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All League Team Unveiled

Steven Duggar was one of six Falmouth Commodores on the All-League squad.
Steven Duggar was one of six Falmouth Commodores on the All-League squad.

 

This is a few days old, but in case you missed it, the Cape League released its All-League selections for the 2014 season. The team is below. Below that, a few notes.

First Base – A.J. Murray – Chatham – Georgia Tech
Second Base – Billy Fleming – Bourne – West Virginia
Shortstop – Kevin Newman – Falmouth – Arizona
Third Base – David Thompson – Orleans – Miami
Infield Utility – Richard Martin Jr. – Bourne – Florida
Outfield – Gio Brusa – Brewster – Pacific
Outfield – Donnie Dewees Jr. – Hyannis – North Florida
Outfield – Steven Duggar – Falmouth – Clemson
Outfield – Ian Happ – Harwich – Cincinnati
Outfield – Mark Laird – Bourne – LSU
Outfield – Andrew Stevenson – Y-D – LSU
DH – Conner Hale – Falmouth – LSU
DH – Chris Shaw – Chatham – Boston College
Catcher – Jameson Fisher – Cotuit – SE Louisiana
Catcher – Anthony Hermelyn – Harwich – Oklahoma

Pitcher – Michael Boyle – Harwich – Radford
Pitcher – Zack Erwin – Harwich – Clemson
Pitcher – Matt Hall – Falmouth – Missouri State
Pitcher – Jordan Hillyer – Chatham – Kennesaw State
Pitcher – Justin Jacome – Y-D – UC Santa Barbara
Pitcher – Ryan Kellogg – Bourne – Arizona State
Pitcher – Kolton Mahoney – Orleans – BYU
Pitcher – Kevin McCanna – Falmouth – Rice
Pitcher – Andrew Naderer – Brewster – Grand Canyon
Pitcher – Kyle Twomey – Orleans – USC
Closer – Phil Bickford – Y-D – Cal State Fullerton
Closer – Adam Whitt – Cotuit – Nevada
Utility – Jake Madsen – Falmouth – Ohio

 

NOTES

  • Kevin Newman and Ryan Kellog are your lone repeat honorees. The Arizona-Arizona State rivals had terrific Cape League careers.

  • For the second year in a row, Falmouth had the most All-League selections with six. Lot of talent at Guv Fuller Field the last two years.

  • Champion Y-D with only one position player on the team. I thought that might be unusual, but it’s actually the second year in a row. Cotuit had just one All-League hitter last year, Rhett Wiseman. In the case of both Y-D and Cotuit, it speaks to the ability to play one day at a time and find a way to win, without having the stars of stars.

  • Snubs? Jordan Tarsovich jumps out to me. Probably the league champ’s most consistent hitter, Tarsovich hit .322 with three homers. I think Y-D’s Rob Fonseca (.315, 4 HR’s) could have been there too. And Bourne’s Blake Davey tied for second in the league in extra-base hits. A couple more possibilities, but overall, solid work, I think.

  • LSU leads all schools with three selections: Andrew Stevenson, Conner Hale and Mark Laird.

  • Seven schools have an All-League pick for the second year in a row: Arizona, USC, Arizona State, West Virginia, Florida and . . . mighty Kennesaw State. With MVP Max Pentecost last year and standout pitcher Jordan Hillyer this year, the Owls are making some Cape League noise.

  • How about schools that have an All-League pick for three years running? Nada. I was shocked by that.

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    Clutch Sox

    Phil Bickford struck out six in 2.2 innings to close out Y-D's win on Tuesday.
    Phil Bickford struck out six in 2.2 innings to close out Y-D’s win on Tuesday.

     

    There is some debate in sports whether “clutch” is a real, quantifiable thing.

    Wherever you stand on the issue, the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox have given one side of the argument some ammunition in the 2014 Cape Cod Baseball League playoffs. In the process, they’ve given Cape League fans a pair of classics.

    The Red Sox have pitched very well in the post-season. And when they’ve had to pitch well, they’ve pitched beyond well.

    Last night, Justin Jacome (UC Santa Barbara) and Phil Bickford (Cal State Fullerton) combined on a shutout as Y-D edged Harwich 2-0 in game three of the East finals to clinch a spot in the Cape League championship.

    The Red Sox have now played two decisive third games this postseason and have won them by 1-0 and 2-0 scores. The fact that they’re decisive games is one thing. Then their opponents have upped the ante by pitching gems themselves, and Y-D hasn’t blinked.

    Clutch.

    Last night, Jacome squared off with Harwich’s Zack Erwin (Clemson). They were both brilliant, but Y-D scratched a run across in the second inning on a two-out chopper from Marcus Mastrobuoni (Cal State Stanislaus) that the Mariners couldn’t handle. Josh Lester (Missouri) scored.

    Jacome gave up a double to Sal Annunziata (Seton Hall) to start the bottom of the second, as it looked like the Mariners would have a quick answer, but Jacome got out of trouble. From there, he allowed just one more hit, a two-out single in the fifth.

    Jacome went 6.1 innings, allowing three hits, striking out six and walking none.

    He left with his team clinging to the 1-0 lead but gave the ball to the very capable hands of Bickford, the former first-round pick. Bickford finished off a scoreless seventh and struck out two in a perfect eighth. His team added an insurance run in the ninth on a Brennon Lund (BYU) sacrifice fly, but Bickford didn’t need it.

    Facing the middle of one of the best batting orders in the league, Bickford gave up a leadoff single to C.J. Hinojosa (Texas).

    And then he was masterful.

    Bickford struck out Ian Happ (Cincinnati) – one of the league’s top hitters – on three pitches. Then he struck out Anthony Hermelyn (Virginia Tech) on three pitches. Harwich’s last chance was Annunziata, who owned the double in the second. Bickford needed four pitches this time, but he struck Annunziata out, too, sending Y-D into the championship with a flourish.

    For the second straight year, a team is into the finals after needing three games to win each of its first two playoff series. Last year, that team was Cotuit and the Kettleers went on to the title.

    Y-D will match up with Falmouth, who is 4-0 in the playoffs.

    The championship series is scheduled to begin tonight, but heavy rain is in the forecast, so Thursday might be more likely.

    Whenever it starts, it’s going to be a good one.

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    Better Late Than Never

    Falmouth players celebrate during their series with Cotuit.
    Falmouth players celebrate during their series with Cotuit.

     

    Falmouth’s Conner Hale went 0-for-11 in a playoff series loss to Cotuit last summer. It was the abrupt end of a great summer in Falmouth.

    For Hale and his 2014 teammates, what a difference a year makes.

    Hale went 4-for-5 with four RBI and the Commodores continued to play great baseball as they finished off a sweep of Cotuit to punch their ticket to the Cape Cod Baseball League championship series. The Commodores are now 4-0 in the playoffs and will get a day of rest while they await the winner of the East finals between Yarmouth-Dennis and Harwich.

    This season, Falmouth may not be the loud, must-see-at-batting-practice offensive juggernaut that it was last year – when Hale, the 2014 league RBI leader, batted eighth – but quietly, Falmouth led the league in hitting, ranked third in team ERA and matched last season’s win total. And players like Hale, back in the fold, are tearing it up.

    Going back to the end of the regular season, Falmouth has won six games in a row and eight of nine. Yesterday, there was a little less starting pitching but more bullpen dominance and plenty more offense.

    Making only his second start of the summer, Matt Hollenbeck (Georgetown) held his own, allowing two runs in four innings. The bullpen, which had needed to pitch only five innings in the team’s first three playoff games, picked up the slack. Travis Stout (Jacksonville State), Ryan Moseley (Texas Tech), Kevin Mooney (Maryland) and Garrett Cleavinger (Oregon) combined on five scoreless innings. That’s now 10 scoreless innings for the Falmouth ‘pen in the postseason.

    The offense did the rest. Trailing 2-1, Falmouth scored two runs in the fifth and two in the seventh then blew the doors off with a seven-run eighth inning.

    Hale’s big day led the charge, as he knocked in the go-ahead run in the fifth, another run in the seventh and two in the eight-inning burst. Hale is now hitting .375 with seven RBI in the playoffs.

    Steven Duggar (Clemson) added three hits and two RBI, while Matt Eureste (San Jacinto) and Cameron O’Brien (West Virginia) had two hits and an RBI apiece. League MVP Kevin Newman (Arizona) went 1-for-3 with an RBI. Every player in the Falmouth lineup had at least one hit.

    Kyle Holder (San Diego) homered for the Kettleers but that was all the offense they would get. The loss marked the official end of Cotuit’s title defense, but just making it this far was an impressive feat for a team that had its ups and downs.

    With a measure of revenge over the Kettleers, Falmouth moves into the finals for the first time since 2011. Falmouth has not won the Cape League championship since 1980, the longest drought in the league.

     

    Harwich 9, Y-D 2

    After a 7-2 loss to Y-D on Sunday, Harwich answered in resounding fashion with a 9-2 victory on Monday, forcing a decisive game three today. The Mariners greeted Y-D starter Gregory Ostner (Binghamton), who had made only one appearance this summer, with four runs in the top of the first inning and never looked back, adding five runs off the Y-D bullpen. C.J. Hinojosa (Texas) and Matt Gonzalez (Georgia Tech) both homered, while Brendon Sanger (Florida Atlantic) and Anthony Hermelyn (Virginia Tech) knocked in a run apiece. James Mulry (Northeastern) – almost the opposite of Ostner as one of the league leaders in innings pitched – gave up one earned in four innings before Ronnie Glenn (Penn) finished with a bang. Glenn pitched five scoreless innings, striking out four and allowing just four hits, thwarting any hopes of a Y-D comeback.

     

    What to Watch

    Y-D at Harwich, 7 p.m.

    Y-D’s probable starter is Justin Jacome (UC Santa Barbara), so I wouldn’t expect another four-run first inning from Harwich. Jacome hasn’t given up more than two earned runs in any start this year. Harwich’s starter is TBA.

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    Complete Dominance

    Ryan Kellogg nearly tossed the Cape's first nine-inning, solo no-hitter since 2010.
    Ryan Kellogg nearly tossed the Cape’s first nine-inning, solo no-hitter since 2010.

     

    Before last night, there had not been a single nine-inning complete game pitching performance in the 2014 Cape Cod Baseball League season.

    And now there have been two, including the best performance of the summer.

    Bourne’s Ryan Kellogg (Arizona State) came within one out of a no-hitter in a 5-0 win at Chatham, settling for the aforementioned best performance of the summer – a one-hit shutout, with 11 strikeouts. In Wareham, Sean Adler (USC), who had started only one other game this summer, tossed a complete-game shutout with eight strikeouts in a 5-0 win over Cotuit.

    Sometimes, teams start running out of pitching and cobbling things together as the season winds down. Clearly, not these two.

    Kellogg has been a terrific Cape League pitcher, posting a 1.36 ERA last year and a 2.63 mark this season, but last night – fittingly, his final start as a Brave – was his master work. The lefty was perfect through five innings, with seven strikeouts. He issued a leadoff walk in the sixth but the runner was erased on a double play, and Kellogg kept cruising. He struck out two in the seventh and worked a one-two-three ninth. After a fly-out and a swinging strikeout, he was one out away, but Landon Cray (Seattle) reached on a slow roller to third base to break up the no-hit bid at the last possible moment.

    Kellogg was bidding to become the first solo pitcher to toss a nine-inning no-hitter since Y-D’s Jordan Pries in 2010 (three of his Bourne teammates combined on one last summer and Bourne’s Jeff Thompson tossed a six-inning no-no in 2012).

    Though he didn’t get it, it was still an incredible performance and Kellogg finished it – of course – with a strikeout.

    Zander Wiel (Vanderbilt) hit a grand slam to lead the offense, while Brett Sullivan (Pacific) had three hits. Kellogg’s gem and the solid offensive day allowed the Braves to set a franchise record for regular-season victories with 26. With the win and a Falmouth loss, Bourne has a two-game cushion in first place, with two games to play.

    Adler gives Wareham a gem

    Sean Adler gave up a hit to the third batter he faced, so there was no talk of no-hitters in Wareham. But his performance was almost as good. He scattered six hits and went the distance in an efficient 104 pitches.

    Adler only made his debut for Wareham in mid-July and has made just four appearances. His longest previous outing was six innings.

    But as the scoreless frames piled up, Adler got better and better. He gave up two hits in an inning just once. After giving up a two-out double to Kyle Holder (San Diego) in the sixth, he struck out the next batter and didn’t allow another hit. He retired nine of 10, with the only exception coming on an error. That runner was erased on a double play.

    Adler’s performance gave the Gatemen something to celebrate a night after they were eliminated from playoff contention. Kyri Washington (Longwood) and Adler’s USC teammate Blake Lacey each had a hit and two RBI to lead the Gatemen offense.

     

    Harwich 3, Y-D 1

    How good were the pitching performances? A division title plays second fiddle. Harwich clinched the regular season Eastern Division crown with a 3-1 victory over the Red Sox, coupled with an Orleans loss. The Mariners have been at the top since the very beginning of the season, when they won their first three games. Y-D and Orleans have made charges, but Harwich never faltered and is in the midst of a surge to the finish, thanks to three straight victories. Last night, James Mulry (Northeastern) – who put Harwich in first place way back on opening night – tossed 6.2 innings for the win, giving up one run and striking out five. Seth McGarry (Florida Atlantic) pitched 1.1 scoreless frames and Jacob Evans (Oklahoma) pitched a scoreless ninth for his ninth outing of zero earned runs in 10 games this season. The offense got an RBI each from Anthony Hermelyn (Virginia Tech), C.J. Hinojosa (Texas) and Angelo Amendolare (Jacksonville). Y-D, who is tied with Orleans for second place, has lost three in a row.

     

    Brewster 7, Orleans 2

    Don’t look now, but Brewster is making a push to the playoffs that would go down as one of the most improbable in recent memory. The Whitecaps have won four of five games – and tied the other – and with Chatham’s loss last night, they’re just one point back of the Anglers for the fourth and final playoff spot, with two games to play. Tyger Talley (Arizona), making just his third start, allowed two runs in five innings and Levi MaVorhis (Kansas State) pitched four hitless innings to seal the win. Andrew Lee (Tennessee), who has eight hits in the five-game stretch, homered and drove in two to lead the offense. Scott Kingery (Arizona) had two hits and three RBI. Bobby Dalbec (Arizona) homered for the Firebirds, who have lost four in a row. Brewster will finish the season with two games against Harwich. Chatham, as it tries to hold off the Whitecaps, has two against Orleans.

     

    Hyannis 10, Falmouth 0

    Hyannis leap-frogged Cotuit back into third place, while putting Falmouth into an uphill battle on its quest for first. Four Harbor Hawks combined on the shutout. Shaefer Shepard (Catawba) went five innings, Matt LaRocca (Akron) struck out four in two innings while Chris Mourelle (Florida International) and Lance Thonvold (Minnesota) pitched one inning each. Carl Wise (College of Charleston) hit his sixth home run to pace the offense, while Dylan Bosheers (Tennessee Tech) also homered. Daniel Kihle (Wichita State) had two hits and two RBI. For Falmouth, Kevin Newman (Arizona) went 0-for-4, putting him into a tie with Bourne’s Billy Fleming for the batting title. Newman is trying to become the first-ever two time Cape League batting champ.

     

    What to Watch

    Bourne will try to clinch the West title outright when it hosts Wareham at 6 p.m. In the suddenly interesting race for the last East playoff spot, Brewster visits Harwich at 5:30 p.m. and Chatham heads to Orleans at 7.

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    Some Things Never Change

    Brian Serven puts a tag on a Cotuit runner in Wednesday's game.
    Brian Serven puts a tag on a Cotuit runner in Wednesday’s game.

     

    The wedding and honeymoon were pretty much perfect. What did I miss?

    Two weeks of an eight-week Cape League season is a pretty good chunk of time. I feel like I went on a field trip that not everybody went on, and now that I’m back to school, it’s tough to get my bearings.

    Then again, some things don’t seem to be changing.

    Bourne continued to dominate the West last night with a 12-4 win over Cotuit, its third in a row. In the East, Harwich and Orleans remain at the top of the standings, although there was finally a change in order with a 4-3 extra-innings win by Orleans last night that put the Firebirds into first place.

    Bourne has the best record in the league at 23-11-1. In their current three-game streak, they’ve allowed four runs in each game and have scored plenty more, capped by last night’s win over Cotuit. Samuel Kmiec (Winthrop) delivered a strong start, allowing one run in 5.1 innings. He’s won two starts in a row after a rough start to the season.

    The offense backed Kmiec with 15 hits. Richard Martin Jr. (Florida), Blake Allemand (Texas A&M) and Stephen Wrenn (Georgia) led the way with three hits apiece. Allemand and Mark Laird (LSU) each had two RBI.

    Over in Harwich, first place in the East finally changed hands, as Orleans beat Harwich 4-3 in 11 innings. The game was tied 2-2 until the Firebirds pushed two runs across in the top of the 11th, one on a wild pitch and the other on a Cole Peragine (Stony Brook) RBI single. Harwich got within a run in the bottom of the 11th on a Sal Annunziata (Seton Hall) RBI double, but Orleans reliever Hayden Stone (Vanderbilt) retired two of the league’s best hitters – Anthony Hermelyn (Virginia Tech) and Ian Happ (Cincinnati) – to end the game.

    Stone allowed one run in two innings for the win. Bobby Dalbec (Arizona) delivered four huge innings of scoreless relief to keep the game tied. Harwich’s Jacob Evans (Oklahoma) played the same role as Dalbec, with 4.1 scoreless innings.

    Orleans is now 21-13-2 while Harwich dropped to 20-13-2.

     

    Y-D 8, Chatham 4

    One big difference since I last checked in two weeks ago: the Y-D Red Sox. Y-D beat Chatham 8-4 last night for its ninth win in its last 11 games. The Red Sox are now 20-15, just a two points out of second place and four points out of first. A balanced offensive attack led the way against Chatham standout Kyle Davis (USC), with five players knocking two hits each. Davis, typically a reliever, came in with a 1.35 ERA but was touched up for seven runs in four innings. Jesse Jenner (San Diego) had two hits and two RBI to lead the charge. Jordan Tarsovich (VMI) went 2-for-3 for his 12th multi-hit game of the summer. On the mound for Y-D, Cody Poteet (UCLA) allowed two earned runs in five innings. Three relievers combined on four scoreless innings. Chatham got three hits from Nick Collins (Georgetown). The loss was the Anglers’ fourth in a row.

     

    Hyannis 3, Wareham 0

    Blake Hickman (Iowa) delivered his second consecutive impressive start and Hyannis overcame dominant Wareham pitching to shut out the Gatemen. Hickman had gone seven scoreless innings in his previous start, a 3-0 win over Brewster. This time, he went 6.1 scoreless frames, striking out five and allowing four hits. Ryan Perez (Judson) followed Hickman to the mound and picked up a save with 2.2 shutout innings. Wareham’s Kyle Cody (Kentucky) and Sean Adler (USC) combined for six perfect innings, but Hyannis broke through for three runs in the seventh. John La Prise (Virginia) led the offense with a hit and two RBI.

     

    Falmouth 7, Brewster 3

    The Commodores remain comfortably in second place in the West after rebounding from a loss to Bourne Tuesday with a win over Brewster. Conner Hale (LSU) hit his fourth home run while Austin Afenir (Oral Roberts) had two hits and three RBI. Jake Madsen (Ohio) added three hits and two RBI. Alex Young (TCU) struck out seven and gave up two runs in five innings. Ryan Moseley (Texas Tech) got the win in relief. Scott Kingery (Arizona) and Luke Lowery (East Carolina) both homered for Falmouth.

     

    What to Watch

    Three games on tap tonight, including a good one in Yarmouth, where the red-hot Red Sox take on West-leading Bourne.

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    A Little Spark

    Reilly Hovis tossed three scoreless frames in Orleans' victory on Friday.
    Reilly Hovis tossed three scoreless frames in Orleans’ victory on Friday.

     

    For most of the summer, I’ve been thinking Orleans looked like one of the best teams in the league without really looking like it. The Firebirds lead the league in home runs and extra-base hits, and their pitchers have allowed the fewest hits in the league. But on the flip side, they only rank fourth in runs scored and batting average, and their pitchers have walked the most batters in the league.

    That’s a recipe for the ups and downs the Firebirds have had, but there have been more ups lately. With last night’s 7-3 victory over Wareham, Orleans moved one point back of Chatham for second place in the East.

    Trevor Megill (Loyola Marymount) and Nathan Bannister (Arizona) continued to join forces for what amounts to solid starts. Megill, recovering from Tommy John surgery, went two innings. Bannister followed with four, allowing two runs. Reilly Hovis (North Carolina) then sealed the deal with the best performance of the night, striking out four in three scoreless innings.

    At the plate, the Firebirds broke open a 3-3 game with two runs in the eighth inning and two more in the ninth. An error brought the go-ahead run home in the eighth, and Geoff DeGroot (Rutgers) followed with an RBI single. In the ninth, David Thompson (Miami) smacked a two-run single to make it 7-3.

    Thompson went 2-for-5 and is now seven for his last 13. DeGroot and David Fletcher (Loyola Marymount) also had two hits.

    Wareham fell to 4-11 with the loss, but Willie Calhoun (Arizona) continued to be a bright spot for the Gatemen. He went 4-for-5 with two doubles, giving him a league-high 11 for the year. Last season, the league leader in doubles finished with 14.

     

    Falmouth 5, Y-D 1

    Like Orleans, Falmouth also won its third straight, improving to 7-7-1 on the year with a 5-1 victory over Y-D. Jake Madsen (Ohio), who didn’t have an extra base hit coming into the game, went 3-for-4 with three doubles. Nicholas Ramos (Indiana) had two hits and two RBI and Trever Morrison (Oregon State) had a triple and two RBI. On the mound, Casey Mulholland (South Florida) delivered his best start of the summer, allowing just an unearned run on three hits in six innings of work. Garrett Cleavinger (Oregon), who had terrific numbers this spring, pitched a scoreless inning, as did Travis Stout (Jacksonville State) and Kevin Mooney (Maryland). Florida Gulf Coast standout Michael Murray made his third start for Y-D and allowed two earned runs in 6.2 innings.

     

    Cotuit 6, Hyannis 2

    Cotuit doesn’t have much in the way of starting pitching on its staff, and coming into Friday, only once all season had a starter gone more than four innings. With the Kettleers riding a two-game losing streak, Vincent Fiori (South Carolina) gave his team what it needed. Fiori allowed one run in five innings with seven strikeouts as the Kettleers (7-8) topped Hyannis (9-6). Trey Wingenter (Auburn) and Jeff Kinley (Michigan State) combined on four innings of relief as Cotuit allowed just four total hits. At the plate, Cotuit got a home run from Logan Taylor (Texas A&M), plus RBI from Brendan Hendriks (San Francisco), Jake Fincher (NC State) and Dalton Dulin (Mississippi). Hyannis had been 3-0 against rival Cotuit this season.

     

    Bourne 8, Brewster 2

    Coming off their first home loss of the season, Bourne didn’t take another one, topping Brewster 8-2 to improve to 11-4, tied for the best mark in the league. Making his first start, Josh Rogers (Louisville) gave up just an unearned run in five innings. He struck out four and gave up three hits. His teammate Jacob Sparger (Louisville) followed with three scoreless frames and John Gorman (Boston College) pitched the final inning. Brett Sullivan (Pacific) led the offense with three hits, while Blake Allemand (Texas A&M) and Billy Fleming (West Virginia) had two hits and two RBI each.

     

    Harwich 10, Chatham 4

    The Mariners continued to match Bourne for the league’s best record with a 10-4 victory over Chatham. Jason Inghram (William & Mary), Jacob Evans (Oklahoma) and Robby Kalaf (Florida Internatinal) limited a Chatham an offense that had scored 29 runs in its last two games. Both Evans and Kalaf have yet to allow a run this summer. Anthony Hermelyn (Oklahoma) paced the Harwich offense with four hits and two RBI while Sal Annunziata (Seton Hall) had three hits and two RBI. Kyle Barrett (Kentucky) had two hits and now owns an 11-game hit streak.

     

    What to Watch

    Ms. Right Field Fog and I will be in Hyannis tonight as the Braves come to McKeon Park for a 6 p.m. start. Travis Bergen (Kennesaw State), who allowed one run in five innings in his first start, gets the ball for the Braves. Hyannis will go to big righty Blake Hickman (Iowa), one of the top prospects in the Northwoods League last summer.

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    Out of the Gate

    Chris Chinea and Wareham have been one of the best offenses in the league.
    Chris Chinea and Wareham have been one of the best offenses in the league.

     

    Eight games into the 2014 Cape Cod Baseball League season, the Wareham Gatemen have only one more win than they had at this juncture last year and again find themselves in the basement of the West, where they spent most of last season.

    But if it was hard to imagine the Gatemen climbing out of the basement, it’s far from difficult this year.

    Wareham beat Cotuit 8-3 on Thursday. They’ve now scored the second-most runs in the league, they have the second-most hits, the most total bases, the second-best batting average and the best OPS. The Gatemen have scored 34 runs in eight games. Only once last year did they score 34 in any eight-game stretch.

    Those are all signs that this summer could be different for the 2012 champs, even if the record hasn’t followed suit quite yet.

    Thursday’s victory over Cotuit snapped a four-game losing streak. Like Wareham’s only previous victory – a 13-3 win over Chatham – the offense shouldered the load, pounding 15 hits against four Cotuit pitchers. Unlike the night before, when Wareham had 14 hits but scored only four runs, the production was there on Thursday.

    Blake Lacey (USC) went 2-for-5 with two doubles and four RBI from the nine hole. Kramer Robertson (LSU) and Andrew Knizner (NC State) had three hits each, while Charlie Warren (Rice), Anderson Miller (Western Kentucky) and John Bormann (Texas-San Antonio) had two apiece. Leadoff man Willie Calhoun (Arizona), who ranks fifth in the league in batting at .419 and leads in doubles, went 1-for-3 and scored a run. His one hit was a double, giving him six on the year. Nobody else in the league has more than three.

    Along with the offense, Wareham pitched fairly well. Pitching to his college battery mate Bormann, Brock Hartson (Texas-San Antonio) struck out seven and allowed three earned in six innings while picking up his first CCBL win. Anthony Kay (Connecticut) pitched three scoreless innings for the save. Kay hasn’t allowed a run in 7.2 innings this year.

    Wareham is two games out of a third-place tie between Cotuit and Falmouth, who are both 4-4. Cotuit hit two home runs in the loss to Wareham, getting one from Logan Taylor (Texas A&M) and one from recent arrival Austin Byler (Nevada). Byler was a key part of Cotuit’s championship run last year and was selected by the Washington Nationals in the ninth round of this year’s draft after leading the Mountain West in home runs.

     

    Harwich 6, Chatham 5 (10 innings)

    Harwich won in extra innings for the second night in a row and ran its league-best record to 7-1. The Mariners trailed 3-0 and 5-2 but rallied with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to force extras. After Matt Gonzalez (Georgia Tech) started the rally with a two-out single, Skye Bolt (North Carolina) had an RBI single and Robert Youngdahl (Notre Dame) knocked in two with a base hit to tie the game. In the 10th, Harwich loaded the bases on two singles and a catcher’s interference call. With two outs, Alex Perez (Virginia Tech) worked a walk to force in the winning run. Bolt led the Harwich offense with three hits, while Gonzalez, Perez and Sal Annunziata (Seton Hall) had two each. Anthony Hermelyn (Oklahoma) hit Harwich’s first home run of the summer. Gavin Pittore (Wesleyan) got the win with two scoreless innings of relief. Blake Butera (Boston College) had two hits for Chatham, who dropped to 3-5.

     

    Hyannis 8, Bourne 3

    The Harbor Hawks moved into a tie for first place in the West with Bourne thanks to an 8-3 victory over the Braves. Both teams are now 5-3. Donnie Dewees Jr. (North Florida) had one of the best offensive nights the league has seen thus far, going 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI to lead the Harbor Hawks. Dewees had three hits on the season coming into the game. Daniel Kihle (Wichita State) also homered and drove in three for Hyannis. Starter Nick Deeg (Central Michigan) gave up three runs in the first inning but promptly delivered seven scoreless innings after that. He struck out five and scattered eight hits. Marcus Brakeman (Stanford) tossed a scoreless ninth to finish the win.

     

    Brewster 4, Orleans 2

    After getting shut-out by Orleans 5-0 on Wednesday, Brewster matched up with the Firebirds and won 4-2 to move to 4-4 on the year. That’s good for second-place in the East. The Whitecaps delivered 10 hits and took a lead in the fourth that they never gave up. Mikey White (Alabama) and Justin Hazard (UCLA) had two hits each, while Scott Kingery (Arizona) and John Sansone (Florida State) knocked in one run apiece. On the mound, Andrew Naderer (Grand Canyon) allowed just an unearned run in five innings. Naderer has pitched in relief and now as a starter this summer, and his three appearances have coincided with Brewster wins. Pat Ruotolo (Connecticut) pitched the final four innings for a save. He struck out five.

     

    Y-D 6, Falmouth 3

    The Red Sox trailed 1-0 but scored five runs in the sixth and never looked back. Jason Goldstein (Illinois) cleared the bases with a double in the big sixth inning, while Michael Foster (Northeastern) and Hunter Cole (Georgia) brought in the other runs. Cole, making his Y-D debut, played for Cotuit last summer and was a 26th-round pick of the Giants this year. Jordan Tarsovich (VMI) went 2-for-4 and now leads the league in hitting with a .450 batting average. He has a hit in all six games he’s played. Nicholas Kozlowski (Hofstra) was credited with the win in relief and Dimitri Kourtis (Mercer) got the save. For Falmouth, Conor Costello (Oklahoma State) had a home run and a double.

     

    What to Watch

    Can anybody slow down Harwich? Bourne, who’s tied for the West lead, gets its crack when it visits Harwich tonight at 7 p.m.

     

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    Daily Fog: Shutout Central

    stock_bourne13

     

    Bourne and Harwich are off to the best starts in the first week of the Cape League season, each with a 3-0 record to their name. They won’t play each other until next Friday, June 20.

    Maybe by then, they’ll have given up a run or two.

    The Braves and Mariners have gone three-for-three by dominating on the mound. Harwich has a 0.33 ERA, Bourne owns a 0.62 ERA. They both notched their second consecutive shutouts last night.

    For Harwich, the pitching has coincided with a whole lot of offense. They’ve scored more runs than any team in the league, paving the way for lopsided shutouts – 10-0 on Thursday and 7-0 over Wareham last night. But last night’s win began, again, with the starting pitching. This time, Zack Erwin (Clemson) went five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out five against a Gatemen team that scored 13 runs in its previous game. Jacob Evans (Oklahoma) and Robby Kalaf (Florida International) finished the shutout.

    At the plate for the Mariners, Kyle Barrett (Kentucky) went 4-for-4 and Craig Aikin (Oklahoma) went 3-for-5 with three RBI. Anthony Hermelyn (Oklahoma), who’s had a hit in all three games, went 2-for-3.

    Over in Bourne, the Braves shut out Falmouth 6-0 on the heels of a 1-0 victory over Orleans. Andrew Sopko (Gonzaga), one of the top pitching prospects in the Alaska League last year, had a big debut on the Cape, giving up three hits and striking out six in six scoreless innings. He faced just two over the minimum. Brett Morales (Florida) and Joey Strain (Winthrop) closed out the shutout.

    Brett Sullivan (Pacific) led the Bourne offense with two hits, including the team’s first home run of the year. Gavin Collins (Mississippi State) also had two hits.

    Orleans 9, Chatham 0

    Orleans doesn’t have the 3-0 record that Bourne and Harwich boast, but the Firebirds got into the win column with a shutout of their own last night over Chatham. After rehabbing third-round pick Trevor Megill (Loyola Marymount) went one scheduled inning, Nathan Bannister (Arizona) tossed four scoreless frames. Kolton Mahoney (BYU) then struck out seven of the 14 batters he faced in four scoreless innings. The offense handled the rest, smacking 16 hits. Christin Stewart (Tennessee) hit the Firebirds’ first home run of the year, while Edwin Rios (Florida International) drove in three runs.

    Cotuit 2, Y-D 1

    The Kettleers picked up their first win and kept Y-D as the only winless team in the league with a 2-1 victory at Lowell Park. Two runs in the fourth were the difference as Cotuit rallied from an early 1-0 deficit. After Blake Stevens (Birmingham Southern) struck out seven in four innings, Sam Tewes (Wichita State) picked up the win with 3.1 innings of relief. The Kettleers offense only had four hits, but scratched across the tying run before an RBI single by Brendan Hendricks (San Francisco) brought home the go-ahead run.

    What to Watch

    Every team is set for doubleheaders today so there’s plenty of baseball with beautiful weather in the forecast. In Yarmouth, the Red Sox are hosting Wareham and will send former first-round pick Phil Bickford (Cal State Fullerton) to the mound in game one. Bickford was the 10th overall pick in last year’s draft but opted for the college ranks and had a strong freshman year for the Titans.

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    Daily Fog: The Start that Counts

    Ian Happ is off to a big start for Harwich - and so are his team's starting pitchers.
    Ian Happ is off to a big start for Harwich – and so are his team’s starting pitchers.

     

    In a Cape Cod Baseball League season, it always takes a week or two for starting pitchers to warm up. Many have been out of action for a while, so they have to get stretched out. They start small, three innings, four innings, maybe five.

    But in Harwich, they have started big.

    A night after James Mulry (Northeastern) struck out nine in seven shutout innings, Jason Inghram (William & Mary) took a perfect game into the sixth and struck out eight in seven scoreless frames as the Mariners moved to 2-0 with a 10-0 victory over Brewster.

    Of the 20 starts made by Cape League pitchers this year, only three have seen the starter go more than six innings, and Harwich’s southpaw duo owns two of those. The average has been 4.2 innings, and Mulry and Inghram have blown that out of the water.

    Inghram’s performance was part of a big night for pitching on the Cape, where three games ended in shutouts. His performance was as good as any.

    Inghram was the ace of the William & Mary staff this spring with an ERA under two and a 10-2 record. He also racked 109.2 innings, so he’s plenty warmed up. On Thursday, he needed just 86 pitches to get through seven. He retired the first 17 batters he faced before Josh Vidales (Houston) broke up his perfect game in the sixth. He allowed one more two-out hit in the seventh and nothing else.

    Ronnie Glenn (Penn) and Skylar Hunter (The Citadel) pitched a scoreless frame each to finish off the win.

    The Harwich offense also took care of business, pounding 11 hits and breaking the game open with a six-run fourth. Returning star Ian Happ (Cincinnati) had another big night, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. Sal Annunziata (Seton Hall) added two hits and three RBI, while Anthony Hermelyn (Oklahoma) drove in two.

    North Carolina star Skye Bolt made his long-awaited Harwich debut when he pinch-hit in the eighth. Bolt was on the Harwich roster last year but ended up with Team USA.

    Falmouth 3, Y-D 0

    Pitching also shined in Yarmouth, where second-year Falmouth Commodore Kevin McCanna (Rice) tossed six innings of one-hit baseball in a 3-0 win. McCanna had an ERA over six on the Cape last summer, but his spring at Rice was an indicator that he’d be moving in the right direction this summer. He obliged in his first start, striking out four and giving up just the one hit. At the plate, Matt Eureste (San Jacinto) and Austin Afenir (Oral Roberts) – both on temporary contracts – drove in a run apiece, with Afenir notching three hits. Y-D starter Kevin Duchene (Illinois), a former Big 10 Freshman of the Year, gave up two runs in 4.2 innings.

    Bourne 1, Orleans 0

    The other shutout belonged to Bourne, which moved to 2-0 with an 11-inning victory over the Firebirds. Eric Nyquist (Mercer) gave up two hits in six innings before giving way to the bullpen, which picked up where he left off. Lucas Laster (Mississippi State), John Gorman (Boston College) and Brad Raley (Lake Erie College) delivered five scoreless frames and set the stage for Bourne to walk-off in the 11th. With a runner on third, Billy Fleming (West Virginia) smacked a base hit to bring in the only run of the game and give Bourne the win. The Braves finished with only three hits as Orleans pitchers were just as good as their counterparts. Tyler Honahan (Stony Brook) started and struck out five in five innings.

    Wareham 13, Chatham 3

    Wareham’s 2013 offense did not score more than 12 runs a single time, but the 2014 Gatemen did it on day two as they got into the win column with a blowout of Chatham. Wareham got at least one hit from every player in the lineup and finished the night with 17. Nick Halamandaris (California) went 3-for-5 with two RBI, while Memphis teammates Jake Little and Keaton Aldridge each hit home runs – the first homers of the Cape League season. Little and Aldridge also had multi-hit games, along with Willie Calhoun (Arizona), Andrew Knizner (NC State) and Charlie Warren (Rice). Anthony Kay (Connecticut) got the win with three scoreless innings of relief.

    Hyannis 6, Cotuit 5

    The Harbor Hawks and Kettleers met for the second straight night, and the Hawks delivered their second straight one-run win. After trailing 4-0 they rallied to tie it but fell behind 5-4 in the eighth. But in the top of the ninth, they scored two to take a one-run lead and held it through the bottom of the ninth. Florida State star freshman Ben DeLuzio, a third-round pick out of high school, delivered a two-run triple in the eighth to give Hyannis the lead. Lance Thonvold (Minnesota) struck out two in a scoreless ninth to seal the win. Hyannis also got two RBI from Bobby Melley (Connecticut), the Barnstable native who’s coming off a huge year for UConn. Cotuit got another multi-hit night from D.C. Arendas (South Carolina), who went 2-for-3 and is your early league batting average leader.

    What to Watch

    Two big-time pitchers will make their Cape League debuts tonight. At 6:30 in Falmouth, Y-D’s Michael Murray (Florida Gulf Coast) gets the ball on the heels of a tremendous spring in which he emerged as one of the nation’s best pitchers. In Orleans, the Firebirds will start Trevor Megill (Loyola Marymount), who was a third-round pick of the Cardinals in this year’s draft. Megill, who was on Orleans’ preseason roster last year, had Tommy John surgery and missed all of this past season at Loyola.

    Posted on

    Talent Coming to Harwich Again

    stock_harwich13

     

    TeamLogo_Harwich2003.jpgIn recent years, the Harwich Mariners have won the preseason roster battle almost every year. Of course, that means little in any season, especially in a Cape Cod Baseball League season, and the results bear that out. The Mariners won the league championship in 2008 and finished in last place the next year. They won again in 2011, but have been up and down since.

    But the fact remains. The Mariners are very good at bringing in talent. And when it comes together well, look out.

    This year should be no different. Harwich brings back the league’s top returning prospect in Ian Happ, and has other sophomore stars joining him. The pitching staff features some young guys with upside and quite a few veterans who have had big college success.

    It adds up to a club that’s in preseason contention again. We’ll see how it pans out.

     

    THE SKINNY

    Manager: Steve Englert
    Last Year: 23-19-2; Lost in East Semis
    Returning Players: 3
    Juniors: 10
    Sophomores: 20
    Freshmen: 4

     

    NOTABLE

  • Michael Boyle comes to Harwich from Radford, the same path taken by Colorado Rockies prospect Eddie Butler, who vaulted from the Cape to the Majors in just three years. Boyle had a strong sophomore season.

  • Jake Drossner returns to Harwich after emerging as a solid weekend starter for Maryland this spring. He had a better ERA than teammate Jake Stinnett, a second-round pick of the Cubs.

  • Oklahoma pitcher Jacob Evans had a high ERA this spring but had a terrific strikeout-to-walk ratio of 54 to 7.

  • Harwich has quite a few guys who have been very consistent starters for mid-major programs, like Boyle, Jon Harris at Missouri State and Jason Inghram at William & Mary.

  • Jason Vosler was just drafted by the Cubs in the 16th round, so we’ll see if he makes it to Harwich.

  • The Citadel’s Skyler Hunter has 28 career saves, so I’d bet on him taking the closer’s job.

  • LSU freshman Jared Poche’ jumped right into the weekend rotation in Baton Rouge, which you don’t see all that often. That alone makes him a pitcher to watch.

  • Skye Bolt looked destined for stardom last spring and spent the summer with Team USA. Bolt had kind of a down year by comparison in 2014, but the bright side for Harwich is that Team USA probably won’t come calling again.

  • No returning hitter has a better Cape League track record than Ian Happ, who was one of the top prospects in the league last year.

  • Harwich has two sons of former Major Leaguers, and their dads were teammates. Tyler Servais is the son of Scott Servais and Cavan Biggio’s dad is Craig Biggio. Both played with the Astros.

  • Joe McCarthy has put up terrific all-around numbers for Virginia this spring. You could make the case that he’s been one of the two or three best players for the Omaha-bound Cavaliers.

    •  

    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Ian Happ
    2. Skye Bolt
    3. C.J. Hinojosa
    4. Jake Drossner
    5. Jared Poche’

     

    PITCHERS

    Michael Boyle – LHP – 6’2 185 – Radford – Sophomore
    Ray Castillo – RHP – 6’0 180 – Alabama – Sophomore
    *Jake Drossner – LHP – 6’3 195 – Maryland – Sophomore
    Zack Erwin – LHP – 6’4 180 – Clemson – Freshman
    Jacob Evans – LHP – 6’2 205 – Oklahoma – Sophomore
    Ronnie Glenn – LHP – 6’3 220 – Pennsylvania – Junior
    Jon Harris – RHP – 6’4 160 – Missouri State – Sophomore
    Skylar Hunter – RHP – 6’1 185 – The Citadel – Sophomore
    Jason Inghram – LHP – 6’3 195 – William & Mary – Junior
    Robby Kalaf – RHP – 6’0 210 – Florida International – Junior
    Seth McGarry – RHP – 6’0 180 – Florida Atlantic – Sophomore
    James Mulry – LHP – 6’3 215 – Northeastern – Sophomore
    Gavin Pittore – RHP – 6’3 230 – Wesleyan – Sophomore
    Jared Poche’ – LHP – 6’1 195 – LSU – Freshman
    Robert Youngdahl – LHP – 6’2 190 – Notre Dame – Sophomore
    * – returning player

     

    Michael Boyle – LHP – 6’2 185
    Radford
    Sophomore

    Boyle had a solid freshman season in Radford’s weekend rotation last year and flashed ace potential in a return engagement this season. Boyle finished with a 4.09 ERA but led the team in strikeouts with 69 in 81.1 innings. He twirled a two-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts against Winthrop in his career-best outing. Boyle dominated the Cal Ripken League last year with a 0.77 ERA and he was named the circuit’s top prospect by Perfect Game.

    Ray Castillo – RHP – 6’0 180
    Alabama
    Sophomore

    Castillo set an Alabama freshman record with 12 saves on his way to Freshman All-American honors last year. The Crimson Tide went with a different closer this year, as Castillo finished with a 5.09 ERA and no saves.

    Jake Drossner – LHP – 6’3 195
    Maryland
    Sophomore

    Drossner had an ERA over six in his freshman campaign but had a good showing in Harwich, where he posted an ERA under one in 10 appearances. That was a sign of things to come, as Drossner emerged as a solid weekend starter this year. Drossner sported a team-best 2.45 ERA to go with 59 strikeouts in 62.1 innings.

    Zack Erwin – LHP – 6’4 180
    Clemson
    Freshman

    Erwin has shuffled in and out of the starting rotation for the Tigers the last two years, but has delivered decent results in both roles. He had a 3.45 ERA as a freshman. This year it was at 4.21. He picked up two saves this year while ranking third on the team in strikeouts with 62.

    Jacob Evans – LHP – 6’2 205
    Oklahoma
    Sophomore

    Evans saved nine games as a freshman in Norman but met some struggles in a swing role this year. He finished with an ERA over five, while starting nine games and making 12 relief appearances. On the bright side, he struck out 54 in 58.2 innings and walked just seven all season.

    Ronnie Glenn – LHP – 6’3 220
    Pennsylvania
    Junior

    Glenn tied a school record with eight saves last year but left the late-inning duty behind as he converted to starting full-time this season. It was a smooth transition as Glenn put up a 3.46 ERA and earned an Honorable Mention All-Ivy nod.

    Jon Harris – RHP – 6’4 160
    Missouri State
    Sophomore

    Injuries thrust Harris into the weekend rotation as a freshman last year and he responded by becoming the first pitcher in school history to win his first eight starts. The streak eventually ended, but Harris continues to pitch well. He had a 3.16 ERA this year with 66 strikeouts in 79.2 innings.

    Skylar Hunter – RHP – 6’1 185
    The Citadel
    Sophomore

    Hunter burst onto the scene last year, saving 13 games with an 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings mark. He reprised his closer’s role again this year and was even more dominant, saving 15 games while posting a 1.67 ERA. He struck out 44 in 43 innings and allowed opponents to hit just .143 against him.

    Jason Inghram – LHP – 6’3 195
    William & Mary
    Junior

    After two good seasons for the Tribe, Inghram blossomed into a bona fide ace this season. He went 10-2 with a 2.71 ERA and struck out 91 in 109.2 innings. He earned second-team All-CAA honors. He led the conference in innings pitched.

    Robby Kalaf – RHP – 6’0 210
    Florida International
    Junior

    Kalaf dominated in the JUCO ranks for the State College of Florida and made a pretty good transition to D-I baseball this season. Kalaf had an ERA of 3.74 while making 10 starts and four relief appearances.

    Seth McGarry – RHP – 6’0 180
    Florida Atlantic
    Sophomore

    McGarry has made only 13 appearances in two seasons but has done well in the limited action. He had a 1.52 ERA in 11.2 innings this year.

    James Mulry – LHP – 6’3 215
    Northeastern
    Sophomore

    Mulry earned Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie honors last year and followed it up with a pretty good sophomore season. He lowered his ERA to 4.06 and struck out 30 in 37.2 innings.

    Gavin Pittore – RHP – 6’3 230
    Wesleyan
    Sophomore

    A late addition to the roster, Pittore is coming off a big season for Wesleyan. He went 7-1 with a 2.88 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 59.1 innings.

    Jared Poche’ – LHP – 6’1 195
    LSU
    Freshman

    Poche’ took a rare leap when he joined the Tigers weekend rotation in his first season in Baton Rouge, but it was a smooth ride. Poche went 9-3 with a 2.45 ERA, striking out 52 in 91.2 innings. He took home several Freshman All-America honors.

    Robert Youngdahl – LHP – 6’2 190
    Notre Dame
    Sophomore

    A 37th-round pick in 2011, Youngdahl bounced from Kansas State to Iowa Western Junior College to Notre Dame and seems to have found a home in South Bend. He delivered a 1.93 ERA out of the bullpen this spring despite walking more batters than he struck out. He also was a regular in the Irish lineup, hitting .225 and leading the team in extra-base hits with 15.

     

    POSITION PLAYERS

    Craig Aikin – OF – 5’10 170 – Oklahoma – Sophomore
    Angelo Amendolare – INF – 5’10 170 – Jacksonville – Junior
    Kyle Barrett – OF – 5’11 – 180 – Kentucky – Sophomore
    Cavan Biggio – INF – 6’2 180 – Notre Dame – Freshman
    Skye Bolt – OF – 6’3 185 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    Guy Davidson – INF – 6’1 185 – Wesleyan – Sophomore
    Matt Gonzalez – INF – 6’0 192 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    *Ian Happ – INF – 5’11 192 – Cincinnati – Sophomore
    Anthony Hermelyn – C – 6’1 200 – Oklahoma – Sophomore
    *C.J. Hinojosa – INF – 5’10 180 – Texas – Sophomore
    Joe McCarthy – OF – 6’3 215 – Virginia – Sophomore
    Alex Perez – INF – 5’10 165 – Virginia Tech – Junior
    Brendon Sanger – OF – 6’0 155 – Florida Atlantic – Sophomore
    Tyler Servais – C – 6’2 215 – Princeton – Junior
    Jordan Tarsovich – OF – 5’10 175 – VMI – Junior
    Kenny Towns – INF – 6’0 185 – Virginia – Junior
    Jason Vosler – INF – 6’1 190 – Northeastern – Junior
    Matt Winn – C – 6’0 210 – VMI – Junior
    Danny Zardon – INF – 6’1 185 – LSU – Freshman
    * – returning player

     

    Craig Aikin – OF – 5’10 170
    Oklahoma
    Sophomore

    Aikin has started all but one game in his two seasons at Oklahoma and has been a steady contributor. After hitting .286 as a freshman, he bumped to .326 this year, good for second on the team. He led the team in OBP at .411 and stole five bases.

    Angelo Amendolare – INF – 5’10 170
    Jacksonville
    Junior

    A junior-college transfer, Amendolare hit .278 and stole 16 bases in his first season with the Dolphins.

    Kyle Barrett – OF – 5’11 – 180
    Kentucky
    Sophomore

    After leading the Wildcats in hitting as a freshman, Barrett was named the third-best prospect in the Perfect Game Collegiate League last summer. His averaged dipped to .253 this spring.

    Cavan Biggio – INF – 6’2 180
    Notre Dame
    Freshman

    The son of former Big Leaguer Craig Biggio, Cavan came to Notre Dame with high expectations after getting selected in the 29th round out of high school by the Phillies. Joining big brother Conor on campus, Cavan hit .246 in his debut season but showed some pop with 14 extra-base hits.

    Skye Bolt – OF – 6’3 185
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    Bolt was one of the top freshmen in the country last year and spent the summer with Team USA. He didn’t have quite as much success this spring, hitting .257 with four home runs.

    Guy Davidson – INF – 6’1 185
    Wesleyan
    Sophomore

    A Harwich native, Davidson was a late addition to the roster and will get a shot to make an impression with his hometown club. This spring, he hit .273 with 21 extra-base hits for Wesleyan.

    Matt Gonzalez – INF – 6’0 192
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    An 11th-round pick out of high school, Gonzalez had a good freshman season in Atlanta then played 26 games for Bourne in the Cape League last summer. Now ticketed for Harwich, Gonzalez is coming off a sophomore season in which he hit .314 with 23 extra-base hits.

    Ian Happ – INF – 5’11 192
    Cincinnati
    Sophomore

    Happ delivered one of the most eye-opening performances of the 2013 Cape Cod Baseball League season and was named the league’s ninth-best prospect by Perfect Game and its top freshman. For an encore, Happ was a model of consistency, finishing the spring with the same .322 average he finished with in 2013. He had five homers, a .443 OBP and 19 stolen bases.

    Anthony Hermelyn – C – 6’1 200
    Oklahoma
    Sophomore

    Like his teammate Aikin, Hermelyn has been an everyday player from the word go and has been solid throughout his career. He hit .289 this season with two homers.

    C.J. Hinojosa – INF – 5’10 180
    Texas
    Sophomore

    A 26th-round pick out of high school, Hinojosa was off to a strong start with Harwich last summer when he got the call to Team USA. This spring, he has helped lead the Longhorns to the College World Series this year, hitting .300 with a homer and 33 RBI.

    Joe McCarthy – OF – 6’3 215
    Virginia
    Sophomore

    McCarthy had a Freshman All-American season for the Cavs in 2013 and has been one of the best hitters for an Omaha-bound squad this season. He’s hitting .303 with six homers, a team-high 22 extra-base hits and 46 RBI. He was named the 37th-best prospect in the Northwoods League by Perfect Game last summer.

    Alex Perez – INF – 5’10 165
    Virginia Tech
    Junior

    Perez has started 170 consecutive games since arriving in Blacksburg three years ago. He hit .249 this year and made only four errors in the field.

    Brendon Sanger – OF – 6’0 155
    Florida Atlantic
    Sophomore

    Sanger led the Owls in hitting as a freshman and did the same this year, finishing at .332 to go with a .451 OBP and 15 extra-base hits.

    Tyler Servais – C – 6’2 215
    Princeton
    Junior

    The son of former Major League catcher Scott Servais, Tyler was a 36th-round pick out of high school. He hasn’t broken out with the bat in his time at Princeton, hitting .216 this year. Knowing his father, I’d venture a guess that he’s a strong defensive catcher.

    Kenny Towns – INF – 6’0 185
    Virginia
    Junior

    Towns has been a consistent contributor for Virginia in each of his three seasons in Charlottesville. He’s hitting .261 this year with two home runs.

    Jason Vosler – INF – 6’1 190
    Northeastern
    Junior

    Vosler has been a mainstay for the Huskies for three years and is coming off a junior season in which he hit .322 with a .419 OBP. As a junior, he was eligible for the draft this year and went in the 16th round to the Cubs, so he’ll have a decision to make.

    Matt Winn – C – 6’0 210
    VMI
    Junior

    Winn hit .333 as a sophomore and was on the Johnny Bench Award watch list. He struggled this year to a .204 average.

    Danny Zardon – INF – 6’1 185
    LSU
    Freshman

    Like his teammate Poche’, Zardon was a highly-touted recruit for LSU. He didn’t get as much of a chance to prove himself this year but did hit .268 in 28 games.