The defending Cape League champion Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox have struggled with the bats early on in 2015, hitting .156 through four games and scoring just six runs. The Red Sox offense had a young offense anyway, and five hitters are currently in Omaha.
Friday, Y-D played a team that’s had no such trouble.
Orleans has 11 players at the College World Series, but most of them are pitchers – and the offensive standouts who are already in town have more than made up for any gaps. The Firebirds, hitting .310 as a team on they year, pounded 15 hits and three home runs in a 12-3 victory over Y-D last night at Red Wilson Field.
A quick glance at the Firebirds lineup and accompanying college statistics reveals a big-time lineup, and it hasn’t disappointed.
Bobby Dalbec (Arizona) led the Pac 12 with 15 home runs this spring and is slated to join Team USA shortly, but in the meantime, the returning Firebird blasted a grand slam as part of a 2-for-5 night Friday.
Kyle Lewis (Mercer), the Southern Conference Player of the Year, hit his second home run in four games, and is one of only two players in the league with two. He’s also tied for the league lead in hits and is hitting .412.
Ronnie Dawson (Ohio State), who had a big year for the Buckeyes, also homered Friday and is batting .333.
Throw in Adam Pate (North Carolina), who’s hitting .400 at the top of the lineup, Colby Woodmansee (Arizona State) and Bryson Brigman (San Diego), and it’s easy to see why the Firebirds are producing. The team is now 3-1 on the year and is averaging six runs per game.
The pitching staff – even with a potential ace in Connor Jones starting for Virginia in Omaha today – has also been very good. The Firebirds have allowed only six earned runs. Friday, starter Kyle Serrano (Tennessee) gave up two in five innings of work for the win.
It has all added up to a hot start. And the way this lineup looks, it may continue.
Cotuit 3, Falmouth 0
The Kettleers had some success in many games last year using four of five relievers for a few innings each, a kind of bullpen day almost every day. Friday, they were at it again, with four pitchers combining on a shutout of Falmouth. Austin Solecitto (ASA College) started and went 2.1 innings, Mitch Stallings (Duke) was credited with the win in 2.2 innings of relief, Cal Becker (Riverside) chipped in an inning and Matthew Kinney (Florida State) pitched the final three innings for the save, as Cotuit moved to 3-1. Will Haynie (Alabama) hit his second home run of the summer to lead the offense, while Matt Albanese (Bryant) had two hits. Falmouth, which dropped to 1-3, had eight hits but stranded 10 runners.
Wareham 4, Bourne 2
The Gatemen won their third straight since an opening night loss while Bourne remained winless. Jay Jabs (Franklin Pierce) stretched his hitting streak to four games with a 2-for-3 night and an RBI. Darryn Shepard (Baylor) added two hits. David MacKinnon (Hartford) had two hits for the second straight game. Ian Hamilton (Washington State) started on the hill and went five shutout innings. A pair of players on temporary contracts finished it off, with Stephen Woods Jr. (Albany) tossing three quiet innings of relief and Shea Spitzbarth (Molloy College) picking up the save. For Bourne, Cameron Duzenack (Dallas Baptist) had three hits.
Hyannis 3, Harwich 1
It’s a three-way tie atop the West with Hyannis joining Wareham and Cotuit at 3-1. The Harbor Hawks got three hits from Errol Robinson (Ole Miss) the early league batting leader, plus RBI from JaVon Shelby (Kentucky) and a familiar name in Bobby Melley (Connecticut). Melley is a Centerville native who’s now back with Hyannis. On the mound, Vance Tatum (Mississippi State) allowed one run in five innings. Marc Skinner (Troy) picked up the win in relief and Thomas Burrows (Alabama) had the save. Sheldon Nuese (Oklahoma) homered for Harwich, who fell to 1-3.
Brewster at Chatham, PPD
Chatham and Brewster played just over two innings Friday before the fog made its first appearance of the season and forced a postponement.
What to Watch
It’s a battle of 3-1 teams at McKeon Park as Orleans visits Hyannis. Corbin Burnes (St. Mary’s) who has already made his Cape debut in relief, is slated to start for the Firebirds. Devin Smeltzer (Florida Gulf Coast) goes for Hyannis.
Hey Will. For the second time in as many evenings I found myself watching the Hyannis ex-Mets, this time at McKeon Park.
I can tell you the fog’s impact wasn’t limited to Chatham. A thick, soupy mess made its way onto the field around the 5th inning, and in the bottom of the 7th, the umps decided to suspend play. There was a 50 minute delay before the game got under way again (under pretty much the same conditions, as far as I could tell…). During the fog delay, I went to the concession stand and got a cup of clam chowder, an experience I would describe as “wicked Cape Cod”.
As far as the game went, the star of the show was Hyannis SS Errol Robinson, who scored all three HHH runs, the first two after doubles, and the third after singling and stealing second. He also made a nice leaping stab on a soft liner, although the defensive play of the night was made by Harwich’s SS Justus, who made a slick diving stop up the middle to rob Melley in the second inning. And, in case you’re wondering how Hyannis managed 3 runs scored but only two RBI, Robinson crossed the plate for the first time on a double play grounded into by Melley in the 4th. As for Neuse’s HR – it landed by the flag in the right-center power alley, which in Hyannis is one of the cheapest places to pick up a homer in the Cape. It cleared the fence by a bit, but it’s tough to say it wouldn’t have been a fly out most places.
This evening the plan is to catch the game at Bourne, on my way (sigh) back home.
I lost my posting streak already. Weekends are tough. Maybe Kevin will continue his.
Good stuff, Kevin. Thanks!