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Big Arms

Nick Halamandaris makes a play at first earlier this season.
Nick Halamandaris makes a play at first earlier this season.

 

Pitchers have certainly held their own in the Cape League this season, but there haven’t been a ton of dominant performances. Before Saturday’s games, the league’s strikeout leader was a relief pitcher.

But on opposite ends of the Cape Saturday, two pitchers added a little dominance to the equation.

In Falmouth, Wareham’s Kyle Cody (Kentucky) struck out six in seven shutout innings as the Gatemen beat Falmouth 4-0. In Orleans, Kolton Mahoney (BYU) struck out 11 in six innings as the Firebirds beat Y-D 6-3.

Scouts and people who have seen Cody in the past have been waiting for a performance like this. Despite the fact that he pitched only nine innings for Wareham last summer, Perfect Game still picked him as the Cape League’s 30th-best prospect.

The 6-foot-7 righty had pitched 4.1 innings this summer, but broke out with the big performance on Saturday. He allowed three singles, walked one and threw 67 of 91 pitches for strikes.

Scott Effross (Indiana) followed him to the hill and followed suit, striking out four in two scoreless innings to finish off the shutout. The Wareham offense got RBI from Jake Little (Memphis) and Nick Halamandaris (California).

In Orleans, Mahoney has been strong all summer, having gone six scoreless innings in his last start. The 23rd-round pick this year also tossed a no-hitter for BYU this spring.

Last night, he allowed one hit through five scoreless innings before Jordan Tarsovich (VMI) smacked a game-tying, three-run home run in the sixth. But after the home run, Mahoney struck out the final two batters he faced and his offense rallied immediately with a run in the bottom of the sixth to put him in line for the win. The 11 strikeouts put Mahoney in the league lead with 24 on the year.

Kyle Twomey (USC) and Jacob Cronenworth (Michigan) relieved Mahoney and finished off the victory. Edwin Rios (Florida International) and Bobby Dalbec (Arizona) both homered to lead the Firebirds offense.

 

Cotuit 3, Harwich 1

Cotuit also got a pretty good pitching performance as Logan James (Stanford) allowed one run in five innings with six strikeouts. Adam Whitt (Nevada), who’s been one of the best relievers in the league, struck out seven batters in just 2.2 innings. Jeff Kinley (Michigan State) picked up a save with 1.1 scoreless innings. The Kettleers got an RBI each from Jake Fincher (NC State) and Jeremy Taylor (East Tennessee State). The Kettleers have won two in a row and are now at .500 with an 8-8 mark.

 

Hyannis 6, Bourne 2

The Harbor Hawks got solid pitching, steady offense and five stolen bases in a victory over West-leading Bourne. The Harbor Hawks are now 10-6, just one game back of the Braves. Blake Hickman (Iowa) allowed two runs and struck out four in five innings. He left with the lead, and reliever Marcus Brakeman (Stanford) kept it thanks to four scoreless frames. David Houser (Tennessee) led the offense with two hits and three RBI. Austin Slater (Stanford) also had two hits. For Bourne, Harrison Bader (Florida) homered.

 

Brewster 5, Chatham 4

Wade Wass (Alabama) hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning to give Brewster its first lead of the game, and the Whitecaps held on from there to win 5-4. The homer was part of a three-hit, four RBI night for Wass, who was batting just .179 coming into the game. Braden Bishop (Washington) and Kevin Martir (Maryland) added two hits each for the Whitecaps. Andrew Naderer (Grand Canyon) struck out five in in three innings of relief and Evan Hill (Michigan) pitched a scoreless ninth.

 

What to Watch

Orleans, winners of three straight, is now in second place in the East and will visit first-place Harwich tonight at 5:30 p.m. Bobby Poyner (Florida) starts for Orleans, with Jared Poche’ (LSU) going for Harwich.

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Harbor Hawks Have the Pieces

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HyannisHawks_150.gifWhen Hyannis won the Western Division title in 2011, it ended a long drought. The next two years saw the Harbor Hawks at opposite ends of the spectrum, but they’ve been steadier than their record would indicate. For two straight years, they’ve had the league’s best pitching prospect – Sean Manaea in 2012 and Jeff Hoffman in 2013 (not to mention Kyle Freeland) – and they seem to bring in good crops of talent every year.

I would expect more of the same this year. If there isn’t a top-notch pitching prospect, there are at least some very good weekend starters and some big bullpen arms. The position players group features some steady sophomores to go with talented freshmen, plus a host of guys who have been part of successful seasons this spring.

The Harbor Hawks have the pieces for another good year.

 

THE SKINNY

Manager: Chad Gassman
Last Year: 25-17-2; Lost in West semifinals
Returning Players: 1
Juniors: 1
Sophomores: 21
Freshmen: 5

 

NOTABLE

  • I don’t remember a whole lot of Florida State guys playing in Hyannis, but the Harbor Hawks have two this year and I think they’ll represent the Seminoles well. Freshman pitched Alec Byrd and freshman infielder/outfielder Ben DeLuzio were both highly-touted recruits. Byrd didn’t pitch a ton this year so could be poised for an emergence this summer, while DeLuzio – a third-round pick out of high school – was a mainstay in the Noles’ lineup as a freshman.

  • Hyannis has had good luck with Central Michigan players, and Nick Deeg is the latest to make the trip. As a freshman this year, Deeg ranked third on the team in strikeouts. The leader? Former Harbor Hawk Jordan Foley.

  • Ian Gibaut burst onto the scene at Tulane last year with 12 saves.

  • Iowa’s Blake Hickman will be an interesting player to watch this summer. A 20th-round pick out of high school, he reportedly chose college in part because he wanted to catch. But his future may be on the mound, where he gave scouts a brief look in the Northwoods League last summer and earned a spot on the league’s top prospects list.

  • Southeastern Louisiana pitcher Tate Scioneaux is about as experienced a sophomore as you’ll find in college baseball. A weekend starter since his freshman year, he’s racked up over 200 collegiate innings.

  • Two Virginia pitchers will head to Hyannis with very different resumes, but similar potential. Cameron Tekker has seen limited action for the Cavs but starred in the NECBL last summer. Brandon Waddell was the Friday starter as a freshman and has continued to be a huge part of the rotation this year.

  • Austin Listi has hit 19 homers in two seasons at Dallas Baptist, about as good a two-year stretch as anybody in the 2014 Cape League has had.

  • It looks like this team has the potential to be very fast on the bases. Five players stole at least 14 bases this spring.

  • Three Harbor Hawks will head to the Cape on the heels of history-making seasons with college teams that aren’t typical powerhouses. Kyle Survance led Houston to a Super Regional, Blake Trahan did the same for Louisiana-Lafayette (and the Ragin’ Cajuns are still alive as of Monday), and Carl Wise powered College of Charleston to just its second-ever Super Regional.

  • Last summer, UConn’s Bobby Melley – a Barnstable native – was the hometown kid getting a brief look in Hyannis. This year, he’s coming in off a huge season that established him as one of the best college players in New England.

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    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Bobby Melley
    2. Brandon Waddell
    3. Alec Byrd
    4. Blake Trahan
    5. Cam Gibson

     

    PITCHERS

    Marcus Brakeman – RHP – 6’1 185 – Stanford – Sophomore
    Alec Byrd – LHP – 6’3 180 – Florida State – Freshman
    Nick Deeg – LHP – 6’5 210 – Central Michigan – Freshman
    Matt Denny – LHP – 6’1 215 – Ole Miss – Sophomore
    Dylan Dwyer – LHP – 6’1 170 – Kentucky – Sophomore
    Peter Fairbanks – RHP – 6’6 205 – Missouri – Sophomore
    Ian Gibaut – RHP – 6’3 215 – Tulane – Sophomore
    Blake Hickman – RHP/C/1B – 6’5 210 – Iowa – Sophomore
    Matthew Margaritonda – RHP – 5’10 185 – Marshall – Junior
    Tate Scioneaux – RHP – 6’2 185 – Southeastern Louisiana – Sophomore
    Joseph Shaw – RHP – 6’4 240 – Dallas Baptist – Sophomore
    Cameron Tekker – RHP – 6’3 185 – Virginia – Sophomore
    Brandon Waddell – LHP – 6’3 180 – Virginia – Sophomore

     

    Marcus Brakeman – RHP – 6’1 185
    Stanford
    Sophomore

    A Florida high-school star, Brakeman has been a key reliever for the Cardinal in each of the last two seasons. This year, he pitched in 15 games with a 3.86 ERA and 30 strikeouts in 32 innings.

    Alec Byrd – LHP – 6’3 180
    Florida State
    Freshman

    Byrd was a 37th-round pick out of high school and eased into the Seminoles pitching staff as a freshman. In nine appearances, he had a 3.68 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 14.2 innings. Byrd was the Miami Herald’s Pitcher of the Year as a high school senior, no easy task, so this is a guy who should break out as he gets more opportunities.

    Nick Deeg – LHP – 6’5 210
    Central Michigan
    Freshman

    A Michigan high-school star, Deeg jumped right into the Central Michigan weekend rotation and had a decent debut. In 14 starts, he went 5-4 with a 4.08 ERA. He struck out 64 in 81 innings

    Matt Denny – LHP – 6’1 215
    Ole Miss
    Sophomore

    Denny had a good freshman season as a reliever, striking out better than a batter an inning and finishing with an ERA just a shade over two. He’s made 15 appearances for the Super Regional bound Rebels this season and has a 4.20 ERA.

    Dylan Dwyer – LHP – 6’1 170
    Kentucky
    Sophomore

    Dwyer acquitted himself well in 14 relief appearances as a freshman then helped his team win the championship in the Perfect Game Collegiate League. He pitched more as a starter in 2014 and finished with a 5.46 ERA. He struck out 47 in 56 innings.

    Peter Fairbanks – RHP – 6’6 205
    Missouri
    Sophomore

    A second-generation Missouri Tiger, Fairbanks had an ERA over five in limited duty as a freshman last year. He made eight starts and 19 total appearances this season and finished with a 4.33 ERA. He was at his best in the SEC play, where he dropped his ERA to 3.86.

    Ian Gibaut – RHP – 6’3 215
    Tulane
    Sophomore

    Gibaut earned a host of All-American accolades last year after he saved 12 games as a freshman, while striking out 38 in 40.2 innings and posting a 2.66 ERA. He was limited by injury this year but did well when he had a chance, putting up an ERA under two in 10 appearances.

    Blake Hickman – RHP/C/1B – 6’5 210
    Iowa
    Sophomore

    Hickman was a 20th round pick of his hometown Chicago Cubs out of high school but headed to Iowa, where he hit .220 as a freshman but didn’t pitch. Over the summer, he flashed his potential on the mound in the Northwoods League, where he was tabbed by Perfect Game as the circuit’s seventh-best prospect largely because of what he showed in six innings on the hill. This spring, he did two-way duty, hitting .217 and continuing to pitch well with a 3.94 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 34.1 innings.

    Tate Scioneaux – RHP – 6’2 185
    Southeastern Louisiana
    Sophomore

    Scioneaux became a weekend starter from day one last year and led the team in innings pitched. He was a workhorse again this season, pacing the squad with 110 innings and pitching well throughout. He had a 3.02 ERA with 77 strikeouts.

    Joseph Shaw – RHP – 6’4 240
    Dallas Baptist
    Sophomore

    A 40th round pick out of high school, Shaw led Dallas Baptist in ERA as a freshman reliever last year. He also totaled four saves. Shaw was even a little better this year, finishing with a 2.94 ERA in 26 appearances.

    Cameron Tekker – RHP – 6’3 185
    Virginia
    Sophomore

    Tekker has seen very limited action in two years at Virginia, making four appearances as a freshman and only five so far this season. But Tekker shined in the NECBL last summer and was named the league’s 10th-best prospect by Perfect Game. He is eligible for this year’s draft.

    Brandon Waddell – LHP – 6’3 180
    Virginia
    Sophomore

    Unlike his teammate Tekker, Waddell has been very busy in Charlottesville. He was the Cavs’ Friday starter as a freshman last year and has been part of a dynamic weekend rotation this year. Heading into Super Regionals, Waddell is 8-3 with a 2.73 ERA.

     

    POSITION PLAYERS

    Jarret DeHart – OF – 6’2 205 – LSU – Freshman
    Ben DeLuzio – SS/OF – 6’1 185 – Florida State – Freshman
    Donnie Dewees – OF – 6’3 180 – North Florida – Sophomore
    Cam Gibson – OF – 6’3 185 – Michigan State – Sophomore
    Sam Haggerty – INF – 5’11 175 – New Mexico – Sophomore
    David Houser – C – 6’1 220 – Tennessee – Sophomore
    John La Prise – INF – 6’3 180 – Virginia – Sophomore
    Austin Listi – IF/OF – 6’0 200 – Dallas Baptist – Sophomore
    *Bobby Melley – 1B/C – 6’3 210 – Connecticut – Sophomore
    Arden Pabst – C/IF – 6’4 200 – Georgia Tech – Freshman
    Joe Purritano – 1B/OF – 6’1 200 – Dartmouth – Sophomore
    Kyle Survance – OF – 6’1 180 – Houston – Sophomore
    Blake Trahan – SS – 5’9 175 – Louisiana Lafayette – Sophomore
    Carl Wise – INF – 6’2 210 – College of Charleston – Sophomore
    * – returning player

     

    Jarret DeHart – OF – 6’2 205
    LSU
    Freshman

    DeHart was a highly-touted high school player in New Jersey. After going undrafted, he headed to LSU but played in only 10 games. It was reported in May that he’ll be transferring.

    Ben DeLuzio – SS/OF – 6’1 185
    Florida State
    Freshman

    Deluzio was a third-round pick of the Phillies last year, the 80th overall selection, but opted to head to Tallahassee. He had a steady debut with the Seminoles, hitting .281 with a .371 OBP and stealing 16 bases.

    Donnie Dewees – OF – 6’3 180
    North Florida
    Sophomore

    Dewees had a big freshman year for North Florida, earning all-conference honors after hitting .347. He was limited to 12 games this spring.

    Cam Gibson – OF – 6’3 185
    Michigan State
    Sophomore

    The son of former Major Leaguer and current Diamondbacks manager Kurt Gibson, Cam followed his father’s footsteps to Michigan State and has had two solid years. He hit .315 this year, with two homers, 14 extra base hits and 16 stolen bases. Gibson played in the Northwoods League last summer, where he was rated the second-best prospect by Perfect Game.

    Sam Haggerty – INF – 5’11 175
    New Mexico
    Sophomore

    Haggerty was the Mountain West’s Co-Freshman of the Year last season and he followed up the big debut with an even better sophomore season. Haggerty hit .340 with a .420 on-base percentage and he delivered 13 extra-base hits. He also stole 14 bases.

    John La Prise – INF – 6’3 180
    Virginia
    Sophomore

    La Prise played in only 19 games as a freshman. He has worked his way into more playing time this year, starting 37 of the team’s 60 games and he leads the team in hitting with a .383 average.

    Austin Listi – IF/OF – 6’0 200
    Dallas Baptist
    Sophomore

    Listi hit nine home runs as a freshman last year and continued to flash some of the best pop in the Missouri Valley Conference again this year. He hit .285 this year, had an on-base percentage of .380 and slugged .477. He led the team with 10 homers and had 24 extra-base hits. He tied for third in the conference in home runs.

    Bobby Melley – 1B/C – 6’3 210
    Connecticut
    Sophomore

    A native of Barnstable, Melley got a cup of coffee with the hometown Harbor Hawks last year, but will likely make a much bigger impression this summer. Emerging as one of the top players in the American Athletic Conference, Melley hit .359 with a .475 OBP and a .502 slugging percentage, while cracking four home runs.

    Arden Pabst – C/IF – 6’4 200
    Georgia Tech
    Freshman

    Pabst was a high school star in California and headed East for Tech. He started 38 games in his freshman year and hit .217.

    Joe Purritano – 1B/OF – 6’1 200
    Dartmouth
    Sophomore

    Purritano hit .343 last year en route to Ivy League Freshman of the Year honors. This season, he hit .265 with three home runs.

    Kyle Survance – OF – 6’1 180
    Houston
    Sophomore

    A freshman All-American last year, Survance was a big reason why Houston had one of its best-ever seasons this year. Survance hit .308 with a .411 OBP and stole 31 bases, which put him among the top 10 nationally. When Houston knocked off LSU to win the Baton Rouge Regional a few weeks ago, Survance was named Regional MVP.

    Blake Trahan – SS – 5’9 175
    Louisiana Lafayette
    Sophomore

    Trahan has had a huge season in helping lead the Ragin’ Cajuns to the brink of the College World Series. The shortstop is hitting .359 with a .459 OBP. He’s also stolen 14 bases.

    Carl Wise – INF – 6’2 210
    College of Charleston
    Sophomore

    Wise also led a big year for his college club as Charleston made a Super Regional. Wise hit .295, slugged .419 and led the team in RBI by a wide margin with 54.