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Hints of Summer

In 46 days, the Cape Cod Baseball League season begins. I’m getting excited.

My plan for the next 46 days is to get the early looks up on a once-a-week pace. Since all the rosters are out this year and we’re not waiting for Chatham and Harwich, I’m alternating between West teams and East teams. Bourne is next, followed by Chatham. Then Falmouth, Harwich, Cotuit, Brewster, Hyannis and Y-D.

I’ll also try to do a few 2010 spotlights a week, looking at the guys who have caught my eye with big college seasons.

Also, once the college regular season is over, I’ll be posting a college stats database for all rostered 2010 Cape Leaguers.

That’s the plan for now. It’s going to be a good 46 days.

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2010 Spotlight: Ricky Oropesa

4266233.jpegThe USC baseball program is struggling. There’s no way around it. The Trojans went 28-28 last year. This year, they’re below .500 at 17-23.

But there’s also no way around this: Ricky Oropesa is not struggling.

A lefty swinger with as much raw power as any sophomore in the country, Oropesa (Chatham ’10) is delivering the production to match his tools this spring. He’s started every game for the Trojans and he’s hitting .342 with 11 home runs, 16 doubles and 40 RBI. He leads the Trojans in all those categories. He leads the Pac 10 in home runs, ranks second in doubles and is third in RBI.

Oropesa was a 24th-round pick out of high school but didn’t sign. His freshman year, he hit .314 with 13 homers. I liked him as a potential freshman star on the Cape last year, but he arrived late to Chatham, only played in 15 games and hit just .171.

He’s poised for a lot more on his return trip to Chatham. He still has some work to do, but based on potential alone, he’ll be a player to watch. If he has a big summer, he could emerge as one of the top prospects in the league.

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2010 Spotlight: Austin Maddox

77.jpgAustin Maddox (Bourne ’10) was one of the top high-school catching prospects in the nation last year, but he slipped all the way to the 37th round. That was largely because of signability, but there may have been some questions too. Maddox has power and arm strength that rate near the top of the scouting scale, but some wondered if he could stay at catcher. He’d been playing varsity baseball since sixth grade, but the competition had never been very good.

A lot of buts.

This year, not so many.

Maddox is at Florida now and he has become perhaps the top freshman hitter in the country. Thirty-nine games into the season, he’s batting .349 with 12 home runs, 13 doubles and 45 RBI. He leads the Gators in all those categories. Just a year after the ink dried on the freshman records set by teammate Preston Tucker, Maddox is threatening to rewrite them.

He started fast this season, hitting a home run in his first at-bat. He probably didn’t need a dose of confidence, but he got it.

Maddox hasn’t cooled down. In an early-April series with Kentucky, he homered in each of the three games. He currently ranks fifth in the SEC in home runs and he’s in the top 10 in slugging, hits, RBI, doubles and total bases.

There may yet be questions. Maddox has drawn four walks all year and he hasn’t played much at catcher, instead splitting time between DH, first base and third base. But it’s clear that the bat will play. Maddox has a stranglehold on the cleanup spot for the Gators, and he might find himself there again this summer in Bourne.

If his first Cape League season is anything like his first college season, we’re in for a treat.

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Early Look: Orleans

firebird1.jpgOrleans Firebirds
Manager: Kelly Nicholson
2009 Record: 25-17-2

Bourne became the story of the summer last year when it won its first league championship. How different would the stories have been if not for a Saturday night comeback? In the first game of their semifinal series, Orleans led Bourne 2-0 going into the ninth inning. The Braves promptly scored three runs in their last at-bat and went on to a sweep.

The comeback went into the annals as another piece of Bourne magic, but it also highlighted how close Orleans was to making its own run. It marked the second straight year that Orleans suffered semifinal heartbreak. In 2008, Harwich beat Orleans in that classic 18-inning game.

You can bet Kelly Nicholson and Co., would like to get back over the hump this season, and they’ll bring in a talented group to give it a go.

While the Firebirds only have four returning players — and none who were Cape League stars — I’d call still call them a veteran team, and I think that’s going to be big for them. Right now, there are only four freshmen on the roster, and just one junior. All the rest are sophomores, and sophomores make the Cape League go. They’re the guys with success — and disappointment under their belt — and a Cape League summer is their first real chance to establish themselves as prospects for the next year’s draft. Scouts are watching them more than they’re watching anybody else.

On top of that, I think this is a very good year to have a lot of sophomores.

The college draft crop for this year is a bit thin, but from everything I read, that won’t be the case next year. In the sophomore class, there’s top-shelf talent and there’s depth. Cape League teams will benefit, and Orleans is lined up to benefit more than most.

When I’m writing these Early Looks, I sometimes pencil in the five players I’m excited to see before I dive into research. I do it based on what I already know. I did that with Orleans — then changed four of them. It’s not that those four are struggling — they’re not. It’s just that the Firebirds have a lot of guys who will generate a lot of buzz. From polished bats like Preston Tucker, Steve Selsky and Kolten Wong to big arms like Tyler Anderson, Mitchell Lambson and Alex Panteliodis, the Firebirds have quite a few guys with talent and the college production to match. So far, they haven’t been hit too hard by Team USA, either.

The caveats are always the same, of course. You never know what’s going to happen, who’s going to show up, who’s going to struggle. But I do know this: right now, on April 25, I’m liking what I see.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 4
Juniors: 1
Sophomores: 23
Freshmen: 4

Notable

  • We’ll start with the remarkable story of Josh Poytress. A highly-touted lefty from Fresno State, Poytress arrived in Orleans last summer and, before he ever pitched, started dealing with swelling in his arm. It was eventually identified as a life-threatening blood clot, and Poytress went to Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center for treatment and surgery. Obviously, he missed the rest of the summer season, but the surgery saved his career and he’s back pitching for Fresno State this spring. He’s expected back in Orleans this summer, and here’s hoping this trip is a lot better. You can read about Poytress’ story on the Beth Isreal web site here.

  • The Cape League hasn’t had many legitimate two-way players in recent years. Most guys spend the summer focusing on one thing. If Nick Ramirez doesn’t go with Team USA, it’ll be interesting to see what he does. He’s got a big arm out of the bullpen, but he’s also the most powerful hitter in the Titans’ lineup. Either way, he’ll be a fun player to watch.

  • On the subject of two-way players, I assumed Duke’s Marcus Stroman was more of a shortstop than a pitcher since he stands only 5’9. But from what I’ve read, scouts like him more as a pitcher. He made his first start for Duke this weekend and struck out 10 in a complete game. So yeah, a pitcher.

  • I keep seeing Ryan Carpenter’s name pop up when I’m looking at prospects stuff, but he hasn’t lived up to his potential quite yet. A tall lefty with a big arm, you can see why scouts are drawn to him. Maybe this summer will be the time when he puts it all together. That wouldn’t surprise me.

  • Tommy Kahnle was one of those anonymous relievers for Orleans last year, with good but not earth-shattering numbers. I should have been paying more attention. Kahnle was the Division II national tournament’s Most Outstanding Player as a freshman at Lynn University. He’s a big strikeout guy and he could be the next small-school pitcher to make a big Cape League splash.

  • I don’t think Oregon’s Tyler Anderson will wow anybody with his velocity, but he’s got the potential to be one of the best pitchers in the league. He’s been outstanding this spring, good enough that he’s earned an invite to Team USA.

  • Go ahead and put Preston Tucker down as my Home Run Derby pick. Too early? Absolutely, but I’ll stick with it. Tucker hit 15 homers as a freshman at Florida and he’s on pace for similar numbers this year. He’s way up there on the list of top incoming hitters, and probably right at the top when you’re talking about power. Definitely a player to watch.

  • Steve Selsky did not have great numbers for Orleans last summer, but this spring, he has become one of the top players in the Pac 10. If he continues it in the summer, he’ll make the Firebirds very happy.

  • The Firebirds have two locals on the roster. Jack Leathersich hails from Beverly, and he was the top prospect in the Valley League last year. Elon’s John Brebbia will be even closer to home; he’s originally from Chatham.

  • I don’t think every Cape League team has an Arizona State Sun Devil, but it kind of seems that way. The Sun Devils have a large and talented crop of sophomores, so the Cape is a natural destination for many of them. Orleans will welcome Mitchell Lambson, Drew Maggi, and Riccio Torrez, all of whom are having great seasons.

  • In the interest of full disclosure, I’d like to say that I tend to have man-crushes on small, fast center fielders. Kolten Wong, you’re on my list. He was the WAC Freshman of the Year last season and played for Team USA.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Preston Tucker
    2. Kolten Wong
    3. Nick Ramirez
    4. Tyler Anderson
    5. Steve Selsky

    Pitchers

    Tyler Anderson – LHP – 6’3 210 – Oregon – Sophomore
    John Brebbia – RHP – 6’1 185 – Elon – Sophomore
    Pat Butler – RHP – 6’5 200 – Connecticut – Freshman
    Ryan Carpenter – LHP – 6’5 228 – Gonzaga – Sophomore
    Will Clinard – RHP – 6’4 228 – Vanderbilt – RS Freshman
    Andrew Kittredge – RHP – 6’1 202 – Washington – Sophomore
    *Tommy Kahnle – RHP – 6’0 225 – Lynn – Sophomore
    Mitchell Lambson – LHP – 6’1 200 – Arizona State – Sophomore
    Jack Leathersich – LHP – 6’0 205 – UMass Lowell – Sophomore
    Burny Mitchem – RHP – 6’6 260 – Dayton – RS Sophomore
    Alex Panteliodis – LHP – 6’2 230 – Florida – Sophomore
    Josh Poytress – LHP – 6’1 190 – Fresno State – Sophomore
    Nick Ramirez – LHP/1B – 6’3 225 – Cal State Fullerton – Sophomore
    Kyle Simon – RHP – 6’5 205 – Arizona – Sophomore
    Matt Sisto – RHP – 6’5 230 – Hawaii – Sophomore
    Marcus Stroman – RHP/SS – 5’9 180 – Duke – Freshman

    Tyler Anderson – LHP – 6’3 210
    Oregon
    Sophomore

    Anderson was one of the best arms in George Horton’s first recruiting class at Oregon, which came to campus last season. Anderson got hit pretty hard as a freshman, but this season, he’s living up to the initial promise. In 10 appearances as the Ducks’ Friday starter, Anderson is 6-3 with a 2.64 ERA. In 61.1 innings, he has 65 strikeouts and 20 walks. He’s emerging as one of the best pitchers in the Pac 10, which is saying something when you look at the arms at UCLA and Arizona State. Anderson is starting to get some national attention too, and he has recently been invited to Team USA.

    John Brebbia – RHP – 6’1 185
    Elon
    Sophomore

    Brebbia hails from Chatham, but he’ll be spending most of his time at Eldredge Park this summer in a Firebirds uniform. Brebbia is pitching out of the bullpen as a sophomore for Elon. In 17 games, he has an 8.39 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 24.2 innings.

    Pat Butler – RHP – 6’5 200
    Connecticut
    Freshman

    Butler is also from a Chatham, but it’s Chatham, N.J. As a freshman with the Huskies this spring, Butler has a 6.75 ERA in six appearances (five starts). Connecticut has sent quite a few young, long-on-potential pitchers to the Cape in recent years, and Butler seems to fit that bill. He was picked in the 41st round out of high school.

    Ryan Carpenter – LHP – 6’5 228
    Gonzaga
    Sophomore

    Carpenter has plenty of potential. He was rated as the second-best prospect in the Alaska League last summer, and Aaron Fitt liked him as a breakout star this season. The numbers aren’t there yet, though. Carpenter has 35 strikeouts in 31 innings, but he’s also got a 7.20 ERA, and opponents are hitting .295 off him. Still, he’s a player scouts will be watching closely. He was picked in the 21st round out of high school.

    Will Clinard – RHP – 6’4 228
    Vanderbilt
    RS Freshman

    Clinard redshirted last season then had a strong summer in the NECBL. He’ll be back in New England this summer with a strong foundation to build on. So far this season, he has a 3.13 ERA while pitching mostly out of the bullpen. He has 24 strikeouts in 31.2 innings. Clinard was a 37th-round pick out of high school.

    Andrew Kittredge – RHP – 6’1 202
    Washington
    Sophomore

    Kittredge pitched mostly out of the bullpen as a freshman last year and was a workhorse, striking out 64 in 71 innings. He followed that campaign with a big summer for the NECBL’s Newport Gulls, earning all-league honors with a 2.43 ERA, 41 strikeouts and just three walks. Kittredge has pitched mostly as a starter this spring, posting a 5.97 ERA with 65 strikeouts and 18 walks.

    Tommy Kahnle – RHP – 6’0 225
    Lynn
    Sophomore

    Kahnle made the trek from his native New York to Boca Raton, Fla., and D-II Lynn University. He promptly became one of his team’s most explosive arms. Pitching as a starter and a closer last year, he had an ERA of 4.54 but he struck out 87 in 79.1 innings. He was the closer at the end of the season and he saved Lynn’s victory in the Division II national championship game. He was named the tournament’s most outstanding player. Kahnle played with Orleans last summer and had a 2.41 ERA in 15 relief appearances. This spring, he’s starting and he has a 4.57 ERA with 61 strikeouts in 63 innings.

    Mitchell Lambson – LHP – 6’1 200
    Arizona State
    Sophomore

    Lambson had a record-breaking freshman season in Tempe. Pitching out of the bullpen, he set a new ASU freshman record for strikeouts with 99 in 83.2 innings. Opponents hit .199 against him and he allowed only 58 hits in those 83.2 innings. This year, Lambson has picked up where he left off. In 23 appearances, he has a 2.70 ERA with 55 strikeouts and only 13 walks in 43.1 innings. Jordan Swagerty has become ASU’s closer, but Lambson is just as big a bullpen weapon.

    Jack Leathersich – LHP – 6’0 205
    UMass Lowell
    Sophomore

    Leathersich is a native of Beverly, Mass, and he’s having a pretty good sophomore season for UMass Lowell. He’s made eight starts, and he has a 4.59 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 49 innings of work. Last summer, Leathersich was dominant in the Valley League with 64 strikeouts in 37 innings as a reliever. PG Crosschecker tabbed him as the Valley League’s top prospect.

    Burny Mitchem – RHP – 6’6 260
    Dayton
    RS Sophomore

    Mitchem might be one of the biggest guys on the Cape this summer. This season for the Flyers, Mitchem is 4-6 with a 5.52 ERA. He’s given up a lot of hits, but he has also struck out 64 and walked only 14 in 60.1 innings.

    Alex Panteliodis – LHP – 6’2 230
    Florida
    Sophomore

    Panteliodis was one of several talented arms in Florida’s big recruiting class a year ago. This season, he has established himself as the best. Pitching in the Friday starter role, Panteliodis is 6-2 with a 3.18 ERA. He has 45 strikeouts and 10 walks.

    Josh Poytress – LHP – 6’1 190
    Fresno State
    Sophomore

    As mentioned above, Poytress had a life-threatening blood clot in Orleans last summer, but it was resolved with surgery, and Poytress has made a quick recovery. A 16th-round pick out of high school, Poytress is 5-3 this year for the Bulldogs with a 4.47 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 58.1 innings.

    Nick Ramirez – LHP/1B – 6’3 225
    Cal State Fullerton
    Sophomore

    Ramirez was a Freshman All-American last year when he hit .287 with 10 homers and put up a 2.61 ERA as a reliever. This season, Ramirez has continued his emergence as one of the best two-way players in the country. On the mound, he’s got a 3.91 ERA, but he’s really shined at the plate. He’s hitting .371 with eight homers, 18 doubles and a team-best 43 RBI. Ramirez has been invited to Team USA.

    Kyle Simon – RHP – 6’5 205
    Arizona
    Sophomore

    Simon doesn’t have the strikeout numbers of most of his future Orleans teammates, but he’s still having a strong sophomore season. He’s 6-3 with a 3.79 ERA for the Wildcats. In 71.1 innings, he has 36 strikeouts.

    Matt Sisto – RHP – 6’5 230
    Hawaii
    Sophomore

    Hawaii always sends a pitcher or two to the Cape, and Sisto is the representative this year. After a strong freshman season, Sisto has had some struggles this year. He’s 3-4 with a 7.38 ERA.

    Marcus Stroman – RHP/SS – 5’9 180
    Duke
    Freshman

    Stroman was a highly-touted two-way talent in high school, and he got drafted in the 18th round by the Nationals. Stroman had a firm commitment to Duke, though, and he stuck with it. Playing both ways for the Blue Devils, Stroman is starting to make a splash. He’s hitting .252 but he’s pitched well out of the bullpen and he was outstanding Friday (April 23) in the first start of his career. He tossed a complete-game, five-hitter with 10 strikeouts.

    Position Players

    *Matt Koch – C – 6’0 210 – Loyola Marymount – RS Sophomore
    Ronnie Shaeffer – C – 6’2 205 – UC Irvine – Sophomore
    Jayce Boyd – INF- 6’2 185 – Florida State – Freshman
    Drew Maggi – SS – 6’0 180 – Arizona State – Sophomore
    Shon Roe – SS – 6’2 200 – Loyola Marymount – Sophomore
    *Riccio Torrez – INF – 6’0 195 – Arizona State – Sophomore
    Preston Tucker – 1B – 6’0 215 – Florida – Sophomore
    Joe Loftus – OF – 6’4 210 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
    Nick Cox – OF – 6’0 185 – Columbia – Junior
    Will Piwnica-Worms – OF – 6’3 195 – Duke – Sophomore
    *Steve Selsky – OF – 6’1 205 – Arizona – Sophomore
    Kolten Wong – OF – 5’9 190 – Hawaii – Sophomore

    Matt Koch – C – 6’0 210
    Loyola Marymount
    RS Sophomore

    Koch suffered an injury before the start of last season and took a medical redshirt. The injury didn’t keep him out of summer ball and he made it to Orleans, where he hit .191 while starting 32 games behind the plate. This season, Koch is hitting .263 with a team-best 10 home runs and 21 extra- base hits.

    Ronnie Shaeffer – C – 6’2 205
    UC Irvine
    Sophomore

    Shaeffer was a Freshman All-American last season after leading the Anteaters with a .388 batting average. He’s picking up where he left off this season, emerging as one of the top catchers on the West Coast. He’s hitting .350 with three homers and 21 RBI. Last summer, Shaeffer was an all-league pick in the West Coast League.

    Jayce Boyd – INF- 6’2 185
    Florida State
    Freshman

    A 19th-round pick out of high school, Boyd has made an immediate impact in Tallahassee. As a starter at first base and a middle-of-the-order bat, Boyd is hitting .324 with four homers, 10 doubles and 22 RBI.

    Drew Maggi – SS – 6’0 180
    Arizona State
    Sophomore

    Maggi grabbed the starting shortstop job midway through last season and never gave it up as he helped spark ASU’s run to the College World Series. He hit .309, stole 21 bases and scored 63 runs, a school freshman record. Maggi has been a big part of ASU’s huge success this year. Batting leadoff, he’s hitting .385 with a .483 on-base percentage and 23 steals.

    Shon Roe – SS – 6’2 200
    Loyola Marymount
    Sophomore

    Roe hit .259 as a freshman but has taken things up a notch this season. He’s hitting .283 with 10 extra-base hits and 19 RBI.

    Riccio Torrez – INF – 6’0 195
    Arizona State
    Sophomore

    Like Maggi, Torrez is a big part of a sophomore class that’s helped ASU become one of the top teams in the country. Torrez hit .280 as a freshman, and he’s hitting .346 this year with six home runs and 14 doubles. Torrez was a 32nd-round pick out of high school. He was a late arrival to Orleans last year but he made a big impression, hitting .346 with two home runs in 17 games.

    Preston Tucker – 1B – 6’0 215
    Florida
    Sophomore

    Tucker served notice last April that he was a player to watch when he set a school record with 11 RBI in a game against Central Florida. He continued to emerge as one of the best freshmen in the country and ended up leading the Gators in the Triple Crown categories. He hit .364, drove in a school-record 85 and crushed 15 homers. Tucker shared SEC Freshman of the Year honors with LSU’s Matty Ott. This season, Tucker is having another outstanding campaign. He’s hitting .345 with seven homers and 31 RBI.

    Joe Loftus – OF – 6’4 210
    Vanderbilt
    Sophomore

    After hitting .263 in his freshman season with the Commodores, Loftus headed to Harwich, where he hit under .200 in the kind of summer a lot of freshman struggle through on the Cape. Loftus will make the move to Orleans this summer, and he’s having a pretty strong spring. He’s hitting .268 with five homers. Loftus is a Minnesota native and he was a late-round pick of the Twins out of high school.

    Nick Cox – OF – 6’0 185
    Columbia
    Junior

    Cox was the Ivy League Rookie of the Year in 2008 when he hit .355 with 35 steals. He hit .290 last year with 19 steals, but he has only played in 13 games this season because of injuries. Cox hit .293 in the Alaska League last summer.

    Will Piwnica-Worms – OF – 6’3 195
    Duke
    Sophomore

    Piwnica-Worms had a solid freshman season, and he’s been solid again as a sophomore. While starting every game, he’s hitting .307 with three homers, 10 doubles and 30 RBI. He played in the Northwoods League last summer.

    Steve Selsky – OF – 6’1 205
    Arizona
    Sophomore

    Selsky had a decent freshman season and a decent summer with Orleans last year. This year? A little better than decent. Selsky is hitting .421 with six home runs, 23 extra-base hits, 39 RBI and 10 stolen bases. He leads the Wildcats in all those categories and is a shoo-in to be a first-team all-conference pick.

    Kolten Wong – OF – 5’9 190
    Hawaii
    Sophomore

    Wong is a Hawaii native but that didn’t stop scouts from noticing him in high school. In the 2008 draft, he was a 16th-round pick, but he stuck with his commitment to Hawaii, and it’s paying off. Last year, he was picked as a Freshman All-American by several publications and the WAC Freshman of the Year before making Team USA over the summer. This season, Wong is hitting .357 with three homers, 15 extra-base hits, 25 RBI and 10 steals. He has struck out just 10 times in 154 at-bats.

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    Early Look: Wareham

    gatemen_logo_opt.jpgWareham Gatemen
    Manager: Cooper Farris
    2009 Record: 19-19-6

    The Wareham Gatemen had a foundation of experienced players last year, perhaps more than any team in the league. Nine players were in their second summers with the team.

    At this point, it looks like the Gatemen will have even more experience.

    And I think the foundation will be stronger.

    While many of the guys who were back last year were a notch below the level of the top prospect, that’s not the case this season. The Gatemen are slated to have 12 returning players. Four of them — Jack Armstrong, Matt Barnes, Alex Dickerson and George Springer — look like stars in the making, the kinds of players who can emerge as the best in the league. When you factor in other returning talents like Blake Monar, Eric Pfisterer, Jordan Swagerty and Zach Wilson, you have a team with a really deep and talented group of sophomores.

    It’s always a fine line, though, and the Gatemen will have to hope they can walk it.

    As opposed to last year, when the final roster looked a lot like the early roster, Wareham has so much sophomore talent that Team USA could come calling. Already, Barnes and Springer have been invited. I would guess that Armstrong, Dickerson, Swagerty and Wilson could also get the call.

    The Gatemen will have to scramble a bit if that happens, but it could be worth the risk. Right now, the Gatemen have a really, really solid nucleus, just with the returning players. Newcomers like Jed Bradley, Tyler Bream, Derek Dennis and Max Muncy make the roster look even better.

    It’s the kind of team that could get the Wareham franchise back to where it hasn’t been in a while. Not too long ago, the Gatemen had a reputation as the Yankees of the Cape League, but they haven’t been among the top four teams since 2006.

    If things go their way this summer, that drought could come to an end.

    Roster Rundown
    Returning Players: 12
    Juniors: 4
    Sophomores: 16
    Freshmen: 8

    Notable

  • I think it’s safe to call Jack Armstrong and Matt Barnes the top returning pitchers in the league. I would expect really big things from both — they’ve put up good numbers and they have the high ceiling to match. If both make it to the Cape, the Gatemen will have themselves a serious one-two punch.

  • While we’re anointing people, we may as well put Indiana’s Alex Dickerson in the best returning hitter conversation. There are some other candidates and he didn’t have a great summer statistically last year, so I wouldn’t put him in the top spot by himself. But he’s having a fantastic sophomore season and should be one of the favorites for Big 10 Player of the Year honors.

  • For the second year in a row, Wareham may have a Derek D. starting at shortstop. Derek Dietrich, a Michigan native who’s at Georgia Tech, was there last year. Now Derek Dennis, a Michigan native who stayed home, is ticketed for Wareham. Dennis may not have quite the hype of Dietrich, who was a third-round pick out of high school, but he’s close.

  • Georgia Tech’s Jed Bradley doesn’t have the Cape League experience of Armstrong and Barnes, but he’s having just as good a sophomore season.

  • I’ll be interested to see what Joe Flynn can do. The Plymouth native had a storybook high-school career and he’s having a pretty good freshman season at Franklin Pierce. He grew up a Wareham fan.

  • Eric Pfisterer might be happy to get back to the Cape. He’s struggling right now for Duke. If you remember last summer, he was the story of the season’s first two weeks when he didn’t allow a hit in his first two starts.

  • I always got the impression last year that Jordan Swagerty was a catcher and part-time pitcher. But he’s the full-time closer for Arizona State this spring, and it’s been a good job change. Swagerty has emerged as one of the top closers in the country.

  • Wareham has some Major League bloodlines. Tyler Bream and L.J. Mazzilli are the sons of former big leaguers. Jake Davies has a brother in the bigs right now.

  • Max Muncy is one of the more recent additions to the Wareham roster and he’s showing why he got the nod. Muncy, a freshman, is leading Baylor in home runs and RBI.

  • If he doesn’t go with Team USA, George Springer will be one of the top two or three athletes in the league for the second year in a row. Like Cotuit’s Zach Cone — the other guy I’d put up there — Springer has five-tool potential.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Jack Armstrong
    2. Alex Dickerson
    3. George Springer
    4. Matt Barnes
    5. Zach Wilson

    Pitchers

    *Jack Armstrong – RHP – 6’7 230 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
    *Matt Barnes – RHP – 6’4 185 – Connecticut – Sophomore
    *Keith Bilodeau – RHP – 6’4 215 – Maine – Sophomore
    Jed Bradley – LHP – 6’4 215 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    Devin Burke – RHP – 6’1 195 – Duke – Freshman
    Jake Davies – LHP/1B – 6’0 230 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    *David Fischer – RHP – 6’5 175 – Connecticut – Sophomore
    Joe Flynn – RHP – 6’2 210 – Franklin Pierce – Freshman
    *Dean Kiekhefer – LHP – 6’0 175 – Indiana – Junior
    Andrew McKirahan – LHP – 6’2 190 – Texas – Sophomore
    Erik Miller – RHP – 6’3 210 – TCU – Sophomore
    *Blake Monar – LHP- 6’2 198 – Indiana – Sophomore
    Stephen Perakslis – RHP/2B – 6’0 178 – Maine – Freshman
    *Eric Pfisterer – LHP – 6’3 215 – Duke – Sophomore
    *Jordan Swagerty – RHP/C/1B – 6’1 185 – Arizona State – Sophomore
    Josh Urban – RHP – 6’4 220 – Texas – Freshman
    C.C. Watson – LHP – 6’0 200 – Mississippi State – Freshman

    * – returning player
    (Stats as of April 17)

    Jack Armstrong – RHP – 6’7 230
    Vanderbilt
    Sophomore

    With his big frame and big fastball, Armstrong was one of the top freshmen prospects on the Cape last summer. He came to Wareham after not pitching much in his freshman season at Vandy, but he made a quick impression, and not just because of his raw abilities. He also had a strong summer statistically, going 4-1 with a 2.57 ERA and 31 strikeouts in 35 innings. Baseball America tabbed him as the league’s sixth-best prospect. This spring, Armstrong has moved into the weekend rotation and hasn’t disappointed. While his strikeout numbers aren’t huge — 30 in 44 innings — he’s gone 5-0 with a 3.43 ERA.

    Matt Barnes – RHP – 6’4 185
    Connecticut
    Sophomore

    Barnes had a similar profile to Armstrong when he arrived in Wareham after his freshman year, but he didn’t have as good a summer. He went 1-3 with a 4.87 ERA. This spring, though, Barnes has blossomed into one of the best pitchers in the Big East and maybe beyond. So far, he’s 6-0 with a 2.13 ERA. In 42.1 innings, he’s struck out 42 with only eight walks. Barnes has been invited to Team USA.

    Keith Bilodeau – RHP – 6’4 215
    Maine
    Sophomore

    Bilodeau had a really strong summer in Wareham last year, posting a 1. 93 ERA on his way to becoming the team’s most reliable reliever. In 12 appearances, he struck out 19. The spring hasn’t been quite as kind to Bilodeau, who has a 7.40 ERA so far.

    Jed Bradley – LHP – 6’4 215
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    Bradley got off to a torrid start this spring, striking out 12 in his first outing. He hasn’t really slowed down since. Pitching as Tech’s No. 2 behind Deck McGuire, Bradley has gone 4-2 with a 3.83 ERA. In 44.2 innings, he has struck out 54 and walked only 12. Bradley didn’t have a great freshman season at Tech, but he was picked by Baseball America as the sixth-best prospect in the Cal Ripken Sr. League last summer.

    Devin Burke – RHP – 6’1 195
    Duke
    Freshman

    The Gatemen hope Burke can follow in the footsteps of his Duke teammate Eric Pfisterer, who had a big summer last year. Burke hails from Darien, Conn. He’s had some struggles in his first season in Durham, with an ERA over 10 in seven appearances.

    Jake Davies – LHP/1B – 6’0 230
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    Davies was a standout reliever as a freshman, posting an ERA under four in 27 appearances. So far this season, Davies has pitched well again, with a 3.12 ERA in 10 appearances. Jake’s brother, Kyle, has pitched in the majors since 2005, and he’s currently with the Royals.

    David Fischer – RHP – 6’5 175
    Connecticut
    Sophomore

    Fischer returns to Wareham after pitching out of the bullpen for the Gatemen last summer. He ended up with a 5.06 ERA in 12 relief appearances. This spring, Fischer has only made one appearance for the Huskies.

    Joe Flynn – RHP – 6’2 210
    Franklin Pierce
    Freshman

    Flynn is a Plymouth native and he grew up cheering for Wareham. Now, he’ll join the Gatemen after what’s shaping up to be a pretty solid freshman season. Flynn, who was twice named the Boston Globe’s Division II Player of the Year, has gone 4-2 for Franklin Pierce with a 4.30 ERA. He has struck out 44 and walked only 12 in 44 innings of work.

    Dean Kiekhefer – LHP – 6’0 175
    Louisville
    Junior

    Kiekhefer is a non-roster invitee for the Wareham since he’s draft-eligible. If he does end up in Wareham, the Gatemen will be getting an experienced arm. Kiekhefer had a 3.44 ERA out of the pen for Wareham last summer. This spring, Kiekhefer has a 4.09 ERA as a member of Louisville’s weekend rotation.

    Andrew McKirahan – LHP – 6’2 190
    Texas
    Sophomore

    On a stacked Texas pitching staff, McKirahan has carved out a niche as a reliable bullpen arm this season. In 14 appearances, he’s got a 2.31 ERA and nine strikeouts. Those numbers mark a big jump from last year, when McKirahan had an ERA over five as a freshman.

    Erik Miller – RHP – 6’3 210
    TCU
    Sophomore

    Miller was a solid reliever in his freshman year at TCU and he’s been even better this season. In 11 appearances, he has 3.55 ERA with 18 strikeouts.

    Blake Monar – LHP – 6’2 198
    Indiana
    Sophomore

    After a solid summer in Wareham last year, Monar was expected to be the Hoosiers’ ace this year, but he’s had his season derailed by an injury. He started the team’s first game in February but hasn’t started another one because of a rotator cuff problem. He’s expected back soon. Here’s hoping he’s ready for the summer, because he’s another sophomore who’s poised to break out.

    Stephen Perakslis – RHP/2B – 6’0 178
    Maine
    Freshman

    A native of nearby Abington, Mass., Perakslis has had a decent freshman season in Maine. Though the Gatemen list him as a second baseman, too, he’s been exclusively a pitcher with the Black Bears. While his ERA is high at 5.64, he’s got 41 strikeouts in 44.2 innings.

    Eric Pfisterer – LHP – 6’3 215
    Duke
    Sophomore

    Pfisterer got off to an amazing start for Wareham last year, pitching 12 innings without allowing a hit in his first two starts. He ended up with a solid 3.32 ERA and 40 strikeouts on the year. This spring, Pfisterer hasn’t been able to carry over that success. He’s 2-4 with a 7.13 ERA.

    Jordan Swagerty – RHP/C/1B – 6’1 185
    Arizona State
    Sophomore

    Swagerty made six appearances on the mound for Wareham last summer and saw action as a hitter in 25 games. This spring, Swagerty has focused mostly on pitching and he’s had some tremendous results. Swagerty is the closer for the Sun Devils and he’s got nine saves to go with a 0.92 ERA. He’s struck out 26 in 19.2 innings.

    Josh Urban – RHP – 6’4 220
    Texas
    Freshman

    Urban was a 19th-round pick out of high school last year, but not surprisingly considering their staff, he’s had trouble breaking into regular duty for the Longhorns. Urban has made two appearances and has allowed one earned run. With more opportunity this summer, he could be poised for a breakout season.

    C.C. Watson – LHP – 6’0 200
    Mississippi State
    Freshman

    Watson was the Class 4A Player of the Year in Alabama as a high-school senior and he got drafted in the 29th round. He’s had a smooth transition to college ball while pitching mostly out of the bullpen for the Bulldogs. In 10 appearances (two starts), Watson has a 3.00 ERA.

    Position Players

    *Robert Kral – C – 5’10 190 – College of Charleston- Junior
    Josh Ludy – C – 5’9 195 – Baylor – Sophomore
    Tyler Bream – 3B/1B – 6’3 205 – Liberty – Sophomore
    Derek Dennis – SS – 6’3 175 – Michigan – Freshman
    Max Muncy – INF – 6’0 190 – Baylor – Freshman
    Jarrud Sabourin – 1B/OF – 6’2 215 – Indiana – Junior
    Anthony Toth – SS/2B – 5’11 165 – Michigan – RS Junior
    *Zach Wilson – 3B – 6’1 195 – Arizona State – Sophomore
    L.J. Mazzilli – SS – 6’0 185 – Connecticut – Freshman
    *Alex Dickerson – OF – 6’3 210 – Indiana – Sophomore
    *George Springer – OF – 6’3 200 – Connecticut – Sophomore

    * – returning player

    Robert Kral – C – 5’10 190
    College of Charleston
    Junior

    Kral hooked on with Wareham late last summer, and though he played in only five games, he made a nice impression. This spring, Kral has had a very strong season with Charleston, hitting .348 with 10 homers and 37 RBI. Pretty good for a guy who only played in 15 games as a sophomore.

    Josh Ludy – C – 5’9 195
    Baylor
    Sophomore

    Ludy hasn’t seen a ton of action for Baylor, but he’s made the most of the time he’s gotten. In 14 games, he’s hitting .370.

    Tyler Bream – 3B/1B – 6’3 205
    Liberty
    Sophomore

    The son of former Major League Sid Bream, Tyler is making his own waves at Liberty, his father’s alma mater. After earning Freshman All-America honors last year, Bream has picked up where he left off this season. He’s hitting .352 with three home runs and 32 RBI.

    Derek Dennis – SS – 6’3 175
    Michigan
    Freshman

    A 10th-round pick out of high school last year, Dennis immediately stepped into a starting role with the Wolverines and he has held his own. He’s hitting .275 so far with three home runs. In an early look at the 2012 draft, Baseball America has Dennis as the 13th-best prospect in the country.

    Max Muncy – INF – 6’0 190
    Baylor
    Freshman

    Muncy was a 41st-round pick out of high school and is having a very good first season in Waco. While starting all 33 of the Bears’ games, Muncy is hitting .333 and leading the team with 10 home runs and 37 RBI. The 10 home runs are a new Baylor freshman record.

    Jarrud Sabourin – 1B/OF – 6’2 215
    Indiana
    Junior

    Another draft-eligible non-roster player, Sabourin will have the Gatemen feeling lucky if he does end up in Wareham. This spring, Sabourin has been the only Hoosier with a better batting average than Alex Dickerson. He’s hitting .445 with six home runs and 34 RBI.

    Anthony Toth – SS/2B – 5’11 165
    Michigan
    RS Junior

    Dennis’ double-play partner, Toth has had a strong season in Ann Arbor. He’s currently hitting .322. Toth redshirted in his second season with the Wolverines so this is his fourth year on campus. He could be a real veteran presence for Wareham this summer.

    Zach Wilson – 3B – 6’1 195
    Arizona State
    Sophomore

    Wilson was solid in his freshman season and over the summer, when he got off to a hot start then settled in for a .247 average with Wareham. This spring, Wilson — like many of his Sun Devil teammates — has taken things to another level. He’s hitting .404 thus far with 31 RBI and a team-best 14 doubles. Wilson was a 26th-round pick out of high school.

    L.J. Mazzilli – SS – 6’0 185
    Connecticut
    Freshman

    Mazzilli is the son of former Major League player and manager Lee Mazzilli. He’s had a decent freshman season in Storrs, hitting .246 with eight extra-base hits.

    Alex Dickerson – OF – 6’3 210
    Indiana
    Sophomore

    Dickerson emerged last year as one of the best freshmen in the country when he hit .370 with 14 home runs. He became the first Hoosier to earn Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. With Wareham, Dickerson hit only .224 with three homers and 15 RBI, but I think it’ll be a different story this summer. So far this spring, Dickerson is hitting .430 with 14 home runs and 45 RBI.

    George Springer – OF – 6’3 200
    Connecticut
    Sophomore

    Springer showed flashes of his enormous potential last summer when he hit .261 and led Wareham in RBI. This spring, he has put up similar numbers, with a .269 average, nine home runs, 30 RBI and 16 steals. You get the feeling that he still hasn’t quite put it all together, and if he does, look out. He’s already being mentioned as one of the top college bats for the 2011 draft, and he’s been invited to Team USA.

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    Team USA Update

    As opposed to the last few years, Team USA is announcing its trials roster on a rolling basis, adding a few names here and there. As the college season settles into the midway point, stars are emerging and the roster is slowly filling up.

    Sixteen players are on the list so far, 13 of whom are also on Cape League rosters. UConn stars Matt Barnes and George Springer, who are both on the Wareham roster, are the latest additions.

    Matt Barnes – UConn – Wareham
    Sonny Gray – Vanderbilt – Cotuit
    Danny Hultzen – Virginia – Hyannis
    Matt Jensen – Cal Poly – Y-D
    Mikie Mahtook – LSU – Harwich
    Brad Miller – Clemson – Cotuit
    Austin Nola – LSU – Harwich
    Matty Ott – LSU – Harwich
    Tyler Pill – Cal State Fullerton – Harwich
    Nick Ramirez – Cal State Fullerton – Orleans
    Anthony Rendon – Rice – Bourne
    George Springer – UConn – Wareham
    Kyle Winkler – TCU – Falmouth

    Barnes and Springer would be big losses for Wareham. Thanks to the LSU contingent, Harwich continues to look like the team that could be the hardest hit.

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    Roster Additions

    Sorry for the lack of posts lately. March Madness got its hooks into me and wouldn’t let go.

    Let’s play catch-up. Several new players have shown up on rosters. A few of the notables:

  • Freshman Brian Goodwin and sophomore Levi Michael are two North Carolina players who I was surprised weren’t on rosters from the beginning. They’re both on Harwich’s roster now. Goodwin is hitting .305, Michael .322. Michael played with the Mariners last year.
  • Three Baylor players are among the new additions. Freshman Max Muncy, who’s hitting .349 with six home runs, will play in Wareham, along with catcher Josh Ludy, who’s hitting .267. Dan Evatt is on the Harwich roster.
  • Florida State freshman Jayce Boyd, a 19th-round pick last year, is now on the Orleans roster. The infielder is hitting .329.
  • Cal State Fullerton two-way sophomore Nick Ramirez is on the Orleans roster, as well. A Freshman All-American last year, he’s hitting .302. On the mound, he’s got a 3.93 ERA out of the bullpen.
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    All Star Game officially at Fenway

    For the second year in a row, the Cape League All Star Game will be held at Fenway Park in Boston.

    It was assumed that the game would be back there, based on schedules. The league made it official this week. The game will be played Wednesday, July 28.

    The Red Sox will include the game on their pocket schedules, which is pretty cool. That’s bound to help attendance.

    Good weather would also help. Here’s hoping.