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Gatemen Out to Defend Title

Wareham Gatemen fans will remember the summer of 2012 for a long time, and with good reason.

The Gatemen had an up-and-down regular season but caught fire in the playoffs and authored one of the most memorable championship runs the Cape Cod Baseball League has seen in years. Three times at the end of the regular season and three times in the playoffs, the Gatemen rallied for victories. The most memorable comeback was the final one, when the Gatemen rallied from a 5-2 deficit in the ninth inning of the decisive championship series game three and went on to the win.

So, for an encore?

The Gatemen may not catch lightning in a bottle again quite like they did last year, but they’ll be trying to put the pieces in place. The best news for them is that there will be some familiar pieces. Kyle Schwarber is the most notable. The Indiana sophomore was responsible for much of the aforementioned postseason magic last year and was the CCBL Playoff MVP. He’s also tearing it up for the Hoosiers this spring, with 12 home runs and an average near .400.

Mix in returning pitchers like Jared Ruxer and Jonathan Holder, and the Gatemen have a good nucleus of players who were part of last year’s success, which is not a bad place to start. The Gatemen won’t have the veteran power bats they had last year, like Daniel Palka, Tyler Horan and Mott Hyde, the guys who made the team’s identity what it was.

They’ll have memories, though – and plenty to aspire to.

 

THE SKINNY

Manager: Cooper Farris
Last Year: 21-23; Won CCBL Championship
Returning Players: 7
Juniors: 3
Sophomores: 16
Freshmen: 11

 

NOTABLE

  • San Diego State right-hander Michael Cederoth has the size and the big arm to turn a lot of heads this summer. As of right now, he leads all incoming 2013 Cape Leaguers in strikeouts with 85. While his ERA is a shade higher than you might expect this spring, there’s a good chance it ends up much lower on the Cape. He’s primed to be an ace for the Gatemen and one of the top pitchers in the league.


  • Did Kyle Schwarber ever actually leave the Cape? Is Indiana playing all its games in Wareham and just making it look like Indiana? The way Schwarber is playing, you’ve got to wonder. He was lights-out in the playoffs last year and has picked up exactly where he left off. He’s a candidate to earn Big 10 Player of the Year honors, and I’d pencil him in as the Cape League’s top returning player for 2013.


  • A couple of returning pitchers from Louisville will be looking for improvement this summer. Both Joe Filomeno and Jared Ruxer have struggled for the Cardinals but they have a lot of solid Cape experience to lean on.


  • Jonathan Holder could have been a tremendous Cape League closer last year, but the Gatemen didn’t need him for that. If he’s not in that role this year, I’d be shocked. Holder has been one of the top closers in the country for Mississippi State this spring and has averaged almost two strikeouts an inning.


  • It’ll be interesting to see how the Gatemen use Arkansas freshman pitcher Trey Killian. He was a lights-out as a reliever early in the year and has been pretty solid in a handful of starts too.


  • LSU pitcher Kurt McCune looked like an ace in the making when he stepped into the weekend rotation as a freshman in 2011 and starred. He had an up-and-down sophomore season and has been battling injury since.


  • Sean Newcomb has followed a similar path as Cederoth and could be ready for a big breakout. He’s just behind Cederoth in the national strikeout rankings with 76.


  • Six of Wareham’s 14 position players are freshmen, so the lineup is going to have a much different feel without the aforementioned power bats. A lot of the team’s hitters have struggled this spring, too, so it’s a safe bet that the Gatemen will be forging a new identity.

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    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Kyle Schwarber
    2. Michael Cederoth
    3. Jonathan Holder
    4. Sean Newcomb
    5. Jared Ruxer

     

    PITCHERS

    Michael Cederoth – RHP – 6-6 215 – San Diego State – Sophomore
    Kyle Cody – RHP – 6-7 230 – Kentucky – Freshman
    Will Coursen-Carr – LHP – 6-4 215 – Indiana – Freshman
    Andro Cutura – RHP – 6-0 180 – SE Louisiana – Sophomore
    *Joe Filomeno – LHP – 5-10 244 – Louisville – Sophomore
    *Jonathan Holder – RHP – 6-2 247 – Mississippi State – Sophomore
    Trey Killian – RHP – 6-3 190 – Arkansas – Freshman
    *Kurt McCune – RHP – 6-4 180 – LSU – Junior
    *Sean Newcomb – LHP – 6-5 240 – Hartford – Sophomore
    Ryan Riga – LHP – 6-1 180 – Ohio State – Sophomore
    Bradley Roney – RHP – 6-2 185 – Southern Miss – Sophomore
    *Jared Ruxer – RHP – 6-2 185 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Adam Schemenauer – LHP – 6-9 225 – Louisville – Freshman
    Tucker Simpson – RHP – 6-6 225 – Florida – Freshman
    Ryan Smith – RHP – 6-0 185 – Baylor – Sophomore
    Spencer Turnbull – RHP – 6-3 220 – Alabama – Sophomore
    * – returning player

     
    Michael Cederoth – RHP – 6-6 215
    San Diego State
    Sophomore

    Cederoth was a late-round pick out of high school, and after starting his career at SDSU in the bullpen, he moved to the Friday starter role and hasn’t left. He had a 4.14 ERA last season and struck out nearly a batter an inning. This year, he’s been one of the nation’s top strikeout pitchers, with 85 in 74 innings. He’s also toting a 3.41 ERA and opponents are hitting just .207 against him. He ranks 20th in the nation in strikeouts

    Kyle Cody – RHP – 6-7 230
    Kentucky
    Freshman

    A 33rd-round pick out of high school last year, Cody has had flashes of brilliance in his freshman season with the Wildcats. Pitching as both a starter and a reliever, he has an ERA over four, but has struck out 41 in 46.1 innings. He was the Wisconsin Gatorade Player of the Year in 2012.

    Will Coursen-Carr – LHP – 6-4 215
    Indiana
    Freshman

    The top high-school player in Indiana a year ago, Coursen-Carr stayed home to play for the Hoosiers and has been a valuable arm in his debut season. As both a starter in mid-week games and a reliever, Coursen-Carr leads the team with a 1.30 ERA.

    Andro Cutura – RHP – 6-0 180
    SE Louisiana
    Sophomore

    Cutura was the Southland Conference Freshman of the Year in 2012 after posting a 3.41 ERA in his debut. He missed a chunk of this season but has held his own since returning. He has a 4.44 ERA to go with 18 strikeouts in 24.1 innings pitched.

    Joe Filomeno – LHP – 5-10 244
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    Filomeno is part of a huge Louisville contingent set to come to the Cape League, and he’s one of the returners. The lefty reliever had an ERA over five last summer with Wareham, but that was skewed by two bad outings. He didn’t allow an earned run in nine of his 15 appearances. This spring, Filomeno is trying to get on track. He has an 8.71 ERA.

    Jonathan Holder – RHP – 6-2 247
    Mississippi State
    Sophomore

    Holder was overshadowed in the Wareham bullpen last year by flamethrower Colby Suggs, but he was a star in his own right, striking out 33 in 22.2 innings and putting up an ERA under two. He probably won’t be playing second fiddle to anyone this summer based on his season with the Bulldogs. He’s tied for eighth in the nation with 13 saves and has struck out 64 in just 35.2 innings.

    Trey Killian – RHP – 6-3 190
    Arkansas
    Freshman

    The top prospect in the state of Arkansas a year ago, Killian stayed home to play with the Razorbacks and has had a great freshman season. He’s pitched as a starter and a reliever and has compiled a 3.18 ERA. He has struck out 30 in 34 innings.

    Kurt McCune – RHP – 6-4 180
    LSU
    Junior

    Injury kept McCune from having much of an impact in Wareham last summer as he only made only four starts. It’s been a slow road back this spring, but McCune has made seven appearances and has a 3.38 ERA. McCune was a freshman All-American in 2011, so the potential is certainly there.

    Sean Newcomb – LHP – 6-5 240
    Hartford
    Sophomore

    An injury cut short Newcomb’s freshman season last year but he made enough of a splash to grab a spot on the America East All-Rookie team. After limited action for Wareham last summer, Newcomb is back in business this year. Though his ERA is 4.19 he has struck out 76 in 58 innings, the best total in the conference.

    Ryan Riga – LHP – 6-1 180
    Ohio State
    Sophomore

    Ohio State has one of the nation’s best closers in Trace Dempsey but Riga has been a very good supporting actor. The lefty has a 2.47 ERA in 23 appearances and he has struck out 34 while walking only eight in 40 innings.

    Bradley Roney – RHP – 6-2 185
    Southern Miss
    Sophomore

    An 18th-round pick out of high school, Roney set a Southern Miss freshman record for saves when he closed out 11 games last year. His ERA has ballooned this year but he has still tallied seven saves.

    Jared Ruxer – RHP – 6-2 185
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    Like his Louisville teammate Filomeno, Ruxer will also be making a return trip to Wareham. Ruxer was an underrated starter for the Gatemen last year, posting a 2.94 ERA in eight starts. He has a 5.77 ERA for the Cards this spring.

    Adam Schemenauer – LHP – 6-9 225
    Louisville
    RS Freshman

    Schemenauer was a 12th-round pick out of high school but hasn’t gotten a chance to prove himself at the college level. He redshirted last year with an injury and has pitched only 1.2 innings this season. If he’s healthy, Wareham could be the first stop to getting back into the groove.

    Tucker Simpson – RHP – 6-6 225
    Florida
    Freshman

    A star out of the Alabama high school ranks, Simpson is one of the young guns on an inexperienced Florida team. He’s had his ups and downs this spring, with a 1-2 record and a 4.98 ERA.

    Ryan Smith – RHP – 6-0 185
    Baylor
    Sophomore

    Smith earned Big 12 All-Freshman honors last year and has reprised his role as a valuable member of the Baylor bullpen this spring. He has a 4.32 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 41.2 innings.

    Spencer Turnbull – RHP – 6-3 220
    Alabama
    Sophomore

    Turnbull does not have the best peripheral numbers – namely, opponents are hitting .290 against him – but he’s found a way to be a consistent weekend starter for the Crimson Tide. He leads the team’s starters with a 3.28 ERA and has a 4-2 record.

     

    POSITION PLAYERS

    C.J. Saylor – C – 5-9 195 – San Diego State – Freshman
    *Matthew Walsh – C – 5-10 210 – Franklin Pierce – Sophomore
    Christopher Chinea – 1B – 5-11 220 – LSU – Freshman
    Tino Lipson – 2B – 5-10 166 – UC-Davis – Junior
    Trevor Podratz – 1B – 5-11 – 230 – Hawaii – Sophomore
    Daniel Rosenbaum – 3B – 6-1 205 – Louisville – Freshman
    Will Schwanke – INF/RHP – 6-1 190 – Arkansas – Freshman
    Mikey White – SS – 6-1 190 – Alabama – Freshman
    Vance Vizcaino – 2B – 6-2 196 – Tennessee – Freshman
    *Kyle Schwarber – OF/C – 6-0 230 – Indiana – Sophomore
    Sean McMullen – OF – 5-9 185 – LSU – Junior
    Jeffrey Boehm – OF – 6-1 210 – Kentucky – Sophomore
    Will Drake – OF – 6-1 180 – Cincinnati – Sophomore
    Adam Toth – OF – 5-8 170 – Baylor – Sophomore
    * – returning player

     
    C.J. Saylor – C – 5-9 195
    San Diego State
    Freshman

    Saylor is slated to join his teammate Cederoth in Wareham this summer, though the two will just be getting to know each other as battery mates. Saylor has not played in his freshman year for the Aztecs. Out of high school, he was a 33rd round pick and was projected by one publication as the Mountain West Freshman of the Year.

    Matthew Walsh – C – 5-10 210
    Franklin Pierce
    Sophomore

    Walsh hails from Plymouth so he’s a hometown hero for the Gatemen. In his first go-round with the team last year, he hit only .139 so he’ll certainly be looking for more. This spring, Walsh is hitting .277 with three home runs for Franklin Pierce.

    Christopher Chinea – 1B – 5-11 220
    LSU
    Freshman

    Chinea was a star out of Miami’s Gulliver Prep but hasn’t gotten the chance to make a huge splash with the Tigers. He has played in 26 games with eight starts and is hitting .231.

    Tino Lipson – 2B – 5-10 166
    UC-Davis
    Junior

    After redshirting in 2011, Lipson became one of the team’s top hitters in 2012. He’s been just as good this year, with a .298 average and a .376 on-base percentage.

    Trevor Podratz – 1B – 5-11 – 230
    Hawaii
    Sophomore

    Podratz has been a steady contributor in each of his first two years at Hawaii. He’s hitting .267 this year with 18 RBI after batting .248 last year.

    Daniel Rosenbaum – 3B – 6-1 205
    Louisville
    Freshman

    A top prospect out of Pennsylvania last year, Rosenbaum has forced his way into a lot of playing time on a veteran Louisville squad. He’s hitting .267 with a homer and 13 RBI thus far in 36 games. He has started 23.

    Will Schwanke – INF/RHP – 6-1 190
    Arkansas
    Freshman

    Schwanke was a high school star in Texas and has seen a little bit of action in his debut season with the Razorbacks. He’s hitting .238 with a homer and five RBI in 21 starts.

    Mikey White – SS – 6-1 190
    Alabama
    Freshman

    Alabama’s Mr. Baseball and a 34th-round draft pick last year, White has been a starter since day one with the Crimson Tide. He’s hitting .250 with 20 RBI.

    Vance Vizcaino – 2B – 6-2 196
    Tennessee
    Freshman

    Vizcaino, the son of Major League scout Junior Vizcaino, has struggled in his first season in Knoxville. He’s hitting .213. He was a 31st-round pick out of high school last year.

    Kyle Schwarber – OF/C – 6-0 230
    Indiana
    Sophomore

    Fresh off his huge summer with the Gatemen, Schwarber hasn’t missed a beat. He’s currently hitting .391, good for second in the conference, and his 12 homers lead the league. Also of note, he’s been playing some catcher this year.

    Sean McMullen – OF – 5-9 185
    LSU
    Junior

    McMullen was a junior college All-American last season and has been a solid addition for the Tigers. He’s hitting .307 with a homer and 19 RBI.

    Jeffrey Boehm – OF – 6-1 210
    Kentucky
    Sophomore

    Boehm hit .357 in limited action off the bench last year, before grabbing a full-time job in the Perfect Game Collegiate League and running with it. He finished the summer with a .326 average and was named one of the top 30 prospects in the league by Perfect Game. Boehm is hitting .171 this spring.

    Will Drake – OF – 6-1 180
    Cincinnati
    Sophomore

    After hitting .293 as a freshman at Michigan, Drake announced in December that he would be transferring. He has landed at Cincinnati but is not eligible this season.

    Adam Toth – OF – 5-8 170
    Baylor
    Sophomore

    Like his Baylor teammate Ryan Smith, Toth was a Big 12 All-Freshman team pick a year ago. He’s hitting .255 this year with 15 RBI.

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    Holder Still a Bullpen Ace

    Some pitchers are starters for their college teams and bullpen arms on the Cape. Others pitch in relief at school and jump into starting rotations in the summer.

    Jonathan Holder does not fit into either category.

    He’s a relief pitcher, through and through. And a very good one.

    Holder set a Mississippi State school record as a freshman last year when he pitched 27.1 consecutive scoreless innings. He allowed just one earned run for the year on his way to a 0.32 ERA. He also saved nine games.

    For the summer, Holder made his way to Wareham and pretty much picked up where he left off, posting a 1.98 ERA in 14 appearances. He saved two games, while sharing closing duties with Arkansas standout Colby Suggs.

    Back at school this spring, he’s doing it all again – and then some.

    While he’s actually giving up some runs this time around – five earned thus far – he has saved 12 games, which has him tied for third in the country. More impressive, he has struck out 52 and walked only seven in 28 innings of work. Last year, he pitched a total of 28.1 innings and only struck out 30.

    Holder is slated to be back in Wareham this summer.

    And I think we know where he’ll be in the ninth inning.

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    Gatemen Still Scorching

    Momentum isn’t supposed to last very long in baseball. It’s as good as the next day’s starting pitcher, they say.

    For several members of the 2012 Wareham Gatemen, momentum seems to have held strong for a good six months.

    Kyle Schwarber, Daniel Palka, Mott Hyde and Tyler Horan were four of the biggest reasons why the Gatemen put together their magical run to the 2012 Cape Cod Baseball League Championship. They combined for six playoff home runs and delivered big hit after big hit in leading Wareham past Y-D in the championship series.

    Six months later, that quartet continues to rake on fields far and wide.

    Schwarber, a sophomore at Indiana, is batting .378 with two homers, three doubles and nine RBI. Horan, a junior at Virginia Tech, is hitting at a .365 clip with two homers, three doubles and 14 RBI. Hyde, a Georgia Tech junior, is a little off the pace at .267 but he’s got five extra-base hits and eight RBI.

    And few in the country have been better than Palka. The Georgia Tech junior is mashing the ball to the tune of a .489 average, three home runs, five doubles and 20 RBI. He’s slugging .800.

    At some point, they might cool off, but the way last summer went, I wouldn’t count on it. The boys of Wareham’s summer are still shining in the spring.