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Hello, Old Friend

Adam Whitt, Cotuit Kettleers, Cape Cod Baseball League

Adam Whitt, Cotuit Kettleers, Cape Cod Baseball League
Adam Whitt was the Cape League’s co-winner of the relief pitcher of the year award last year, and returned in style Tuesday night.

 

The players who pop up on Cape League rosters early in the season often have great stories. As teams scramble to fill gaps left by College World Series runs and Team USA invites, the fill-ins step up. They’re small-school guys looking for a chance, or kids from New England schools who were waiting by the phone. They’re young guys who might not have had a shot otherwise.

But of all those archetypes, my favorite might be the old friend.

The Cotuit Kettleers probably feel the same way.

You will not find Adam Whitt’s name on the Cotuit web site roster, but there he was on opening night, striking out all four batters he faced and getting a save in a 3-1 win. In other words, doing exactly what he did last year.

Whitt, a former walk-on at Nevada who found his niche as a side-arming closer, was the Swiss Army Knife of pitchers last summer. Sometimes he had long outings, sometimes he closed. Whatever he did, he was terrific, leading the league in ERA at 1.00 and appearances with 19. He shared the league’s top relief pitcher award with Y-D flamethrower Phil Bickford.

The junior built on his Cape League success by saving 14 games for the Wolf Pack this spring. He’s likely to get drafted, though it didn’t happen on the event’s first two days, through 10 rounds. A third day is on tap today.

But in the meantime, Whitt is a Kettleer again. Cotuit scored two runs in the seventh last night to break a 1-1 tie with Harwich. One inning later, Whitt was in to slam the door, getting four swinging strikeouts for his fifth career Cape League save.

The win went to Jack Anderson (Penn State), who also tossed 1.1 scoreless innings. Will Haynie’s (Alabama) two-run homer was the difference on the scoreboard.

For an old friend, it was a nice welcome back.

 

Hyannis 5, Falmouth 3

There was free baseball – or more free baseball than usual – in Falmouth, where visiting Hyannis won 5-3 in 11 innings. Kentucky stand-out JaVon Shelby opened his Cape League career by going 3-for-5 and scoring the go-ahead run in the top of the 11th. He doubled and headed home on a sacrifice fly by Colby Bortles (Ole Miss). Returning Hawk Arden Pabst (Georgia Tech) – who didn’t have an extra-base hit in 28 games last summer – followed with an RBI double. Nolan Blackwood (Memphis), on for the final 3.2 innings, then slammed the door after getting the lead, picking up where he left off after saving 14 games with the Tigers. Pabst finished 3-for-5, while Nicholas Pappas (College of Charleston) had two RBI. Boomer White (Texas A&M) had three hits in his return to Falmouth.
 

Orleans 1, Bourne 0

Four Firebird pitchers combined on a one-hit shutout and the offense did just a little more damage as Orleans topped Bourne 1-0. Mitchell Jordan, who led Stetson with a 3.58 ERA this spring, started and went five innings with five strikeouts. Corbin Burnes (St. Mary’s), Kit Scheetz (Virginia Tech) and Sean Watkins (Loyola Marymount) then teamed up for four hitless innings. Jeremy Martinez (USC) had an RBI double in the seventh for all the offense Orleans needed. Bourne pitchers scattered seven hits. Babe Thomas (Winthrop) had the only hit for the Braves.
 

Chatham 5, Y-D 1

The Anglers got a strong start from potential ace T.J. Zeuch (Pittsburgh) and steadily pulled away from Y-D for a 5-1 win over the defending champs. Zeuch, a 6-foot-7 righty who struck out 90 this season, went 5.2 innings and allowed just an unearned run while striking out two. Three relievers finished the job without allowing a hit. Nate Mondou (Wake Forest) led the offense with three hits, while Trenton Brooks (Nevada) had two RBI. Aaron Knapp (California), the brother of former Angler Andrew Knapp, also knocked in a run.
 

Brewster 5, Wareham 4

The Gatemen rallied from a 4-0 deficit to tie the game in the sixth but saw Brewster break the deadlock in the next inning for the 5-4 win. Nick Senzel (Tennessee) knocked in the go-ahead run with a triple, part of a 2-for-4 night. Brandon Gold (Georgia Tech) added three hits and three RBI for the early league lead in both categories. College teammate Zac Ryan (Georgia Tech) earned the win with 3.2 scoreless innings of relief. Starter Anthony Arias (Fresno State) had an odd – but good – line, striking out 10 and not allowing a hit in 5.1 innings. Four walks and an error behind him accounted for the four runs and two earned runs he was charged with. For Wareham, Anthony Kay (Connecticut) returned off a huge season with the Huskies and gave up three runs in three innings.
 

What to Watch

Hyannis and Cotuit get their rivalry series off to an early start with a match-up at Lowell Field tonight. Returning Harbor Hawk Nick Deeg (Central Michigan) – a 6-foot-5 lefty – gets the ball for Hyannis.

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Veteran hitters lead Harbor Hawks

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Hyannis had the second-worst team batting average in the league last year but held its own and grabbed a playoff spot in the West. The offense looks ready to have a much better showing this year, with a host of sophomores coming off strong seasons. The Harbor Hawks should also be closer to a finished product in the early part of the season than many of their counterparts.

 

FIVE TO WATCH

1. Matt Thaiss
2. Nicholas Pappas
3. Nick Deeg
4. Ryne Birk
5. JaVon Shelby

 

NOTABLE

  • With only one player headed to Omaha, Hyannis should be ahead of the curve in the early part of the season, compared with a lot of Cape League clubs.

  • That one player is a big one, though. Virginia’s Matt Thaiss has been one of the ACC’s best hitters and leads the team with 60 RBI.

  • College relievers dominate the Hyannis staff and several have had big success. Nolan Blackwood of Memphis heads the list. He gave up two runs the whole season while closing 14 games.

  • Returning Harbor Hawk Nick Deeg looks like the top incoming starter. The sophomore lefty stand 6-foot-5 and had a solid summer last year. Look for him to build on it this season.

  • Catchers Arden Pabst and Jake Rogers have yet to put it all together at the plate, but both are strong defenders. Rogers, of Tulane, led the nation in runners caught stealing this season.

  • College of Charleston’s Nicholas Pappas was an extra-base machine this year, with 12 homers and 28 doubles.

  • Kentucky’s JaVon Shelby was near the SEC lead with nine home runs.

  • Two incoming Hawks – Ryne Birk of Texas A&M and David Martinelli of Dallas Baptist – both hit 10 home runs this spring.

  • Ben DeLuzio hit under .200 with Hyannis last year, but this is a guy who was a third-round pick out of high school. Set to return, he’ll be poised for improvement.

  • Ole Miss infielder Colby Bortles is the younger brother of Blake Bortles, the third overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.

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    PITCHERS

    Nolan Blackwood – SO – Memphis – Dominant closer this season saved 14 games and allowed two runs all year
    Thomas Burrows – SO – Alabama – Standout reliever for two years running owns 18 career saves, had 3.22 ERA this year
    Nick Deeg – SO – Central Michigan – Had 3.89 ERA for Hyannis last summer, posted 3.11 ERA in sophomore season with Chippewas
    Zach Girrens – SO – Saint Louis – Bumped to weekend rotation this year and went 7-1 with 4.20 ERA, team-best 75 strikeouts
    Ryan Hendrix – SO – Texas A&M – 17th-round pick in 2013 saved five games this year and struck out 64 in 54.1 innings
    Dakota Hudson – SO – Mississippi State – Has had success in two seasons in Bulldog pen, posting 4.32 ERA in 17 appearances this year
    Chris McGrath – FR – Duke – Made 11 appearances as a freshman, put up 3.48 ERA with 20 Ks in 20.2 IP
    Logan Salow – SO – Kentucky – Lefty has pitched mostly in relief for Wildcats, delivered 27 strikeouts this year with 5.32 ERA
    Marc Skinner – SO – Troy – Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in 2014, had 4.46 ERA with two saves this year
    Devin Smeltzer – SO – Florida Gulf Coast – Struck out 41 while starting and relieving, with ERA of 6.19
    Vance Tatum – SO – Mississippi State – Struck out 42 in swing role but had ERA over five this spring
    James Teague – SO – Arkansas – After limited duty as freshman, went 6-4 with 3.36 ERA in swing role this season
     

    CATCHERS

    Arden Pabst – SO – Georgia Tech – Scuffled to .138 average in 28 games with Hyannis last year, batted .235 for Tech this year
    Jake Rogers – SO – Tulane – Standout defensive catcher led NCAA in runners caught stealing this season, while batting .227
    Matt Thaiss – SO – Virginia – Former late-round pick of Red Sox, having enormous year for Cavs, .332 AVG, 9 HR, 60 RBI
     

    INFIELDERS

    Ryne Birk – SO – Texas A&M – Started all but two games for Aggies and hit .280 with team-high 10 home runs
    Colby Bortles – SO – Ole Miss – Brother of NFL QB Blake, hit .281 with seven homers in solid sophomore season
    Nicholas Pappas – SO – College of Charleston – Freshman All-American in 2014 had no sophomore slump: .337, 12 HR, 42 XBH
    Errol Robinson – SO – Ole Miss – Opening day starter at shortstop last year, continued to hit well this year .297 average, 1 HR
    JaVon Shelby – SO – Kentucky – Emerged as UK’s most dangerous hitter, batting .312 with team-highs of 9 homers and 44 RBI
    Blake Tiberi – SO – Louisville – NECBL all-star last year hit .261 with four homers for Cardinals this season
     

    OUTFIELDERS

    Corey Bird – FR – Marshall – Led team in hitting as a freshman and was second this year with .309 average, 1 HR, 9 SB
    Ben DeLuzio – SO – Florida State – Former 3rd-rounder had freshman struggles on Cape last year, hit .241 this spring with 14 SB
    Austin Hays – SO – Jacksonville – JUCO transfer hit .271 with three homers in first year with Dolphins
    David Martinelli – SO – Dallas Baptist – Burst onto the scene for emerging powerhouse DBU with .267 average, 10 homers