2 innings.

    Brett Morales – RHP – 6’1 200
    Florida
    Freshman

    Morales was one of the top high-school prospects in the state of Florida last year and was drafted in the 24th round. He had an up-and-down debut with the Gators, putting up an ERA over six in 11 appearances.

    Josh Rogers – LHP – 6’3 210
    Louisville
    Freshman

    A native of New Albany, Ind., Rogers crossed the Ohio River to attend Louisville and has made a splash for the CWS-bound Cardinals. Making nine starts and five relief appearances, Rogers owns a 3.63 ERA and has struck out 47 in 53 innings.

    Andrew Sopko – RHP – 6’2 200
    Gonzaga
    Sophomore

    Sopko was a Montana high school star and was drafted in the 14th round in 2012. He didn’t do much in his first year in Spokane but was named the Alaska League’s 17th-best prospect by Perfect Game last summer. This year, he took the expected leap, putting up a 3.64 ERA as a weekend starter.

    Jacob Sparger – RHP – 6’5 197
    Louisville
    Freshman

    The top prospect in Wisconsin last year, Sparger headed to Louisville and has had a strong debut campaign. Pitching mostly out of the bullpen, Sparger has a 3.20 ERA and has struck out 26 in 45 innings.

     

    POSITION PLAYERS

    Harrison Bader – OF – 6’1 195 – Florida – Sophomore
    Gavin Collins – C – 5’11 200 – Mississippi State – Freshman
    Jason Delay – C – 6’0 – 180 – Vanderbilt – Freshman
    Bryce Harman – INF – 6’6 220 – East Carolina – Freshman
    Ryan Howard – INF – 6’1 192 – Missouri – Freshman
    Ben Johnson – OF – 6’1 195 – Texas – Sophomore
    *Mark Laird – OF – 6’2 175 – LSU – Sophomore
    Richard Martin Jr. – INF – 5’11 186 – Florida – Sophomore
    Brian Serven – C – 6’0 195 – Arizona State – Freshman
    Brett Sullivan – INF – 6’0 175 – Pacific – Freshman
    Stephen Wrenn – OF – 6’2 180 – Georgia – Freshman
    * – returning player

     

    Harrison Bader – OF – 6’1 195
    Florida
    Sophomore

    Bader was a New York high school star who headed south and promptly led the Gators in hitting last year. After a summer in the Northwoods League, he paced Florida again this year, hitting .335 with two homers, 24 RBI and a a team-best .411 OBP. He also stole 13 bases.

    Gavin Collins – C – 5’11 200
    Mississippi State
    Freshman

    Collins was projected as a top-five round pick before an injury cost him his senior season in high school. His loss was Mississippi State’s gain as Collins hit the college ranks with a .304 batting average and one home run.

    Jason Delay – C – 6’0 – 180
    Vanderbilt
    Freshman

    A Georgia high school star, Delay gradually worked his way into the starting catcher’s job at Vanderbilt this year. He finished with a .272 average and 13 RBI.

    Bryce Harman – INF – 6’6 220
    East Carolina
    Freshman

    Harman was a basketball and baseball standout at his Virginia high school and was a 27th-round draft pick last year. At East Carolina, he hit .244 but blasted a team-high seven home runs and had a .338 OBP.

    Ryan Howard – INF – 6’1 192
    Missouri
    Freshman

    Howard jumped right into the starting lineup in his freshman year in Columbia and acquitted himself well. He hit .302 and knocked in 20 runs.

    Ben Johnson – OF – 6’1 195
    Texas
    Sophomore

    Johnson didn’t have a great freshman year but is in the midst of an honorable mention All-Big 12 season this year. He’s hitting .271 for the Omaha-bound Longhorns and he leads the team with six home runs.

    Mark Laird – OF – 6’2 175
    LSU
    Sophomore

    Laird grabbed a starting job in the LSU outfield last year and hit over .300. He then hit .292 with Bourne last summer. This year, he batted .291 for the Tigers and stole 10 bases.

    Richard Martin Jr. – INF – 5’11 186
    Florida
    Sophomore

    Martin was a 38th-round pick out of high school and saw regular duty for the Gators last year. He played for Falmouth in the Cape League last summer and struggled to a .193 average. This spring, he was back on the horse, hitting .266 with 13 extra-base hits and 18 stolen bases.

    Brian Serven – C – 6’0 195
    Arizona State
    Freshman

    Serven started 45 games for the Sun Devils as a freshman this season and held his own. He finished with a .249 batting average to go with three homers and 27 RBI.

    Brett Sullivan – INF – 6’0 175
    Pacific
    Freshman

    Sullivan joined older brother Tyler in the Pacific lineup this season and made himself right at home with a huge debut. Sullivan hit a team-best .357, smacked four home runs, hit a team-best 24 extra-base hits and drove in a team-high 40 runs.

    Stephen Wrenn – OF – 6’2 180
    Georgia
    Freshman

    Wrenn was drafted in the 27th round last year by his hometown Braves but opted to stick with his commitment to Georgia. He started 55 games as a freshman and hit .254 with 20 RBI. He set a school record for an outfielder with a perfect fielding percentage.

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    Staying Alive

    Orleans beat Harwich 4-3 to force game three in its East semifinal.

     
    Chatham is into the next round with a sweep of Y-D, the franchise’s first playoff series win since 2001.

    The other three games were decided by one run for a second straight night – and they all went in the other direction. Cotuit, Bourne and Orleans avoided sweeps and kept their seasons alive.

     

    Cotuit 5, Falmouth 4

    In perhaps the best Cape League game of the summer, the Kettleers came from behind twice after the fifth inning and won the game on a walk-off in the 10th.

    It was a fitting finish, too. The Kettleers could probably field two teams with all the players that have come through there this summer, and somehow the team still finished one point out of first place. No matter who was in the lineup, they were getting it done. Yesterday, they got a game-tying two-run homer from Austin Byler (Nevada), a late pick-up. And in the 10th, they won the game on a walk-off RBI single by Garrett Stubbs (USC), who began his Cape League career on August 3.

    The Commodores looked poised for a sweep when they went up 3-0 in the fourth on a three-run homer by Kevin Cron (TCU). Meanwhile, ace John Means (West Virginia) cruised through five innings.

    But Cotuit wasn’t going down easy. A three-run rally in the sixth capped by Byler’s home run tied the game. After Falmouth went up by one in the seventh, Cotuit tied it again in the eighth, setting the stage for the 10th-inning heroics.

    Wesley Cox (Texas-San Antonio), another recent arrival, got the win in relief for the Kettleers.

    Game two is slated for today at 5:30 p.m in Falmouth. Probably pitchers are TBA.

     

    Bourne 1, Hyannis 0

    Two largely unheralded pitchers staged a duel to match what stars Ryan Kellogg and Kyle Freeland did the night before, and Bourne pushed a run across in the eighth for the win.

    Kyle Kubat (Nebraska) delivered his best start of the summer for the Braves, striking out six and scattering six hits in 6.2 innings. His counterpart, Cy Sneed (Dallas Baptist), was just as good for Hyannis, striking out seven and allowing only three hits while also going 6.2 innings.

    In the eighth, Bourne broke through against Hyannis reliever Jordan DeLorenzo (West Florida), a late arrival who had yet to allow a run. Trent Gilbert (Arizona) singled to start the rally, and Tim Caputo (Rhode Island) followed with a bunt single that rolled fair. DeLorenzo retired Mark Laird (LSU) and newly-crowned Cape League MVP Max Pentecost, but Clint Freeman (East Tennessee State) knocked an RBI single into right field to score the go-ahead run.

    Michael Costello (Radford), who had come on in the seventh and stranded a pair of runners, gave up two singles in the ninth but wiggled out of trouble to finish off a victory for the Braves.

    Game two will go off at 6 p.m. today at McKeon Park in Hyannis. Jacob Lindgren (Mississippi State), who had pitched out of the bullpen to start the summer before going six shutout innings in his only start, will go for the Braves. Rocky McCord (Auburn), who has allowed one run in his last two starts, gets the ball for Hyannis.

     

    Orleans 4, Harwich 3

    Orleans took a lead in the third and held onto it through a few Harwich rallies, winning by a run and forcing a game three.

    Ross Kivett (Kansas State), Jordan Luplow (Fresno State) and Chris Marconcini (Duke) knocked in the runs in the third, and the three were enough for Bobby Poyner (Florida). He took a shutout into the seventh before giving up one run. He went seven full innings, striking out three and allowing just four hits.

    Closer Matt Troupe (Arizona) came on for the eighth and got into trouble, giving up a walk and two straight singles. A fielder’s choice off the bat of Ian Happ (Cincinnati) scored two and made it a one-run game.

    But Troupe buckled down. He stranded Happ on second with a strikeout of A.J. Reed (Kentucky), who had homered an inning before. In the ninth, Troupe struck out two to finish off the victory.

    For Harwich, Nick Howard (Virginia) turned in an impressive start, striking out nine in nine in seven innings, but he was the hard-luck loser.

    Game three is set for Eldredge Park tonight at 7 p.m., and it might be the best pitching match-up of all the game threes. All-Star Game starter Aaron Bummer (Nebraska) will go for Harwich against Jared Miller (Vanderbilt), who struggled in his last start but struck out 10 in six scoreless innings the start before that.

     

    Chatham 9, Y-D 4

    Chatham led 2-0 for much of the game but found itself tied 3-3 in the eighth. That’s when the Anglers exploded, getting a grand slam from J.D. Davis (Cal State Fullerton) and scoring six runs to send them on their way to the next round.

    Tommy Lawrence (Maine), who lost to Y-D in a playoff start last year, turned it around this time, giving up just one earned run in 5.1 innings. Jacob Dorris (Texas A&M Corpus Christi) got the win in relief when the Anglers broke through.

    After tying the game in the seventh, they took the lead in the eighth on RBI singles by Blake Butera (Boston College) and Landon Lassiter (North Carolina). Then came the big blow. With the bases loaded, Davis smacked a home run out of the same field where he won All-Star Game MVP honors.

    Dorris gave up one run in the bottom of the eighth but Dominic Moreno (Texas Tech) closed the door in the ninth, sealing the sweep for Chatham and ending Y-D’s season.

    James Kaprielian (UCLA) was a bright spot for the Red Sox, striking out nine in five innings. D.J. Stewart (Florida State) homered and Alex Blandino (Stanford) finished a terrific Cape League career with two hits.

    Chatham won a playoff series for the first time since 2001, when it won the East and lost to Wareham in the league championship.

    The Anglers get a day off while the rest of the teams hit the field for game threes.
     

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    Still Wild

    Kyle Freeland and Hyannis remained in a first-place tie with a victory over Y-D.

     
    The Western Division race finally gained some clarity on Saturday night.

    But the race for the championship will still come down to the season’s final day.

    With Falmouth’s 9-5 victory over Cotuit last night, the Kettleers have been eliminated from title contention. They’re three points out, and with only one game left, they can’t make up that ground. But Hyannis also won last night, 6-1 over Y-D, to remain tied with Falmouth for first place.

    It’ll come down to today, the third third time in the past four years that a division champion will be decided on the final day. It was the East race in both 2010 and 2011.

    Falmouth won its sixth straight to stay in the first-place tie. Trailing 5-1 in the seventh, the Commodores scored five runs to take the lead and added three in the ninth to pull away.

    Rhys Hoskins (Sacramento State) had two hits and added two RBI to his league-leading total. Troy Stein (Texas A&M) also had two RBI, while Kevin Cron (TCU) had three hits. Kevin Newman (Arizona), who may well be on his way to the batting title, had two more hits after his 6-for-6 night. Casey Gillaspie (Wichita State) had two hits and an RBI.

    Once the Commodores got the lead, the bullpen closed the door on Cotuit. Jared Price (Maryland) and Hunter Brothers (Lipscomb) struck out two in a scoreless inning each to preserve the lead.

    For all the success Falmouth has had in the last week, Hyannis just will not go away. The Harbor Hawks have won three of their last four.

    On Saturday, they got a terrific pithing performance from Rocky McCord (Auburn). He went five scoreless innings in his last start and followed it up with 5.2 strong frames. He allowed one run and struck out three. Kyle Freeland (Evansville) struck out two in 1.1 innings before Jordan DeLorenzo (West Florida), who was making just his second appearance, picked up a save with two scoreless innings.

    Jose Lopez (Seton Hall) struck out eight in 6.2 innings, but Hyannis scored two unearned runs off of him and added more against the Y-D bullpen. Ryan Padilla (New Mexico) had two hits and an RBI. Austin Slater (Stanford) added two hits, and Landon Curry (Indiana State) went 1-for-2 with an RBI.

    All the same teams will meet again today. As far as Hyannis and Falmouth are concerned, we’ll see if either blinks. If they remain tied, the first tiebreaker is head-to-head competition, and Hyannis would own the edge.

     

    Orleans 1, Chatham 0

    Chatham lost its fourth in a row, while Orleans won its 10th in the last 12 with a 1-0 shutout. Corey Miller (Pepperdine) went five scoreless for the win. Jeremy Rhoades (Illinois State), Brian Clark (Kent State) and Matt Troupe (Arizona) finished it off, with Troupe taking over the league lead in saves at 11. Jordan Luplow (Fresno State) delivered the only offense with a solo home run.

     

    Harwich 6, Brewster 4

    The Mariners remained within striking distance of Orleans for second place with a victory over the Whitecaps. Harwich scored runs in the eighth and ninth to break a 4-4 tie. Nick Howard (Virginia) went 3-for-4 with two RBI and A.J. Reed (Kentucky) hit a home run to lead the Harwich offense. Derek Fisher (Virginia) added two his and Blair DeBord (Kansas State) knocked in two. On the mound, Logan Jernigan (NC State) gave up just two earned runs in 6.2 innings. Sam Howard (Georgia Southern) went 2.1 scoreless innings for the win.

     

    Bourne 8, Wareham 0

    Three pitchers combined on a shutout as the Braves beat Wareham. Making his first start of the summer, Christian Colletti (Connecticut) struck out three in five scoreless innings. Cody Livingston (Southern Miss) went three innings and Will Cox (Mississippi State) finished it off. Mason Robbins (Southern Miss) and Mark Laird (LSU) had three hits each to lead the offense. Vinny Siena (Connecticut) backed his college teammate Colletti with two RBI.

     

    What to Watch

    Falmouth visits Cotuit at 4:30 and Hyannis hosts Y-D at 6 in the West race.
     

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    Showdown

    Kevin Cron knocked in two runs as Falmouth topped Hyannis.

     
    Hyannis has owned the West for much of this season in part because it has owned Falmouth. Though the Commodores had the flashier numbers, the Harbor Hawks won each of the first four meetings, making it tough for Falmouth to make up ground.

    Hyannis still takes the seasons series thanks to those four wins, but Falmouth has won the last two.

    And the division is now co-owned.

    With an 8-4 victory over Hyannis last night, Falmouth moved into a 48-point tie with the Harbor Hawks atop the Western Division. Cotuit, which lost to Bourne last night, is a point back.

    For Falmouth, last night’s win continued a surge that always seemed close. The Commodores have won four in a row, their first such streak of the season, and they now lead the West in wins with 24. Hyannis is 23-16-2.

    Falmouth was shut out for the first three innings last night by late addition Logan Carman (Southern Maine), a D-III All-American. Hyannis needs some help with departures of starters Jeff Hoffman, Patrick Andrews and Austin Pettibone.

    It looked like Carman could provide the boost, but ultimately, Falmouth’s big bats represented a tough introduction. The Commodores scored five runs in the fourth and never looked back.

    Rhys Hoskins (Sacramento State) led the parade for Falmouth with four hits, including a home run and a double. Kevin Cron (TCU) went 1-for-3 with three RBI, while Kevin Newman (Arizona) and Conner Hale (State College of Florida) had two hits and an RBI apiece.

    On the mound, Trey Teakell (TCU) gave up three runs, two earned, in four innings. Kevin Mooney (Maryland) got the win with two innings of relief. Donny Murray (Holy Cross), Brent Stong (Bradley) and Hunter Brothers (Lipscomb) pitched a hitless inning each and combined for five strikeouts.

    While Falmouth’s win tightens things up, the division title is still going to come down to the final three games. Falmouth plays Cotuit twice in its final three, which could make things very interesting. In the meantime, Hyannis has Wareham before two straight games against East foe Y-D.

    A number of scenarios could play out. For now, Falmouth has made things a little bit tighter.

     

    Harwich 5, Chatham 3; Harwich 3, Chatham 1

    Harwich has been treading water for about two weeks but took a big step up yesterday with a doubleheader sweep of first-place Chatham. Harwich is now back in second place in the East, a point ahead of Orleans. In game one, Aaron Bummer (Nebraska) went six strong innings, allowing just one earned run. Mason McCullough (North Carolina) worked a perfect seventh for the save. A balanced attack led the offense, with Ben Moore (Alabama), A.J. Reed (Kentucky), Ryan Lindemuth (William & Mary) and Blair DeBord (Kansas State) driving in one run each. In game two, Harwich got a home run from Gunnar Heidt (College of Charleston) to take a lead it never lost. Brett Austin (NC State) added two hits and an RBI, while Reed knocked in one. Dillon Peters (Texas) pitched three scoreless frames and Ian Tompkins (Western Kentucky) went four strong innings for the win, allowing just one run and striking out six.

     

    Y-D 5, Orleans 3

    The Red Sox stopped Orleans’ eight-game winning streak with a 5-3 victory and clinched the final playoff spot in the East in the process. Facing Jared Miller (Vanderbilt), who had turned in two consecutive dominant starts, Y-D scored five runs in the first four innings and made the lead stand up. Alex Blandino (Stanford) and Jose Trevino (Oral Roberts) knocked in two runs each while Taylor White (UNLV) drove in the other. Auston Bousfield (Ole Miss) had two hits and scored two runs. On the mound, Clay Smith (St. Louis) gave up three runs in six innings for the win. Alexander Katz (St. John’s) pitched 1.1 scoreless innings in his Cape debut before Kody Kerski (Sacred Heart) finished it off.

     

    Bourne 2, Cotuit 0

    With Jaron Long and Austin Gomber departing, the Braves are going to need some help in the starting rotation come playoff time. After last night, Jacob Lindgren (Mississippi State) may be up to the task. A starter in the spring but a reliever all summer, Lindgren made his first Cape start and dominated, tossing six shutout innings and striking out seven as the Braves shut out Cotuit. Jack English (Florida Gulf Coast) struck out four in two innings before Lindgren’s Mississippi State teammate Will Cox struck out the side in the ninth for the save. For Cotuit, newcomer Dalton Potts (Tennessee-Martin) went five strong innings but Bourne got to him for two runs that proved to be enough. Mark Laird (LSU) and Jeff Gardner (Louisville) drove in a run each.

     

    Wareham 8, Brewster 1

    The Gatemen pounded out 19 hits and got a strong pitching performance from Andro Cutura (Southeastern Louisana) en route to a lopsided victory. Cutura, a hard-luck loser several times, went seven innings and struck out six while allowing just a run. He also finally received some run support. Daniel Rosenbaum (Louisville) had three hits and a home run, while Trevor Podratz (Hawaii), Cole Stancil (St. Leo) and Ethan Gross (Memphis) also had three hits. Chris Chinea (LSU) had two hits and drove in two runs. With the loss and a win by Y-D, Brewster officially was eliminated from the playoff race.

     

    What to Watch

    Second place in the East may well be decided today as Harwich hosts a double-header with Orleans beginning at 4:30 p.m. The Mariners have a one-point edge on Orleans for second place.
     

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    MVP Return

    Kyle Schwarber went 4-for-4 with a game-tying home run in his return to the Cape.

     
    Kyle Schwarber’s return to the Cape Cod Baseball League happened on the same field where he left it.

    Little else in the setting was the same.

    On August 17, 2012, Schwarber led the Wareham Gatemen to the league championship on a sunny afternoon at Red Wilson Field in Yarmouth, with fans tucked into every nook and cranny. On July 25, 2013, Schwarber helped a struggling Wareham team salvage a tie with Y-D on a cool, dreary evening.

    The fact that he was here for both is one of the coolest stories of the 2013 Cape Cod Baseball League season.

    Schwarber earned Playoff MVP honors last summer when he hit two home runs in Wareham’s championship-clinching victory. His emergence as a star continued on the same trajectory in the spring, when he hit .366 with 18 home runs and led Indiana to the College World Series. He was ticketed for a return to Wareham, but Team USA came calling and Schwarber ran with the opportunity.

    But along the way, he told Wareham officials he wanted to come back when Team USA’s season ended. It was easy to envision him returning and pushing the Gatemen over the top, leading them to more playoff glory.

    That probably isn’t going to happen. Wareham has had a tough season and needs a miracle just to grab the fourth spot in the playoffs.

    And still, Schwarber came.

    This is a guy who has been playing baseball non-stop since Indiana’s season began on February 15. The grind took him across the country, then to Omaha then to Japan with Team USA.

    Coming back to Cape Cod for a few meaningless games, when scouts already have a good feel for who he is? Nobody would have blamed him if he headed home instead.

    But still, Schwarber came.

    Last night, karma smiled on that move. Schwarber went 4-for-4 in his 2013 debut and his two-run homer in the ninth inning tied the game at 2-2. Wareham and Y-D went on to finish in a tie. Andro Cutura (Southeastern Louisiana) delivered a strong performance on the mound for the Gatemen.

    Schwarber’s move is reminiscent of something another Wareham great once did. Matt Murton, who went on to a Major League career, broke his finger at Team USA tryouts in 2002. The temptation would have been to take the rest of the summer off. Instead, Murton returned to Wareham – where he’d played the summer before – let the finger heal and was in the lineup as the Gatemen won their second consecutive league championship.

    Schwarber likely won’t cap his return with the same kind of hardware, but the sentiment is the same. Both had great experiences in Wareham and both felt a measure of loyalty that isn’t always a priority in summer baseball.

    Schwarber is now 6-for-9 with three home runs in his last two Cape League games. The gap between those games – when they happened and what they meant – is huge, but Schwarber was doing his thing all the same.

     

    Brewster 2, Falmouth 0

    The Whitecaps have hit another rough patch but last night was a pretty serious bright spot. Jake Stinnett (Maryland) struck out eight in seven shutout innings as Brewster topped Falmouth 2-0. Stinnett took a no-hitter into the sixth before a base hit by Cameron O’Brien (Northeast Texas CC). It was the only hit he allowed. Justin Kamplain (Alabama) and Brad Schreiber (Purdue) finished the shutout with an inning each. Nick Lynch (UC Davis) delivered all the offense Brewster needed with two RBI, while Boo Vazquez (Pittsburgh) had two hits and scored both runs. Vazquez has a six-game hitting streak. The win was made all the more impressive by the fact that Brewster’s bus broke down before the game and the team arrived just 30 minutes before game time.

     

    Orleans 7, Cotuit 3

    The Firebirds won their fifth straight, riding a dominant performance by Jared Miller (Vanderbilt) to a victory over the Kettleers. Miller started the summer in the bullpen but went seven shutout innings in his second start last week. This time, he went six scoreless and struck out 10 while allowing just two hits. Shawn O’Neill (La Salle) picked up the save. Austin Davidson (Pepperdine) had two hits and two RBI, while Jordan Luplow (Fresno State) also drove in two. Will Fulmer (Montevallo) and Chris Marconcini (Duke) added two hits each. Orleans is now 18-18, just a point back of Harwich for second place in the West. For Cotuit, Bradley Zimmer (San Francisco) made his return from Team USA and went 1-for-4.

     

    Harwich 10, Hyannis 0

    Dillon Peters (Texas) turned in his second straight dominant start and the Mariners pulled away late for an easy victory. Peters struck out six in five scoreless innings after seven shutout innings in his last start. Logan Jernigan (NC State) struck out four in three innings of relief and Jake Drossner (Maryland) finished the job. Derek Fisher (Virginia) had two RBI to lead the attack, while Ben Moore (Alabama) and Tanner English (South Carolina) had two hits each.

     

    Chatham 7, Bourne 3

    The Anglers delivered a steady offensive performance and held off Bourne for their 24th victory of the season. Jimmy Pickens (Michigan State) had two hits, including a home run, to power the offense. Landon Lassiter (North Carolina) added two hits and two RBI, Michael Russell (North Carolina) had two hits, Blake Butera (Boston College) drove in two runs and recent arrival Brett Bell (Texas Tech) added two hits. Andrew McGee (Monmouth) gave up three runs in four innings. Dominic Moreno (Texas Tech) got the win with three scoreless innings of relief and David Speer (Columbia) shut down his former team over the final two innings for the save. Bourne got four hits from Mark Laird (LSU) but was again kept from clinching a playoff spot.

     

    What to Watch

    Orleans and Cotuit will meet for a second straight night, this time at Lowell Park. It should be a good pitching match-up with Bobby Poyner (Florida) starting for Orleans and Ben Smith (Coastal Carolina) going for Cotuit. Smith was one of the league’s top strikeout pitchers before he missed his last turn in the rotation.

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    Lighting Up Hyannis

    Jeff Hoffman, pictured last year, was dominant in his third start this year.

     
    Jeff Hoffman won’t have the kind of season Sean Manaea had last year. He was a late arrival, so he won’t be on the same innings pace, and he had a tough outing in his last start that shot his ERA through the roof.

    But Hoffman is getting plenty of love and for one night, he wowed fans and scouts at McKeon Park just like his former Hyannis teammate did last summer.

    The East Carolina righty turned in the most dominant pitching performance of the Cape summer last night, striking out 11 and giving up just three hits in 7.2 scoreless innings as Hyannis beat Orleans 3-0. He walked one and needed just 90 pitches to get into the eighth.

    Hoffman is no stranger to summer success. He was quietly solid in the shadow of Manaea last summer, finishing with a 2.40 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 30 innings. And the quiet turned very loud when he lit up radar guns at the All-Star Game. Baseball America rated him the Cape League’s seventh-best prospect.

    After a pretty good spring at East Carolina, he returned to Hyannis and made his 2013 debut on July 4. He struck out eight in six innings that night.

    His next start looked like a classic in the making – his power vs. the power bats in the Falmouth lineup. It didn’t pan out. Hoffman was chased in the fourth inning and then Hyannis came back to win.

    But on Wednesday, Hoffman was firmly back on track. He struck out the side in the second and third innings, tossed a four-pitch inning in the sixth and struck out the first two batters in the eighth. According to Perfect Game’s Frankie Piliere, Hoffman’s fastball reached 98 and consistently sat between 94 and 97. Piliere calls Hoffman a new candidate for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 draft.

    With Hoffman’s performance in the books, Sarkis Ohanian (Duke) sealed the victory for the Hawks with 1.1 scoreless innings. He has now made nine appearances without allowing a run.

    Orleans starter Josh Sborz (Virginia) did his best to match Hoffman, striking out eight in five innings, but the Hyannis offense did enough to get control. Skyler Ewing (Rice) went 1-for-4 with two RBI and Dominic Jose (Stanford) drove in the other run.

     

    Bourne 11, Wareham 3

    In the only other game of the night, the Braves had 15 hits, only three more than Wareham, but scored eight more runs in an easy victory. Every player in the Bourne lineup had a hit. Mark Laird (LSU), who made his Cape League debut last week, had his best game yet, going 3-for-5 with three RBI. Jeff Gardner (Louisville) went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Matt Gonzalez (Georgia Tech) also drove in two. Kris Gardner (Wichita State) got the start for the Braves and gave up a run in four innings. Jacob Lindgren (Mississippi State) got the win in relief. Cole Sturgeon (Louisville) led Wareham with three hits.

     

    What to Watch

    Division leaders Cotuit and Chatham will square off at 7 p.m. at Veterans Field. Evan Beal (South Carolina), who tossed six shutout innings against Falmouth in his last start, goes for the Kettleers. Andrew McGee (Monmouth), who had his first bad outing of the summer last time after a terrific beginning, is slated to go for Chatham.