Posted on

Riding the Wave

Gio Brusa homered in Brewster's victory over Harwich.
Gio Brusa homered in Brewster’s victory over Harwich.

 

The Cape Cod Baseball League has used an eight-team playoff structure since 2010, and in all those years, we haven’t seen anything like what the Brewster Whitecaps are doing these days.

Brewster, well off the pace for much of the summer, has won five of six. Combined with a skid by Chatham, the Whitecaps put themselves into the thick of the playoff race. And last night, they took a full leap, beating Harwich 2-0 while Chatham lost to Orleans. That means Brewster is in fourth place by a point over Chatham, with one game to play.

It’s a rare feat.

When the Cape had a four-team playoff bracket, battles for those spots were pretty frequent. But with eight of 10 teams making it, there are bound to be two teams that aren’t even close. In five of the eight races since 2010, the fourth and fifth-place teams were separated by nine points or more.

And in the only close races, it wasn’t a come-from-behind situation, at least not one that happened so late. In 2010, Harwich held off Chatham by three points and had been ahead of the Anglers well before the stretch run. In 2011, Falmouth edged Cotuit by three points after going 3-7 in its last 10, allowing Cotuit to get close. In 2012, Bourne and Hyannis finished tied for the last playoff spot when the Braves lost their last two and the Harbor Hawks won their last two, but the team that came from behind lost out on the tiebreaker, as Bourne ended up with the spot.

Brewster’s comeback – if it’s completed – would stand alone. On July 25, the Whitecaps lost to Chatham 8-3. They fell to 12-24-1, while Chatham improved to 16-20-1. The Anglers had an eight-point cushion, with seven games to play.

Since then, Brewster hasn’t lost, and Chatham has gone 1-5. That’s the recipe for a takeover.

The Whitecaps knocked off East champ Harwich Sunday to take their biggest step yet. They managed only three hits but scored two runs. Gio Brusa (Pacific) homered and Zach Gibbons (Arizona) had an RBI. Four pitchers made the two-run lead seem plenty big enough. Joe McCarthy (Southern New Hampshire) allowed four hits in five innings. Ryan Mason (California) pitched two scoreless frames, Doug Willey (Franklin Pierce) tossed a scoreless eighth and Pat Ruotolo (Connecticut) pitched a perfect ninth for the save.

Meanwhile, Orleans beat Chatham 4-0 in a game that was called after five innings due to some classic Veterans Field fog. The Anglers would have loved to keep playing, because now the playoff race comes down to one game.

If the Whitecaps beat Harwich tonight, they’re in. If they don’t, and Chatham loses, they’re still in. But if Chatham wins, then the comeback will have been for naught.

It’s a sprint to the finish now.

 

Orleans 4, Chatham 0

Orleans scored all its runs in the fifth inning of the five-inning fog game. Geoff DeGroot (Rutgers) had a two-run single to key the rally and David Thompson (Miami) had a sacrifice fly. Kyle Twomey (USC) pitched four scoreless innings for the Firebirds, before Hayden Stone (Vanderbilt) pitched around a single for a scoreless fifth. The win allowed Orleans to move one point ahead of Y-D for second place in the East.

 

Hyannis 3, Y-D 3

The Harbor Hawks scored two runs in what proved to be the final inning, as the teams played to a tie in eight innings after the game was called due to darkness at Red Wilson Field. Sam Haggerty (New Mexico) had an RBI double in the eighth for Hyannis and Arden Pabst (Georgia Tech) knocked in the tying run with a sacrifice fly. Ryan Perez (Judson) then pitched a scoreless bottom of the eighth. Haggerty led the Harbor Hawks with three hits and two RBI. For Y-D, Andrew Stevenson (LSU) went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Rob Fonseca (Northeastern) drove in a run. Phil Bickford (Cal State Fullerton) and Zac Favre (Central Florida) each struck out four in short relief stints before the late Hyannis rally.

 

Postponements

Games between Falmouth and Cotuit and Bourne and Wareham were washed out.

 

What to Watch

One more full day of games in the regular season, with one makeup game currently scheduled for Tuesday. Tonight, eyes are on the same teams in the East as Brewster visits Harwich and Chatham visits Orleans.
 

Posted on

Fresh Start for Whitecaps

stock_brewster13

 

It’s hard to be a perennial anything in the Cape Cod Baseball League – powerhouse, doormat or otherwise.

The way the last two seasons have gone for the Brewster Whitecaps, that’s good news. The Whitecaps have had some talented players and have had good summers from a development standpoint, but wins have been hard to come by. Brewster finished last in the East in 2012 and 2013, which has set them up with the longest playoff drought in the league.

With not a single player back from last year, it’s a good time for a fresh start. The Whitecaps have assembled a sophomore-dominated team, with a mix of big prospects like Gio Brusa and Mikey White to go with some steady players with a lot of college innings under their belt.

It’s a whole new year.

 

THE SKINNY

Manager: John Altobelli
Last Year: 14-29-1; Missed playoffs
Returning Players: 0
Juniors: 1
Sophomores: 23
Freshmen: 4

 

NOTABLE

  • Blake Fox hasn’t lost a game in his Rice career, and he’s been a part of 18 decisions, so it’s not really a small sample size. The lefty had an ERA under two this season and has ace potential for the Whitecaps.

  • For a while, Brewster’s roster included highly-touted UCLA sophomore pitcher Hunter Virant. He’s no longer on the squad, which hurts Brewster’s star power, but a host of solid arms could help make up for it. The Whitecaps have five weekend starters on board.

  • Brewster will have Maryland pitcher Zach Morris on the roster. [Obligatory Saved by the Bell reference].

  • Arizona seems to always send the same type of player to the Cape – speedy, hard-nosed outfielders who can drive the top of a lineup. Zach Gibbons fits the mold and is headed to Brewster.

  • Gio Brusa, a guy the Boston Red Sox wanted in the fifth round of the 2012 draft, should be Brewster’s top prospect. He was the third-best prospect in the Alaska League last summer.

  • Alabama is sending a trio of sophomores Brewster’s way, all of whom are coming off good seasons. Mikey White, who clubbed seven homers this year, looks to be the best of them.

  • Brewster has become the summer home for players from the fledgling Oregon program. Scott Heineman had a huge impact last year. This year, it’s two talented freshmen – Trent Paddon and Austin Grebeck, the son of former Major Leaguer Craig Grebeck.

    •  

    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Gio Brusa
    2. Mikey White
    3. Blake Fox
    4. Trent Paddon
    5. Dalton DiNatale

     

    PITCHERS

    Blake Fox – LHP – 6’4 220 – Rice – Sophomore
    Evan Hill – LHP – 6’5 190 – Michigan – Sophomore
    Andrew Lee – RHP/1B – 6’5 220 – Tennessee – Sophomore
    Dave Mahoney – LHP – 6’3 202 – Connecticut – RS Junior
    Ryan Mason – RHP – 6’6 215 – California – Freshman
    Levi MaVorhis – RHP – 6’1 195 – Kansas State – Sophomore
    Joe McCarthy – RHP – 6’5 215 – Southern New Hampshire – Sophomore
    Zach Morris – LHP – 6’5 225 – Maryland – RS Sophomore
    Kenny Oakley – RHP – 6’3 180 – UNLV – Sophomore
    Trent Paddon – RHP – 6’2 235 – Oregon – Freshman
    Cody Ponce – RHP – 6’6 240 – Cal Poly Pomona – Sophomore
    Pat Ruotolo – RHP – 5’11 240 – Connecticut – Freshman
    Dylan Silva – LHP – 6’1 215 – Florida State – Sophomore

     

    Blake Fox – LHP – 6’4 220
    Rice
    Sophomore

    Fox pitched out of the bullpen as a freshman and in the weekend rotation as a sophomore. The common thread? He doesn’t lose. Fox is a perfect 18-0 in his collegiate career. This season, he went 12-0 in 15 starts with a 1.46 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 104.2 innings. He was named first-team all-Conference USA.

    Evan Hill – LHP – 6’5 190
    Michigan
    Sophomore

    Pitching as a weekend starter right out of the gate, Hill walked nearly as many as he struck out as a freshman but managed to post an ERA under four. This season, he improved his strikeout-to-walk numbers and had an ERA of 3.24. He’s pitched as a starter all but once in his two years with the Wolverines.

    Andrew Lee – RHP/1B – 6’5 220
    Tennessee
    Sophomore

    Lee didn’t pitch at all as a freshman, focusing all his energies on hitting. This year, he went the other way, seeing just six at-bats while emerging as a valuable arm on the mound. Making 7 starts and 16 relief appearances, Lee had a 3.90 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 56 innings.

    Dave Mahoney – LHP – 6’3 202
    Connecticut
    RS Junior

    Mahoney has been at UConn since 2011, when he redshirted. Since then, he’s been busy, making 71 appearances out of the bullpen in three seasons. This year, he finished with a 5.06 ERA.

    Ryan Mason – RHP – 6’6 215
    California
    Freshman

    Mason eased his way into a big role on the Bears’ pitching staff this spring. In nine starts and seven relief appearances, he went 7-1 with a 3.04 ERA.

    Levi MaVorhis – RHP – 6’1 195
    Kansas State
    Sophomore

    MaVorhis showed glimpses of big things in a Big 12 All-Freshman campaign last year. This spring he slid into K-State’s Friday starter role and delivered, posting a 3.95 ERA.

    Joe McCarthy – RHP – 6’5 215
    Southern New Hampshire
    Sophomore

    McCarthy earned All-Freshman honors in the Division II Northeast 10 Conference last year, after striking out a batter an inning while pitching mostly as a reliever. He went 5-1 this year with a 4.03 ERA.

    Zach Morris – LHP – 6’5 225
    Maryland
    RS Sophomore

    Morris led the Cincinnati Bearcats in ERA as a freshman in 2012 but transferred to Maryland, where he sat out the 2013 season. In his return to action this year, he made seven starts and three relief appearances while turning in a 2.77 ERA.

    Kenny Oakley – RHP – 6’3 180
    UNLV
    Sophomore

    Oakley pitched well in a swing role as a freshman in 2013 then saved five games in the Texas Collegiate League, where Perfect Game had him as the 16th-best prospect. This spring, he started 14 games and put up a 3.15 ERA. He struck out 79 in 97 innings.

    Trent Paddon – RHP – 6’2 235
    Oregon
    Freshman

    A California high school star, Paddon made a strong debut with Oregon this spring. In 21 appearances mostly out of the bullpen, he had a 3.38 ERA. He struck out 41 and walked only 11 in 50.2 innings. Paddon got a taste of summer ball last year when he played in the West Coast Collegiate League as a rising freshman.

    Cody Ponce – RHP – 6’6 240
    Cal Poly Pomona
    Sophomore

    Ponce has had two good seasons on the mound for Division II Cal Poly Pomona. This season, he had a 2.48 ERA as a starter, striking out 49 in 72.2 innings. He had four complete games.

    Pat Ruotolo – RHP – 5’11 240
    Connecticut
    Freshman

    A native of Peabody, Mass., Ruotolo emerged as a reliable bullpen arm for the Huskies this spring, making 25 appearances and sporting a 2.86 ERA. He struck out 49 in 44 innings.

    Dylan Silva – LHP – 6’1 215
    Florida State
    Sophomore

    Silva saw spot duty as a freshman in 2013 but made an impression when he allowed just one earned run in 11 innings of work. He played a bigger role this season and continued to pitch well, putting up a 1.98 ERA in 17 appearances. He struck out 28 in 23.2 innings.

     

    POSITION PLAYERS

    Braden Bishop – OF – 6’1 190 – Washington – Sophomore
    Gio Brusa – OF/RHP – 6’3 190 – Pacific – Sophomore
    Dalton DiNatale – INF/OF – 6’4 205 – Arizona State – Sophomore
    Zach Gibbons – OF – 5’11 182 – Arizona – Sophomore
    Austin Grebeck – OF – 5’8 152 – Oregon – Freshman
    Luke Lowery – C/1B – 6’2 237 – East Carolina – Sophomore
    Travis Maezes – INF – 6’0 188 – Michigan – Sophomore
    Kevin Martir – C – 6’0 200 – Maryland – Sophomore
    Justin Montemayor – INF/OF – 6’3 225 – Houston – Sophomore
    Kyle Overstreet – INF – 6’1 210 – Alabama – Sophomore
    Georgie Salem – OF – 5’11 210 – Alabama – Sophomore
    John Sansone – INF – 5’11 200 – Florida State – Sophomore
    Josh Vidales – INF – 5’8 160 – Houston – Sophomore
    LaMonte Wade – INF/OF – 6’1 180 – Maryland – Sophomore
    Mikey White – INF – 6’1 200 – Alabama – Sophomore

     

    Braden Bishop – OF – 6’1 190
    Washington
    Sophomore

    Bishop was a 36th-round pick out of high school and had a good debut for Washington last year. This season, he established himself as one of the best players in the Pac 12 when he hit .304 with a .394 OBP, 10 extra-base hits and a league-high 21 stolen bases.

    Gio Brusa – OF/RHP – 6’3 190
    Pacific
    Sophomore

    Brusa was drafted in the 37th round in 2012, but would have gone much higher if he hadn’t been set on attending Pacific. As a freshman, he hit .256 before emerging as one of the best prospects in the Alaska League last summer. Perfect Game had him rated third. This spring, the offensive potential started to shine through as Brusa had a similar batting average at .257 but cracked 22 extra-base hits and drove in 40.

    Dalton DiNatale – INF/OF – 6’4 205
    Arizona State
    Sophomore

    The brother of former Miami and Brewster standout Dave DiNatale, Dalton makes the trek to the Cape off a solid sophomore campaign. He batted .294 with three homer, 16 extra-base hits and 36 RBI, which ranked second on the team.

    Zach Gibbons – OF – 5’11 182
    Arizona
    Sophomore

    After seeing regular duty last year, Gibbons jumped to the leadoff spot in the Wildcats order this season and excelled there. He hit .338 with a .414 on-base percentage. He also stole seven bases.

    Austin Grebeck – OF – 5’8 152
    Oregon
    Freshman

    The son of former Big Leaguer Craig Grebeck, Austin made his presence felt in part-time duty for the Ducks this spring. He hit .254, smacked eight doubles and had an on-base percentage of .369. Like his teammate Paddon, he also played in the West Coast Collegiate League last summer and was named the circuit’s 18th-best prospect.

    Luke Lowery – C/1B – 6’2 237
    East Carolina
    Sophomore

    The brother of former Johnny Bench Award winner Jake Lowery – who attended James Madison – Luke is making his mark at East Carolina. He hit .284 this season and smacked four home runs. He was the 11th-best prospect in the Coastal Plain League last year.

    Travis Maezes – INF – 6’0 188
    Michigan
    Sophomore

    A native of Ann Arbor, Maezes has had two very good seasons for his hometown Wolverines. As a freshman, he hit .313 with 16 extra-base hits. This season, he batted .302 with a .413 OBP, 25 extra-base hits and 19 stolen bases.

    Kevin Martir – C – 6’0 200
    Maryland
    Sophomore

    Martir played at catcher and DH as a freshman and hit .279. He hit .269 this year and popped four home runs for the Terps.

    Justin Montemayor – INF/OF – 6’3 225
    Houston
    Sophomore

    After a strong freshman year, Montemayor had a big hand in Houston’s breakout season this year, which saw the Cougars rise into the national top 10. Montemayor hit .298 with a .345 OBP and drove in 31 runs on his way to a first-team all-conference nod.

    Kyle Overstreet – INF – 6’1 210
    Alabama
    Sophomore

    Part of a trio of Alabama hitters who are headed to Brewster, Overstreet was an SEC all-freshman pick in 2013 and followed that with a solid sophomore season. He hit .278 this year with four homers and 30 RBI.

    Georgie Salem – OF – 5’11 210
    Alabama
    Sophomore

    Like Overstreet, Salem has been solid in two years in Tuscaloosa, hitting .282 this year with 14 extra-base hits and 22 RBI. Last summer, he played in the Northwoods League and was named the 16th-best prospect by Perfect Game.

    John Sansone – INF – 5’11 200
    Florida State
    Sophomore

    A 39th-round pick out of high school, Sansone has been a regular contributor for two years running in Tallahassee. After hitting .233 last year, he dropped to .221 this year, but did have 15 extra-base hits and a .361 on-base percentage.

    Josh Vidales – INF – 5’8 160
    Houston
    Sophomore

    Like Montemayor, Vidales built on a strong freshman campaign to help lead Houston’s breakout this season. He hit .285 on the year with 30 RBI and stole 11 bases. He was named the MVP of the American Athletic Conference tournament after going 5-for-5 in the title game.

    LaMonte Wade – INF/OF – 6’1 180
    Maryland
    Sophomore

    Wade was a versatile performer as a freshman, playing the infield, outfield and pitching. He stayed off the mound entirely this year, and finished with a .247 average, 15 extra-base hits and 25 RBI. He was the 11th-best prospect in the Cal Ripken League last year, according to Perfect Game.

    Mikey White – INF – 6’1 200
    Alabama
    Sophomore

    White was a second-team All-SEC pick as a freshman and delivered an even better sophomore season. He hit .300, reached base at a .399 clip and ranked second on the team with seven home runs.