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Daily Fog: Evened Out

Sam Haggerty and Hyannis were the last unbeaten team in the league - for a few hours.
Sam Haggerty and Hyannis were the last unbeaten team in the league – for a few hours.

 

Five days into the Cape Cod Baseball League season, nobody’s undefeated and nobody’s winless.

Yesterday’s slate of doubleheaders assured that. Previously unbeaten Harwich and Hyannis squared off and split their doubleheader, Brewster handed Bourne its first loss, and Yarmouth-Dennis broke into the win column twice with a sweep of Wareham.

I think the Red Sox were the happiest if the bunch.

Coming into the year, they looked like one of the most talented teams in the league but didn’t get much going in the first three games of the season, losing 7-2, 3-0 and 2-1. The third of those was the most frustrating as potential ace Michael Murray (Florida Gulf Coast) was charged with two unearned runs in a 2-1 loss.

Sunday, the Red Sox were finally on track.

In game one, they had their best offensive day of the season and beat the Gatemen 7-1. Rob Fonseca (Northeastern), who missed the spring season due to injury, smacked a home run for his first Cape League hit. Jason Goldstein (Illinois) and Donnie Walton (Oklahoma State) added two hits apiece, and Michael Foster (Northeastern) drove in two runs.

On the mound, former first-round pick Phil Bickford (Cal State Fullerton) made his Cape League debut and struck out three in three scoreless innings. Dimitri Kourtis (Mercer), who played for Harwich in 2012, followed with three strong innings for the win.

In game two, Josh Staumont (Azusa Pacific) and Tyler Jay (Illinois) combined to allow just an unearned run in seven innings as Y-D won 3-1. A.J. Simcox (Tennessee) knocked in two runs while Fonseca and Brennon Lund (BYU) had two hits each.

Kyle Cody (Kentucky), potentially one of the top pitching prospects in the league, struck out six in three innings for Wareham.

Hyannis 2, Harwich 0; Harwich 5, Hyannis 2

Hyannis staked claim to the title of lone unbeaten – but it didn’t last long. After knocking off unbeaten Harwich to go to 3-0, the Harbor Hawks fell in game two to the Mariners. In the opener, Jordan Minch (Purdue) and Matthew Margaritonda (Marshall) combined on the shutout, scattering seven hits while striking out three. Hyannis was out-hit 7-3, but scratched across runs in the first and third innings. Joe Purritano (Dartmouth) had an RBI, while Bobby Melley (Connecticut) and Matthew Britton (Mississippi State) had one hit each. In game two, Harwich starter Jon Harris (Missouri State) struck out eight in four innings and his offense rallied from a 2-0 first-inning deficit. Ian Happ (Cincinnati), who went 5-for-6 in the doubleheader, had three hits in game two and scored a run. Tyler Servais (Princeton) added two hits and Danny Zardon (LSU) had an RBI.

Brewster 5, Bourne 2; Bourne 4, Brewster 3

The Whitecaps handed Bourne its first loss in game one. Andrew Lee (Tennessee) struck out six and allowed one earned run in two innings for the win, and Evan Hill (Michigan) picked up the save. Gio Brusa (Pacific) hit his first home run of the year and drove in two, while Luke Lowery (East Carolina) also knocked in two. In the second game, Bourne held off a Brewster rally to win by a run. Jake Long (Clemson) got the win in relief with 2.1 scoreless innings and John Gorman (Boston College) notched a save. Richard Martin Jr. (Florida) had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored to lead the Braves offense.

Cotuit 4, Chatham 1; Cotuit 3, Chatham 0

Cotuit moved to 3-2 on the year with a sweep of Chatham, who fell to 1-4. Four pitchers combined on a steady performance in game one, with Adam Whitt (Nevada) picking up the win. Casey Schroeder (Polk State College), Brendan Hendriks (San Francisco) and D.C. Arendas (South Carolina) drove in a run each. In game two, four more pitchers teamed up for a one-hit shutout. Dalton Potts (Tennessee Martin) and Bailey Clark (Duke) carried a no-hitter into the fourth. Chatham broke through with its lone hit in the fifth, but that was all Vincent Fiori (South Carolina) gave up. A.J. Minter (Texas A&M) closed things out with 2.2 scoreless frames. Logan Taylor (Texas A&M) had two hits to power the offense.

Falmouth 6, Orleans 5; Falmouth 9, Orleans 3

Orleans was coming off a 9-0 victory over Chatham but was swept at home by Falmouth. The Commodores scored two in the fifth inning of a back-and-forth game one on a two-run homer by Conner Hale (LSU). Hale was a late addition to this year’s roster who played a key role for the Commodores last year. Kevin Newman (Arizona), another returning player, also homered. Kyle Zimmerman (Wayne State) picked up the win in relief and Kevin Mooney (Maryland) grabbed a save. For Orleans, Christin Stewart (Tennessee) hit his second home run of the summer, making him the the only player in the league with two. In the second game, the Commodores rolled 9-3 behind a nine-hit attack. Leon Byrd Jr. (Rice) went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs, while Matthew Eureste (San Jacinto) went 3-for-4 and is now hitting .556 on a temp contract. Hale went 2-for-4 to add to his big day. On the mound, Matt Eckelman (St. Louis) picked up the win.

What to Watch

Just one game on the docket tonight, a makeup between Brewster and Hyannis. It’s set for 6 p.m. at McKeon Park. Starting pitchers still TBD.

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Kettleers Defending Another Title

cotuit 14
 
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I’ve been doing these early look team preview stories since the early years of Right Field Fog. I enjoy doing them because it gives me a foundation of information about incoming players, but there’s always an understanding that things will change.

I don’t if there’s ever been a team that had more things change, with better results, than the 2013 Cotuit Kettleers.

More than half of the players in their early look were not in Cotuit uniforms as the Kettleers celebrated the Cape Cod League Championship. And still, they won it. It was a testament to their ability to put a team together, almost day-by-day.

As the 2014 season approaches, the Kettleers start with a group that has some returning players like Drew Jackson and Rhett Wiseman, plus the usual talented newcomers like Sam Tewes, Tres Barrera and Jameson Fisher.

How will it work out? You never know for any team in any year, but that seems especially true after what Cotuit did last year. But whether this core ends up carrying the team all summer or 15 other guys swoop in, it’s safe bet that the Kettleers will be contending come August.

 

THE SKINNY

Manager: Mike Roberts
Last Year: 25-18-1; Won CCBL Championship
Returning Players: 4
Juniors: 1
Sophomores: 17
Freshmen: 5

 

NOTABLE

  • The returning players are a good start in maintaining the identity of that gritty, tough-minded Kettleers team from last year. Drew Jackson was a big part of it and so was Rhett Wiseman. Garrett Stubbs and Max Schrock spent less time in Cotuit but still had a taste of it, with Stubbs as one of the poster boys for the late-season adjustments. He was in town for two regular season games then hit over .400 in the playoffs.

  • Both Jackson and Wiseman have run into sophomore slumps this year. Both had very good summers a year ago, and will be trying to recapture that form. Wiseman, in particular, remains a must-see for scouts.

  • Cotuit’s closer last year was Vanderbilt’s Brian Miller, and another Commodore will likely slide right in. Sophomore Carson Fulmer, who actually has more saves for Vandy than Miller this season, is ticketed for Cotuit. He’s saved nine games so far, averaging better than a strikeout an inning.

  • Wofford sophomore Luke Leftwich hasn’t put up the best college numbers but he had a good summer in the Valley League last year, and he has bloodlines working in his favor. HIs father Phil was a Major League pitcher, as was his grandfather Tom Timmerman.

  • Pepperdine consistently sends solid pitchers to Cape Cod, year after year. Jordan McClelland looks to be next in line. He has an ERA under four in the Waves’ starting rotation.

  • Cotuit had a great bullpen last year, and the early roster indicates more of the same in 2014. It also appears the Kettleers are trying to make sure the likely relievers on the roster fit together well – both Travis Duke and A.J. Minter have been used at times as lefty specialists this spring.

  • Southeast Louisiana sophomore Jameson Fisher could very well end up as the incoming CCBL player with the highest spring batting average. The catcher/infielder leads the Southland with a .382 mark.

  • In Fisher, Stubbs, Tres Barrera and Will Haynie, the Kettleers have four players who can catch. Barrera has some of the top behind-the-plate credentials. It’s not every day that a freshman gets a chance to start at catcher for the University of Texas. He’s not there everyday, often DH’ing, but getting there at all is pretty good.

  • If you look at Adam Parks’s collegiate numbers at Liberty, you might wonder why he’s getting a chance to play in the Cape League. But, two years removed from Tommy John surgery, he flashed big velocity in the Valley League last summer. And with one game, he made a name for himself. Parks threw a perfect game in June.

  • As a 22nd-round pick who stands 6-foot-5 with a thin frame, Wichita State freshman Sam Tewes has the projection scouts like. Production doesn’t always follow immediately, but it has for Tewes. He didn’t allow a hit in 4-plus innings in his first collegiate start and sports a 3.15 ERA in the Shockers’ weekend rotation.

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    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Rhett Wiseman
    2. Jameson Fisher
    3. Sam Tewes
    4. Max Schrock
    5. Tres Barrera

     

    PITCHERS

    Travis Duke – LHP – 6’3 210 – Texas – Sophomore
    Nick Eicholtz – RHP – 6’4 180 – Alabama – Freshman
    Carson Fulmer – RHP – 5’11 190 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
    Spencer Henderson – LHP/1B – 6’3 215 – UC Davis – Sophomore
    Logan James – LHP – 5’11 185 – Stanford – Sophomore
    Luke Leftwich – RHP – 6’3 200 – Wofford – Sophomore
    Jackson McClelland – RHP – 6’5 220 – Pepperdine – Sophomore
    A.J. Minter – LHP – 6’0 200 – Texas A&M – Sophomore
    Adam Parks – RHP – 6’2 220 – Liberty – RS Sophomore
    Sam Tewes – RHP – 6’5 205 – Wichita State – Freshman
    Matthew Vogel – RHP – 6’2 185 – South Carolina – Freshman
    Trey Wingenter – RHP – 6’7 195 – Auburn – Sophomore

     

    Travis Duke – LHP – 6’3 210
    Texas
    Sophomore

    Duke emerged as a valuable bullpen arm in his first season in Austin last year, posting a 1.53 ERA. He’s out-done himself this year. In 21 appearances, Duke hasn’t allowed an earned run. He has struck out 16, walked four and given up only 12 hits in 18.1 innings.

    Nick Eicholtz – RHP – 6’4 180
    Alabama
    Freshman

    A 29th round pick out of high school last year, Eicholtz has had a solid debut season with the Crimson Tide. Pitching out of the bullpen and as a starter, Eicholtz has a 2.49 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 47 innings.

    Carson Fulmer – RHP – 5’11 190
    Vanderbilt
    Sophomore

    Fulmer had a great freshman season as a reliever and has been even better this year. With a 1.17 ERA, nine saves and 54 strikeouts in 46 innings, Fulmer has even out-done his teammate Brian Miller, a former Cotuit closer.

    Spencer Henderson – LHP/1B – 6’3 215
    UC Davis
    Sophomore

    A two-way player, Henderson had good luck with the bat and struggled some on the mound in limited action during his freshman campaign. He’s flipped things around this year, hitting just .171 but posting a 3.77 ERA out of the bullpen. Henderson was a Perfect Game Collegiate League all-star and the 35th-ranked prospect in the league last summer.

    Logan James – LHP – 5’11 185
    Stanford
    Sophomore

    A left-handed reliever, James has posted higher ERA’s than he and the Cardinal would like in his first two seasons in Palo Alto. He had a 4.56 mark last year. This season, walks have been a problem and have sent his ERA climbing further to 5.14.

    Luke Leftwich – RHP – 6’3 200
    Wofford
    Sophomore

    Leftwich has given up a lot of hits and has a career ERA north of five, but he’s done one thing very well in two years at Wofford – he has struck people out. Leftwich was second on the team with 69 K’s last year. He already has 69 in 70 innings this season, with some games left to play. Perfect Game tabbed Leftwich as the ninth-best prospect in the Valley League last summer.

    Jackson McClelland – RHP – 6’5 220
    Pepperdine
    Sophomore

    McClelland pitched mostly out of the bullpen last year and shined for the Waves. After a strong summer in the Southern California Collegiate League, he’s been a steady performer in Pepperdine’s rotation this spring. In 11 starts, he has a 3.79 ERA with 36 strikeouts. McClelland was a 35th-round pick out of high school in 2012.

    A.J. Minter – LHP – 6’0 200
    Texas A&M
    Sophomore

    A 39th-round pick out of high school, Minter had an ERA over four last year but has emerged this season as a reliable bullpen arm in College Station. In 18 appearances, often pitching as a lefty specialist, Minter has a 1.84 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 14.2 innings.

    Adam Parks – RHP – 6’2 220
    Liberty
    RS Sophomore

    After a medical redshirt year in 2012 for Tommy John surgery, Parks hasn’t yet hit his stride for the Flames. He had an ERA over six last season and has seen it balloon to 9.39 in brief action this year. But in between those two seasons, Parks was tremendous in the Valley League last summer. He ranked as the second-best prospect and threw a seven-inning perfect game early in the season that put him on the scouting map.

    Sam Tewes – RHP – 6’5 205
    Wichita State
    Freshman

    Tewes was a 22nd-round pick out of high school but stuck with his commitment to the Shockers. Despite his thin frame, he’s had no trouble adjusting to the next level. As a weekend starter, Tewes has a 3.15 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 65.2 innings.

    Matthew Vogel – RHP – 6’2 185
    South Carolina
    Freshman

    Vogel was one of the top high school prospects in New York last spring and was drafted in the 36th round by the Diamondbacks. He headed to South Carolina and has yet to see a ton of action for the Gamecocks. In eight appearances, he has a 6.91 ERA, though he has struck out 15 in 14.1 innings.

    Trey Wingenter – RHP – 6’7 195
    Auburn
    Sophomore

    A late-round pick of the Mariners out of high school, Wingenter hasn’t made a huge impact with the Tigers but continues to flash potential. The towering righty had a 3.68 ERA in six appearances last year. This season, he’s at 2.84 in 10 games, with 22 strikeouts in 19 innings. Last summer, he was the second-rated prospect in the Perfect Game Collegiate League.

     

    POSITION PLAYERS

    Tres Barrera – C – 6’2 195 – Texas – Freshman
    Jameson Fisher – C/INF – 6’2 180 – SE Louisiana – Sophomore
    Will Haynie – C/INF – 6’5 225 – Alabama – Freshman
    Kyle Holder – INF – 6’1 185 – San Diego – Sophomore
    *Drew Jackson – INF – 6’2 195 – Stanford – Sophomore
    Hunter Melton – INF – 6’2 225 – Texas A&M – Sophomore
    *Max Schrock – INF – 5’9 180 – South Carolina – Sophomore
    *Garrett Stubbs – C – 5’10 160 – USC – Junior
    Jeremy Taylor – OF – 6’2 178 – East Tennessee State – Sophomore
    Logan Taylor – INF – 6’1 200 – Texas A&M – Sophomore
    *Rhett Wiseman – OF – 5’11 190 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
    * – returning player

     

    Tres Barrera – C – 6’2 195
    Texas
    Freshman

    Barrera was an All-State shortstop and an All-State catcher at his Texas High School and has been a key cog for the Longhorns since day one. He’s batting .266 with a .335 OBP. He has two homers and is second on the team in extra-base hits.

    Jameson Fisher – C/INF – 6’2 180
    SE Louisiana
    Sophomore

    A 24th-round pick out of high school, Fisher had a tremendous debut season on his way to Freshman All-America honors last year, and the good times have rolled on this year. Fisher leads the Southland Conference in hitting with a .382 batting average. Though he doesn’t have a homer, he has 13 doubles and 30 RBI.

    Will Haynie – C/INF – 6’5 225
    Alabama
    Freshman

    One of Tennessee’s top high school prospects a year ago, Haynie has struggled in his first year in Tuscaloosa. Though he has three home runs, he’s hitting only .179.

    Kyle Holder – INF – 6’1 185
    San Diego
    Sophomore

    After a big season in the junior college ranks at Grossmont College, Holder transferred to San Diego and has made an immediate impact. As a full-time starter with the Toreros, he’s hitting .309 with three homers and 28 RBI.

    Drew Jackson – INF – 6’2 195
    Stanford
    Sophomore

    The brother of former Kettleer Brett Jackson, Drew was a valuable contributor in Cotuit’s championship run last year. Jackson hit .263 and was named the league’s 43rd-best prospect by Perfect Game. Back at Stanford, his sophomore season has not gone well. Jackson is hitting .151.

    Hunter Melton – INF – 6’2 225
    Texas A&M
    Sophomore

    Melton hit .280 and led the Aggies in home runs as a freshman. In his sophomore season, he hasn’t flashed the same pop. Melton is hitting .245 without a home run.

    Max Schrock – INF – 5’9 180
    South Carolina
    Sophomore

    A 28th-round pick out of high school, Schrock was one of the top freshmen in the SEC last season. In a brief stint in Cotuit, he continued to shine, hitting .381. This spring, Schrock is hitting .247 but his five home runs rank second on the team.

    Garrett Stubbs – C – 5’10 160
    USC
    Junior

    Stubbs was coming off a middling sophomore season when he hooked on with the Kettleers as part of one of their waves of reinforcements. After playing in just two regular season CCBL games, he was a huge part of the championship run, hitting .455 with three RBI in six playoff games. This spring, Stubbs is hitting .287 for the Trojans.

    Jeremy Taylor – OF – 6’2 178
    East Tennessee State
    Sophomore

    Taylor was an Atlantic Sun All-Freshman team pick in 2012, Taylor has continued to be a solid contributor for the Bucs this spring. He’s hitting .264 with two homers and 10 doubles, and he’s stolen 12 bases.

    Logan Taylor – INF – 6’1 200
    Texas A&M
    Sophomore

    Taylor struggled in limited action as a freshman but has been a solid everyday contributor this season. Taylor is hitting .272 with a team-best 14 doubles, to go with a homer and 21 RBI. Last summer, Taylor excelled in the Texas Collegiate League, ranking second with a .335 batting average. He was named the league’s second-best prospect by Perfect Game.

    Rhett Wiseman – OF – 5’11 190
    Vanderbilt
    Sophomore

    A 25th-round pick in the 2012 draft who was projected to go even higher, Wiseman came to Vanderbilt and to Cotuit last summer with considerable hype. He was solid with flashes of brilliance in both spots, hitting .297 with four homers on the Cape. This spring, he has hit a rough patch, with a .236 average and no homers.