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Still the Next Star

Kris Bryant was named USA Today's Minor League Player of the Year.
Kris Bryant was named USA Today’s Minor League Player of the Year.

 

This time last year, with only a little bit of professional baseball under his belt, it was already looking like former Chatham Angler Kris Bryant would be the next Major League star with Cape League roots.

With a full year in the books, Bryant did nothing to change that belief – in fact, he only enhanced it.

The Cubs prospect was named USA Today’s Minor League Player of the Year after he dominated at Double A Tennessee and Triple A Iowa this season. Bryant slashed .325/.438/.661 and hit a minors-best 43 home runs.

Cape League fans will recall that Bryant didn’t set the world on fire in Chatham, hitting .223 with three homers in the summer after his freshman year at San Diego. From there, though, he pretty much did set the world fire at every stop, whether at San Diego or in the Cubs system that he rocketed through.

Bryant is expected to make his Chicago debut next year.

  • Cranston, R.I., native John Razzino had a cup of coffee with the Cape League champion Y-D Red Sox at the beginning of the summer, and though he wasn’t around for the championship, he got one of his own. Playing in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, the Franklin Pierce standout helped lead the Amsterdam Mohawks to the league title. Razzino hit .370 with five home runs and stole 23 bases. He was named a second-team Summer All-American by Perfect Game.

 

  • Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline checks in with a look at the Cape’s top pitching prospects from this summer. As he did on Baseball America’s list, Walker Buehler leads the way.

 

  • Prospect Insider offers up its rankings, as well, with Wareham’s Kyle Cody at the top.

 

  • Kudos to the Cape League’s video squad for a fun year and, especially, for a very fun moment after the Cape League championship. Y-D’s Josh Lester once won the Little League World Series and was the subject of a tearful post-game interview. Gabby Lucivero and Lester recreated it after Y-D won the Cape League title.

 

 

 

  • Stadium Journey, which grades and reviews stadiums across the country, put together a ranking of Cape League fields. Hyannis’ McKeon Park holds the top spot, followed by Chatham’s Veterans Field.

 

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Baseball America’s Top 30 Prospects

Kyle Cody was the No. 2 prospect in the Cape League according to Baseball America.
Kyle Cody was the No. 2 prospect in the Cape League according to Baseball America.

 

Phil Bickford was the Cape League’s top pro prospect award winner, but he slots in behind quite a few other guys in Baseball America’s Top 30 Cape League prospects.

His Y-D teammate Walker Buehler takes the top spot for Baseball America after his brief regular-season stint and his dominant effort in the playoffs. Wareham’s Kyle Cody and Brewster’s Cody Ponce check in next, before the top two hitters, Brewster’s Gio Brusa and Harwich’s Ian Happ. Bickford ranks sixth.

Hyannis’ Marc Brakeman, Bourne’s Richard Martin Jr., Falmouth’s Kevin Newman and Harwich’s C.J. Hinojosa round out the top 10.

The full list:
1. Walker Buehler
2. Kyle Cody
3. Cody Ponce
4. Gio Brusa
5. Ian Happ
6. Phil Bickford
7. Marc Brakeman
8. Richard Martin Jr.
9. Kevin Newman
10. C.J. Hinojosa
11. Alex Young
12. Steven Duggar
13. Chris Shaw
14. Kyle Twomey
15. Eric Hanhold
16. Mikey White
17. Garrett Cleavinger
18. Joe McCarthy
19. Kevin Duchene
20. Zack Erwin
21. Josh Sborz
22. Kal Simmons
23. Kyri Washington
24. Garrett Williams
25. Justin Jacome
26. Kolton Mahoney
27. Ryan Perez
28. Rhett Wiseman
29. David Thompson
30. Andrew Stevenson

 

  • As always a few surprises from guys who show the flashes that scouts love, but don’t necessarily have great seasons, like Wareham’s Kyri Washington and Chatham’s Garrett Williams.

  • Good to see Kevin Newman cracking the top 10. He was not on this list last year, despite winning the batting title.

  • Gio Brusa had the production to match his tools this summer, and it sounds like it was a major step forward for him. He ends up as the top position player prospect.

  • It was a big year for shortstop prospects, with Martin, Newman, Hinojosa, Mikey White and Kal Simmons all on this list. I was a little surprised to not see David Fletcher on there somewhere.

  • A very quiet year for rising sophomores. Bickford – who is leaving Cal State Fullerton so that he can enter next year’s draft – and Garrett Williams are the only two on the list.

  • Ambidextrous Hyannis pitcher Ryan Perez clearly became much more than just a curiosity this summer. He ranks 27th on this list, although BA’s Aaron Fitt speculates that Perez may end up scrapping the two-way routine to become a lefty reliever.

  • The other prospect list you should be looking for is Perfect Game’s, which should be out in the next few weeks.

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    Big Finish

    Falmouth is just two points out of first place.
    Falmouth is just two points out of first place.

     

    Kevin McCanna (Rice) made some good starts for Falmouth last year but allowed at least three runs in each of his last four starts, including seven runs in his season finale. He left the Cape with an ERA north of six.

    Fresh off a good year in Houston, McCanna returned to Falmouth this year and got off to a strong start, but on July 8, he hit that unlucky seven again. McCanna surrendered seven runs in an 11-8 loss to Hyannis.

    Last year, he never got a chance to rebound from his seven-run showing. This time, he did.

    And he has.

    Since that loss to Hyannis, McCanna has gone three consecutive starts without allowing a single run, a string that continued last night as Falmouth knocked off first-place Bourne 5-3.

    He’s gone from poor finish last year to as good a finish as you could ask for in 2014. McCanna now has a 2.47 ERA and, with victories in each of his three scoreless outings, he now leads the league in wins with six.

    Last night, McCanna’s performance helped Falmouth get within one game of Bourne for the top spot in the West. McCanna struck out four, walked three and scattered six hits in five scoreless innings. He found himself in trouble on a number of occasions, but wiggled out, stranding the bases loaded in the first and third innings.

    His offense backed him with a 13-hit attack. Shaun Chase (Oregon) hit his fifth homer, Steven Duggar (Clemson) had three hits and Kevin Newman (Arizona) went 2-for-5 with two RBI. Four relievers followed McCanna to the mound, with Matt Eckelman (St. Louis) getting a save to finish off the victory.

    Falmouth has won four of five and has now won the season series with Bourne, taking four of six. With four games left, it’ll be a sprint to the finish line as they chase the top seed.

     

    Harwich 6, Orleans 3

    The Mariners regained sole possession of first place in the East with a 6-3 victory over Orleans and a Y-D loss to Chatham. Jon Harris (Missouri State) was solid on the mound for the Mariners, allowing three runs in 5.1 innings, and Johnathan Frebis (Middle Tennessee State) pitched 3.2 scoreless innings to finish it off. It was the third save for Frebis, who has turned in seven scoreless outings in 10 total appearances. Harwich did their damage against Orleans ace Kolton Mahoney (BYU). Mahoney only allowed two earned runs but three errors behind him led to six runs total. Mahoney had not allowed more than four runs in any start this year. Joe McCarthy (Virginia) led the Harwich offense with two hits and three RBI. Matt Gonzalez (Georgia Tech) added two RBI.

     

    Chatham 6, Y-D 5

    Chatham cannot rise any higher than the fourth seed in the East, but the Anglers must take care of business to be assured of that spot and they took a step in the right direction by holding off Y-D. Jordan Hillyer (Kennesaw State) got the win with 5.2 solid innings, and Kyle Davis (USC) kept a Y-D rally from getting off the ground for his fifth save. Nicholas Sciortino (Boston College), a reinforcement making his first appearance of the summer, went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Chris Shaw (Boston College) and Bryant Burleson (Texas Tech) added two hits and an RBI apiece. Chatham touched up Y-D starter Kevin Duchene (Illinois) for five runs in five innings. He had allowed two runs or fewer in four straight starts.

     

    Cotuit 12, Hyannis 10

    In the first of two meetings on consecutive days, Cotuit out-slugged Hyannis and moved within a point of the Harbor Hawks for third place in the West. The game was tied 10-10 heading into the top of the ninth, where Cotuit’s Jackson Glines (Michigan) knocked a two-run single to give his team the lead. That was all standout reliever Adam Whitt (Nevada) needed. The league’s ERA leader struck out two in a perfect ninth to seal the victory for Cotuit. Logan Taylor (Texas A&M) had four hits and scored three runs from the leadoff spot for the Kettleers. Drew Jackson (Stanford) added three hits, while Glines and Kyle Holder (San Diego) had two each. For Hyannis, Carl Wise (College of Charleston) had five RBI in the losing effort.

     

    Wareham 6, Brewster 6

    The two teams trying to sneak into their respective last playoff spots both helped themselves a bit as Wareham and Brewster played to a 6-6 tie after darkness ended the game in the 10th. Blake Lacey (USC) had three hits and Nick Halamandaris (California) had two RBI for the Gatemen, who scored two in the top of the ninth to force the tie. John Sansone (Florida State) drove in two runs for Brewster. Jason Richman (Georgia Southern) kept Brewster off the board with 3.1 scoreless innings of relief for Wareham. The Gatemen are seven points out of a playoff spot with four games to play. Brewster is five games out in the East.

     

    What to Watch

    Playoff implications in a lot of games. Keep an eye on two match-ups in the West. Bourne will play Orleans as it tries to hold onto first place, while Falmouth hosts Wareham as it tries to catch the Braves. The Falmouth-Wareham match-up features a good pitching match-up, with Kyle Cody (Kentucky) starting for the Gatemen against Alex Young (TCU).

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    Notes From a West Resurgence

    Mark Laird, pictured earlier this summer, had an RBI as the West won 5-0.
    Mark Laird, pictured earlier this summer, had an RBI as the West won 5-0.

     

    The Friendly’s Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game dodged the rain and went off without a hitch on Sunday at Doran Park in Bourne. Work prevented me from getting over there, so you can get first-hand accounts elsewhere, but here are some notes from the West’s 5-0 victory.

  • The West won two of the three All-Star Games that were played at Fenway Park a few years ago, but it had been a long time since the West celebrated a victory on the Cape. Before Sunday’s win, the last time was 2002, when a West team led by Cotuit’s Bryan Snyder beat the East 4-1. The East won the next six All-Star Games before the West won in 2009 and 2010 at Fenway.

  • The shutout was the first since 2010, when the West won 5-0 at Fenway Park.

  • Ten pitchers combined on the shutout for the West team, limiting the East stars to seven hits.

  • Hyannis reliever Ryan Perez (Judson) officially went from curiosity to bona fide star when he struck out the side in the third inning and earned West MVP honors. Perez can pitch right-handed and left-handed, and he’s had an impressive summer. He came into the All-Star Game with a 2.05 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 26.2 innings. He struck out a formidable trio in his one All-Star inning, fanning Mikey White (Alabama), Jordan Tarsovich (VMI) and Ian Happ (Cincinnati). I hope there was a stand-off between the switch-hitting Happ and the switch-pitching Perez.

  • Perez is the first pitcher to earn MVP honors since Wareham’s Konner Wade in 2011. He was the first Hyannis MVP since Ben Paulsen in 2008.

  • Chatham’s A.J. Murray (Georgia Tech) won MVP honors with a 2-for-2 night, becoming the second Angler in as many years to win the top honor. J.D. Davis took the MVP award for the East last year.

  • Each team had one returning all-star. Reigning batting champ Kevin Newman (Arizona) went 1-for-2 for the West. Ian Happ (Cincinnati) was 0-for-2 for the East.

  • The Twitter consensus is that the pitching was better in this year’s All-Star game than last year’s. Brewster’s Cody Ponce (Cal Poly Pomona) was perhaps the most impressive.

  • According to Piliere, Wareham’s Kyle Cody (Kentucky) hit 97 on the radar gun, while Y-D’s Phil Bickford (Cal State Fullerton), a first-round pick last year, threw pitches at 94, 95, 95 in a three-pitch strikeout.

  • Wareham’s Chris Chinea (LSU) and Falmouth’s Cameron O’Brien (West Virginia), both playing from the catcher’s spot, hit home runs for the West. Falmouth’s Matt Eureste (San Jacinto) and Bourne’s Mark Laird (LSU) also drove in runs.

  • Cotuit’s Tres Barrera (Texas) won the 2014 TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby but was limited to one in the Cape League contest. The CCBL crown went to Harwich’s Sal Annunziata (Seton Hall).

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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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    Their Number

    Orleans celebrates a run in one of its victories over Harwich.
    Orleans celebrates a run in one of its victories over Harwich.

     

    The Harwich Mariners have been in first place in the Cape League’s Eastern Division since the opening night play ball, partly because they’ve cruised through a lot of their competition in the East. Harwich is 6-0 against Chatham, Brewster and Yarmouth-Dennis.

    But Orleans is just a game back of Harwich, as close as anyone’s been in a while, and there’s a reason for that too. While Harwich is unbeaten against three of its division rivals, it’s winless against the fourth. Orleans moved to 3-0 against Harwich this season with a 3-1 victory on Saturday night.

    The teams didn’t have their first meeting this year until two weeks in, when Orleans won 7-5 thanks to two David Thompson (Miami) home runs. Four days later, Orleans pounded 17 hits in a rare poor performance by a Harwich starting pitcher and won 15-8.

    On Saturday, after the washed-out Fourth of July, Orleans sent budding ace Kolton Mahoney (BYU) to the hill and set the course for another victory. Mahoney, the league’s strikeout leader, went five scoreless innings, allowing just two singles and striking out four to pick up the win. He’s now tied for the league lead in wins, leads in strikeouts and ranks fourth in ERA.

    Orleans gave him a lead with a run in the fourth and two in the fifth off Harwich starter Jason Inghram (William & Mary), who came in with a 2.35 ERA. Johnny Sewald (Arizona), David Fletcher (Loyola Marymount) and Thompson each knocked in a run. Cole Peragine (Stony Brook) added two hits. Mitchell Tolman (Oregon) went 1-for-4 and continued the league lead in on-base percentage at .509. He has reached base in every game he’s played this summer.

    Armed with a lead, the Orleans bullpen cruised through the last four innings, allowing four hits in that span. Harwich didn’t have an extra-base hit in the game. Sam Moore (UC Irvine), the NCAA saves leader this year, made his fourth appearance since arriving from Omaha, and picked up his first Cape League save.

    Jacob Evans (Oklahoma) was a bright spot for Harwich, striking out six in four scoreless innings of relief. He has not allowed a run in 16 innings of relief this summer.

    But this night belonged to Orleans. The Firebirds are now 12-9, one game back of Harwich.

     

    Bourne 5, Y-D 0

    While Harwich went down, Bourne shut out Y-D to reclaim the best record in the league label. Travis Bergen (Kennesaw State) struck out six and allowed just two singles in six scoreless innings. Bergen had been touched up for five runs in his last start. Dylan Nelson (Radford) and Joey Strain (Winthrop) followed him to the hill and finished off the shutout. The Braves offense backed Bergen with four early runs. Richard Martin Jr. (Florida) hit his first home run of the summer while Gavin Collins (Mississippi State) had two hits. Blake Davey (Connecticut), Brett Sullivan (Pacific) and Stephen Wrenn (Georgia) drove in one run apiece. Bourne has won three in a row after dropping three straight before that.

     

    Falmouth 14, Hyannis 3

    Much like Orleans and Harwich, Falmouth has had Hyannis’ number. The Commodores picked up their third win in 10 days against the Harbor Hawks with their most lopsided victory of the season. They led 6-1 in the eighth when they exploded for eight runs to pull away. Austin Afenir (Oral Roberts) led the attack with a 4-for-4, two RBI night, and Sam Gillikin (Auburn) added three hits. Ten different players had at least one RBI. Alex Young (TCU), who had a great spring as a reliever in Fort Worth, made his first Cape League start and allowed just one run in five innings. Three relievers tossed scoreless innings, with Nicholas Cooney (Wesleyan) striking out the side in his stint. Hyannis has lost five in a row, and Falmouth is now ahead of the Harbor Hawks for second place in the West.

     

    Chatham 7, Brewster 2

    The Anglers kept pace in the tightening East race with a 7-2 victory over Brewster. Chatham is now 11-9-1, one point back of Orleans for second. Ty Moore (UCLA) homered to lead the offense, while Nick Collins (Georgetown) went 3-for-4 and Kevin Fagan (Stetson) drove in three runs. A.J. Murray (Georgia Tech) went 1-for-4 and now owns a 10-game hitting streak. On the mound for Chatham, Max Tishman (Wake Forest) turned in another solid performance, scattering eight hits and allowing one run in six innings of work. Tishman, who leads the Anglers in innings pitched, has a 2.14 ERA.

     

    Wareham 7, Cotuit 3

    Kyle Cody (Kentucky) followed up a dominant start with a very good one, striking out nine and giving up three runs in eight innings as Wareham topped Cotuit. Cody struck out six in seven scoreless innings in his last start. Cotuit touched him up for three early runs this time, but he was back to dominance after that, allowing just two hits from the fourth inning on. Scott Effross (Indiana) pitched a scoreless ninth to finish off the win. The Wareham offense got two RBI from Willie Calhoun (Arizona) and two hits and an RBI from Kramer Robertson (LSU).

     

    What to Watch

    First-place Bourne and a hot Falmouth team will meet at Doran Park at 6 p.m. Andrew Sopko (Gonzaga), who’s been strong all summer, makes his fourth start for Bourne. Falmouth trots out Ryan Moseley (Texas Tech), who allowed three runs in his only start of the summer.

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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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    Beating the Best

    Richard Martin Jr. scored what proved to be the winning run as Bourne beat Harwich.
    Richard Martin Jr. scored what proved to be the winning run as Bourne beat Harwich.

     

    Harwich has been the most well-rounded team in the league so far this summer, with the most runs scored in the league and by far the fewest allowed. They’ve also shined in close games, winning two one-run games and two-run three-run games.

    But Bourne gave the Mariners a taste of their own medicine on Friday.

    The Braves scored two runs in the fifth, allowed one in the bottom half of the same inning and then slammed the door, beating Harwich 2-1. It was just the second loss for the Mariners, who dropped to 7-2. Bourne, now 6-3, grabbed hold of first place in the West.

    After getting shut-out through four by Harwich starter Jake Drossner (Maryland) Bourne scored its first run on an RBI groundout by Billy Fleming (West Virginia). Richard Martin Jr. (Florida) then raced home on a passed ball, which would prove to be a huge run.

    Harwich got one back on a Kyle Barrett (Kentucky) RBI single, but Bourne starter Travis Bergen (Kennesaw State) got Skye Bolt (North Carolina) to groundout to end the fifth.

    From there, the Braves bullpen took over, with Thomas Hatch (Oklahoma State) and Joey Strain (Winthrop) combining to allow just one hit over the final four innings. Bergen got the win after striking out seven in five innings. Strain picked up the save.

     

    Orleans 3, Cotuit 0

    Orleans won by shutout for the third time this season in a 3-0 victory over Cotuit. Trevor Megill (Loyola Marymount) went one scoreless frame before Nathan Bannister (Arizona) turned in his second straight four-inning stint of shutout baseball. Bannister was credited with the win. Reilly Hovis (North Carolina), Bobby Dalbec (Arizona) and Jacob Cronenworth (Michigan) finished out the shutout. David Fletcher (Loyola Marymount) led the offense with two hits and an RBI, while Edwin Rios (Florida International) picked up his league-leading ninth RBI.

     

    Brewster 4, Y-D 1

    The Whitecaps topped Y-D for their second straight win, improving to 5-4. Justin Montemayor (Houston) went 3-for-4 with an RBI, Gio Brusa (Pacific) went 2-for-4 and scored two runs, and Josh Vidales (Houston) went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Brewster scored three runs against Y-D starter Michael Murray (Florida Gulf Coast), who was one of the top pitchers in the nation this spring. On the mound for the Whitecaps, Ryan McCormick (St. John’s) allowed just a run on four hits in 5.2 innings.

     

    Wareham 7, Hyannis 5

    Wareham also won its second straight, holding off a late charge by Hyannis for a 7-5 victory. Andrew Knizner (NC State) went 3-for-4 with three RBI while Chris Chinea (LSU) drove in two. The Gatemen have put up double-digit hits in four consecutive games and now lead the league in hits with 89. On the mound, Ryan Olson (San Diego) gave up four runs but only one earned in 4.2 innings. Andrew Zapata (Connecticut) got the win in relief with Scott Effross (Indiana) grabbing the save. Hyannis got a home run from Ben DeLuzio (Florida State).

     

    Chatham 3, Falmouth 3

    The first tie of the Cape League season happened after 12 innings in Falmouth. The Commodores trailed until the eighth, when they took a 3-2 lead. Chatham answered with a run in the top of the ninth and that was it for the scoring. Matt Eureste (San Jacinto North) went 4-for-6 atop the Commodore lineup and now leads the league in hitting with a .500 average. Steven Duggar (Clemson) drove in two runs. Nicholas Cooney (Wesleyan) pitched six strong innings, while Matt Eckelman (St. Louis) kept Chatham off the board for the final three. Chatham’s Zac Gallen (North Carolina) went six shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out three. Ty Moore (UCLA), A.J. Murray (Georgia Tech), Kal Simmons (Kennesaw State) and Landon Cray (Seattle) had two hits each.

     

    What to Watch

    Wareham will visit Orleans as it tries to win its third straight behind perhaps it best pitcher, Kentucky’s Kyle Cody. He struck out six in three innings in his first start. The Firebirds counter with Kolton Mahoney (BYU) who struck out seven in four innings of relief in his only other appearance.

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    Wareham Looking to Regain Form

    stock_wareham12

     

    gatemen_logo_opt.jpgWareham followed up one of the franchise’s most memorable seasons with one of its most forgettable. After winning the Cape League title in 2012, the Gatemen just didn’t have the horses last year and won only nine games. They finished second-to-last in the league in both batting average and ERA, an easy recipe for a rough season.

    As 2014 rolls around, the Gatemen would love a step back in the right direction, and they’re bound to get it just based on how much they struggled last year. If things come together well, they may get a good-sized step.

    Four players return from last year, including two SEC pitchers who could anchor the rotation in Kyle Cody and Trey Killian. The lineup lacks the thumpers that Wareham had in 2012, but there’s some certainly some potential.

    For the Gatemen, there’s nowhere to go but up.

     

    THE SKINNY

    Manager: Cooper Farris
    Last Year: 9-33; Missed playoffs
    Returning Players: 4
    Juniors: 2
    Sophomores: 10
    Freshmen: 9

     

    NOTABLE

  • Kentucky’s Kyle Cody pitched all of nine innings with the Gatemen last summer but made enough of an impression to check in on the league’s top prospect lists. This could be a big summer for him.

  • Wareham got a longer look at Trey Killian last year and had to like what they saw. He struck out nearly a batter an inning in the Gatemen rotation and will be a good bet for an even better summer this year.

  • Indiana’s Scott Effross may have the inside track at the closer’s job, based on college numbers. He’s saved five games each of the past two years.

  • It wasn’t too long ago that Wareham brought in UConn stars George Springer and Matt Barnes. Anthony Kay and Andrew Zapata may not be at their level, but the freshman pitchers are coming off solid debuts.

  • Elliot Surrey has been the second-best starting pitcher for a talented UC Irvine team that is headed to Omaha.

  • Also headed to Omaha are the Louisville Cardinals, who have three players pegged for Wareham. All would provide a boost, so the Gatemen will be waiting.

  • Texas-San Antonio catcher John Bormann was a 19th-round pick of the Angels in last week’s MLB draft.

  • If Bormann is in town, Wareham will have a dynamic catching duo. The other half is Rice junior John Clay Reeves, a juco transfer who was Conference USA’s Newcomer of the Year this season. LSU’s Chris Chinea can also catch but could bounce around the diamond as well.

    •  

    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Kyle Cody
    2. Trey Killian
    3. John Clay Reeves
    4. Elliot Surrey
    5. John Bormann

     

    PITCHERS

    *Kyle Cody – RHP – 6’7 245 – Kentucky – Sophomore
    Scott Effross – RHP – 6’2 195 – Indiana – Sophomore
    Max Engelbrekt – LHP – 6’3 200 – Oregon State – Sophomore
    Myles Gentry – RHP – 6’0 200 – Mississippi State – Sophomore
    Drew Harrington – LHP – 6’1 215 – Louisville – Freshman
    Anthony Kay – LHP – 6’1 185 – Connecticut – Freshman
    *Trey Killian – RHP – 6’3 205 – Arkansas – Sophomore
    Ryan Olson – RHP – 6’3 185 – San Diego – Freshman
    Elliot Surrey – LHP – 5’11 185 – UC Irvine – Sophomore
    Andrew Zapata – RHP – 6’0 190 – Connecticut – Freshman
    * – returning player

     

    Kyle Cody – RHP – 6’7 245
    Kentucky
    Sophomore

    Cody worked his way into Kentucky’s weekend rotation by the time conference play hit last season, starting the emergence that has him among the best sophomore arms in the country. He played briefly for Wareham last summer and offered a tantalizing glimpse for scouts. Perfect Game rated him as the Cape’s 30th-best prospect. This spring, he started six games and made 12 relief appearances, posting a 2.84 ERA.

    Scott Effross – RHP – 6’2 195
    Indiana
    Sophomore

    Effross saved five games with a 2.44 ERA last year en route to Freshman All-America honors. The 11th-best prospect in the Great Lakes Collegiate League, Effross followed up with an even better sophomore campaign. He saves five games again while dropping his ERA to 1.98. He struck out 40 and walked just 11 in 54 innings.

    Max Engelbrekt – LHP – 6’3 200
    Oregon State
    Sophomore

    Engelbrekt has been a valuable left-handed arm out of the bullpen throughout his stay in Corvallis. He made 17 appearances this year and posted a 2.84 ERA.

    Myles Gentry – RHP – 6’0 200
    Mississippi State
    Sophomore

    A Mississippi high school standout, Gentry jumped into the Bulldogs pen as a freshman and turned in a strong season, limiting opponents to a .200 batting average and posting a 3.69 ERA. This year, he had a 4.78 ERA in 20 appearances.

    Drew Harrington – LHP – 6’1 215
    Louisville
    Freshman

    Kentucky’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2013, Harrington has flashed his potential in his freshman season with the Omaha-bound Cardinals. Though his ERA is 4.95 in 21 appearances, he has struck out 34 and walked only seven 36.1 innings.

    Anthony Kay – LHP – 6’1 185
    Connecticut
    Freshman

    Kay was drafted in the 29th round by the Mets but stuck with UConn and had a strong first season in a swing role. He had a 3.49 ERA and struck out 56 in 67 innings. He was second on the team in strikeouts.

    Trey Killian – RHP – 6’3 205
    Arkansas
    Sophomore

    The top high school prospect in the state of Arkansas in 2012, Killian made a splash for the Razorbacks last spring when he posted a 3.19 ERA in a swing role. He moved into the weekend rotation full-time this year and didn’t miss a beat, putting up a 2.30 ERA while striking out 62 in 94 innings. Killian made six starts for Wareham last summer and struck out nearly a batter an inning with an ERA a shade over four.

    Ryan Olson – RHP – 6’3 185
    San Diego
    Freshman

    Olson struck out 31 in 36 innings for the Toreros in his debut season but finished with an ERA over six.

    Elliot Surrey – LHP – 5’11 185
    UC Irvine
    Sophomore

    Surrey didn’t see a ton of innings as a freshman but has made up for lost time this year. Taking over as a weekend starter, Surrey has a 1.99 ERA and ranks second in innings pitched on the Omaha-bound UC Irvine club. He has struck out 75 and walked 27 in 108.1 innings.

    Andrew Zapata – RHP – 6’0 190
    Connecticut
    Freshman

    Another UConn freshman from New York, Zapata also pitched in a swing role and had some success in his debut season. The right finished with a 2.57 ERA despite walking one more batter than he struck out.

     

    POSITION PLAYERS

    John Bormann – C – 6’0 200 – Texas-San Antonio – Junior
    Willie Calhoun – INF – 5’9 180 – Arizona – Freshman
    *Christopher Chinea – C – 6’0 215 – LSU – Sophomore
    Nick Halamandaris – INF – 6’1 225 – California – Sophomore
    Anderson Miller – OF/LHP – 6’3 205 – Western Kentucky – Sophomore
    Corey Ray – OF – 6’0 190 – Louisville – Freshman
    John Clay Reeves – C – 6’0 200 – Rice – Junior
    Kramer Robertson – INF – 5’10 170 – LSU – Freshman
    Errol Robinson – INF – 5’11 170 – Mississippi – Freshman
    *Danny Rosenbaum – INF – 6’1 200 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Charlie Warren – OF/RHP – 6’2 185 – Rice – Freshman
    * – returning player

     

    John Bormann – C – 6’0 200
    Texas-San Antonio
    Junior

    Bormann was just selected by the Angels in the 19th round of this year’s draft. If he plays in Wareham, he’ll come in off a strong junior season. Bormann hit .288 with four homers and 24 RBI.

    Willie Calhoun – INF – 5’9 180
    Arizona
    Freshman

    Calhoun was a 17th-round pick of Tampa Bay last season but headed to Arizona. He finished his freshman year with a .247 batting average.

    Christopher Chinea – C – 6’0 215
    LSU
    Sophomore

    Chinea hit .247 as a freshman in part-time duty last year. After holding his own with Wareham, he made more solid contributions to the Tigers this year. He hit .250 with two homers.

    Nick Halamandaris – INF – 6’1 225
    California
    Sophomore

    Halamandaris was an eighth-round pick of the Mariners out of high school but has yet to make big waves at Cal. After hitting just over .200 last year, he batted .244 this year.

    Anderson Miller – OF/LHP – 6’3 205
    Western Kentucky
    Sophomore

    Miller was off to a strong start in his freshman year before it was cut short due to injury. Upon returning this year, he picked up where he had left off in a big way. Miller hit .335 with three homers, 18 extra-base hits and 33 RBI. He was a second-team all-Sun Belt selection.

    Corey Ray – OF – 6’0 190
    Louisville
    Freshman

    Ray was Seattle’s 33rd round pick last year but the Chicago native headed to Louisville. With the Cards, he has forced his way into more and more playing time thanks to a .347 batting average, a .434 OBP and eight extra-base hits.

    John Clay Reeves – C – 6’0 200
    Rice
    Junior

    Reeves started his career at Arkansas before a stint at Navarro Junior College last year. He burst onto the scene at Rice this year, hitting .317 with six homers en route to the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year award. Reeves has also been praised for his work behind the plate.

    Kramer Robertson – INF – 5’10 170
    LSU
    Freshman

    The son of Baylor women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey, Robertson headed East after a strong high school career in Texas. He played in 47 games for the Tigers this spring, starting 30 of them, and hit .200.

    Errol Robinson – INF – 5’11 170
    Mississippi
    Freshman

    A Maryland native, Robinson has had a strong debut in Oxford. Playing regularly for the CWS-bound Rebels, Robinson has a .290 batting average.

    Danny Rosenbaum – INF – 6’1 200
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    Rosenbaum has been one of the top hitters in a loaded Louisville lineup that begins play in the College World Series this week. The sophomore is batting .297 with 11 extra-base hits and 24 RBI. He played in Wareham last summer and hit .246.

    Charlie Warren – OF/RHP – 6’2 185
    Rice
    Freshman

    A Texas high school star, Warren started 35 games for the Owls this spring, finishing with a .264 batting average.

    Posted on

    Back Up

    Dominic Jose, pictured last summer, had an RBI as the Harbor Hawks got back into the win column on Thursday.

     
    It’s been a rollercoaster season so far for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, but the good thing about a rollercoaster is you usually don’t have to wait long to go back up.

    After starting the year 3-0, then getting shut-out in their next two games, the Harbor Hawks got back into the win column with a 4-3 victory over Wareham (1-6) on Thursday in the only game on the schedule.

    The Harbor Hawks wasted no time breaking the shut-out spell, striking for all four of their runs in the first inning. They used two hits, two walks and an error to get it done.

    Jake Hernandez (USC), a late Hyannis pickup who hit five home runs for Orleans last year, knocked in the first run. Dominic Jose (Stanford) also had an RBI. Another run scored on an error and Tyler Spoon (Arkansas) later scored on an errant throw in a rundown.

    Armed with the lead, Austin Pettibone (UC Santa Barbara) allowed just a run in five innings of work for the win. The Gatemen made some moves against the Hyannis bullpen, but Eric Eck (Wofford) stranded the tying run in the ninth to pick up his second save.

    Hyannis is now 4-2 and sitting just behind Cotuit in the West standings.

    The Gatemen fell to 1-6, but they did out-hit the Harbor Hawks 10-6. Tino Lipson (UC Davis) was a bright spot again, stretching his hitting streak to seven games.

     

    What to Watch

    Back to a full slate of action tonight with a lot of solid arms on the hill. Kyle Cody (Kentucky), who gave Wareham its only victory, will try to get another one as the Gatemen welcome to Falmouth and Craig Schlitter (Bryant) to town for a 7 p.m. start. In Bourne, Arizona State freshman standout Ryan Kellogg makes his first start as the Braves host Brewster.