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Baseball America’s Top 30 Prospects

Kyle Cody was the No. 2 prospect in the Cape League according to Baseball America.
Kyle Cody was the No. 2 prospect in the Cape League according to Baseball America.

 

Phil Bickford was the Cape League’s top pro prospect award winner, but he slots in behind quite a few other guys in Baseball America’s Top 30 Cape League prospects.

His Y-D teammate Walker Buehler takes the top spot for Baseball America after his brief regular-season stint and his dominant effort in the playoffs. Wareham’s Kyle Cody and Brewster’s Cody Ponce check in next, before the top two hitters, Brewster’s Gio Brusa and Harwich’s Ian Happ. Bickford ranks sixth.

Hyannis’ Marc Brakeman, Bourne’s Richard Martin Jr., Falmouth’s Kevin Newman and Harwich’s C.J. Hinojosa round out the top 10.

The full list:
1. Walker Buehler
2. Kyle Cody
3. Cody Ponce
4. Gio Brusa
5. Ian Happ
6. Phil Bickford
7. Marc Brakeman
8. Richard Martin Jr.
9. Kevin Newman
10. C.J. Hinojosa
11. Alex Young
12. Steven Duggar
13. Chris Shaw
14. Kyle Twomey
15. Eric Hanhold
16. Mikey White
17. Garrett Cleavinger
18. Joe McCarthy
19. Kevin Duchene
20. Zack Erwin
21. Josh Sborz
22. Kal Simmons
23. Kyri Washington
24. Garrett Williams
25. Justin Jacome
26. Kolton Mahoney
27. Ryan Perez
28. Rhett Wiseman
29. David Thompson
30. Andrew Stevenson

 

  • As always a few surprises from guys who show the flashes that scouts love, but don’t necessarily have great seasons, like Wareham’s Kyri Washington and Chatham’s Garrett Williams.

  • Good to see Kevin Newman cracking the top 10. He was not on this list last year, despite winning the batting title.

  • Gio Brusa had the production to match his tools this summer, and it sounds like it was a major step forward for him. He ends up as the top position player prospect.

  • It was a big year for shortstop prospects, with Martin, Newman, Hinojosa, Mikey White and Kal Simmons all on this list. I was a little surprised to not see David Fletcher on there somewhere.

  • A very quiet year for rising sophomores. Bickford – who is leaving Cal State Fullerton so that he can enter next year’s draft – and Garrett Williams are the only two on the list.

  • Ambidextrous Hyannis pitcher Ryan Perez clearly became much more than just a curiosity this summer. He ranks 27th on this list, although BA’s Aaron Fitt speculates that Perez may end up scrapping the two-way routine to become a lefty reliever.

  • The other prospect list you should be looking for is Perfect Game’s, which should be out in the next few weeks.

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    All League Team Unveiled

    Steven Duggar was one of six Falmouth Commodores on the All-League squad.
    Steven Duggar was one of six Falmouth Commodores on the All-League squad.

     

    This is a few days old, but in case you missed it, the Cape League released its All-League selections for the 2014 season. The team is below. Below that, a few notes.

    First Base – A.J. Murray – Chatham – Georgia Tech
    Second Base – Billy Fleming – Bourne – West Virginia
    Shortstop – Kevin Newman – Falmouth – Arizona
    Third Base – David Thompson – Orleans – Miami
    Infield Utility – Richard Martin Jr. – Bourne – Florida
    Outfield – Gio Brusa – Brewster – Pacific
    Outfield – Donnie Dewees Jr. – Hyannis – North Florida
    Outfield – Steven Duggar – Falmouth – Clemson
    Outfield – Ian Happ – Harwich – Cincinnati
    Outfield – Mark Laird – Bourne – LSU
    Outfield – Andrew Stevenson – Y-D – LSU
    DH – Conner Hale – Falmouth – LSU
    DH – Chris Shaw – Chatham – Boston College
    Catcher – Jameson Fisher – Cotuit – SE Louisiana
    Catcher – Anthony Hermelyn – Harwich – Oklahoma

    Pitcher – Michael Boyle – Harwich – Radford
    Pitcher – Zack Erwin – Harwich – Clemson
    Pitcher – Matt Hall – Falmouth – Missouri State
    Pitcher – Jordan Hillyer – Chatham – Kennesaw State
    Pitcher – Justin Jacome – Y-D – UC Santa Barbara
    Pitcher – Ryan Kellogg – Bourne – Arizona State
    Pitcher – Kolton Mahoney – Orleans – BYU
    Pitcher – Kevin McCanna – Falmouth – Rice
    Pitcher – Andrew Naderer – Brewster – Grand Canyon
    Pitcher – Kyle Twomey – Orleans – USC
    Closer – Phil Bickford – Y-D – Cal State Fullerton
    Closer – Adam Whitt – Cotuit – Nevada
    Utility – Jake Madsen – Falmouth – Ohio

     

    NOTES

  • Kevin Newman and Ryan Kellog are your lone repeat honorees. The Arizona-Arizona State rivals had terrific Cape League careers.

  • For the second year in a row, Falmouth had the most All-League selections with six. Lot of talent at Guv Fuller Field the last two years.

  • Champion Y-D with only one position player on the team. I thought that might be unusual, but it’s actually the second year in a row. Cotuit had just one All-League hitter last year, Rhett Wiseman. In the case of both Y-D and Cotuit, it speaks to the ability to play one day at a time and find a way to win, without having the stars of stars.

  • Snubs? Jordan Tarsovich jumps out to me. Probably the league champ’s most consistent hitter, Tarsovich hit .322 with three homers. I think Y-D’s Rob Fonseca (.315, 4 HR’s) could have been there too. And Bourne’s Blake Davey tied for second in the league in extra-base hits. A couple more possibilities, but overall, solid work, I think.

  • LSU leads all schools with three selections: Andrew Stevenson, Conner Hale and Mark Laird.

  • Seven schools have an All-League pick for the second year in a row: Arizona, USC, Arizona State, West Virginia, Florida and . . . mighty Kennesaw State. With MVP Max Pentecost last year and standout pitcher Jordan Hillyer this year, the Owls are making some Cape League noise.

  • How about schools that have an All-League pick for three years running? Nada. I was shocked by that.

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    Clutch Sox

    Phil Bickford struck out six in 2.2 innings to close out Y-D's win on Tuesday.
    Phil Bickford struck out six in 2.2 innings to close out Y-D’s win on Tuesday.

     

    There is some debate in sports whether “clutch” is a real, quantifiable thing.

    Wherever you stand on the issue, the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox have given one side of the argument some ammunition in the 2014 Cape Cod Baseball League playoffs. In the process, they’ve given Cape League fans a pair of classics.

    The Red Sox have pitched very well in the post-season. And when they’ve had to pitch well, they’ve pitched beyond well.

    Last night, Justin Jacome (UC Santa Barbara) and Phil Bickford (Cal State Fullerton) combined on a shutout as Y-D edged Harwich 2-0 in game three of the East finals to clinch a spot in the Cape League championship.

    The Red Sox have now played two decisive third games this postseason and have won them by 1-0 and 2-0 scores. The fact that they’re decisive games is one thing. Then their opponents have upped the ante by pitching gems themselves, and Y-D hasn’t blinked.

    Clutch.

    Last night, Jacome squared off with Harwich’s Zack Erwin (Clemson). They were both brilliant, but Y-D scratched a run across in the second inning on a two-out chopper from Marcus Mastrobuoni (Cal State Stanislaus) that the Mariners couldn’t handle. Josh Lester (Missouri) scored.

    Jacome gave up a double to Sal Annunziata (Seton Hall) to start the bottom of the second, as it looked like the Mariners would have a quick answer, but Jacome got out of trouble. From there, he allowed just one more hit, a two-out single in the fifth.

    Jacome went 6.1 innings, allowing three hits, striking out six and walking none.

    He left with his team clinging to the 1-0 lead but gave the ball to the very capable hands of Bickford, the former first-round pick. Bickford finished off a scoreless seventh and struck out two in a perfect eighth. His team added an insurance run in the ninth on a Brennon Lund (BYU) sacrifice fly, but Bickford didn’t need it.

    Facing the middle of one of the best batting orders in the league, Bickford gave up a leadoff single to C.J. Hinojosa (Texas).

    And then he was masterful.

    Bickford struck out Ian Happ (Cincinnati) – one of the league’s top hitters – on three pitches. Then he struck out Anthony Hermelyn (Virginia Tech) on three pitches. Harwich’s last chance was Annunziata, who owned the double in the second. Bickford needed four pitches this time, but he struck Annunziata out, too, sending Y-D into the championship with a flourish.

    For the second straight year, a team is into the finals after needing three games to win each of its first two playoff series. Last year, that team was Cotuit and the Kettleers went on to the title.

    Y-D will match up with Falmouth, who is 4-0 in the playoffs.

    The championship series is scheduled to begin tonight, but heavy rain is in the forecast, so Thursday might be more likely.

    Whenever it starts, it’s going to be a good one.

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    The K-Man

    Kolton Mahoney's 13 strikeouts were the most in a CCBL playoff game since 2006.
    Kolton Mahoney’s 13 strikeouts were the most in a CCBL playoff game since 2006.

     

    Three pitchers tied for the league lead in strikeouts this season, and all three took the ball for their teams in game one of the playoffs Wednesday night.

    The strikeout king emerged.

    Kolton Mahoney (BYU) struck out 13 in seven scoreless innings as Orleans blanked Y-D 3-0 to take a 1-0 lead in its East semifinal series. The 13 K’s are the most in a Cape League playoff game since 2006, when Riley Boening fanned 14 for Wareham. There have been double-digit performances since, but never more than a dozen. (The list of double-digit guys includes Chris Sale, J.J .Hoover, Mark Appel and Kyle Freeland. Good company.)

    Mahoney, who was presented with the league’s Outstanding Pitcher Award before the game, was tagged for four unearned runs in his final regular-season start, but he wasn’t tagged for much of anything on Wednesday. He allowed four hits – all singles – and struck out the side twice.

    In the regular season, the Red Sox finished with the second fewest strikeouts in the league, but they had faced Mahoney twice and struck out 19 times total, including his previous season-high of 11.

    When Mahoney gave way to the bullpen, the onslaught continued. Bobby Poyner (Florida) struck out the side in the eighth and Reilly Hovis (North Carolina) punched out two in the ninth. That’s 18 strikeouts, of 27 outs recorded.

    For much of the game, Mahoney was locked in a pitcher’s duel with Y-D ace Justin Jacome (UC Santa Barbara). The game was scoreless until the seventh, when Jerry McClanahan (UC Irvine) cracked a two-run single to give Orleans the lead. An error in the eighth allowed the third run to score.

    The win was Orleans’ first playoff victory over Y-D since 2002. They haven’t matched up a ton since then, but Y-D had swept the last two series with the Firebirds.

     

    Falmouth 3, Hyannis 0

    The other two strikeout leaders squared off, and Falmouth’s pitching was a little better in a shutout of Hyannis. Matt Hall (Missouri State) went six scoreless innings, scattering five hits while striking out one. Ryan Moseley (Texas Tech) and Matt Eckelman (St. Louis) finished off the shutout. Marc Brakeman (Stanford), who hadn’t allowed a run in his last two starts, was touched up for just an unearned run in six innings, as Falmouth took a 1-0 lead on an error in the second. Falmouth added a run on a Conner Hale (LSU) home run and a Jake Madsen (Ohio) RBI single in the eighth. Madsen finished with three hits, while Steven Duggar (Clemson) and Cameron O’Brien (West Virginia) had two each.

     

    Harwich 7, Brewster 2

    In a game that didn’t begin until 9 p.m. thanks to field work after a storm, Harwich busted out quickly with three runs in the first and never looked back. Skye Bolt (North Carolina) went 2-for-4 with a home run and Ian Happ (Cincinnati) went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI to lead a 10-hit attack. Joe McCarthy (Virginia) added three hits. Zack Erwin (Clemson) struck out seven and gave up just two runs in six innings for the win. Seth McGarry (Florida Atlantic) was terrific in relief, striking out every batter he faced in two innings. Ronnie Glenn (Penn) struck out two more in a scoreless ninth. Brewster, which was again playing short-handed, got a home run from Luke Lowery (East Carolina) but not much else.

     

    Cotuit at Bourne, PPD

    The rain that threatened the other games completely washed out the match-up at Doran Park. The series is now set to get underway tonight at 6 p.m., back at Doran Park.

     

    Newman takes MVP honor

    In a bit of non-playoff news, Falmouth’s Kevin Newman was presented with his batting title trophy on Wednesday – and then with the MVP award. The only two-time batting champ in Cape League history also now becomes the first player to win the batting title and the MVP honor in the same season since Falmouth’s Conor Gillaspie in 2007. I was a little surprised that Newman won the MVP, since he wasn’t a big power guy (eight extra-base hits), but he was second in the league in OBP, near the top in OPS and top 15 in RBI. Plus, without a completely obvious choice behind him, I don’t have a problem with giving it to the guy who made history.

     

    What to Watch

    Orleans at Y-D, 4 p.m.
    Harwich at Brewster, 4 p.m.
    Falmouth at Hyannis, 6 p.m.
    Cotuit at Bourne, 6 p.m.

    Orleans will try for the sweep of Y-D but will have to go through a very good pitcher as Y-D is slated to give the ball to Walker Buehler. The Vanderbilt righty has had quite a summer, starting with a College World Series title. He then pitched two very good games for Y-D before a brief stint with Team USA. Back on the Cape now, he carries a 1.35 ERA into today’s game. Orleans will counter with Eric Hanhold (Florida). He has a 3.42 ERA and gave up five runs in his last start – against Y-D.

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    Still Alive

    Gio Brusa and Brewster are four points out of a playoff spot.
    Gio Brusa and Brewster are four points out of a playoff spot.

     

    With the All-Star Game in the books, the Cape League now very quickly hits its stretch run, with just six days of games before the playoffs begin next Tuesday. While much of the playoff picture is already secure, at least on who will be in it, the first day of the stretch run offered a sign that there may still be some drama for the final spots.

    Brewster beat Chatham 12-8 last night to get within four points of the Anglers for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East. And in the West, Wareham inched closer to fourth-place Cotuit with a 3-2 victory over Harwich. The Gatemen are now six points back.

    Brewster has now won two straight going back to before the All-Star Game. It beat red-hot Y-D 13-3 and made it 25 runs in two games with the win over Chatham.

    Luke Lowery (East Carolina) hit his fifth home run of the summer and knocked in two runs, while John Sansone (Florida State) homered for the second time in the last 10 days. Andrew Lee (Tennessee) added three RBI while Braden Bishop (Washington) went 3-for-3 with two RBI. Scott Kingery (Arizona), one of the hottest hitters in the league, had his ninth multi-hit game in his last 14 games. On the mound, Cody Ponce (Cal Poly Pomona) followed up his eye-catching All-Star Game performance with five solid innings. He struck out six and allowed four runs.

    A.J. Murray (Georgia Tech) hit his sixth home run for Chatham, but Brewster had too much with 10 runs in the first five innings.

    Wareham hosted East-leading Harwich and got one of its best pitching performances of the summer in a 3-2 victory. Liam O’Sullivan (St. Leo), who was making just his second start after opening the season in the bullpen, went eight innings and allowed just the two runs. He struck out three and scattered five hits. Sean Adler (USC) pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.

    O’Sullivan was almost the hard-luck loser, as Harwich took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning on an Ian Happ (Cincinnati) two-run triple. But Wareham answered right back with two runs in the bottom half. Facing Harwich starter Zack Erwin (Clemson), who struck out eight in 5.2 innings, Nick Halamandaris (California), Kyri Washington (Longwood) and Danny Rosenbaum (Louisville) all singled. John Bormann (Texas-San Antonio) followed with a two-run single to give Wareham all the runs it would need.

     

    Hyannis 7, Falmouth 4

    Hyannis moved to the verge of clinching a playoff spot with a victory over Falmouth, and they can thank their new ace for setting them on the right path. Marc Brakeman (Stanford), who opened the season in the bullpen, has won two straight starts in dominant fashion. After striking out 11 in six scoreless in his last start, Brakeman struck out nine and went six shutout innings again. He scattered six hits and is now tied for the league lead in strikeouts with 47. He has also walked just seven batters all summer. After Falmouth made a late charge against the Hyannis bullpen, Ian Gibaut (Tulane) closed the door for his second save. Donnie Dewees (North Florida) had three hits to lead the Hyannis offense, while Sam Haggerty (New Mexico) drove in two runs. For Falmouth, Conner Hale (LSU) had three RBI and is tied for the league lead.

     

    Y-D 5, Orleans 3

    We’re back to a three-way tie atop the East standings after Harwich’s loss and another Y-D victory over Orleans. The Red Sox also beat Orleans last Friday. This time, Cody Poteet (UCLA) – making his final start of the summer – turned in one last gem with eight strong innings. He struck out eight, scattered seven hits and surrendered three runs. Phil Bickford (Cal State Fullerton) pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save and his fifth consecutive scoreless outing. The Y-D offense backed the strong pitching with two hits and two RBI each for Nico Giarratano (San Francisco) and Josh Lester (Missouri). A.J. Simcox (Tennessee) added three hits.

     

    Bourne 7, Cotuit 1

    Bourne snapped a three-game skid and increased its lead in the West to four points with a win over Cotuit. The game was scoreless until the fifth, when Bourne pushed a run across and never looked back. It scored two in the seventh and four in the eighth to pull away. Mark Laird (LSU) went 3-for-5 with an inside-the-park home run and four RBI. Richard Martin Jr. (Florida) added three hits, while Brett Sullivan (Pacific), Blake Davey (Connecticut) and Blake Allemand (Texas A&M) had two hits each. Andrew Sopko (Gonzaga) went five scoreless innings for the win. Lucas Laster (Mississippi State) and John Kuzia (St. John’s) closed it out. For Cotuit, Vincent Fiori (South Carolina) gave up three runs in six innings.

     

    What to Watch

    It seems like the third or fourth one in the last week, but we have yet another first-place showdown in the East as Harwich visits Orleans. It should be a good pitching match-up, too, with Jon Harris (Missouri State) going for Harwich against Orleans ace Kolton Mahoney (BYU).

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    Power Pack

    Ty Moore hit a grand slam Sunday for his second homer in as many games.
    Ty Moore hit a grand slam Sunday for his second homer in as many games.

     

    The Chatham Anglers had the best record in the league last summer and picked up where they left off in their first game this year, blowing past Orleans 10-2. It’s been an interesting ride in the weeks since, not quite as smooth as last year. The Anglers scored four total runs in their next four games, looking punchless after their big debut. They’re still sorting out a solid pitching rotation. They’ve generally been pretty up-and-down.

    But one thing has stabilized. The Anglers are not punchless.

    Chatham won for the fourth straight time on Sunday, topping Hyannis 9-3. It was also the team’s fourth straight big night at the plate. Chatham has scored at least seven runs and hit at least one home run in each of the four victories.

    The Anglers lead the league in runs scored, rank second in hits, second in home runs and third in batting average.

    And they’ve got a core group that’s consistently delivering.

    A.J. Murray (Georgia Tech) went 2-for-3 last night, stretching his hitting streak to 11 games. Nine of the 11 have been multi-hit games. Murray is making a strong case for league MVP honors at this point. He’s third in the league in hitting, tied for first in home runs and tied for second in RBI. He has a 1.042 OPS.

    And Murray isn’t alone. Chris Shaw (Boston College) went 2-for-5 last night. He hit home runs on back-to-back days last week and is tied with Murray for the league lead. Ty Moore (UCLA) has been hot too. He hit a grand slam on Sunday, giving home runs in consecutive games, and he’s now hitting .284.

    Throw in a solid leadoff man in Kal Simmons (Kennesaw State) and some big hitters who have had their moments, and it’s no wonder the Anglers are scoring. Pat Mazeika (Stetson) added two hits Sunday and Robert Baldwin (Yale) had three.

    In the win over Hyannis, the pitching came through, too. Charlie Dant (Dayton), who was on a temporary contract but is now full-time, gave up three runs and struck out eight in five innings for the win. Bryan Goossens (Siena) pitched two scoreless innings and Kyle Davis (USC) delivered his seventh scoreless appearance in 10 tries to finish it off.

    Chatham is now 12-9-1, one point back of Orleans for second place and just two behind Harwich for first.

     

    Orleans 5, Wareham 1

    The other budding offensive powerhouse in the East won its second straight with a strong performance against Wareham. David Thompson (Miami) led the way with a homer and four RBI. David Fletcher (Loyola Marymount) went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and is now on an eight-game hitting streak after a slow start to the summer. R.J. Ybarra (Arizona State) added an RBI. On the mound, Nathan Bannister (Arizona) made his first start after long relief stints in his first three appearances and responded with six strong innings. He struck out six and allowed one run. The Firebirds are 4-0 in games in which Bannister has pitched. Jacob Cronenworth (Michigan) picked up his fourth save.

     

    Falmouth 9, Bourne 3

    The Commodores picked up their third straight win and knocked off the Western Division leader in the process. Falmouth is now only three points out of first place. Kevin Newman (Arizona) went 4-for-6 to lead a strong offensive performance. Newman now has seven hits in three games since returning from Team USA trials. Shaun Chase (Oregon) added a home run and three RBI, Conner Hale (LSU) had two RBI and Jake Madsen (Ohio) and Conor Costello (Oklahoma State) had two hits each, with Costello also homering. Ryan Moseley (Texas Tech) allowed three runs in five innings before the bullpen cruised through the last four innings. For Bourne, Blake Davey (Connecticut) hit his third home run.

     

    Harwich 5, Cotuit 5 (10 innings)

    Harwich and Cotuit played 10 innings at Lowell Park but still couldn’t settle things before darkness fell as they finished in a tie. Grant Kay (Louisville) and Ian Rice (Chipola) each had four hits to lead a 15-hit Cotuit attack. Jake Fincher (NC State) had three hits for the third consecutive game, raising his average from .375 to a league-best .453. On the mound, Jeff Kinley (Michigan State) kept Harwich off the board over the final two innings. For Harwich, C.J. Hinojosa (Texas) and Matt Winn (VMI) had two hits each. Zack Erwin (Clemson) pitched 5.1 innings of one-run relief.

     

    Y-D 3, Brewster 2

    Y-D got a strong start from Justin Jacome (UC Santa Barbara) and a dominant bullpen effort made a one-run lead stand up in a victory over Brewster. Jacome struck out six and allowed two runs in five innings for his third good start of the summer. William Strode (Florida State) pitched 1.1 scoreless innings before Phil Bickford (Cal State Fullerton) took over and did his usual. Bickford struck out four of the eight batters he faced in 2.2 scoreless frames. Bickford, an unsigned first-round pick last year, has three saves and has given up one total hit in those outings. At the plate, Y-D got two hits from Rob Fonseca (Northeastern). League RBI leader Hunter Cole (Georgia) tacked on one more and Jordan Tarsovich (VMI) also drove in a run. For Brewster, Gio Brusa (Pacific) had three hits, including a home run.

     

    The East’s hottest teams and the highest scoring teams in the league will meet at Veterans Field when Chatham hosts Orleans. Two Cape League veterans who were once high draft picks out of high school are scheduled to square off. Andrew Chin (Boston College), a fifth-round pick in 2011 and a 15th-rounder this year, will make his 11th career Cape League start for Chatham. He’s had two tough outings in a row after a good start. For Orleans, 2012 third-rounder Kyle Twomey (USC), who’s made nine relief appearances after a full summer in the bullpen last year, is scheduled to make his first start of the 2014 season. He has a 2.84 ERA.

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    Daily Fog: Shutout Central

    stock_bourne13

     

    Bourne and Harwich are off to the best starts in the first week of the Cape League season, each with a 3-0 record to their name. They won’t play each other until next Friday, June 20.

    Maybe by then, they’ll have given up a run or two.

    The Braves and Mariners have gone three-for-three by dominating on the mound. Harwich has a 0.33 ERA, Bourne owns a 0.62 ERA. They both notched their second consecutive shutouts last night.

    For Harwich, the pitching has coincided with a whole lot of offense. They’ve scored more runs than any team in the league, paving the way for lopsided shutouts – 10-0 on Thursday and 7-0 over Wareham last night. But last night’s win began, again, with the starting pitching. This time, Zack Erwin (Clemson) went five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out five against a Gatemen team that scored 13 runs in its previous game. Jacob Evans (Oklahoma) and Robby Kalaf (Florida International) finished the shutout.

    At the plate for the Mariners, Kyle Barrett (Kentucky) went 4-for-4 and Craig Aikin (Oklahoma) went 3-for-5 with three RBI. Anthony Hermelyn (Oklahoma), who’s had a hit in all three games, went 2-for-3.

    Over in Bourne, the Braves shut out Falmouth 6-0 on the heels of a 1-0 victory over Orleans. Andrew Sopko (Gonzaga), one of the top pitching prospects in the Alaska League last year, had a big debut on the Cape, giving up three hits and striking out six in six scoreless innings. He faced just two over the minimum. Brett Morales (Florida) and Joey Strain (Winthrop) closed out the shutout.

    Brett Sullivan (Pacific) led the Bourne offense with two hits, including the team’s first home run of the year. Gavin Collins (Mississippi State) also had two hits.

    Orleans 9, Chatham 0

    Orleans doesn’t have the 3-0 record that Bourne and Harwich boast, but the Firebirds got into the win column with a shutout of their own last night over Chatham. After rehabbing third-round pick Trevor Megill (Loyola Marymount) went one scheduled inning, Nathan Bannister (Arizona) tossed four scoreless frames. Kolton Mahoney (BYU) then struck out seven of the 14 batters he faced in four scoreless innings. The offense handled the rest, smacking 16 hits. Christin Stewart (Tennessee) hit the Firebirds’ first home run of the year, while Edwin Rios (Florida International) drove in three runs.

    Cotuit 2, Y-D 1

    The Kettleers picked up their first win and kept Y-D as the only winless team in the league with a 2-1 victory at Lowell Park. Two runs in the fourth were the difference as Cotuit rallied from an early 1-0 deficit. After Blake Stevens (Birmingham Southern) struck out seven in four innings, Sam Tewes (Wichita State) picked up the win with 3.1 innings of relief. The Kettleers offense only had four hits, but scratched across the tying run before an RBI single by Brendan Hendricks (San Francisco) brought home the go-ahead run.

    What to Watch

    Every team is set for doubleheaders today so there’s plenty of baseball with beautiful weather in the forecast. In Yarmouth, the Red Sox are hosting Wareham and will send former first-round pick Phil Bickford (Cal State Fullerton) to the mound in game one. Bickford was the 10th overall pick in last year’s draft but opted for the college ranks and had a strong freshman year for the Titans.

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    Talent Coming to Harwich Again

    stock_harwich13

     

    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.