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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.
 

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Red Sox Primed to Contend Again

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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.