Harwich annually mines big-time programs for top young talent, and the cast will be similar this year. The pitching staff may lack a star at this point, but there’s plenty of pop in the order, with a handful of returning players ready to lead the way.

The Mariners won the Eastern Division regular-season crown last year.

FIVE TO WATCH

1. Buddy Reed
2. Sheldon Neuse
3. Saige Jenco
4. Hunter Newman
5. Cavan Biggio
 

NOTABLE

Harwich has some Big League bloodlines with the sons of Craig Biggio and Preston Palmeiro and a cousin of Brad Lidge. With Biggio and Lidge, it’s a particularly strong Houston Astros connection. Can we find a Bagwell somewhere?

Like a number of teams profiled so far, the Mariners don’t have the proven ace-type pitcher on staff. Alabama’s Geoffrey Bramblett is probably the closest, after a steady year in the Crimson Tide’s weekend rotation.

LSU’s Hunter Newman has been terrific in a bullpen role for the Omaha-bound Tigers this season. He has a 0.53 ERA in plenty of work.

Florida and outfielder Buddy Reed are also headed to Omaha. Reed has been one of the best hitters in a dynamic Gator offense. He was rated one of the top prospects in the Northwoods League last summer.

Virginia Tech’s Saige Jenco was one of the top prospects in the Futures League before he even got to Blacksburg, playing there after his senior season of high school. The outfielder has since turned into an all-ACC player.

Baseball America tabbed Oklahoma’s Sheldon Neuse as its preseason Big 12 Player of the Year. It didn’t quite pan out, but Neuse still earned first-team all-conference honors after hitting .275. Neuse plays shortstop and can also pitch.

 

PITCHERS

Evan Anderson – SO – Ole Miss – Had 2.11 ERA in swing role last year but had some struggles in same spot this year, with ERA over 6
Geoffrey Bramblett – SO – Alabama – Moved to weekend rotation this year and was solid, going 8-3 with 3.81 ERA and 69 Ks
Williams Durruthy – SO – Florida International – Standout reliever for two years running had 2.18 ERA, 2 saves this year
Anthony Pacillo – SO – Seton Hall – Has 3.69 career ERA over 27 appearances, mostly starts in two years with Pirates
Joe O’Donnell – SO – NC State – Ranked second on team in appearances and posted 2.08 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 52 IP
Sean Labsan – SO – Florida Atlantic – Two-way player focused mostly on pitching this season and had 3.61 ERA as a starter
Luke Scherzer – SO – Virginia Tech – Closer for the Hokies since freshman year owns nine career saves, struck out 56 in 45.2 IP this year
Spencer Trayner – SO – North Carolina – Bullpen workhorse had 4.81 ERA in 23 appearances this spring
Cam Vieaux – SO – Michigan State – Followed solid freshman year by going 4-7 with 3.49 ERA in weekend rotation
Hunter Williams – FR – North Carolina – Made nine solid starts as a freshman and posted 1.79 ERA
Cory Wilder – SO – NC State – Led team in strikeouts with 79 in 64.1 innings, finished with 3.50 ERA
Zach Schellenger – FR – Seton Hall – Big righty went 2-3 with 4.97 ERA in debut season with Seton Hall
Jacob Hill – JR – San Diego – Former JUCO standout had ERA over seven in 20 relief appearances but struck out 30 in 28 IP
Joe DiBenedetto – SO – Seton Hall – Grabbed closer’s spot and saved three games to go with 3.13 ERA this spring
Hunter Newman – SO – LSU – Back after medical redshirt, has been lights-out reliever with 0.53 ERA in 33.2 IP
 

CATCHERS

Stevie Berman – SO – Santa Clara – Standout hitter from the catching spot batted .336 with 4 HR this year
Ryan Lidge – SO – Notre Dame – Nephew of former MLB closer Brad hit .279 with two homers in second season with Irish
 

INFIELDERS

Cavan Biggio – SO – Notre Dame – Son of Craig, returning Mariner hit .258 with 9 HR as a sophomore
Drew Ellis – FR – The Citadel – Hit only .229 as a freshman but blasted 12 HR, fourth in the nation among freshmen
Preston Palmeiro – SO – NC State – Son of former MLB star Rafael hit .305 with 7 HRs in first season of full-time duty
Connor Justus – SO – Georgia Tech – Standout defender at shortstop hit .251 this season
Sheldon Neuse – SO – Oklahoma – Fourth-best prospect in Cal Collegiate League last year hit .275 with 6 HR this spring
Danny Zardon – SO – LSU – Returning Mariner hitting .288 for Tigers as a sophomore
 

OUTFIELDERS

Saige Jenco – SO – Virginia Tech – Third-team all-ACC pick hit .330 with 3 HR, 27 RBI and 10 SB
Buddy Reed – SO – Florida – Standout in Northwoods League last summer hitting .313 with 18 SB for Omaha-bound Gators
Nick Walker – SO – Old Dominion – Tied for team lead with six home runs this year, to go with .279 average
Brock Deatherage – NC State – Started 35 games as a freshman and hit .291, stole 7 bases