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Daily Fog: The Start that Counts

Ian Happ is off to a big start for Harwich - and so are his team's starting pitchers.
Ian Happ is off to a big start for Harwich – and so are his team’s starting pitchers.

 

In a Cape Cod Baseball League season, it always takes a week or two for starting pitchers to warm up. Many have been out of action for a while, so they have to get stretched out. They start small, three innings, four innings, maybe five.

But in Harwich, they have started big.

A night after James Mulry (Northeastern) struck out nine in seven shutout innings, Jason Inghram (William & Mary) took a perfect game into the sixth and struck out eight in seven scoreless frames as the Mariners moved to 2-0 with a 10-0 victory over Brewster.

Of the 20 starts made by Cape League pitchers this year, only three have seen the starter go more than six innings, and Harwich’s southpaw duo owns two of those. The average has been 4.2 innings, and Mulry and Inghram have blown that out of the water.

Inghram’s performance was part of a big night for pitching on the Cape, where three games ended in shutouts. His performance was as good as any.

Inghram was the ace of the William & Mary staff this spring with an ERA under two and a 10-2 record. He also racked 109.2 innings, so he’s plenty warmed up. On Thursday, he needed just 86 pitches to get through seven. He retired the first 17 batters he faced before Josh Vidales (Houston) broke up his perfect game in the sixth. He allowed one more two-out hit in the seventh and nothing else.

Ronnie Glenn (Penn) and Skylar Hunter (The Citadel) pitched a scoreless frame each to finish off the win.

The Harwich offense also took care of business, pounding 11 hits and breaking the game open with a six-run fourth. Returning star Ian Happ (Cincinnati) had another big night, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. Sal Annunziata (Seton Hall) added two hits and three RBI, while Anthony Hermelyn (Oklahoma) drove in two.

North Carolina star Skye Bolt made his long-awaited Harwich debut when he pinch-hit in the eighth. Bolt was on the Harwich roster last year but ended up with Team USA.

Falmouth 3, Y-D 0

Pitching also shined in Yarmouth, where second-year Falmouth Commodore Kevin McCanna (Rice) tossed six innings of one-hit baseball in a 3-0 win. McCanna had an ERA over six on the Cape last summer, but his spring at Rice was an indicator that he’d be moving in the right direction this summer. He obliged in his first start, striking out four and giving up just the one hit. At the plate, Matt Eureste (San Jacinto) and Austin Afenir (Oral Roberts) – both on temporary contracts – drove in a run apiece, with Afenir notching three hits. Y-D starter Kevin Duchene (Illinois), a former Big 10 Freshman of the Year, gave up two runs in 4.2 innings.

Bourne 1, Orleans 0

The other shutout belonged to Bourne, which moved to 2-0 with an 11-inning victory over the Firebirds. Eric Nyquist (Mercer) gave up two hits in six innings before giving way to the bullpen, which picked up where he left off. Lucas Laster (Mississippi State), John Gorman (Boston College) and Brad Raley (Lake Erie College) delivered five scoreless frames and set the stage for Bourne to walk-off in the 11th. With a runner on third, Billy Fleming (West Virginia) smacked a base hit to bring in the only run of the game and give Bourne the win. The Braves finished with only three hits as Orleans pitchers were just as good as their counterparts. Tyler Honahan (Stony Brook) started and struck out five in five innings.

Wareham 13, Chatham 3

Wareham’s 2013 offense did not score more than 12 runs a single time, but the 2014 Gatemen did it on day two as they got into the win column with a blowout of Chatham. Wareham got at least one hit from every player in the lineup and finished the night with 17. Nick Halamandaris (California) went 3-for-5 with two RBI, while Memphis teammates Jake Little and Keaton Aldridge each hit home runs – the first homers of the Cape League season. Little and Aldridge also had multi-hit games, along with Willie Calhoun (Arizona), Andrew Knizner (NC State) and Charlie Warren (Rice). Anthony Kay (Connecticut) got the win with three scoreless innings of relief.

Hyannis 6, Cotuit 5

The Harbor Hawks and Kettleers met for the second straight night, and the Hawks delivered their second straight one-run win. After trailing 4-0 they rallied to tie it but fell behind 5-4 in the eighth. But in the top of the ninth, they scored two to take a one-run lead and held it through the bottom of the ninth. Florida State star freshman Ben DeLuzio, a third-round pick out of high school, delivered a two-run triple in the eighth to give Hyannis the lead. Lance Thonvold (Minnesota) struck out two in a scoreless ninth to seal the win. Hyannis also got two RBI from Bobby Melley (Connecticut), the Barnstable native who’s coming off a huge year for UConn. Cotuit got another multi-hit night from D.C. Arendas (South Carolina), who went 2-for-3 and is your early league batting average leader.

What to Watch

Two big-time pitchers will make their Cape League debuts tonight. At 6:30 in Falmouth, Y-D’s Michael Murray (Florida Gulf Coast) gets the ball on the heels of a tremendous spring in which he emerged as one of the nation’s best pitchers. In Orleans, the Firebirds will start Trevor Megill (Loyola Marymount), who was a third-round pick of the Cardinals in this year’s draft. Megill, who was on Orleans’ preseason roster last year, had Tommy John surgery and missed all of this past season at Loyola.

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Talent Coming to Harwich Again

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TeamLogo_Harwich2003.jpgIn recent years, the Harwich Mariners have won the preseason roster battle almost every year. Of course, that means little in any season, especially in a Cape Cod Baseball League season, and the results bear that out. The Mariners won the league championship in 2008 and finished in last place the next year. They won again in 2011, but have been up and down since.

But the fact remains. The Mariners are very good at bringing in talent. And when it comes together well, look out.

This year should be no different. Harwich brings back the league’s top returning prospect in Ian Happ, and has other sophomore stars joining him. The pitching staff features some young guys with upside and quite a few veterans who have had big college success.

It adds up to a club that’s in preseason contention again. We’ll see how it pans out.

 

THE SKINNY

Manager: Steve Englert
Last Year: 23-19-2; Lost in East Semis
Returning Players: 3
Juniors: 10
Sophomores: 20
Freshmen: 4

 

NOTABLE

  • Michael Boyle comes to Harwich from Radford, the same path taken by Colorado Rockies prospect Eddie Butler, who vaulted from the Cape to the Majors in just three years. Boyle had a strong sophomore season.

  • Jake Drossner returns to Harwich after emerging as a solid weekend starter for Maryland this spring. He had a better ERA than teammate Jake Stinnett, a second-round pick of the Cubs.

  • Oklahoma pitcher Jacob Evans had a high ERA this spring but had a terrific strikeout-to-walk ratio of 54 to 7.

  • Harwich has quite a few guys who have been very consistent starters for mid-major programs, like Boyle, Jon Harris at Missouri State and Jason Inghram at William & Mary.

  • Jason Vosler was just drafted by the Cubs in the 16th round, so we’ll see if he makes it to Harwich.

  • The Citadel’s Skyler Hunter has 28 career saves, so I’d bet on him taking the closer’s job.

  • LSU freshman Jared Poche’ jumped right into the weekend rotation in Baton Rouge, which you don’t see all that often. That alone makes him a pitcher to watch.

  • Skye Bolt looked destined for stardom last spring and spent the summer with Team USA. Bolt had kind of a down year by comparison in 2014, but the bright side for Harwich is that Team USA probably won’t come calling again.

  • No returning hitter has a better Cape League track record than Ian Happ, who was one of the top prospects in the league last year.

  • Harwich has two sons of former Major Leaguers, and their dads were teammates. Tyler Servais is the son of Scott Servais and Cavan Biggio’s dad is Craig Biggio. Both played with the Astros.

  • Joe McCarthy has put up terrific all-around numbers for Virginia this spring. You could make the case that he’s been one of the two or three best players for the Omaha-bound Cavaliers.

    •  

    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Ian Happ
    2. Skye Bolt
    3. C.J. Hinojosa
    4. Jake Drossner
    5. Jared Poche’

     

    PITCHERS

    Michael Boyle – LHP – 6’2 185 – Radford – Sophomore
    Ray Castillo – RHP – 6’0 180 – Alabama – Sophomore
    *Jake Drossner – LHP – 6’3 195 – Maryland – Sophomore
    Zack Erwin – LHP – 6’4 180 – Clemson – Freshman
    Jacob Evans – LHP – 6’2 205 – Oklahoma – Sophomore
    Ronnie Glenn – LHP – 6’3 220 – Pennsylvania – Junior
    Jon Harris – RHP – 6’4 160 – Missouri State – Sophomore
    Skylar Hunter – RHP – 6’1 185 – The Citadel – Sophomore
    Jason Inghram – LHP – 6’3 195 – William & Mary – Junior
    Robby Kalaf – RHP – 6’0 210 – Florida International – Junior
    Seth McGarry – RHP – 6’0 180 – Florida Atlantic – Sophomore
    James Mulry – LHP – 6’3 215 – Northeastern – Sophomore
    Gavin Pittore – RHP – 6’3 230 – Wesleyan – Sophomore
    Jared Poche’ – LHP – 6’1 195 – LSU – Freshman
    Robert Youngdahl – LHP – 6’2 190 – Notre Dame – Sophomore
    * – returning player

     

    Michael Boyle – LHP – 6’2 185
    Radford
    Sophomore

    Boyle had a solid freshman season in Radford’s weekend rotation last year and flashed ace potential in a return engagement this season. Boyle finished with a 4.09 ERA but led the team in strikeouts with 69 in 81.1 innings. He twirled a two-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts against Winthrop in his career-best outing. Boyle dominated the Cal Ripken League last year with a 0.77 ERA and he was named the circuit’s top prospect by Perfect Game.

    Ray Castillo – RHP – 6’0 180
    Alabama
    Sophomore

    Castillo set an Alabama freshman record with 12 saves on his way to Freshman All-American honors last year. The Crimson Tide went with a different closer this year, as Castillo finished with a 5.09 ERA and no saves.

    Jake Drossner – LHP – 6’3 195
    Maryland
    Sophomore

    Drossner had an ERA over six in his freshman campaign but had a good showing in Harwich, where he posted an ERA under one in 10 appearances. That was a sign of things to come, as Drossner emerged as a solid weekend starter this year. Drossner sported a team-best 2.45 ERA to go with 59 strikeouts in 62.1 innings.

    Zack Erwin – LHP – 6’4 180
    Clemson
    Freshman

    Erwin has shuffled in and out of the starting rotation for the Tigers the last two years, but has delivered decent results in both roles. He had a 3.45 ERA as a freshman. This year it was at 4.21. He picked up two saves this year while ranking third on the team in strikeouts with 62.

    Jacob Evans – LHP – 6’2 205
    Oklahoma
    Sophomore

    Evans saved nine games as a freshman in Norman but met some struggles in a swing role this year. He finished with an ERA over five, while starting nine games and making 12 relief appearances. On the bright side, he struck out 54 in 58.2 innings and walked just seven all season.

    Ronnie Glenn – LHP – 6’3 220
    Pennsylvania
    Junior

    Glenn tied a school record with eight saves last year but left the late-inning duty behind as he converted to starting full-time this season. It was a smooth transition as Glenn put up a 3.46 ERA and earned an Honorable Mention All-Ivy nod.

    Jon Harris – RHP – 6’4 160
    Missouri State
    Sophomore

    Injuries thrust Harris into the weekend rotation as a freshman last year and he responded by becoming the first pitcher in school history to win his first eight starts. The streak eventually ended, but Harris continues to pitch well. He had a 3.16 ERA this year with 66 strikeouts in 79.2 innings.

    Skylar Hunter – RHP – 6’1 185
    The Citadel
    Sophomore

    Hunter burst onto the scene last year, saving 13 games with an 11.2 strikeouts per nine innings mark. He reprised his closer’s role again this year and was even more dominant, saving 15 games while posting a 1.67 ERA. He struck out 44 in 43 innings and allowed opponents to hit just .143 against him.

    Jason Inghram – LHP – 6’3 195
    William & Mary
    Junior

    After two good seasons for the Tribe, Inghram blossomed into a bona fide ace this season. He went 10-2 with a 2.71 ERA and struck out 91 in 109.2 innings. He earned second-team All-CAA honors. He led the conference in innings pitched.

    Robby Kalaf – RHP – 6’0 210
    Florida International
    Junior

    Kalaf dominated in the JUCO ranks for the State College of Florida and made a pretty good transition to D-I baseball this season. Kalaf had an ERA of 3.74 while making 10 starts and four relief appearances.

    Seth McGarry – RHP – 6’0 180
    Florida Atlantic
    Sophomore

    McGarry has made only 13 appearances in two seasons but has done well in the limited action. He had a 1.52 ERA in 11.2 innings this year.

    James Mulry – LHP – 6’3 215
    Northeastern
    Sophomore

    Mulry earned Colonial Athletic Association All-Rookie honors last year and followed it up with a pretty good sophomore season. He lowered his ERA to 4.06 and struck out 30 in 37.2 innings.

    Gavin Pittore – RHP – 6’3 230
    Wesleyan
    Sophomore

    A late addition to the roster, Pittore is coming off a big season for Wesleyan. He went 7-1 with a 2.88 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 59.1 innings.

    Jared Poche’ – LHP – 6’1 195
    LSU
    Freshman

    Poche’ took a rare leap when he joined the Tigers weekend rotation in his first season in Baton Rouge, but it was a smooth ride. Poche went 9-3 with a 2.45 ERA, striking out 52 in 91.2 innings. He took home several Freshman All-America honors.

    Robert Youngdahl – LHP – 6’2 190
    Notre Dame
    Sophomore

    A 37th-round pick in 2011, Youngdahl bounced from Kansas State to Iowa Western Junior College to Notre Dame and seems to have found a home in South Bend. He delivered a 1.93 ERA out of the bullpen this spring despite walking more batters than he struck out. He also was a regular in the Irish lineup, hitting .225 and leading the team in extra-base hits with 15.

     

    POSITION PLAYERS

    Craig Aikin – OF – 5’10 170 – Oklahoma – Sophomore
    Angelo Amendolare – INF – 5’10 170 – Jacksonville – Junior
    Kyle Barrett – OF – 5’11 – 180 – Kentucky – Sophomore
    Cavan Biggio – INF – 6’2 180 – Notre Dame – Freshman
    Skye Bolt – OF – 6’3 185 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    Guy Davidson – INF – 6’1 185 – Wesleyan – Sophomore
    Matt Gonzalez – INF – 6’0 192 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    *Ian Happ – INF – 5’11 192 – Cincinnati – Sophomore
    Anthony Hermelyn – C – 6’1 200 – Oklahoma – Sophomore
    *C.J. Hinojosa – INF – 5’10 180 – Texas – Sophomore
    Joe McCarthy – OF – 6’3 215 – Virginia – Sophomore
    Alex Perez – INF – 5’10 165 – Virginia Tech – Junior
    Brendon Sanger – OF – 6’0 155 – Florida Atlantic – Sophomore
    Tyler Servais – C – 6’2 215 – Princeton – Junior
    Jordan Tarsovich – OF – 5’10 175 – VMI – Junior
    Kenny Towns – INF – 6’0 185 – Virginia – Junior
    Jason Vosler – INF – 6’1 190 – Northeastern – Junior
    Matt Winn – C – 6’0 210 – VMI – Junior
    Danny Zardon – INF – 6’1 185 – LSU – Freshman
    * – returning player

     

    Craig Aikin – OF – 5’10 170
    Oklahoma
    Sophomore

    Aikin has started all but one game in his two seasons at Oklahoma and has been a steady contributor. After hitting .286 as a freshman, he bumped to .326 this year, good for second on the team. He led the team in OBP at .411 and stole five bases.

    Angelo Amendolare – INF – 5’10 170
    Jacksonville
    Junior

    A junior-college transfer, Amendolare hit .278 and stole 16 bases in his first season with the Dolphins.

    Kyle Barrett – OF – 5’11 – 180
    Kentucky
    Sophomore

    After leading the Wildcats in hitting as a freshman, Barrett was named the third-best prospect in the Perfect Game Collegiate League last summer. His averaged dipped to .253 this spring.

    Cavan Biggio – INF – 6’2 180
    Notre Dame
    Freshman

    The son of former Big Leaguer Craig Biggio, Cavan came to Notre Dame with high expectations after getting selected in the 29th round out of high school by the Phillies. Joining big brother Conor on campus, Cavan hit .246 in his debut season but showed some pop with 14 extra-base hits.

    Skye Bolt – OF – 6’3 185
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    Bolt was one of the top freshmen in the country last year and spent the summer with Team USA. He didn’t have quite as much success this spring, hitting .257 with four home runs.

    Guy Davidson – INF – 6’1 185
    Wesleyan
    Sophomore

    A Harwich native, Davidson was a late addition to the roster and will get a shot to make an impression with his hometown club. This spring, he hit .273 with 21 extra-base hits for Wesleyan.

    Matt Gonzalez – INF – 6’0 192
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    An 11th-round pick out of high school, Gonzalez had a good freshman season in Atlanta then played 26 games for Bourne in the Cape League last summer. Now ticketed for Harwich, Gonzalez is coming off a sophomore season in which he hit .314 with 23 extra-base hits.

    Ian Happ – INF – 5’11 192
    Cincinnati
    Sophomore

    Happ delivered one of the most eye-opening performances of the 2013 Cape Cod Baseball League season and was named the league’s ninth-best prospect by Perfect Game and its top freshman. For an encore, Happ was a model of consistency, finishing the spring with the same .322 average he finished with in 2013. He had five homers, a .443 OBP and 19 stolen bases.

    Anthony Hermelyn – C – 6’1 200
    Oklahoma
    Sophomore

    Like his teammate Aikin, Hermelyn has been an everyday player from the word go and has been solid throughout his career. He hit .289 this season with two homers.

    C.J. Hinojosa – INF – 5’10 180
    Texas
    Sophomore

    A 26th-round pick out of high school, Hinojosa was off to a strong start with Harwich last summer when he got the call to Team USA. This spring, he has helped lead the Longhorns to the College World Series this year, hitting .300 with a homer and 33 RBI.

    Joe McCarthy – OF – 6’3 215
    Virginia
    Sophomore

    McCarthy had a Freshman All-American season for the Cavs in 2013 and has been one of the best hitters for an Omaha-bound squad this season. He’s hitting .303 with six homers, a team-high 22 extra-base hits and 46 RBI. He was named the 37th-best prospect in the Northwoods League by Perfect Game last summer.

    Alex Perez – INF – 5’10 165
    Virginia Tech
    Junior

    Perez has started 170 consecutive games since arriving in Blacksburg three years ago. He hit .249 this year and made only four errors in the field.

    Brendon Sanger – OF – 6’0 155
    Florida Atlantic
    Sophomore

    Sanger led the Owls in hitting as a freshman and did the same this year, finishing at .332 to go with a .451 OBP and 15 extra-base hits.

    Tyler Servais – C – 6’2 215
    Princeton
    Junior

    The son of former Major League catcher Scott Servais, Tyler was a 36th-round pick out of high school. He hasn’t broken out with the bat in his time at Princeton, hitting .216 this year. Knowing his father, I’d venture a guess that he’s a strong defensive catcher.

    Kenny Towns – INF – 6’0 185
    Virginia
    Junior

    Towns has been a consistent contributor for Virginia in each of his three seasons in Charlottesville. He’s hitting .261 this year with two home runs.

    Jason Vosler – INF – 6’1 190
    Northeastern
    Junior

    Vosler has been a mainstay for the Huskies for three years and is coming off a junior season in which he hit .322 with a .419 OBP. As a junior, he was eligible for the draft this year and went in the 16th round to the Cubs, so he’ll have a decision to make.

    Matt Winn – C – 6’0 210
    VMI
    Junior

    Winn hit .333 as a sophomore and was on the Johnny Bench Award watch list. He struggled this year to a .204 average.

    Danny Zardon – INF – 6’1 185
    LSU
    Freshman

    Like his teammate Poche’, Zardon was a highly-touted recruit for LSU. He didn’t get as much of a chance to prove himself this year but did hit .268 in 28 games.