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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: Evened Out

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

 

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

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

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

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

Sunday, the Red Sox were finally on track.

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

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

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

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

Hyannis 2, Harwich 0; Harwich 5, Hyannis 2

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

Brewster 5, Bourne 2; Bourne 4, Brewster 3

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

Cotuit 4, Chatham 1; Cotuit 3, Chatham 0

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

Falmouth 6, Orleans 5; Falmouth 9, Orleans 3

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

What to Watch

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

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Daily Fog: Chatham Restart

Blake Butera, pictured last year, drove in four runs in Chatham's season-opening win.
Blake Butera, pictured last year, drove in four runs in Chatham’s season-opening win.

 

I was shocked to find, when writing the Chatham early look for this season, that Blake Butera (Boston College) hit .196 for the Anglers last year. In my head, he was a key cog for the best team in the league, not someone who finished below the Mendoza Line.

Despite the statistics, though, I think I had it right. Butera was a key cog. He started 34 games in the regular season, hit .357 in the playoffs and was welcomed back with open arms to Chatham this season.

If opening night is any indication, he won’t be below the Mendoza Line this season.

Butera went 2-for-5, with a double, two runs scored and four RBI to lead Chatham past Orleans 10-2 at Eldredge Park. Butera started the game with a single, scored soon after, and his team never trailed from there. He added a three-run double in the eighth to put the game out of reach.

Butera’s strong start coincided with a strong beginning for the Anglers, who wouldn’t mind replicating last year’s 6-0 start.

Matthew Peters (California University), who’s on a temporary contract, went 3-for-4 and scored two runs, while Patrick Mazeika (Stetson) went 1-for-2 with three runs scored and an RBI. Mazeika played briefly for Cotuit last summer and should be a big addition for the Anglers.

On the mound, another returnee from Boston College made his second straight opening night appearance for Chatham. Andrew Chin, who came out of the bullpen in Chatham’s opening night win last year, gave up just an unearned run in four innings. Lou Distasio (Rhode Island), another guy on a temp contract, pitched two perfect innings and was credited with the win.

Orleans got two hits and an RBI from Edwin Rios (Florida International).

Harwich 7, Y-D 2

The Mariners also got a big night from a returning standout as Ian Happ (Cincinnati) went 2-for-2 and scored two runs in a victory over Y-D. Happ is perhaps the Cape League’s top returning prospect. Also coming up big were Robert Youngdahl (Notre Dame), who went 2-for-4 with two RBI, and Angelo Amendolare (Jacksonville), who knocked in two. The offense was more than enough for starter James Mulry (Northeastern), who had by far the night’s best pitching performance. In a time of the season when short outings are the norm, Mulry went seven scoreless and struck out nine, while scattering five hits. Interestingly, his college teammate Michael Foster (Northeastern) was the only one to do much damage, going 3-for-4 for Y-D. Doug Willey (Franklin Pierce) was strong in relief, striking out five in four scoreless innings.

Bourne 4, Wareham 2

South Florida standout Jimmy Herget went six strong innings and the Braves had a steady offensive night in a 4-2 win over the Gatemen. Herget, who was last seen on a mound in a conference tournament upset of Louisville, will head to Team USA training camp soon, but made his first start in Bourne count. He allowed two runs and struck out five in six innings for the win. The Braves got two hits and an RBI each from Logan Ratledge (NC State), Blake Davey (Connecticut), and Stephen Wrenn (Georgia). Wareham got five strong innings of relief from Liam O’Sullivan (St. Leo) in the loss.

Hyannis 3, Cotuit 2

The Harbor Hawks edged rival Cotuit 3-2 thanks to a run in the sixth. Cam Gibson (Michigan State) drew a bases-loaded walk to break the 2-2 tie and Hyannis held on from there. Matthew Margaritonda (Marshall) and Ian Gibaut (Tulane) combined on three scoreless innings of relief, with Gibaut picking up the save. Starter Tate Scioneaux (SE Louisiana) also pitched well, giving up one earned in six innings for the win. Dalton Britt (Liberty) had two hits to lead the offense. Cotuit got three hits from D.C. Arendas (South Carolina).

Brewster 7, Falmouth 3

Coming off its second straight last-place finish, Brewster started 2014 in style, rallying from an early 3-0 deficit to top Falmouth 7-3. Travis Maezes (Michigan) had the best offensive night in the league, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored. Dalton DiNatale (Arizona State) added two hits and two runs scored, while John Sansone (Florida State) delivered a three-run triple that broke the game open. On the mound, Cody Ponce (Cal Poly Pomona) gave up three runs in 3.1 innings before a shutdown performance by the bullpen. Ryan McCormick (St. John’s) pitched 2.2 perfect frames and Andrew Naderer (Grand Canyon) struck out four in three scoreless innings. For Falmouth, reigning Cape League batting champ Kevin Newman (Arizona) went 2-for-5 with two RBI.

What to Watch

Y-D hosts Falmouth at 5 p.m for what should be a good early-season pitching performance. Kevin Duchene (Illinois) makes his first start for Y-D after a spring in which he had a 1.80 ERA in the weekend rotation. Kevin McKanna (Rice) gets the ball for Falmouth as he makes his return to the Cape.

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Red Sox Primed to Contend Again

stock_yd12
 

TeamLogo_YD2003.jpgThe team of the 2000’s hasn’t done too bad for itself in the 2010’s either. Yes, the Y-D Red Sox haven’t won a title since they won their third in four years in 2007, but they’ve made the championship series twice in the last four years. Both series went to three games, meaning the Red Sox were a game away from being just as dominant this decade as they were in the last.

There have been some down years mixed in, but they don’t typically linger, and on the heels of a sub-.500 year in 2013, the Red Sox are poised for a resurgence in 2014.

As on-paper projections go, it’s easy to see this Red Sox team making a lot of noise. Where some clubs cobble together pitching rotations from unproven arms, the Red Sox have a deep corps of veteran weekend starters, led by Michael Murray, who should be the league’s top incoming arm. On the offensive side, the Red Sox have several top-notch prospects, plus a slew of veterans with long college track records.

So far, Team USA and the College World Series haven’t done too much damage either, which is always a risk for an extra-talented squad.

The Red Sox are primed for another big year.

 

THE SKINNY

Manager: Scott Pickler
Last Year: 20-22-2; Lost in East semis
Returning Players: 1
Juniors: 9
Sophomores: 23
Freshmen: 4

 

NOTABLE

  • The aforementioned Michael Murray had a tremendous season for Florida Gulf Coast. He’ll follow the same summer path of former Eagle Chris Sale, who starred for Y-D and now pitches for the Chicago White Sox.

  • In a Vanderbilt rotation that includes first-round pick Tyler Beede, you could make a case that future Red Sox Walker Buehler has been the ace. The sophomore righty has a 2.39 ERA and is just six strikeouts off Beede’s pace.

  • The Red Sox had big success with UNLV’s Erick Fedde on the mound last summer and will welcome in his teammate Bryan Bonnell this year. Bonnell joined Fedde in the Runnin’ Rebels’ weekend rotation this season.

  • I would expect touted LSU freshman Parker Bugg to crack the Tigers’ weekend rotation next year after a bullpen stint this year, and a good summer in Yarmouth could be the first step in that direction.

  • Bugg and Maryland’s Mike Shawaryn are the only freshman pitchers on the team and both have impressed thus far.

  • Bubba Derby starred as a starter for San Diego State this spring after dominating ninth innings last year. Scouts like him as a future closer, so we’ll see which role he takes this summer.

  • Justin Jacome is another of the veteran starters, with two big seasons in UC Santa Barbara’s weekend rotation.

  • A.J. Simcox leads the group of positional player prospects. The Tennessee shortstop was rated No. 2 in the Alaska League last summer.

  • Simcox’s Tennessee teammate Vincent Jackson goes 6’5, 205 and was a 23rd-round pick of the Yankees in 2012.

  • Franklin Pierce junior John Razzino stole 45 bases this year, ranking third in all of Division II.

  • Northeastern doesn’t send a ton of guys to the Cape, but two are coming to Y-D with big reputations. Ray Fonseca and Michael Foster were expected to anchor the middle of the order this season. Fonseca missed the spring with an injury but Foster held up his end of the bargain.

  • Y-D has two catchers on the roster – Jason Goldstein of Illinois and Ryan Hissey of William & Mary – and both have hit very well thus far in their college careers. In a league where everyday catchers don’t often don’t hit much, having two with potential could be a big advantage.

  • Y-D’s one returning player, D.J. Stewart of Florida State, may end up with Team USA instead. If he does, the Red Sox are still getting a pretty good Seminole, as junior John Nogowski was a recent roster addition.

  • Missouri sophomore Josh Lester played for the Columbus (Ga.) Northern Little League team that won the Little League World Series championship in 2006.

    •  

    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Michael Murray
    2. A.J. Simcox
    3. Walker Buehler
    4. D.J. Stewart
    5. Bubba Derby

     

    PITCHERS

    Bryan Bonnell – RHP/1B – 6’5 200 – UNLV – Sophomore
    Walker Buehler – RHP – 6’1 160 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
    Parker Bugg – RHP – 6’6 218 – LSU – Freshman
    Bubba Derby – RHP – 5’10 185 – San Diego State – Sophomore
    Kevin Duchene – LHP – 6’1 220 – Illinois – Sophomore
    Zac Favre – RHP – 6’3 217 – Central Florida – Sophomore
    Justin Jacome – RHP – 6’6 215 – UC Santa Barbara – Sophomore
    Tyler Jay – LHP – 6’1 170 – Illinois – Sophomore
    Nick Kozlowski – RHP – 6’1 220 – Hofstra – Junior
    Michael Murray – RHP – 6’2 210 – Florida Gulf Coast – Sophomore
    Drake Owenby – LHP – 6’3 210 – Tennessee – Sophomore
    Mike Shawaryn – RHP – 6’4 210 – Maryland – Freshman
    Josh Staumont – RHP – 6’2 205 – Azusa Pacific – Sophomore
    Dillon Tate – RHP – 6’2 185 – UC Santa Barbara – Sophomore
    George Thanopoulos – RHP – 6’1 190 – Columbia – Sophomore
    Henry Van Zant – RHP – 5’11 192 – Bowdoin – Junior
    Doug Willey – RHP – 6’2 205 – Franklin Pierce – Junior

     

    Bryan Bonnell – RHP/1B – 6’5 200
    UNLV
    Sophomore

    Bonnell was a two-way player as a freshman but has focused on pitching since. He had a decent summer in the Northwoods League last year and built on it in his sophomore season with the Runnin’ Rebels. Pitching in the weekend rotation, Bonnell had a 2.90 ERA. He struck out only 48 but was a workhorse with 114.2 innings.

    Walker Buehler – RHP – 6’1 160
    Vanderbilt
    Sophomore

    A 14th-round pick out of high school, Buehler pitched in a swing role as a freshman with pretty good results then vaulted into a weekend rotation spot this year. Buehler has a 2.39 ERA for the Commodores, who are headed for the College World Series. He has struck out 102 in 94 innings.

    Parker Bugg – RHP – 6’6 218
    LSU
    Freshman

    Baltimore’s 34th-round pick last year, Bugg opted for the college ranks and made an immediate splash in Baton Rouge. The righty had a 2.75 ERA in 26 appearances. He saved two games and struck out 29 while walking just five in 36 innings.

    Bubba Derby – RHP – 5’10 185
    San Diego State
    Sophomore

    Derby saved 10 games on his way to Freshman All-America honors last year. He moved into the weekend rotation this season and didn’t miss a beat, posting a rotation-best 3.08 ERA while striking out a team-high 100 in 105.1 innings of work. Last summer, he led the Cal Ripken League in ERA and strikeouts and was picked as the circuit’s second-best prospect by Perfect Game.

    Kevin Duchene – LHP – 6’1 220
    Illinois
    Sophomore

    Duchene won nine games and lost only one as a freshman last year, and he didn’t tail off much as a sophomore. The lefty went 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA, striking out 35 in 55 innings pitched.

    Zac Favre – RHP – 6’3 217
    Central Florida
    Sophomore

    A high school standout in Jacksonville, Favre had been a dynamic reliever for two years running in Orlando. He had a 3.28 ERA last year and dropped it to 2.64 this season. He struck out 29 in 30.2 innings.

    Justin Jacome – RHP – 6’6 215
    UC Santa Barbara
    Sophomore

    Jacome was the Gauchos’ Saturday starter for most of his freshman season and had a 3.89 ERA. In limited action in the West Coast League, Jacome made an impression and was named the ninth-best prospect in the league by Perfect Game. He shined as a starter again this spring, going 8-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 79.1 innings.

    Tyler Jay – LHP – 6’1 170
    Illinois
    Sophomore

    Jay had a good debut in the Fighting Illini bullpen last year and parlayed it into the closer spot this season. He excelled in that spot, saving 10 games with a 1.94 ERA. He struck out 47 in 41.2 innings.

    Nick Kozlowski – RHP – 6’1 220
    Hofstra
    Junior

    Pitching in a swing role the last two years, Kozlowski was a steady contributor. He moved to the weekend rotation this year and put up a 4.45 ERA. He struck out 44 in 62.2 innings.

    Michael Murray – RHP – 6’2 210
    Florida Gulf Coast
    Sophomore

    Murray had a good freshman season and a so-so summer in the Northwoods League. This year changed everything as Murray emerged as one of the best pitchers in the nation. He went 13-1 with a 1.85 ERA and struck out 79 while walking just 14 in 107 innings. He was one of the national leaders in starters’ ERA, and for much of the year, his ERA was under one. He was the Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Year and is a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award.

    Drake Owenby – LHP – 6’3 210
    Tennessee
    Sophomore

    Owenby has been a valuable reliever throughout his time in a Vols uniform. This year, he had a 3.20 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 25 innings. Last summer, Owenby was picked by Perfect Game as the third-best prospect in the California Collegiate League.

    Mike Shawaryn – RHP – 6’4 210
    Maryland
    Freshman

    Shawaryn was a 32nd-round pick of the Royals last year. In College Park, he vaulted directly into the weekend rotation and was a big reason why the Terps made a Super Regional. Shawaryn went 11-4 with a 3.12 ERA and struck out 72 in 92.1 innings.

    Josh Staumont – RHP – 6’2 205
    Azusa Pacific
    Sophomore

    Staumont led the NAIA Golden State Athletic Conference in strikeouts as a freshman at Biola University. He transferred to D-II Azusa Pacific for this year and picked up where he left off, striking out a team-high 89 in 80.2 innings. He had a 4.24 ERA.

    Dillon Tate – RHP – 6’2 185
    UC Santa Barbara
    Sophomore

    Tate didn’t do much as a freshman but grabbed the closer’s job this year and saved 12 games. He struck out 46 in 43.1 innings and earned Big West second team honors.

    George Thanopoulos – RHP – 6’1 190
    Columbia
    Sophomore

    After a decent freshman season, Thanopoulos didn’t pitch in 2013. He returned to action this year with a bang, going 5-2 with a 2.60 ERA and striking out 40 in 52 innings.

    Henry Van Zant – RHP – 5’11 192
    Bowdoin
    Junior

    Van Zant has bounced around the bullpen and the rotation for Bowdoin, but has had success in every spot. This year, in three starts and five relief appearances, he had a 1.95 ERA and struck out better than a batter an inning.

    Doug Willey – RHP – 6’2 205
    Franklin Pierce
    Junior

    Willey has had three big seasons out of the Franklin Pierce bullpen, culminating with a 12-save campaign in 2014. He posted a 1.95 ERA this year and struck out 31 in 39 innings.

     

    POSITION PLAYERS

    Joey Armstrong – UTIL – 5’11 195 – UNLV – Sophomore
    Rob Fonseca – 1B – 6’2 205 – Northeastern – Junior
    Michael Foster – INF – 6’0 190 – Northeastern – RS Sophomore
    Nico Giarratano – INF – 5’11 182 – San Francisco – Freshman
    Jason Goldstein – C – 6’0 200 – Illinois – Sophomore
    Ryan Hissey – C – 6’0 180 – William & Mary – Sophomore
    Vincent Jackson – OF – 6’5 205 – Tennessee – Sophomore
    Josh Lester – INF – 6’2 200 – Missouri – Sophomore
    Ryan Lukach – OF – 6’2 205 – Hartford – RS Sophomore
    Brennon Lund – OF – 5’11 185 – BYU – Freshman
    Andre Mercurio – OF – 5’9 175 – San Jose State – Junior
    John Nogowski – INF – 6’1 210 – Florida State – Junior
    John Razzino – OF – 6’2 190 – Franklin Pierce – Junior
    A.J. Simcox – INF – 6’3 180 – Tennessee – Sophomore
    Andrew Stevenson – OF – 6’0 177 – LSU – Sophomore
    *D.J. Stewart – OF – 6’0 230 – Florida State – Sophomore
    Xavier Turner – INF – 6’2 220 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
    Mike Vigliarolo – INF – 6’1 225 – St. Louis – Junior
    Donnie Walton – INF – 5’10 174 – Oklahoma State – Junior
    * – returning player

     

    Joey Armstrong – UTIL – 5’11 195
    UNLV
    Sophomore

    Armstrong hit .324 as a freshman then earned all-star honors in the Texas Collegiate League, where Perfect Game had him as the league’s 22nd-best prospect. He hit .302 this season with a .388 OBP and also cracked four home runs.

    Rob Fonseca – 1B – 6’2 205
    Northeastern
    Junior

    A .300 career hitter with 14 homers, Fonseca missed the 2014 spring season with an injury. Prior to the injury, he was a preseason all-CAA pick.

    Michael Foster – INF – 6’0 190
    Northeastern
    RS Sophomore

    Foster had a big redshirt freshman campaign last year and picked up where he left off in 2014, hitting .299 with three homers, while stealing 18 bases. He also made 12 appearances on the mound and saved five games.

    Nico Giarratano – INF – 5’11 182
    San Francisco
    Freshman

    Giarratano grabbed a starting spot with the Dons as a freshman this season and held his own. He hit .242 with 11 extra-base hits.

    Jason Goldstein – C – 6’0 200
    Illinois
    Sophomore

    One of the top high school catchers in the country, Goldstein earned Big 10 All-Freshman honors last year before really turning it on this year. He hit .316 with four homers, 15 extra-base hits and 28 RBI. He won a Northwoods League title with the Madison Mallards last summer and was named the league’s 15th-best prospect – and its top catching prospect – by Perfect Game.

    Ryan Hissey – C – 6’0 180
    William & Mary
    Sophomore

    Hissey started 62 games as a freshman last year and earned CAA all-rookie honors. He was even better this year, hitting .313 from the catcher’s spot with eight home runs and 39 RBI.

    Vincent Jackson – OF – 6’5 205
    Tennessee
    Sophomore

    Jackson was a 23rd-round pick of the Yankees out of high school. He hasn’t put up huge numbers yet at Tennessee – hitting .290 last year and .234 this year – but he was the 22nd-best prospect in the Northwoods League last year, according to Perfect Game.

    Josh Lester – INF – 6’2 200
    Missouri
    Sophomore

    A 30th-round pick out of high school, Lester was an SEC All-Freshman selection in 2013. As the Tigers’ everyday shortstop this year, Lester hit .237.

    Ryan Lukach – OF – 6’2 205
    Hartford
    RS Junior

    Lukach had a good freshman season way back in 2011 before an injury cost him his sophomore season. After returning to form last year, Lukach hit .296 this year and tied for the team lead with five home runs.

    Brennon Lund – OF – 5’11 185
    BYU
    Freshman

    Tabbed by Perfect Game in the preseason as the top freshman in the West Coast Conference, Lund didn’t disappoint. He hit .303 for the Cougars and stole 11 bases.

    Andre Mercurio – OF – 5’9 175
    San Jose State
    Junior

    Mercurio has had three solid seasons for the Spartans, posting a career batting average of .290 with a .367 OBP. He hit .280 this year and stole five bases.

    John Nogowski – INF – 6’1 210
    Florida State
    Junior

    Nogowski built on two decent years by becoming one of the Seminoles’ best hitters this season. He finished with a .307 average, a .431 OBP, five homers and 49 RBI. The Athletics selected him in the 34th round last week.

    John Razzino – OF – 6’2 190
    Franklin Pierce
    Junior

    After transferring in from the Community College of Rhode Island, the R.I. native has lit up the basepaths for the Ravens. He stole 13 bases as a sophomore then broke a school record and ranked third in the nation with 45 this season. He was caught only eight times. Razzino also batted .264.

    A.J. Simcox – INF – 6’3 180
    Tennessee
    Sophomore

    One of the top prep shortstops in the nation in 2012, Simcox slipped to the 32nd round because of his strong commitment to Tennessee. The Vols are thrilled to have him. He’s been the team’s starting shortstop for two years and hit .270 this year with 13 stolen bases. Last summer, he starred in the Alaska League and was named the third-best prospect by Perfect Game.

    Andrew Stevenson – OF – 6’0 177
    LSU
    Sophomore

    Stevenson hit under .200 as a freshman in Baton Rouge but starred in the Northwoods League over the summer, hitting .363 with 15 extra-base hits. Perfect Game ranked him the league’s 21st-best prospect. This spring, he was a new man for the Tigers. He led the team with a .335 batting average.

    D.J. Stewart – OF – 6’0 230
    Florida State
    Sophomore

    Stewart has been invited to Team USA, and with good reason. He’s had two big seasons, plus a good summer for Y-D last year. For FSU this season, he led the team with a .351 batting average, seven home runs, a .471 OBP and 50 RBI.

    Xavier Turner – INF – 6’2 220
    Vanderbilt
    Sophomore

    A 34th-round pick of the Red Sox out of high school, Turner headed to Vandy, where he earned Freshman All-America honors last year. He’s hitting .282 this year with a .349 OBP and 15 stolen bases.

    Mike Vigliarolo – INF – 6’1 225
    St. Louis
    Junior

    Vigliarolo became the first Billiken to win Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors when he took the top prize last year after hitting .341. He kept it up this year, hitting .328 with seven homers and 25 extra-base hits. Though he did not repeat as Player of the Year, he earned first-team all-conference honors.

    Donnie Walton – INF – 5’10 174
    Oklahoma State
    Junior

    A Big 12 All-Freshman pick in 2013, Walton followed up his strong debut with another good season in 2014. He hit .310 with a .407 OBP and cracked three home runs.