Category: Uncategorized

In an effort to keep tabs on former Cape Leaguers, I present the 2012 Cape League Minor League All-Stars. The lists are divided by level. Players who spent time at two levels are listed where they spent more time. This is the fourth in the series.

High Class A is often a level where top prospects really start to separate themselves, and plenty of former Cape Leaguers did just that this season. A ton of first basemen had tremendous years, and so many starting pitchers stood out, I had to add a couple of slots. George Springer (pictured), didn’t disappoint in his first full season of pro ball.

Catcher – Jack Marder – High Desert (California League) – Mariners
After getting drafted by the Mariners, Marder played half the summer of 2011 with Falmouth before signing. He was outstanding in his first professional season, batting .360 with 10 homers, 56 RBI and a .425 on-base percentage.
In the Running: John Hicks, Cameron Rupp

First Base – C.J. Cron – Inland Empire (California League) – Angels
Cron, who played briefly for Cotuit in 2010 before joining Team USA, was one of the top power hitters in the minors this year. He batted .293 with 27 home runs, 32 doubles and a league-best 123 RBI
In the Running: Dominic D’Anna, Mickey Wiswall, Tommy Medica, Ricky Oropesa, Travis Shaw, Mark Canha, Kyle Roller

Second Base – Tommy LaStella – Lynchburg (Carolina League) – Braves
LaStella, a former Bourne Brave, hit .302 with five homers, 22 doubles and 56 RBI. He also stole 13 bases.
In the Running: Devin Lohman, Chris Bisson

Third Base – Stefen Romero – High Desert (California League) – Mariners
A key member of the 2009 Cape League champion Bourne Braves, Romero raked at two levels this season. In 60 games at High Desert, he hit .357 with 11 homers, 51 RBI and a .391 OBP. In Double A, he hit .347 with 12 homers.
In the Running: Steven Proscia, B.A. Vollmuth, Ty Kelly, Shea Vucinich, Carlos Alonso

Shortstop – Derek Dietrich – Charlotte (Florida State League) – Rays
A former Wareham Gateman, Dietrich gets the nod here because of impressive numbers in the pitcher-friendly Florida State League. Dietrich hit .282 with 10 homers and 58 RBI before a promotion to the Southern League.
In the Running: Ryan Wright, Casey McElroy, Joe Panik, Nick Ahmed, Rick Hague, Derek Dietrich, Kevin Nolan, Danny Muno

Outfield – Leon Landry – Rancho Cucamonga/High Desert (California League) – Mariners
The former Harwich Mariner was hitting .328 with eight homers and 51 RBI in the Dodgers system when he was traded to Seattle as part of the Brandon League deal. He stayed in the Cal League and his overall line ended up at .341 with 13 homers and 76 RBI. He led the league in hitting.

Outfield – Rico Noel – Lake Elsinore (California League) – Padres
Noel, a former Cotuit Kettleer, didn’t have tremendous overall numbers but he showcased his best quality by stealing 90 bases, which would have made headlines if not for fellow Cal Leaguer Billy Hamilton’s record-setting stolen base totals. Noel batted .270.

Outfield – George Springer – Lancaster (California League) – Astros
The 11th overall pick in the 2011 draft, Springer had an impressive first full professional season. He hit .316 with 22 homers and 82 RBI and he added 28 stolen bases.
In the Running: Steve Selsky, Alex Dickerson, Jackie Bradley, Dennis Raben, Kipp Schutz, John Reuttiger, Brian Fletcher, Whit Merrifield, Mike Mahtook, Cory Vaughn

Starting Pitcher – Tyler Wilson – Frederick (Carolina League) – Orioles
The former Hyannis Harbor Hawk and 10th round pick dominated after an early-season promotion to Frederick. He went 7-7 with a 3.49 ERA and 114 strikeouts against just 19 walks in 111 innings.

Starting Pitcher – Anthony Meo – Visalia (California League) – Diamondbacks
In the hitter-friendly California League, the former Bourne standout had an ERA over four but showcased his strikeout stuff, tying for the league lead in K’s with 153 in 140 innings.

Starting Pitcher – Matt Andriese – Lake Elsinore (California League) – Padres
Andriese was one of the top starting pitchers in the Cal League, posting a 3.58 ERA to go with 131 strikeouts in 146 innings.

Starting Pitcher – Brandon Workman – Salem (Carolina League) – Red Sox
The former Wareham star impressed in the Carolina League before a promotion to Double A. He had a 3.40 ERA with 107 strikeouts.

Starting Pitcher – Nathan Karns – Potomac (Carolina League) – Nationals
Karns pitched on the Cape way back in 2008, was drafted in 2009 and missed all of 2010 after labrum surgery. After a so-so 2011, he broke out this year, posting a 2.26 ERA and 87 strikeouts on his way to Washington’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year honors.
In the Running: Matt Barnes, Kyle Hendricks, Andrew Chafin, Tanner Robles, Nick Maronde, Mike Bolsinger, Rob Rasmussen, Seth Maness, Tyler Pill

Relief Pitcher – Dean Kiekhefer – Palm Beach (Florida State League) – Cardinals
Keikhefer played for Wareham and wasn’t drafted until the 36th round in 2010. The lefty may be carving out a niche though. He saved 14 games and had a 2.24 ERA with 41 strikeouts and just four walks the entire season.

Relief Pitcher – Tom Kahnle – Tampa (Florida State League) – Yankees
Kahnle, who attended Lynn University, was a small-school standout for Brewster in 2010 after getting drafted in the fifth round that June. Since signing, he has pitched great out of the bullpen. He had a 2.45 ERA this year with 72 strikeouts in 55 innings.

Relief Pitcher – Ben Rowen – Myrtle Beach (Carolina League) – Rangers
The former Cotuit Kettleer was the top closer in the Carolina League, finishing with 19 saves in 20 chances to go with a 1.57 ERA and 52 strikeouts. He walked three all season.
In the Running: Jimmy Reyes, Tony Zych, A.J. Achter, Matt Crouse, Nick McCully, Daniel Tillman, T.J .Walz

In an effort to keep tabs on former Cape Leaguers, I present the 2012 Cape League Minor League All-Stars. The lists are divided by level. Players who spent time at two levels are listed where they spent more time. This is the third in the series.

For many, the Low Class A ranks are the first taste of a full season. Many former Cape Leaguers ran with the chance, led by Falmouth alum Matt Skole (pictured), who earned South Atlantic League MVP honors with the Hagerstown Suns. A bunch of former Cape outfielders and starting pitchers also stood out.

Catcher – Curt Casali – West Michigan (Midwest League) – Tigers
Casali, a former Vanderbilt Commodore and Hyannis Harbor Hawk, split the season between the Midwest League and the High A Florida State League. With West Michigan, he hit .288 with 12 homers and a .402 on-base percentage.
In the Running: Josh Ludy, Matthew Koch, Pratt Maynard

First Base – Dean Green – West Michigan (Midwest League) – Tigers
Green spent most of his summer in the Midwest League and hit .306 with nine homers. The former Chatham Angler continued to shine in the Florida State League, where he hit .348.
In the Running: Jordan Ribera, Aaron Westlake, Jerrud Sabourin, Kevin Patterson, Cam Seitzer, Max Muncy

Second Base – Tyler Rahmatulla – Quad Cities (Midwest League) – Cardinals
Rahmatulla struggled mightily for Chatham in 2009 but has been impressive since getting selected in the 34th round last year. Rahmatulla hit .322 with seven homers and 42 RBI in 49 Midwest League games.
In the Running: Ross Wilson, Joey DeMichele, Ross Heffley, Alex Yarbrough

Third Base – Matt Skole – Hagerstown (South Atlantic League) – Nationals
Skole spent two summers in Falmouth and after getting selected in the fifth round of the 2011 draft, he burst onto the scene in his first full season this year. Skole earned South Atlantic League MVP honors after batting .286 with 27 homers and 92 RBI.
In the Running: Nick DelMonico, B.A. Vollmuth, Stephen Piscotty

Shortstop – Taylor Featherston – Asheville (South Atlantic League) – Rockies
Featherston played briefly for Brewster in 2010. A fifth-round pick in 2011, he had a break-out first full season, batting .299 with 12 homers, 30 doubles and 53 RBI.
In the Running: Josh Adams, Eric Stamets, Darnell Sweeney

Outfield – Brian Goodwin – Hagerstown (South Atlantic League) – Nationals
The former Harwich Mariner left North Carolina after his freshman year and was drafted in the first round in 2011 out of a junior college. He tore up the South Atlantic League in his pro debut, hitting .324 with nine homers, 38 RBI and a .438 on-base percentage before getting promoted all the way up to Double A.

Outfield – Zach Cone – Hickory (South Atlantic League) – Rangers
Another 2011 first-round pick, the former Cotuit Kettleer hit .264 with 17 homers, 27 doubles and 64 RBI in his first full pro season.

Outfield – Ben McMahan – Wisconsin (Midwest League) – Brewers
McMahan was a catcher for Y-D in 2010 but was behind Mike Zunino on the Florida depth chart. Since getting selected in the 23rd round of the 2011 draft, McMahan has blossomed as an outfielder. He hit .287 with 15 homers and 68 RBI this season.
In the Running: Caleb Ramsey, Bobby Crocker, Brian Humphries, Ryan Jones, Travis Jankowski, Tom Belza

Starting Pitcher – Nick Tropeano – Lexington (South Atlantic League) – Astros
Tropeano was a star for Cotuit and Stony Brook and has continued to excel in the Astros system. After shining in the NY-Penn League last year, Tropeano cruised through two levels this year. With Lexington, he went 6-4 with a 2.78 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 87.1 innings.

Starting Pitcher – Drew Gagnon – Wisconsin (Midwest League) – Brewers
A stand-out for Brewster in 2010, Gagnon was a third-round pick last year, and he impressed at two levels this year. In his Midwest League stint, he went 6-1 with a 2.83 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 82.2 innings.

Starting Pitcher – Thomas Collier – West Michigan (Midwest League) – Tigers
Collier was a junior college standout who made waves for Falmouth in 2009 and again for Bourne in 2011. He signed with the Tigers after his stint with Bourne and had a strong first full season of pro ball. He went 9-8 with a 2.74 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 124.2 innings.
In the Running: Logan Verrett, Jake Floethe, Anthony Desclafani, Kevin Couture, Kyle Zimmer, Austin Wood, Jordan Pries, Matt Bashore, Charlie Lowell

Relief Pitcher – Russell Brewer – Asheville (South Atlantic League) – Rockies
Brewer was a standout closer in two separate Cape seasons and has continued to be a bullpen force at the next level despite not getting drafted until the 31st round in 2010. He had a 2.09 ERA in 47 games this year, to go with 76 strikeouts in 60.1 innings.

Relief Pitcher – Tommy Toledo – Wisconsin (Midwest League) – Brewers
Toledo never put it all together with Y-D in 2010, but he’s been impressive as a reliever in pro ball. He went 7-1 this year with a 1.95 ERA, six saves and 31 strikeouts in 37 innings.

Relief Pitcher – Mitchell Lambson – Quad Cities (Midwest League) – Astros
A standout reliever for Orleans in 2010, the former Arizona State Sun Devil had a 2.72 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 36.1 innings this season.
In the Running: R.J. Alvarez, Carmine Giardina, Michael Dennhardt, Bryan Morgado, Max Perlman, Mason Melotakis

In an effort to keep tabs on former Cape Leaguers, I present the 2012 Cape League Minor League All-Stars. The lists are divided by level. Players who spent time at two levels are listed where they spent more time. This is the second in the series.

Short Season Class A leagues are a very common first destination for former Cape Leaguers who’ve just been drafted. A lot of impressive performances from top-prospect types here. Taylor Ard (pictured) led the Northwest League in home runs, doubles and RBI. Lots of good relief pitching as well, and a blast from the past — Jesse Hahn pitched for Chatham in 2009 but Tommy John surgery robbed him of his first pro season in 2011. He didn’t miss a beat in 2012.

Catcher – Mike Zunino – Everett (Northwest League) – Mariners
Zunino spent a brief part of the summer of 2011 with Y-D. The No. 3 overall pick made quick work of the Northwest League, hitting .373 with 10 home runs in just 29 games.
In the Running: Dane Phillips, Kevin Plawecki

First Base – Taylor Ard – Everett (Northwest League) – Mariners
A seventh-round pick this year, the former Brewster Whitecap also shined for Everett, hitting .284 with league-bests in home runs (12), doubles (21) and RBI (58).
In the Running: John Wooten

Second Base – Kevin Medrano – Yakima (Northwest League) – Diamondbacks
A former Falmouth Commodore, Medrano was an 18th-round pick out of Missouri State and he raked in his pro debut. He finished second in the Northwest League in hitting with a .341 average.
In the Running: Maxx Tissenbaum, Tommy Coyle, Anthony Gomez, Joe Sever, Austin Elkins

Third Base – Richie Shaffer – Hudson Valley (NY-Penn League) – Rays
Shaffer was one of the Cape League’s top hitters with Chatham in 2011. A 2012 first-round pick, he hit .308 with four homers in 33 games.

Shortstop – Deven Marrero – Lowell (NY-Penn League) – Red Sox
The former Cotuit Kettleer was Boston’s first-round pick and delivered a solid debut season. He hit .268 with two home runs, 14 doubles and a .358 on-base percentage.

Outfield – Andrew Aplin – Tri-City (NY-Penn League) – Astros
Aplin was solid for Orleans in 2011 and was selected in the fifth round in June. He was terrific in his stint in the New York-Penn League, hitting .348 with four homers, five triples and nine doubles to go with a .441 OBP before a promotion to the California League.

Outfield – Preston Tucker – Tri-City (NY-Penn League) – Astros
Tucker, another former Firebird, joined Aplin in Tri-City and delivered a strong debut season after getting selected in the seventh round. He batted .321 with eight homers, which was good for sixth in the league.

Outfield – Jeremy Baltz – Eugene (Northwest League) – Padres
Baltz helped lead Falmouth to the Cape League championship series in 2011. He was drafted in the second round of St. John’s and hit .281 with five homers, 16 doubles and 43 RBI.
In the running: Taylor Dugas, Barrett Barnes, Matt Newman, Joey Rickard, Torsten Boss, Kyle Von Tungeln, Michael Faulkner

Starting Pitcher – Jesse Hahn – Hudson Valley (NY-Penn League) – Rays
Hahn lit up radar guns for Chatham in 2009 then was drafted in the sixth round in 2010. He missed the 2011 season after Tommy John surgery but returned with a vengeance. He had a .277 ERA with 55 strikeouts in 52 innings and was twice named the league’s Pitcher of the Week.

Starting Pitcher – Brady Rodgers – Tri-City (NY-Penn League) – Astros
The former Cotuit Kettleer and Arizona State Sun Devil was a third-round pick this year and didn’t disappoint. He went 7-2 with a 2.89 ERA and 49 strikeouts against just 11 walks in 62.1 innings pitched.

Starting Pitcher – Blake Monar – Auburn (NY-Penn League) – Nationals
A 12th-round pick in 2011, Monar impressed in his first full season this year, posting a 3.29 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 54.2 innings.
In the Running: Joe Bircher, Tim Cooney, Brett Mooneyham

Relief Pitcher – Tyler Mizenko – Salem-Keizer (Northwest League) – Giants
Mizenko, a 2010 Hyannis Harbor Hawk, was a late-round pick in 2011 but dominated as Salem-Keizer’s closer in his first pro season. He finished with 13 saves, a 1.99 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 31.2 innings.

Relief Pitcher – Nick Wittgren – Jamestown (NY-Penn League) – Marlins
The closer for Hyannis in 2009, Wittgren continued in that role in pro ball and shined. He saved 11 games with a 1.46 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 24.2 innings.

Relief Pitcher – Mason McVay – Salem-Keizer (Northwest League) – Giants
McVay struggled with Cotuit in 2011 and lasted until the 26th round in this year’s draft, but he was a revelation in the Salem-Keizer bullpen. In 18 appearances, he had a 1.19 ERA and struck out 43 in just 30.1 innings.
In the Running: Derek Self, Josh Turley, Tucker Healy, Marcus Stroman, Dylan Floro, Dietrich Enns, Blake Hauser, Keith Bilodeau

By my count, Arizona State is one of four 12-0 teams in the country right now, along with Florida State, Louisville and LSU.

The No. 3 Sun Devils, who feature a load of 2010 Cape Leaguers, will face their toughest series yet this weekend when they host Auburn. They did get some tough competition at last week’s Coca Cola Classic but this will be their first series that really takes it up a notch.

I think the question is this: will the Sun Devils rise along with the competition.

Zack MacPhee, Riccio Torrez, Drew Maggi (pictured) and Zach Wilson are all 2010 Cape Leaguers and they’ve all pounded the pitching they’ve seen so far. MacPhee (Bourne) is hitting .564 with a homer, seven triples and 16 RBI, Wilson (Wareham) is at .421, Torrez (Orleans) is at .385 and Maggi (Orleans) is hitting .348. Together, that crew has done the bulk of the damage for the Sun Devils, who are hitting .372 as a team and averaging more than 10 runs per game.

The Sun Devils have been without ace Josh Spence, but the rest of their pitchers have picked up the slack. Freshman Brady Rodgers (Cotuit) has a 1.10 ERA with 20 strikeouts in 16 innings. Jordan Swagerty (Wareham) has three saves. Seth Blair, who played for Cotuit in 2008 and 2009, has a 3.38 ERA.

Auburn comes to the desert with a 9-2 record. Brian Fletcher, who played for Falmouth in 2008 and 2009, has been an absolute star so far. He’s hitting .467 and he’s tied for second in the league with six home runs and 24 RBI. Hunter Morris (Falmouth ’09) has also hit well, with a .423 average and two homers. As for the 2010 Cape Leaguers, Creede Simpson (Bourne) is hitting .413, and pitcher Garrett Bush (Bourne) has made one appearance.

Friday, 9:30 p.m.
Live Stats

Saturday, 9:30 p.m.
Live Stats

Sunday, 4 p.m.
Live Stats

2010 Cape Leaguers

Arizona State
Riccio Torrez
Drew Maggi
Jordan Swagerty
Zach Wilson
Zack MacPhee
Brady Rodgers
Jeff Lusardi
Mitchell Lambson
Deven Marrero
Johnny Ruettiger

Auburn
Casey McElroy
Creede Simpson
Garrett Bush

Every week, I could pick a Florida series for this little feature. The Gators have 13 players with tickets to the Cape this summer. That’s more players than any other school — by a lot — and more players than any other school sent to the Cape last year.

Every Florida series will be an interesting one, then. This one will have a little extra.

The fifth-ranked Gators will travel south to take on in-state rival Miami, who’s ranked 10th and has a fair share of Cape Leaguers, too. It’ll be perhaps the biggest non-conference series of the season for either team.

Not to mention, the first real tough test.

The Gators started the season 5-0 before a loss on Tuesday to Florida State. The Hurricanes are 6-1, and when they’ve won, they’ve won big, with 12-1, 18-1 and 15-2 victories to their name.

Two 2010 Cape Leaguers are expected to be in the Gators’ rotation this week. Sophomore left Alex Panteliodis (Orleans) is scheduled to start on Friday. It’ll be the first start of the year for Panteliodis, who had a 2.45 ERA in two relief appearances. On Saturday, freshman Brian Johnson (Falmouth) is expected to get the start. A 27th-round pick out of high school, he’s 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA.

The lone Cape League connection in Miami’s rotation is Eric Erickson, who played for Orleans in 2008 before missing all of last year with an injury. He’ll start Sunday.

At the plate, Florida has been led by Team USA vet Matt den Dekker and ’09 Falmouth Commodore Josh Adams. Three 2010 Cape Leaguers have also had a big hand in the early success. Mike Zunino (Hyannis) is hitting .333, Austin Maddox (Bourne) .308 and Preston Tucker (Orleans) .292. Keep an eye on Maddox, who was rated by Baseball America as the 81st best prospect for last year’s draft. Tucker hit .364 as a freshman last year with 15 homers and 85 RBI.

Miami’s start has been powered by junior-college transfer Chris Pelaez, who leads the ACC with a .650 average. Yasmani Grandal, who played for Brewster in 2008, is hitting .363, while Harold Martinez (Brewster ’09 & ’10) is hitting .320 with three home runs. Freshman Stephen Perez (Chatham) is also off to a strong start, with six stolen bases in seven games.

Friday, 7 p.m.
Live Stats

Saturday, 7 p.m.
Live Stats

Sunday, 3 p.m.
Live Stats

2010 Cape Leaguers

Florida
Nick Maronde
Tyler Thompson
Alex Panteliodis
Austin Maddox
Hudson Randall
Ben McMahan
Michael Zunino
Anthony DeSclafani
Steven Rodriguez
Nolan Fontana
Brian Johnson
Greg Larson
Preston Tucker

Miami
Harold Martinez
Nathan Melendres
Stephen Perez

I was doing some Google searches, trying to figure out where Virginia’s Steven Proscia played last summer. Finally, I found out that he didn’t play anywhere. He played all of his first season in Charlottesville with a fractured wrist and sat out the summer. He missed the fall season, too.

Funny thing. I wouldn’t have guessed it.

Proscia had a fantastic freshman season, and these days, he isn’t showing much rust.

Proscia, a 6-2, 215-pound third baseman, is ticketed for Harwich this summer, and don’t be surprised if he’s a star by then. Baseball America’s Aaron Fitt tabbed Proscia as one of three candidates around the country ready for a huge breakout. So far, Proscia is delivering.

In seven games, he’s hitting .400 with two home runs and a team-best 13 RBI. He’s batting clean-up for the second-ranked Cavaliers, and on this talented and veteran team, that really says a lot.

“He’s got great power, and he’s an exciting player, ” Virginia coach Brian O’Connor told Baseball America.

Proscia was a football and baseball standout at Don Bosco Prep in New Jersey, and his football-bred toughness caught O’Connor’s attention. The Twins drafted him in the 39th round out of high school, but he stuck with his commitment to Virginia. His first year in Charlottesville marked the first time he’d focused solely on baseball.

The results were impressive. He led ACC freshman with a .333 average and had 10 home runs, 22 doubles and 58 RBI. He had six hits in Virginia’s three College World Series games.

So the stage was set. We’ll see this season if Proscia can continue to steal the show.

Danny Hultzen (Hyannis), pictured, wasn’t overwhelming on the season’s first weekend, gutting through six innings in a win over East Carolina. He allowed two runs, struck out four and walked three.

This weekend, he was overwhelming. Facing Rhode Island on Friday, Hultzen tossed seven shutout innings, striking out 12, walking none and allowing just two hits. He was named ACC Pitcher of the Week.

If Hultzen’s average falls somewhere between those first two starts, he’s going to have a very, very good season.

Also for Virginia, sophomore third baseman Steven Proscia (Harwich) went 5-for-12 in the URI series with a homer and six RBI. Proscia had the highest batting average among ACC freshmen last year. This season, he’s hitting .400 with a team-best 13 RBI.

Oklahoma’s Garrett Buechele (Hyannis) continued a torrid start with a huge weekend. In three games, he went 7-for-13 with a homer and five RBI. In eight games this season, he’s hitting .500 with three home runs and 12 RBI. Buechele is the son of former Major Leaguer Steve Buechele, and plays third base like his dad. He was the Big 12 Freshman of the Year last season.

At some point, Zack MacPhee (Bourne) is going to cool down, right? The ASU sophomore was the nation’s top hitter after the first weekend and he hasn’t cooled down yet. In a four-game series, with Towson, MacPhee went 8-for-19, which puts his average at .571.

MacPhee’s teammate Riccio Torrez (Orleans) went 7-for-16 against Towson with seven RBI.

Liberty’s Tyler Bream (Wareham) went 6-for-14 with a homer and four RBI in three weekend games. He’s now hitting .542 with two homers and nine RBI. His Liberty teammate Matt Williams (Hyannis) is hitting .519.

Central Florida catcher Beau Taylor (Y-D) went 6-for-16, including the game-winning hit in game two of a series with Siena.

Ole Miss redshirt freshman reliever Brett Huber (Brewster) is off to a great start. On Sunday, he went 1.2 scoreless innings and struck out four. In 6.1 innings this year, he has 11 strikeouts and no walks.

So far, Siena infielder Dan Paolini (Chatham) looks like a small-school guy ready to make a big splash. He had a solid weekend and is hitting .364 with four homers and 11 RBI. All against Florida competition, by the way.

Southern Miss shortstop B.A. Vollmuth (Falmouth), a breakout player on the Cape in 2009, is picking up where he left off. He went 5-for-11 in three games this weekend and is hitting .500 on the year.

St. John’s Joe Panik (Y-D) went 5-for-8 in the Big East/Big Ten Challenge and was named Big East Player of the Week.

Eighteen 2010 Cape Leaguers will be in uniform this weekend when Oklahoma State, USC, UCLA and Vanderbilt gather in Los Angeles for the inaugural Dodgertown Classic.

The real “Dodgertown” part of the event happens Sunday when Vandy plays Oklahoma State and USC takes on UCLA at Dodger Stadium. But all weekend, we’ll have some pretty good match-ups.

In terms of arms, I don’t think it gets much better than Friday’s game between Vanderbilt and UCLA. Sonny Gray, the reigning SEC Pitcher of the Week who’s slated for Cotuit this summer, is expected to get the start against fellow sophomore star Gerrit Cole. The two were both on Cotuit’s roster but ended up as teammates on Team USA instead. Cole is not on the Cotuit roster for 2010.

In their first outings of the year, Gray struck out eight in eight shutout innings, while Cole struck out nine, didn’t walk anybody and allowed just one hit in six innings. Cole and Gray were ranked second and fourth on Baseball America’s list of the top 50 sophomore prospects in the nation.

In all the other Classic games, there is slated to be at least one ’09 or ’10 Cape Leaguer on the mound. Tyler Lyons (Chatham ’09) goes for the Cowboys against USC on Friday. On Saturday, Vandy’s Taylor Hill (Chatham ’09) gets the start against USC, while OK State’s Thomas Keeling (Chatham ’09) pitches against UCLA standout Trevor Bauer (Y-D ’10). In Sunday’s games, Kevin Couture (Chatham ’07 & ’08) is slated to pitch for USC against UCLA’s Rob Rasmussen (Orleans ’08 & ’09), while Jack Armstrong (Wareham ’09 & ’10) gets the start for Vandy against OSU’s Andrew Heaney (Falmouth ’10).

Whew. In pitching match-ups alone, it’s like a Cape League reunion.

Friday
Vanderbilt at UCLA, 9 p.m. ET
Live Stats
Oklahoma State at USC, 9:30 p.m.
Live Stats

Saturday
Oklahoma State at UCLA, 5 p.m.
Live Stats
Vanderbilt at USC, 9:30 p.m.

Sunday
Oklahoma State vs Vanderbilt at Dodger Stadium, 1 p.m.
Live Stats
USC vs UCLA at Dodger Stadium, 5 p.m.
Live Stats

2010 Cape Leaguers

Oklahoma State
Andrew Heaney, Falmouth
Tom Belza, Chatham
Mark Ginther, Chatham

Vanderbilt
Jack Armstrong, Wareham
Riley Reynolds, Chatham
Aaron Westlake, Chatham
Sonny Gray, Cotuit
Michael Yastrzemski, Cotuit
Grayson Garvin, Bourne
Will Clinard, Orleans
Regan Flaherty, Y-D

USC
Taylor Wrenn, Orleans
Rick Oropesa, Chatham

UCLA
Beau Amaral, Chatham
Dan Klein, Chatham
Tyler Rahmatulla, Chatham
Trevor Bauer, Y-D
Cody Keefer, Y-D

Zack MacPhee wasn’t exactly a bit player for the Bourne Braves last summer. He started at shortstop in each of Bourne’s playoff games and went 1-for-3 with a run scored in the Braves’ title-clinching win.

But in the summer, and the spring before that, MacPhee was kind of easy to miss.

He hit .270 for Arizona State’s College World Series team, batting ninth just as he did for Bourne. After a late arrival because of the CWS, MacPhee hit .146 in 30 games on the Cape.

These days, while you can’t give too much credence to a series against a cold-weather team that got out-scored 44-6, it’s a little easier to notice MacPhee.

He was the star of the Sun Devils’ season-opening series with Northern Illinois, hitting .727 with seven runs scored, eight RBI and six extra-base hits. He earned Pac-10 Player of the Week honors and National Player of the Week honors from several publications.

MacPhee lined up at second base for the Sun Devils and batted second. He’s part of a big and talented group of ASU sophomores, many of whom will make their way to the Cape this summer. MacPhee is expected back in Bourne.

He’ll be an interesting player to watch. He was a 22nd round pick out of high school, but on Baseball America’s list of top college prospects by class, he wasn’t among the top 50 sophomores.

Who knows if that will change by the time summer rolls around, but one thing’s for sure: if MacPhee does anything close to what he did on the opening weekend, he won’t be so easy to miss.