Posted on

2012 Early Look: Wareham Gatemen

gatemen_logo_opt.jpgWareham Gatemen
Manager: Cooper Farris
2011 Record: 23-21

Growing up, I remember hearing that the Wareham Gatemen were kind of the New York Yankees of the Cape Cod Baseball League. They always seemed to bring in some of the best players and they always seemed to be successful.

That’s why I was surprised to learn today that last year marked Wareham’s first winning season since 2006. For whatever reason, things just hadn’t come together from 2007-2010. Team USA had a big impact some years, and others, the Gatemen just couldn’t quite find it. (It also could have been a Right Field Fog curse since 2006 was the year before RFF got its start).

Whatever the cause, the Gatemen broke out last summer with a solid campaign that included a run to the West division semifinals.

With eight players expected back from that team, Wareham should have the nucleus of a veteran team that can stay on track. Konner Wade leads the returning pitchers, while Daniel Palka paces the hitters. Both were all-stars last summer. Throw in some starting pitching with a lot of upside and a handful of other power threats, and the Gatemen have the makings of a contender.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 8
Sophomores: 19
Freshmen: Six

Notable

  • I haven’t made a detailed trip through all the rosters yet, but I can’t imagine anybody will have more than the eight returning players on the Wareham roster. That could be a big advantage for the Gatemen, especially since quite a few of the players had big summers last year.

  • Konner Wade is at the top of the list of returnees, but he could be playing a different role. Wade was perhaps the league’s best closer last year, finishing in a tie for the league lead in saves, but he’s been a starter for Arizona this spring. It’ll be interesting to see how he’s used this summer.

  • Daniel Palka has been remarkably consistent at every stop in his college career. He hit .297 as a freshman at Georgia Tech, .327 with Wareham last summer and is hitting .301 with 11 home runs this year. I would expect him to pick up exactly where he left off with the Gatemen this summer.

  • Several of the other returning players will be trying to rebound from tough first summers in Wareham. Mott Hyde and Ty Ross both hit under .200 with the Gatemen but are in the midst of strong springs.

  • Lots of intriguing arms on the roster, and quite a few pitchers will be trying to prove themselves. Kurt McCune was the ace of the LSU staff as a freshman but has had some struggles this year. Matthew Grimes was a fourth-round pick out of high school but has missed part of this spring with injury. And Michael Cederoth has a big arm but has walked a ton in his first season at San Diego State.

  • One of the cool stories for Wareham this summer will be the team’s local flavor. Two players hail from Middleboro, Mass., while Franklin Pierce catcher Matthew Walsh is from Plymouth. Walsh could be especially fun to watch. He was a four-time All-Stater at Plymouth North and grew up watching Wareham games. He was also the Northeast 10 Rookie of the Year this spring.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Daniel Palka
    2. Konner Wade
    3. Michael Cederoth
    4. Matthew Grimes
    5. Tyler Horan

    Pitchers

    *Barret Astin – RHP – 6-1 185 – Arkansas – Sophomore
    Michael Cederoth – RHP – 6-6 205 – San Diego State – Freshman
    *Matthew Grimes – RHP – 6-5 208 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    Will Kendall – LHP – 6-3 205 – Auburn – Sophomore
    Brad Kuntz – LHP – 6-2 195 – Baylor – Sophomore
    Kurt McCune – RHP – 6-4 180 – LSU – Sophomore
    Sean Newcomb – LHP 6-5 220 – Hartford – Freshman
    *Dillon Newman – RHP – 6-2 185 – Baylor – Sophomore
    Nicholas Rumbelow – RHP – 6-0 190 – LSU – Sophomore
    Jared Ruxer – RHP- 6-2 185 – Louisville – Freshman
    Adam Schemenauer – LHP – 6-9 230 – Louisville – Freshman
    Colby Suggs – RHP – 6-0 225 – Arkansas – Sophomore
    Brando Tessar – RHP – 6-3 198 – Oregon – Sophomore
    *Konner Wade – RHP – 6-3 180 – Arizona – Sophomore

    Barret Astin – RHP – 6-1 185
    Arkansas
    Sophomore

    Astin earned Freshman All-American honors while pitching out of the Arkansas bullpen last season and then delivered a solid summer on Cape Cod with the Gatemen. Astin went 2-1 with a 2.63 ERA for Wareham. This spring, it’s been more of the same for Astin, who has saved nine games and is among the SEC leaders in ERA with a 1.80 mark. He has also struck out 51 in 45 innings.

    Michael Cederoth – RHP – 6-6 205
    San Diego State
    Freshman

    Cederoth was a 42nd-round draft pick out of high school last year and vaulted into the San Diego State rotation immediately this season. He’s has some ups and downs so far. Cederoth currently has an ERA of 4.58. He has struck out 56 in 59 innings, but the biggest problem has been his 45 walks. He’s still a power arm, though, with a fastball that can reach the mid-90’s.

    Matthew Grimes – RHP – 6-5 208
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    Grimes, a fourth-round pick of the White Sox, was one of the top unsigned picks from the 2010 draft, and he had a pretty good freshman season with the Yellow Jackets, finishing with a 4.15 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 73.2 innings. Grimes was off to a good start this season, going 3-2 in five starts with a 3.38 ERA but an injury has sidelined him recently.

    Will Kendall – LHP – 6-3 205
    Auburn
    Sophomore

    Kendall was off to a fantastic start this season, posting a 4-0 record and a 1.88 ERA, but he has since suffered a season-ending injury. He is still listed on the Wareham roster, but I’m not sure of his status for the summer.

    Brad Kuntz – LHP – 6-2 195
    Baylor
    Sophomore

    Kuntz has been a solid pitcher out of the bullpen in each of his first two seasons in Waco. This year, he’s made the second-most appearances on the team and has put up a 4.46 ERA to go with about a strikeout an inning.

    Kurt McCune – RHP – 6-4 180
    LSU
    Sophomore

    McCune burst onto the scene for the Tigers last spring, grabbing a weekend rotation spot and earning Freshman All-America honors by posting a 7-3 record and a 3.38 ERA. The going has been a little tougher for McCune this spring. He’s 2-4 with a 4.21 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 36.1 innings.

    Sean Newcomb – LHP 6-5 220
    Hartford
    Freshman

    A native of Middleboro, Mass., Newcomb has measurables that jump out, and he’s been pretty good in his first year with Hartford. Newcomb is 2-4 so far with a 4.17 ERA. He has struck out 45 in 45.1 innings of work and has walked 38.

    Dillon Newman – RHP – 6-2 185
    Baylor
    Sophomore

    Like his teammate Kuntz, Newman has been a key part of the Baylor bullpen for two years running, and he’s been particularly good this season. Newman has a 2.54 ERA with 31 strikeouts and just six walks in 28.1 innings pitched.

    Nicholas Rumbelow – RHP – 6-0 190
    LSU
    Sophomore

    Rumbelow pitched well in limited innings as a freshman then was named the sixth-best prospect in the Prospect League last summer. This spring, Rumbelow has been outstanding out of the bullpen for the Tigers, putting a 3.48 ERA with 28 strikeouts in 20.2 innings.

    Jared Ruxer – RHP- 6-2 185
    Louisville
    Freshman

    A 29th-round pick out of high school, Ruxer follows in the footsteps of Cardinal teammate and former Wareham standout Justin Amlung. Just a freshman, Ruxer has been great as a member of the weekend rotation, posting a 6-1 record and a 2.47 ERA. Ruxer was a 29th-round pick out of high school.

    Adam Schemenauer – LHP – 6-9 230
    Louisville
    Freshman

    A towering presence, Schemenauer was a 12th-round pick out of high school but opted to attend Louisville. He has not pitched this season.

    Colby Suggs – RHP – 6-0 225
    Arkansas
    Sophomore

    Suggs was impressive in limited work last spring then came through with a big summer in the Coastal Plain League. This year, Suggs has been just as good as his teammate Astin, recording a 0.99 ERA in 24 relief appearances. He has 29 strikeouts in 27.1 innings pitched.

    Brando Tessar – RHP – 6-3 198
    Oregon
    Sophomore

    A 25th-round pick out of high school, Tessar had a solid freshman season in Eugene and then earned all-star honors in the Northwoods League last summer. This spring, Tessar has gone 4-1 with a 3.58 ERA and 37 strikeouts in 50.1 innings.

    Konner Wade – RHP – 6-3 180
    Arizona
    Sophomore

    Wade returns to Wareham after a breakout summer last season, and it looks like he’ll be coming off a breakout spring. Wade tied for the Cape League lead in saves with 12 last summer. This spring, he moved to the rotation for Arizona and has done well. He’s 6-1 with a 4.29 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched.

    Position Players

    Dustin DeMuth – SS – 6-3 – 198 – Indiana – Sophomore
    *Johnny Field – OF – 5-10 195 – Arizona – Sophomore
    Tyler Horan – 3B – 6’1 225 – Virginia Tech – RS Sophomore
    *Mott Hyde – SS – 5’11 185 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    Ty McFarland – 3B – 6-3 190 – James Madison – Sophomore
    *Daniel Palka – 1B – 6-3 220 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    *Ty Ross – C – 6-3 215 – LSU- Sophomore
    Kyle Schwarber – OF – 6-0 230 – Indiana – Freshman
    Cody Smith – OF – 5-10 180 – San Diego State – Sophomore
    Brett Thomas – OF – 6-1 195 – Oregon – Sophomore
    Matthew Walsh – C – 5-10 210 – Franklin Pierce – Freshman

    Dustin DeMuth – SS – 6-3 – 198
    Indiana
    Sophomore

    Wareham has had a few strong players from Indiana over the years, and DeMuth is the latest. He earned Freshman All-America honors when he hit .360 last year. This season hasn’t been quite as good. DeMuth is hitting .261 with 13 RBI.

    Johnny Field – OF – 5-10 195
    Arizona
    Sophomore

    After a strong freshman season at Arizona, Field made the trek to Wareham last summer and became one of the Gatemen’s top hitters, finishing with a .261 average and 10 extra-base hits. Back at Arizona this year, Field has taken a leap forward. He’s batting .364 with 18 extra-base hits.

    Tyler Horan – 3B – 6’1 225
    Virginia Tech
    RS Sophomore

    Like his future Wareham teammate Sean Newcomb, Horan hails from Middleboro, Mass., so he’ll be playing close to home this summer, and he’ll have quite a track record to show off as he returns to New England. A former star at Boston College High, Horan redshirted his first year at Virginia Tech but has hit the ground running since. After hitting .396 in a reserve role last year, Horan is batting .293 this season with 13 home runs and 38 RBI.

    Mott Hyde – SS – 5’11 185
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    Hyde started from day one for Tech last season and hit .275 with 47 RBI. He struggled on the Cape, hitting .151 for the Gatemen, but he’s returned to his freshman year form back with the Yellow Jackets this spring. Hyde is hitting .272 with five home runs and 24 RBI.

    Ty McFarland – 3B – 6-3 190
    James Madison
    Sophomore

    McFarland hit .278 as a freshman before putting together a strong summer in the Valley League last year. This season, McFarland is hitting .338 with six doubles.

    Daniel Palka – 1B – 6-3 220
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    Palka had an outstanding freshman season in 2011, hitting .297 with 12 home runs and 52 RBI. With Wareham, he picked up right where he left off, hitting a team-best .327 and earning all-league honors. There’s been more consistency this spring, with Palka hitting .301 and blasting a team-high 11 home runs. Palka was a 19th-round draft pick out of high school in 2010.

    Ty Ross – C – 6-3 215
    LSU
    Sophomore

    Ross became LSU’s starting catcher as a freshman and was one of the top young players in the SEC last season. He hit .168 over the summer for Wareham, but has been strong again this spring. He’s hitting .302, good for third on the team, and he’s also third on the team in RBI with 31. Ross was a 46th-round draft pick out of high school.

    Kyle Schwarber – OF – 6-0 230
    Indiana
    Freshman

    Schwarber will join his teammate DeMuth in Wareham this summer, and it looks like he’ll be coming off a big debut. Schwarber is hitting .298 in his first year with the Hoosiers, and he’s tied for the team lead with eight home runs.

    Cody Smith – OF – 5-10 180
    San Diego State
    Sophomore

    Smith became one of San Diego State’s best hitters last year as a freshman, batting .311 with 17 extra-base hits. His average has dipped this year, but he’s still been a solid hitter for the Aztecs. He’s at .268 with six doubles and 18 RBI.

    Brett Thomas – OF – 6-1 195
    Oregon
    Sophomore

    After hitting .291 as a freshman, Thomas has become one of the Ducks’ top offensive threats in his sophomore season. He’s currently hitting .309 with a team-best 17 extra-base hits.

    Matthew Walsh – C – 5-10 210
    Franklin Pierce
    Freshman

    A native of Plymouth, Walsh will be living a dream this summer when he plays for the Gatemen, whom he grew up watching. Walsh will be coming in off an outstanding freshman season at Franklin Pierce. He hit .339 with two home runs and 37 RBI and was named the Northeast 10 Conference Rookie of the Year.

    Posted on

    2011 Early Look: Wareham Gatemen

    gatemen_logo_opt.jpgWareham Gatemen
    Manager: Cooper Farris
    2010 Record: 19-24-1

    Wareham seems to get hit hard by Team USA and other defections every year, and they’re a prime example that the juggling that a lot of teams have to do doesn’t always work out.

    But the Gatemen have once again assembled a good looking crop of players. Now they’ll just hope.

    Wareham will be led by five returnees, among them Max Muncy, who could be the top returning hitter from 2010. Pitchers Josh Urban and Joe Flynn are also expected back, along with two big hitters from UConn in Jon Andreoli and Lee Mazzilli, Jr. Mazzilli, for one, has turned into a star this spring.

    The rest of the roster is dotted with big-time prospects, small-school standouts and plenty of guys in between. The pitching rotation could turn out to be a strength if top-flight starters Justin Amlung and Matthew Grimes pitch well. The lineup might shape up nicely as well, with Muncy, Daniel Palka and William Carmona looking like a very strong middle.

    From there, the Gatemen will need some players who struggled this year to step up. And they’ll probably have to do some juggling, though they don’t yet have a Team USA invitee.

    They’ll be hoping that this year, it all works out.

    Roster Rundown
    Returning Players: 5
    Juniors: 3
    Sophomores: 15
    Freshmen: 9

    Notable

  • For the first time since I’ve been doing this, my high school alma mater will be represented in the Cape League. Justin Amlung attended the great St. Xavier High School in Louisville, Ky., of which I am a notable alumnus. Amlung might end up more famous than me, though — he had a great sophomore season for Louisville.

  • Max Muncy was Wareham’s best run producer last season, after a strong freshman year for Baylor. He should be primed for even more this year, making him one of the top returning hitters in the league.

  • Wareham has two sons of current or former Major League managers. Lee Mazzilli, Jr., is the son of the former O’s skipper, and Luke Farrell is the son of current Blue Jay head man John Farrell.

  • Matthew Grimes looks like Wareham’s most hyped pitcher. He was a fourth-round pick a year ago and struck out better than a batter an inning in his freshman year for Georgia Tech.

  • Another Tech freshman, Daniel Palka, was one of the top home run hitters in the ACC.

  • Stony Brook’s Nick Tropeano was a great pitcher for Cotuit last year, and the Sea Wolves have a couple of guys on the Cape this year. William Carmona comes to Wareham as the America East Player of the Year.

  • Derek Dennis struggled last summer and this spring, but he’s a guy scouts have been on for a while. They’ll keep watching, and Dennis will keep pushing for a turnaround. Wareham would be a good place for it.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Max Muncy
    2. Lee Mazzilli, Jr.
    3. Matthew Grimes
    4. William Carmona
    4. Daniel Palka

    Pitchers
    Justin Amlung – RHP – 6’0 175 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Barrett Astin – RHP – 6’1 185 – Arkansas – Freshman
    Bobby Brosnahan – LHP – 6’0 170 – Michigan – Sophomore
    Luke Farrell – RHP – 6’6 210 – Northwestern – Sophomore
    Daniel Feehan – RHP – 6’0 175 – UConn – Sophomore
    Andy Flett – RHP – 6’7 216 – Louisville – Freshman
    *Joseph Flynn – RHP – 6’2 210 – Franklin Pierce – Sophomore
    Matthew Grimes – RHP – 6’6 194 – Georgia Tech – Freshman
    Dillon Newman – RHP – 6’2 185 – Baylor – Freshman
    Steve Perakslis – RHP – 6’1 185 – Maine – Sophomore
    Brent Suter – LHP – 6’5 195 – Harvard – Junior
    Joshua Turley – LHP – 6’0 185 – Baylor – Sophomore
    *Josh Urban – RHP – 6’4 220 – Texas – Sophomore
    Konnor Wade – RHP – 6’3 180 – Arizona – Freshman

    Justin Amlung – RHP – 6’0 175
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    Amlung didn’t have much hype coming into the year and wasn’t even on the Wareham roster when the college season started. But from day one, Amlung was dominant. He finished the year 10-2 with a 2.35 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 105 innings of work. He was a first-team All-Big East selection.

    Barrett Astin – RHP – 6’1 185
    Arkansas
    Freshman

    Astin arrived in Arkansas and became a key part of the bullpen right off the bat. He ended up leading the team in appearances with 27, and his numbers were good. He had a 2.72 ERA and 57 strikeouts in 59.2 innings.

    Bobby Brosnahan – LHP – 6’0 170
    Michigan
    Sophomore

    After a redshirt year in 2009, Brosnahan was pretty good in his debut, putting up a 4.38 ERA last season. This year, Brosnahan struggled, going 1-9 with a 7.82 ERA.

    Luke Farrell – RHP – 6’6 210
    Northwestern
    Sophomore

    The son of former Red Sox pitching coach and current Blue Jays manager John Farrell, Luke is coming off a strong sophomore season with the Wildcats. After struggling last year, he went 6-3 this year with a 3.33 ERA. In 81 innings, he struck out 65.

    Daniel Feehan – RHP – 6’0 175
    UConn
    Sophomore

    Feehan has been a big part of the Husky bullpen since last year. This season, he has put up a 2.36 ERA in a team-best 26 appearances. He has struck out 22.

    Andy Flett – RHP – 6’7 216
    Louisville
    Freshman

    After limited innings as a freshman, Flett became a valuable reliever for Louisville this spring. He made 18 appearances and finished with an ERA of 2.82 to go with 16 strikeouts.

    Joseph Flynn – RHP – 6’2 210
    Franklin Pierce
    Sophomore

    A native of Plymouth and a high school star, Flynn was solid as a freshman then put up a 2.13 ERA for Wareham last summer. This spring, he went 2-2 with a 3.45 ERA.

    Matthew Grimes – RHP – 6’6 194
    Georgia Tech
    Freshman

    Grimes was a fourth-round pick of the White Sox last year, but stuck with Georgia Tech and immediately put himself into the weekend rotation. He finished his freshman year with a 7-4 record, a 4.15 ERA and 77 strikeouts in 73.2 innings.

    Dillon Newman – RHP – 6’2 185
    Baylor
    Freshman

    A 49th-rounder out of high school, Newman was strong out of the pen for Baylor this spring. He finished 1-1 with a 3.29 ERA and 17 strikeouts.

    Steve Perakslis – RHP – 6’1 185
    Maine
    Sophomore

    Perakslis hails from Abington, Mass., and was slated to come to Wareham last year but never made it. He’ll be back this year, and he’ll be coming off a big spring. Perakslis went 6-4 with a 3.52 ERA and 55 strikeouts.

    Brent Suter – LHP – 6’5 195
    Harvard
    Junior

    Suter was a first-team All-Ivy performer last year when he went 4-0 with a 3.55 ERA. His ERA climbed to 5.26 this season, but he still struck out almost a batter an inning.

    Joshua Turley – LHP – 6’0 185
    Baylor
    Sophomore

    After pitching mostly in relief last season, Turley became a starter this year and had a lot of success. He ended up 4-5 with a 3.39 ERA. He was second on the team with 95.2 innings pitched and struck out 63.

    Josh Urban – RHP – 6’4 220
    Texas
    Sophomore

    Urban got very limited action with the Longhorns then came to the Cape and got a chance to start for the Gatemen. He struggled, though, and finished with an ERA above five. This year, Urban has been a key in the Longhorns’ bullpen. In 13 games, he’s posted a 3.65 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 17 innings of work.

    Konnor Wade – RHP – 6’3 180
    Arizona
    Freshman

    A native of Scottsdale, Ariz., Wade was a 35th-round pick of the hometown Diamondbacks but still stuck with his commitment to Arizona. With the Wildcats, he delivered a good first season. He made 17 appearances with eight starts and posted a 3.21 ERA.

    Position Players

    *John Andreoli – OF/1B – 6’1 210 – UConn – Junior
    C.T. Bradford – OF – 5’9 165 – Mississippi State – Freshman
    William Carmona – INF/RP – 6-0 225 – Stony Brook – Sophomore
    Derek Dennis – SS – 6’3 185 – Michigan – Sophomore
    Mott Hyde – SS/2B – 6-0 180 – Georgia Tech – Freshman
    *Lee Mazzilli Jr. – SS/3B – 6’0 185 – UConn – Sophomore
    *Max Muncy – INF – 6’0 190 – Baylor – Sophomore
    Daniel Palka – 1B/LHP – 6’2 190 – Georgia Tech – Freshman
    Robert Refsnyder – OF – 6’1 205 – Arizona – Sophomore
    Jeff Reynolds – UTL – 5’11 180 – Harvard – Junior
    Tyler Ross – C – 6’3 225 – LSU – Freshman
    Brandon Thomas – OF – 6’3 205 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    Jon Walsh – C – 6’5 215 – Texas – Sophomore

    John Andreoli – OF/1B – 6’1 210
    UConn
    Junior

    After batting .362 as a sophomore, Andreoli hit .244 in 19 games with Wareham last summer and .240 in 11 games for Brewster. This year, he has helped UConn to a super regional by hitting .319 with 31 RBI. He was also just drafted in the 17th round.

    C.T. Bradford – OF – 5’9 165
    Mississippi State
    Freshman

    Bradford was a 48th-round pick out of high school and has delivered a strong showing in his freshman year with the Bulldogs. He’s hitting .309 with 12 doubles and has also nabbed 11 bases.

    William Carmona – INF/RP – 6-0 225
    Stony Brook
    Sophomore

    The Stony Brook program is getting more and more players on Cape League rosters, and Carmona looks like one of its best. The America East Rookie of the Year last season, Carmona continued to shine this year, hitting .357 with six homers, 27 doubles and 40 RBI. He slugged .585 and was named America East Player of the Year.

    Derek Dennis – SS – 6’3 185
    Michigan
    Sophomore

    Dennis was a 10th-round pick out of high school so he came to Ann Arbor with some hype. After hitting .267 as a freshman, he came to Wareham and struggled, finishing with a .178 average. This spring, his bat was off again, as Dennis hit just .216.

    Mott Hyde – SS/2B – 6-0 180
    Georgia Tech
    Freshman

    Like his teammate Grimes, Hyde made a big impact for Tech as a freshman. He started every game and hit .275 with four homers and 47 RBI. Hyde was a 44th-round pick last year.

    Lee Mazzilli Jr. – SS/3B – 6’0 185
    UConn
    Sophomore

    Mazzilli is another Husky who is expected back for a second summer in Wareham. He hit .207 in 26 games last summer. This spring, he has turned into the player everyone thought he would be. He’s hitting .346 with three homers, 23 doubles and 32 RBI. He has also stolen 11 bases.

    Max Muncy – INF – 6’0 190
    Baylor
    Sophomore

    Muncy had a big freshman season for the Bears, hitting .300 with 11 homers. On the Cape last summer, Muncy hit .244 but led the Gatemen with 14 extra-base hits. This year, he picked up where he left off in Waco, hitting a team-best .322 with nine home runs and 44 RBI.

    Daniel Palka – 1B/LHP – 6’2 190
    Georgia Tech
    Freshman

    A 19th-round pick out of high school, Palka flashed as much power as anybody in a Tech uniform this spring. He finished with a .297 average, 12 home runs, 18 doubles and 52 RBI. The 12 home runs tied him for fourth in the ACC. Listed as a two-way player, Palka didn’t pitch at all this spring.

    Robert Refsnyder – OF – 6’1 205
    Arizona
    Sophomore

    Refsnyder was an honorable mention all-conference pick as a freshman and followed that up with an impressive sophomore season. He finished at .320 with six home runs, 13 doubles, six triples and a team-best 55 RBI. He also stole nine bases.

    Jeff Reynolds – UTL – 5’11 180
    Harvard
    Junior

    A first-team all-Ivy League selection, Reynolds was Harvard’s best hitter this spring. He finished with a .301 average, two home runs and 19 RBI.

    Tyler Ross – C – 6’3 225
    LSU
    Freshman

    A 46th-round pick out of high school, Ross immediately grabbed the starting catcher’s job at LSU. He had his struggles at the plate, though, finishing at .223 with one home run.

    Brandon Thomas – OF – 6’3 205
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    Thomas was a late-round pick out of high school and played as a reserve for Tech in his freshman year. Getting a bigger chance in the Florida Collegiate League last summer, Thomas shined and was named the league’s top prospect by Baseball America. This spring, he hit .307 with three home runs and also stole 19 bases.

    Jon Walsh – C – 6’5 215
    Texas
    Sophomore

    Walsh hit .273 in a reserve role last year. This season, he’s gotten more playing time and has hit .257 with two homers and 16 doubles.

    Posted on

    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.