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2012 Early Look: Chatham Anglers

anglers_logo_11.jpgChatham Anglers
Manager: John Schiffner
2011 Record: 15-28-1

The Chatham Anglers are the only team that hasn’t made the playoffs in the last two years, when the league expanded to include eight of 10 teams in the postseason.

They don’t plan to miss out again, and if their roster is any indication, they’ve very clearly drafted a blueprint for making it happen. They aren’t going to their typical powerhouses, taking three or four players and crossing the fingers when the College World Series and Team USA have their say.

The Anglers have their team and they’re ready.

I read an article back in the fall where manager John Schiffner said this would happen. He watched what Hyannis did last year. The Harbor Hawks took a team of less-heralded players, had them for the whole season and posted the best record in the league. Now the Anglers look like they’re taking similar steps.

They’ve still got a few top prospects and some guys from powerhouse schools, but they won’t be waiting on four players from North Carolina like they used to or banking on pitchers who threw a ton of innings on the way to the College World Series. A player like Tom Bourdon, who had a big season at a Boston College, is kind of the model. The Anglers have a lot of Bourdons. They also have veterans, with 10 juniors who will have a lot to play for this summer, and few freshmen.

Will it work? I don’t know, but I do know that Chatham doesn’t have a single player on Team USA and has only one at the College World Series.

From day one, the Anglers will be ready to go.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 2
Juniors: 10
Sophomores: 20
Freshmen: 4

Notable

  • Like Harwich, the Anglers have a big roster right now, so there will be some adjusting as we get into the season.

  • North Carolina used to send a lot of its top players to Chatham. That’s been changing in recent years, and this season, the Anglers just have one Tar Heel — reliever Tate Parrish.

  • Parrish is part of an interesting bullpen that Chatham is assembling. The Anglers don’t just have closer-types and guys who made a lot of appearances for their college teams. They also have Parrish and Joe Dye of Stetson, who were essentially situational relievers at school. They may get more of an opportunity with Chatham or they may just reprise those roles as the Anglers try to develop a Major-League style bullpen.

  • That bullpen should have a pretty good back end. San Diego’s Michael Wagner was one of the top closers in the nation, finishing in a tie for second nationally in saves.

  • I mentioned Bourdon above, and he’s coming off a great season with BC. He earned second-team all-ACC honors, which is no easy task for an Eagle in that conference.

  • In addition to some mid-major players, the Anglers will also be giving a shot to a few small-school guys. Brewster native Alex Powers had a tremendous season at D-II Southern New Hampshire, two players are coming from Franklin Pierce and Chatham even has Andrew Hillis coming from NAIA Lee University.

  • I don’t know if Chatham will have any top-of-the-league starting pitchers, but — fitting in with the aforementioned theme — there are a lot of guys who should be solid. Veterans like Ryan Thompson, Kurt Schluter and John Soldinger may lead the way.

  • Andrew Knapp may end up as the top catching prospect on the Cape. He hasn’t had fantastic numbers at Cal but he caught a lot of attention when he won the Northwoods League batting title last summer.

  • Louisville has turned into a Big East powerhouse in recent years, and the Cape League has benefited. I’m from Louisville and when I used to come to the Cape as a kid, it was a rare treat to see a player from Louisville. Now, they’re regulars. Chatham has four Cardinals coming in this year.

  • There’s something to be said for bringing in a lot of juniors. They’re not going to be the top-shelf prospects because if they were, they probably wouldn’t be on the Cape. But these are older guys who know this might be their best opportunity to showcase themselves before their final season in college. We’ll see how it plays out, but I think it could be good for Chatham.

  • Fairfield pitcher Mark Bordonaro is still on the Chatham roster but it was announced yesterday that he had signed a contract with the Seattle Mariners, who had drafted him in the 25th round.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Tom Bourdon
    2. Michael Wagner
    3. Andrew Knapp
    4. Dace Kime
    5. Alex Powers

    Pitchers

    Ryan Atwood – LHP – 6’1 180 – Navarro College – Sophomore
    Nick Burdi – RHP – 6’3 220 – Louisville – Freshman
    Joe Dye – RHP – 6’3 210 – Stetson – Junior
    Michael Fagan – LHP – 6’0 175 – Princeton – Sophomore
    Scott Frazier – RHP – 6’7 220 – Pepperdine – Sophomore
    Andrew Hillis – RHP – 6’8 215 – Lee University – Sophomore
    Jake Joyce – RHP – 6’0 185 – Virginia Tech – Junior
    *Dace Kime – RHP – 6’5 215 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Thomas Lawrence – RHP – 6’0 195 – Maine – Junior
    Jimmy Litchfield – LHP – 6’1 185 – UC Irvine – Sophomore
    Brian McIlhenny – LHP – 6’6 195 – Pepperdine – Junior
    Tate Parrish – LHP – 6’1 184 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    Alex Powers – RHP – 6’4 170 – Southern New Hampshire – Sophomore
    Austin Robichaux – RHP – 6’5 160 – Louisiana-Lafayette – Freshman
    Kurt Schluter – RHP – 6’3 185 – Stetson – Junior
    John Soldinger – RHP – 6’3 230 – Manhattan – Junior
    Eric Stevens – RHP – 6’5 208 – Boston College – Sophomore
    Ryan Thompson – RHP – 6’3 190 – Franklin Pierce – Junior
    Michael Wagner – RHP – 6’4 185 – San Diego – Sophomore

    Ryan Atwood – LHP – 6’1 180
    Navarro College
    Sophomore

    Junior college baseball stats can be spotty so I know very little about Mr. Atwood, other than the fact that he pitched well in Navarro’s regional championship game against powerhouse San Jacinto. I’m guessing he’s pretty good, though, if he’s coming to the Cape from a junior college.

    Nick Burdi – RHP – 6’3 220
    Louisville
    Freshman

    Burdi was a 24th-round pick out of high school but stuck with his commitment to Louisville. He had some ups and downs in his freshman year with the Cards, finishing with a 5.56 ERA in 13 appearances.

    Joe Dye – RHP – 6’3 210
    Stetson
    Junior

    Dye had been a good situational reliever for Stetson each of the last two years. This spring, he made 24 appearances, pitched 13.1 innings and had a 4.05 ERA.

    Michael Fagan – LHP – 6’0 175
    Princeton
    Sophomore

    Fagan was a 45th-round pick out of high school. He’s had some struggles at Princeton, where he finished this year with a 7.57 ERA. While he walked more than he struck out, he also struck out 27 in 27.1 innings pitched.

    Scott Frazier – RHP – 6’7 220
    Pepperdine
    Sophomore

    Frazier was on the Chatham roster last year but didn’t end up making it to the Cape. If he does this time, he’ll be coming in off a strong sophomore season. Frazier went 7-5 with a 3.93 ERA while pitching a workhorse load of 103 innings.

    Andrew Hillis – RHP – 6’8 215
    Lee University
    Sophomore

    Hillis hails from NAIA Lee University, where he was a standout closer this spring. He finished with seven saves and a 2.73 ERA. He struck out 24 in 29.2 innings.

    Jake Joyce – RHP – 6’0 185
    Virginia Tech
    Junior

    Joyce had high ERA’s in his first two years as a reliever with the Hokies but always posted good strikeout numbers. This year he put it all together, putting up a 3.63 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 34.2 innings pitched.

    Dace Kime – RHP – 6’5 215
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    An eighth round pick out of high school, Kime had a good freshman season in 2011 before pitching with Chatham last summer. While he had mixed results with the Anglers, he flashed plenty of potential. This spring, he had an ERA of 4.87 but struck out better than a batter an inning.

    Thomas Lawrence – RHP – 6’0 195
    Maine
    Junior

    Lawrence sat out the 2012 season after transferring from Winthrop. At Winthrop last year, he had a 4.03 ERA in 21 appearances.

    Jimmy Litchfield – LHP – 6’1 185
    UC Irvine
    Sophomore

    Litchfield was very busy as a freshman in 2011, making 34 appearances while posting a 2.89 ERA with a great strikeout-to-walk ratio. Litchfeidl got a lot of calls again in 2012, pitching in 26 games and posting a 3.60 ERA. He struck out 30 and walked 13 in 45 innings.

    Brian McIlhenny – LHP – 6’6 195
    Pepperdine
    Junior

    Another tall pitcher from Pepperdine, McIlhenny was an all-star in the Alaska League last summer. He didn’t have as much success back at Pepperdine this spring, finishing with a 6.48 ERA in 19 appearances.

    Tate Parrish – LHP – 6’1 184
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    Parrish has been used as a situational lefty throughout his career with the Tar Heels and has done well in that role. This year, he pitched in 21 games and was often used to just get one out as he finished with only eight innings pitched. He had a 3.38 ERA and struck out 10 of the 33 batters he faced.

    Alex Powers – RHP – 6’4 170
    Southern New Hampshire
    Sophomore

    Powers is a native of Brewster and comes to Chatham off a great season with D-II Southern New Hampshire. Pitching exclusively out of the bullpen, Powers turned in a 1.52 ERA and struck out 48 in just 29.2 innings pitched. Opponents hit .181 against him.

    Austin Robichaux – RHP – 6’5 160
    Louisiana-Lafayette
    Freshman

    Robichaux is the son of Louisiana-Lafayette pitching coach Tony Robichaux and he joined his father with the Ragin’ Cajuns this year after getting selected in the 50th round of last year’s draft. He had a good debut, finishing with a 2.91 ERA and striking out 21 in 43.1 innings.

    Kurt Schluter – RHP – 6’3 185
    Stetson
    Junior

    Schluter was a 39th-round pick of the Red Sox this year so Boston will have a chance to keep an eye on him for a few weeks if he ends up in Chatham. Schluter was the Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Year in 2011. His numbers weren’t as good this year, as he finished with a 5.45 ERA.

    John Soldinger – RHP – 6’3 230
    Manhattan
    Junior

    Soldinger was the MAAC Pitcher of the Year last season after leading the league with 10 victories and putting up a 3.57 ERA. Soldinger was good again this year, going 6-5 with a 3.43 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 94.1 innings.

    Eric Stevens – RHP – 6’5 208
    Boston College
    Sophomore

    A tall righty, Stevens led the Eagles in appearances as a freshman. He moved into the rotation this year with mixed results. He went 5-3 with a 5.64 ERA. Control seems like it was the biggest issue. Stevens struck out 40 but walked 37.

    Ryan Thompson – RHP – 6’3 190
    Franklin Pierce
    Junior

    Thompson is a native of Calgary and started his career at UConn before transferring to Franklin Pierce. Last season was his first with the Ravens and he made a huge splash, ranking fifth in the nation in ERA and eighth in strikeouts. This year, Thompson went 5-2 with a 3.47 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched. Thompson is also an academic All-American.

    Michael Wagner – RHP – 6’4 185
    San Diego
    Sophomore

    Wagner had solid numbers as a reliever in 2011 but vaulted into the national consciousness with a great season in the closer’s role this year. Wagner ended up as one of the top closers in the nation, tying for second nationally in saves with 19. He also had a 2.58 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 59.1 innings pitched.

    Position Players

    Tom Bourdon – OF – 5’11 181 – Boston College – Sophomore
    Aaron Brown – OF/LHP – 6’1 200 – Pepperdine – Freshman
    *Alex Calbick – INF/OF – 6’0 190 – Maine – Sophomore
    Dale Carey – OF – 6’2 184 – Miami – Sophomore
    Alex Chittenden – SS – 6’0 186 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Adam Engel – OF – 6’2 213 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Dante Flores – INF – 5’10 160 – USC – Freshman
    Mike Fransoso – INF – 6’0 180 – Maine – Junior
    Andrew Knapp – C – 6’1 191 – California – Sophomore
    Nick LaCroix – OF – 6’0 200 – Franklin Pierce – Junior
    Louie Lechich – OF/LHP – 6’4 205 – San Diego – Sophomore
    John Martinez – C/OF – 5’10 185 – Michigan State – Junior
    Chad Morgan – C – 5’10 190 – Virginia Tech – Sophomore
    Chad Pinder – INF – 6’2 192 – Virginia Tech – Sophomore
    Pat Valaika – INF – 5’11 195 – UCLA – Sophomore

    Tom Bourdon – OF – 5’11 181
    Boston College
    Sophomore

    Bourdon was a 38th-round pick of the Red Sox after high school and headed to Boston — just not to the Red Sox. At Boston College, Bourdon had a solid freshman campaign before breaking out in a big way this year. He led the Eagles in almost every offensive category, hitting .324 with 10 home runs, 18 doubles and 37 RBI. He earned second-team all-ACC honors.

    Aaron Brown – OF/LHP – 6’1 200
    Pepperdine
    Freshman

    Chatham has had a couple of highly-touted freshmen from Pepperdine over the years, and Brown is the latest. A 17th-round pick out of high school, Brown hit .265 in his first year with the Waves. He also made 16 appearances on the mound, finishing with a 4.64 ERA.

    Alex Calbick – INF/OF – 6’0 190
    Maine
    Sophomore

    Calbick was an America East all-rookie pick last year then played 35 games with Chatham, where he hit .205. He followed that up with a strong sophomore season this year. He hit .287 with five homers, 18 doubles and 43 RBI.

    Dale Carey – OF – 6’2 184
    Miami
    Sophomore

    Carey was a 21st-round pick out of high school, and some doubts about his bat kept him from going higher. He is in the process of erasing some of those doubts at Miami. He hit .271 this spring with two homers, 11 doubles and 20 RBI. He stole nine bases.

    Alex Chittenden – SS – 6’0 186
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    After hitting .233 as a freshman last year, Chittenden was an all-star in the New England Collegiate Baseball League last year. He’ll be trying to replicate that New England success this summer, and he’s got a good season to build on. Chittenden hit .303 for the Cards this year while playing an outstanding defensive shortstop.

    Adam Engel – OF – 6’2 213
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    Engel was an all-star in the Coastal Plain League and he, too, has a good spring to build on as he looks for another big summer. Engel hit .308 and was one of the top speedsters in the nation, finishing with 37 stolen bases. That was good for fifth nationally.

    Dante Flores – INF – 5’10 160
    USC
    Freshman

    Flores was a 41st round pick out of high school who stuck with his commitment to USC. He had a solid freshman season with the Trojans, batting .310 with two homers and 19 RBI.

    Mike Fransoso – INF – 6’0 180
    Maine
    Junior

    Another Maine standout, Fransoso is coming off a tremendous sophomore season. He hit .327 with five home runs, 18 doubles, four triples and 26 RBI. He also stole 19 bases and had a .419 on-base percentage.

    Andrew Knapp – C – 6’1 191
    California
    Sophomore

    Knapp is no stranger to summer league success. After hitting .212 as a freshman with the Bears, Knapp headed to the Northwoods League and won the batting title with a .400 average in 43 games. Baseball America named him the league’s second-best prospect. This spring, Knapp hit .265 with five home runs and 26 RBI.

    Nick LaCroix – OF – 6’0 200
    Franklin Pierce
    Junior

    After hitting well as a sophomore, LaCroix had an even better junior campaign with Franklin Pierce. He batted .355 with four home runs and 44 RBI. He’s native of Grafton, Mass.

    Louie Lechich – OF/LHP – 6’4 205
    San Diego
    Sophomore

    Lechich transferred from Cal to San Diego and made an immediate impact for the Toreros this year. He hit .311 with a homer and 33 RBI. He also made three appearances on the mound, posting a 7.88 ERA.

    John Martinez – C/OF – 5’10 185
    Michigan State
    Junior

    Martinez didn’t see a ton of action in his first two years in East Lansing, but he made the most of an opportunity this year. Martinez hit .306 with three home runs, eight doubles and 32 RBI while starting 48 games.

    Chad Morgan – C – 5’10 190
    Virginia Tech
    Sophomore

    After redshirting in 20120, Morgan hit .245 in his debut last season. He slipped a bit this year, finishing with a .184 average.

    Chad Pinder – INF – 6’2 192
    Virginia Tech
    Sophomore

    Pinder wasn’t an everyday starter as a freshman but hit well when he had the chance. This year, he took a starting spot and ran with it, hitting .325 with seven homers, 22 doubles and 37 RBI.

    Pat Valaika – INF – 5’11 195
    UCLA
    Sophomore

    Valaika batted .238 as a freshman last year and put up similar numbers in the West Coast League. He broke out this year and is hitting .271 with 11 doubles as the Bruins head to Omaha.

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    2011 Early Look: Chatham Anglers

    anglers_logo_11.jpgChatham Anglers
    Manager: John Schiffner
    2010 Record: 20-22-2

    The way they started the season, the 2010 Chatham Anglers looked like a force to be reckoned with. They’re middle of the order was raking, and the pitching was on target. The Anglers won five of their first six games.

    But the great season didn’t materialize. Chatham started sliding then had a stretch where it lost 15 of 17 games. After its promising start, Chatham ended up finishing in last place in the East and didn’t make the eight-team playoffs.

    The Anglers will be pushing for a bounce back with a lot of new faces — and the franchise’s typical stable of talent.

    Zack Jones, Chris Munnelly, Beau Amaral and Stephen Perez return from last year’s team. They were all contributors but not the driving forces. I imagine they’ll be counted on a little more this year.

    Thankfully for Chatham, it looks like there’s a nice influx of talent coming. Tim Cooney, Buck Farmer, Dominic Leone and Hudson Randall are impressive-looking starters in top-notch leagues. With Jones, Florida reliever Steven Rodriguez and UCLA freshman standout Nick Vander Tuig in the bullpen, that looks like a strength as well.

    In the lineup, Chatham figures to get a lot from Pac-10 Player of the Year Tony Renda, WCC Co-Player of the Year Kris Bryant and Clemson standout Richie Shaffer.

    All in all, I don’t know that the Anglers have as much pop or prospect hype as they did last year. But we saw how that worked out — this recipe could be okay too.

    Roster Rundown
    Returning Players: 4
    Juniors: 2
    Sophomores: 19
    Freshmen: 7

    Notable

  • Wake Forest isn’t a baseball power in the ACC, but Tim Cooney fit the mold of a power’s ace. The lefty struck out 91 this year and earned second-team all-conference honors.

  • Staying with the Demon Deacons, Matt Conway will be the second really tall first baseman to go from Wake to Chatham. Allan Dykstra was really solid for Chatham a few years back, and Conway wouldn’t mind following a similar path.

  • For an indication of how good Buck Farmer’s sophomore season was, consider this: he tied 2011 first-round pick and Georgia Tech teammate Jed Bradley for the team lead in strikeouts and had a better ERA than Bradley.

  • Chatham may have some of the strongest starting pitching in the league, considering the track record of the guys I mentioned above — and the leagues they play in. If Florida’s Hudson Randall makes it to the Cape, the rotation will be even better.

  • Nick Vander Tuig will be an interesting guy to watch. He was considered a first-round talent until Tommy John surgery. He seems fine now, and dominated as a freshman for UCLA.
  • I’ve read some articles questioning Tony Renda’s selection as Pac-10 Player of the Year. The doubts are justified — plenty of guys had better seasons. But lost in that is the fact that Renda did have a very good season.

  • Dane Phillips is a big-hitting catcher for Oklahoma State. I was slightly surprised to learn, then, that he led the Big 12 in triples.

  • With former Chatham coach Rich Hill at the helm, San Diego has sent some very good prospects to Chatham over the years. Kris Bryant is next in line. As a freshman, all he did was win WCC Player of the Year honors.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Hudson Randall
    2. Buck Farmer
    3. Kris Bryant
    4. Tim Cooney
    5. Richie Shaffer

    Pitchers

    Tim Cooney – LHP – 6’3 195 – Wake Forest – Sophomore
    Trae Davis – RHP – 5’11 208 – Baylor – Freshman
    Buck Farmer – RHP – 6’4 227 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    Jeff Gibbs – RHP – 6’5 200 – Maine – Sophomore
    Tucker Healy – RHP – 6’1 195 – Ithaca – Junior
    Eric Jaffe – RHP – 6’4 230 – UCLA – Freshman
    *Zack Jones – RHP/IF – 6’2 200 – San Jose State – Sophomore
    Dace Kime – RHP – 6’4 213 – Louisville – Freshman
    Matt Koch – RHP – 6’3 205 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Dominic Leone – RHP – 5’11 185 – Clemson – Sophomore
    *Chris Munnelly – RHP – 6’3 185 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    Cody Penny – RHP – 6’3 195 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    Hudson Randall – RHP – 6’3 185 – Florida – Sophomore
    Steven Rodriguez – LHP – 6’2 225 – Florida – Sophomore
    Nick Vander Tuig – RHP – 6’3 190 – UCLA – Freshman

    Tim Cooney – LHP – 6’3 195
    Wake Forest
    Sophomore

    Cooney pitched a lot as a freshman in 2010 but had some struggles, finishing with an ERA above five. It was a completely different story this year as Cooney earned second-team All-ACC honors with a huge sophomore season in Wake’s rotation. Cooney finished 7-3 with a 3.01 ERA. In 98.2 innings, he struck out 91 and walked only 18.

    Trae Davis – RHP – 5’11 208
    Baylor
    Freshman

    Davis was a three-sport stand-out and one of the top prospects in texas coming out of high school. He struggled a bit in his first year with the Bears, posting a 6.75 ERA while striking out 18 and walking 18.

    Buck Farmer – RHP – 6’4 227
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    Farmer was a late-round draft pick out of high school and had a solid first season as a reliever for the Yellow Jackets. He then went to the Coastal Plain League last summer and was named the league’s second-best prospect by Baseball America. This spring, Farmer took a big leap. Moving into the weekend rotation, he went 11-3 with a 2.91 ERA and 106 strikeouts. He was named second-team all-ACC.

    Jeff Gibbs – RHP – 6’5 200
    Maine
    Sophomore

    Gibbs has had two solid seasons for the Black Bears and will be trying to make a splash on a bigger stage this summer. As a freshman, Gibbs had a 3.94 ERA and led the team in strikeouts. This year, he went 8-5 with a 3.42 ERA and struck out 69 in 76.1 innings.

    Tucker Healy – RHP – 6’1 195
    Ithaca
    Junior

    A native of Needham, Mass., Healy is a two-time all-conference pick for Ithaca. Last year, he posted a 1.17 ERA and struck out 47 in just 30 innings. This year, his ERA climbed to 5.00, but he still struck out 28 in 18 innings.

    Eric Jaffe – RHP – 6’4 230
    UCLA
    Freshman

    Jaffe was a 19th-round pick of the Red Sox last year but opted to attend California. He then transferred to UCLA and was declared eligible for this year, but didn’t see any action for the Bruins.

    Zack Jones – RHP/IF – 6’2 200
    San Jose State
    Sophomore

    A 24th-round pick out of high school, Jones was voted the WAC Freshman of the Year in 2010. He then headed to Chatham, where he posted a 2.33 ERA in 11 relief appearances. Pitching as the Spartans’ closer again this spring, Jones saved 10 games, posted a 3.98 ERA and struck out 53 in 43 innings.

    Dace Kime – RHP – 6’4 213
    Louisville
    Freshman

    Kime was drafted in the eighth round out of high school then delivered a strong first season in Louisville’s bullpen. Kime made 15 appearances, posted a 3.96 ERA and struck out 25 in 25 innings of work.

    Matt Koch – RHP – 6’3 205
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    A late-round pick in 2009, Koch has been solid throughout his two years with the Cardinals. Last year, he had a 3.27 ERA. This year, he started 11 games and went 5-5 with a 3.48 ERA.

    Dominic Leone – RHP – 5’11 185
    Clemson
    Sophomore

    Leone is a native of Norwich, Conn., so he’ll be coming close to home this summer. And he’ll be coming in off a very good season. A weekend starter, Leone went 6-2 with a 3.70 ERA. In 65.2 innings, he struck out a team-best 72.

    Chris Munnelly – RHP – 6’3 185
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    After a so-so freshman season, Munnelly came to Chatham and quietly put up some of the best numbers on the Anglers’ staff. He ended up with a 1.71 ERA and 22 strikeouts. This spring, Munnelly has gone 6-5 with a 4.11 ERA 57 strikeouts in 70 innings.

    Cody Penny – RHP – 6’3 195
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    Penny has pitched out of the bullpen in his first two years with the Tar Heels. This year, he’s made 22 appearances and has a 5.62 ERA, to go with 18 strikeouts in 16 innings.

    Hudson Randall – RHP – 6’3 185
    Florida
    Sophomore

    Randall has been steadily dominant for the Gators in his second season in Gainesville. Emerging as the Friday starter, Randall has gone 9-3 with a 2.38 ERA. Though he has only struck out 54 in 102 innings, he has displayed masterful control, walking just 10 in those 102 innings.

    Steven Rodriguez – LHP – 6’2 225
    Florida
    Sophomore

    After a strong freshman season in Florida’s bullpen, it’s been more of the same this year for Rodriguez. While making a team-high 27 appearances, Rodriguez has put up a 1.44 ERA and has struck out 34 in 31.1 innings of work.

    Nick Vander Tuig – RHP – 6’3 190
    UCLA
    Freshman

    Vander Tuig had first-round credentials out of high school but was coming off Tommy John surgery and slipped to the 39th round in last year’s draft. UCLA was the beneficiary. Vander Tuig grabbed the closer’s role for the Bruins and never let go, recording nine saves and a 2.90 ERA. He also struck out a batter an inning.

    Position Players

    *Beau Amaral – OF – 5’10 185 – UCLA – Sophomore
    Kris Bryant – 3B – 6’5 210 – San Diego – Freshman
    Alex Calbick – IF/OF – 6’0 190 – Maine – Freshman
    Matt Conway – 1B – 6’7 231 – Wake Forest – Sophomore
    Evan Marzilli – OF – 5’11 175 – South Carolina – Sophomore
    Darrel Matthews – OF – 5’8 160 – California – Sophomore
    *Stephen Perez – IF – 5’11 182 – Miami – Sophomore
    Dane Phillips – C – 6’1 192 – Oklahoma State – Sophomore
    Tony Renda – IF – 5’9 170 – California – Sophomore
    Matt Roberts – C – 6’1 185 – North Carolina – Freshman
    Joe Sever – IF – 5’11 187 – Pepperdine – Sophomore
    Richie Shaffer – 1B/3B – 6’3 205 – Clemson – Sophomore
    J.T. Watkins – C – 5’11 190 – Army – Junior

    Beau Amaral – OF – 5’10 185
    UCLA
    Sophomore

    The son of former big leaguer Rich Amaral, Beau will be back for a second summer in Chatham. Last year, he hit .232 for the Anglers. This spring, he was one of UCLA’s top hitters, finishing at .299 with two homers, 29 RBI and a .404 on-base percentage.

    Kris Bryant – 3B – 6’5 210
    San Diego
    Freshman

    Bryant was highly-touted coming out of high school and was drafted in the 18th round. He hasn’t disappointed at San Diego. After hitting .365 with nine home runs and a .482 OBP, Bryant was named the WCC Co-Freshman and Co-Player of the Year.

    Alex Calbick – IF/OF – 6’0 190
    Maine
    Freshman

    Calbick came to Maine all the way from British Columbia and had a solid first season. He started all but one of the team’s games, hit .280 and delivered five home runs.

    Matt Conway – 1B – 6’7 231
    Wake Forest
    Sophomore

    Conway shined as a freshman for the Demon Deacons, hitting a team-best .382 with six homers. He didn’t have quite as much success average-wise this year, finishing at .256, but he hit six home runs again and ranked second on the team with 38 RBI.

    Evan Marzilli – OF – 5’11 175
    South Carolina
    Sophomore

    Marzilli grabbed a starting spot for the Gamecocks last season and had a big hand in the team’s run to the College World Series title. This year, he’s been a key from day one. Marzilli is hitting .302 with three homers and 30 RBI as South Carolina tries to get back to Omaha.

    Darrel Matthews – OF – 5’8 160
    California
    Sophomore

    Matthews batted .259 as a freshman and had similar production this season, finishing with a .267 average and nine extra-base hits.

    Stephen Perez – IF – 5’11 182
    Miami
    Sophomore

    Perez was considered one of the top freshmen in the country a year ago and had a solid first season for Miami. He struggled in Chatham, though, finishing the summer with a .162 batting average. This spring, he hit .262 with 12 doubles and 31 RBI.

    Dane Phillips – C – 6’1 192
    Oklahoma State
    Sophomore

    Phillips was a 49th-round pick out of high school then delivered a strong first season for the Cowboys, hitting .337 with three home runs. It was more of the same this year, with Phillips hitting .339 with four homers and 32 RBI. He also had 16 doubles and a Big 12-high eight triples.

    Tony Renda – IF – 5’9 170
    California
    Sophomore

    After delivering one of the best freshman seasons in school history last year, Renda took home Pac-10 Player of the Year honors this year. He finished the season with a .335 average, three home runs, 14 doubles and a team-best 41 RBI. He also stole nine bases.

    Matt Roberts – C – 6’1 185
    North Carolina
    Freshman

    Roberts was a 38th-round pick out of high school. He hasn’t seen a ton of action for the Tar Heels and has hit .211 so far.

    Joe Sever – IF – 5’11 187
    Pepperdine
    Sophomore

    As a freshman in 2010, Sever led the Waves in batting average before delivering a strong summer in the Northwoods League. This year, he was solid again, hitting .279 with a team-best six home runs.

    Richie Shaffer – 1B/3B – 6’3 205
    Clemson
    Sophomore

    Shaffer was a 25th-round pick out of high school and made a splash last year at Clemson despite battling injuries. He hit .323 with seven homers. This year, Shaffer wasn’t hampered by much of anything. He hit .315 with a team-best 13 home runs and 55 RBI. He tied for second in the ACC in home runs.

    J.T. Watkins – C – 5’11 190
    Army
    Junior

    Watkins has been Army’s starting catcher since day one. As a freshman, he hit .256 then last year bumped it to .320. This year, he hit .298 with two homers and 27 RBI.

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    Chatham Notes

    The Anglers started fast last summer but cooled off significantly and ended up finishing in last place in the East. Chatham was fourth in the league in ERA but last in batting average.

    2010 Notes

  • Southern Cal’s Ricky Oropesa got off to a quick start and did finish tied for the league lead in home runs with seven. But he also hit .222 and led the league in strikeouts. Still, I’d expect a big junior season for him.

  • Like Oropesa, Siena’s Dan Paolini got off to a good start, and it looked like the two of them could carry the Anglers. Paolini ended up hitting .200, though, with just one home run. While that performance may have raised a few questions, Paolini is still the top player and top 2011 prospect in his conference. Baseball America featured him last week.

  • Pepperdine’s Brian Humphries had a solid summer for Chatham, hitting .253 with 12 doubles. Baseball America has selected him as a preseason all-conference pick.

  • Vanderbilt’s Aaron Westlake emerged as Chatham’s top hitter as the summer went on and he closed out his season with a .292 average and five home runs, good enough for all-league honors. He’s a preseason all-conference pick and he’s rated by BA as the 66th best college prospect in the nation.

  • Baylor’s Logan Verrett was consistently great last summer, ranking as one of the top pitchers in the league. He finished with a 0.87 ERA and earned all-league honors. He was also Chatham’s top prospect, checking in at No. 19 on BA’s list.

    • 2011 Notes

  • The Anglers currently list five returning players, a group headed by sophomores Beau Amaral and Stephen Perez. Both had their struggles last summer, but they’re two pretty good players to build around.

  • Maine sophomore pitcher Jeff Gibbs was on the Chatham roster last spring but didn’t make it for the summer. The native of Canada had a great first season at Maine, finishing with a 3.94 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 75 innings. He’s a BA preseason all-conference pick this year and out-ranks Nick Tropeano on the list of top America East prospects.

  • Hudson Randall is part of a deep Florida pitching staff that has the Gators ranked No. 1 in the country. He was second on the team in ERA as a freshman.

  • I don’t know if Ithaca has ever sent a player to the Cape, but relief pitcher Tucker Healy is set to go this year. A junior, Healy had a 1.17 ERA last spring and was named the top relief pitcher in the NECBL over the summer.

  • In Pepperdine pitcher Scott Frazier and San Diego infielder Kris Bryant, the Anglers have two of BA’s top three newcomers in the West Coast Conference. Frazier drew major attention last spring when he struck out 18 in a no-hitter during the high-school season. He was then drafted in the fifth round. Bryant was an 18th-round pick out of high school.

  • South Carolina’s Evan Marzilli came on late last season and was a key part of South Carolina’s run to the College World Series championship. He kept his personal momentum going by flashing big potential in a short stint in the NECBL. BA had him as the league’s fifth-best prospect.

    • Posted on

    Early Look: Chatham

    anglers_logo_11.jpgChatham Anglers
    Manager: John Schiffner
    2009 Record: 21-23

    Last summer, the Chatham Anglers started as fast as any team in recent memory, winning eight of their first nine games. The rest of the summer, they won 13 of 35 games and finished below .500. When the season was done, the Anglers were eighth in team batting average and ninth in ERA.

    The Anglers wouldn’t mind a repeat of the fast start this summer, and the team they’ll trot out has a lot of similarities to last year’s squad, namely the fact that the roster that shouldn’t be hit too hard by the College World Series or Team USA. That can always help pave the way for a fast start, and right now, the Anglers don’t have a single player with a Team USA invitation, nor are they relying on a large cast from a powerhouse program.

    Obviously, though, the Chatham franchise would like to see more than just a fast start.

    If there’s a difference this year, it’s the offense. Part-time catcher Mike Murray was the only player who hit over .300 for the Anglers last year. Based on college stats, I think this year’s team has a lot more potential. In Ricky Oropesa and Dan Paolini, the Anglers have two polished sophomore who are having outstanding springs. And the list goes on. Pretty much every position player on the Anglers roster is having a really good spring. If everyone makes it, there’s going to be some serious competition for playing time.

    The question, as I see it, is the pitching staff. Logan Verrett is an ace in waiting and several other pitchers are having good springs. But I count seven who really aren’t having good springs. That’s a big chunk, and those guys will need to rebound if the Anglers are going to have success.

    I always write the pitching bios first, so I’ll be honest: when I got to the end of that, I didn’t think Chatham was in line for a resurgence. But the offensive players changed my outlook. On paper, I think the Anglers are a little behind Orleans, but that’ll mean nothing in June.

    The Anglers haven’t been major players in the league landscape since 2007, when they pushed Y-D pretty hard in the East. I think they could very well be players again in 2010.

    Roster Rundown
    Returning Players: 8
    Juniors: 3
    Sophomores: 21
    Freshmen: 5

    Notable

  • There are always players on my Cape League radar screen, guys I’ve followed or read about. Most of the top players are there, but Dan Paolini wasn’t. He’s at Siena and he played in the Great South League last summer, which isn’t a real well-established league. After writing about him today, I have him firmly on the radar. Paolini hit .430 with power as a freshman. This year, he’s at .369 with 22 home runs, a Siena record. He’s likely to be the college home run leader among 2010 Cape Leaguers. All this from a 6’0 second baseman. He’s clearly a breakout candidate.

  • USC’s Ricky Oropesa has been on the radar and he’s not staying right where he is. The Anglers didn’t get a full summer out of Oropesa last year and he struggled. But he’s doing big things this spring, and I like him as a candidate both for MVP and top prospect.

  • Logan Verrett is pretty clearly the best pitcher on the Anglers staff right now, both in terms of stats and reputation. He’s one of the best sophomore arms in the country and should be one of the best on the Cape.

  • Over the years, Chatham has been home to a lot of really good shortstops, going all the way back to Brian Roberts and Seth Davidson and up through Grant Green. This year, the Anglers have two who look capable of carrying the torch. UCLA’s Tyler Rahmatulla played with the Anglers last year and will come back off a really strong sophomore season. Miami freshman Stephen Perez is one of the top prospects in his class.

  • Speaking of footsteps, the Anglers always seem to have a pitcher or two from Maine. This year, it’s Jeff Gibbs and he could end up as one of the best Black Bears the Anglers have had. He’s having a great freshman campaign.

  • When the Anglers signed Dan Klein, I imagine they thought of him as veteran arm who would lend a lot of help to the bullpen. Now, Klein may never see Chatham. He’s become one of the best closers in the country and is a top 50 prospect for the draft.

  • I’ll be really curious to see how Chatham sorts out its infield. They have nine infielders on the roster, and eight of them are putting up good spring numbers.

  • I feel like I’ve been writing about Erik Goeddel for as long as I’ve been doing this blog. That’s a little bit of an exaggeration but not much of one. He was on Y-D’s roster back in 2008 and on Brewster’s roster in 2009. He has made one Cape League appearance. Injuries have taken a huge bite out of his college career, but he’s still the guy who was one of the top pitchers in his high school class. This spring, he’s healthy and pitching well for UCLA>

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Ricky Oropesa
    2. Dan Paolini
    3. Logan Verrett
    4. Tyler Rahmatulla
    5. Stephen Perez

    Pitchers

    Garrett Davis – RHP – 6’4 195 – North Carolina – RS Sophomore
    *Mike Dennhardt – RHP – 6’1 205 – Boston College – Sophomore
    Aaron Gates – LHP/IF – 6’1 178 – Pepperdine – Sophomore
    Jeff Gibbs – RHP – 6’3 180 – Maine – Freshman
    Erik Goeddel – RHP – 6’3 185 – UCLA – RS Sophomore
    *Patrick Johnson – RHP – 5’10 170 – North Carolina – Junior
    Dan Klein – RHP – 6’3 190 – UCLA – RS Sophomore
    Greg Larson – RHP – 6’8 215 – Florida – Sophomore
    Ken Monteith – RHP – 6’2 205 – Winthrop – Sophomore
    Chris Munnelly – RHP – 6’2 170 – North Carolina – Freshman
    Hudson Randall – RHP – 6’3 180 – Florida – Freshman
    Phil Schreiber – RHP – 6’0 195 – Iowa – Sophomore
    *Logan Verrett – RHP – 6’2 180 – Baylor – Sophomore
    Joe Zimmerman – RHP – 6’1 205 – New Orleans – Sophomore

    * – returning player
    (Stats as of May 9)

    Garrett Davis – RHP – 6’4 195
    North Carolina
    RS Sophomore

    Davis’ North Carolina career finally got off the ground this season. In 2008, Davis had Tommy John surgery and redshirted. He was still recovering last year and made only nine appearances. Davis has made 14 appearances this season, including seven starts. He’s 3-3 with a 4.73 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 32.1 innings. Coming out of high school, Davis was one of the top prospects in North Carolina.

    Mike Dennhardt – RHP – 6’1 205
    Boston College
    Sophomore

    Dennhardt will be in his second summer with the Anglers, and he’ll be looking for a bit of a rebound. After starting eight games for Chatham and posting a 2.76 ERA, Dennhardt has struggled this spring. He’s 3-6 with a 6.39 ERA, and he’s surrendered 77 hits in 56.1 innings of work. He had a decent start last time out, allowing three runs in 5.1 innings. Two years ago, Dennhardt was a 17th-round pick out of high school.

    Aaron Gates – LHP/IF – 6’1 178
    Pepperdine
    Sophomore

    Gates is a two-way player for the Waves and he had success doing both last summer in the Northwoods League. This spring, he’s done a bit more pitching. In 15 appearances, he has a 5.74 ERA. At the plate, Gates is hitting .214. Out of high school, he was a 33rd-round pick.

    Jeff Gibbs – RHP – 6’3 180
    Maine
    Freshman

    Gibbs is a native of Canada and he got drafted by the Blue Jays in the 48th round of last June’s draft. But he opted to head south to Maine, and if his first season is any indication, he’ll be making a name for himself pretty soon. Gibbs vaulted immediately into Maine’s weekend rotation, and he’s been the team’s best pitcher. He’s 5-3 with a 3.84 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 63.1 innings.

    Erik Goeddel – RHP – 6’3 185
    UCLA
    RS Sophomore

    Injuries forced Goeddel to redshirt in 2008 and he saw only limited action last season. This year, the former top-100 prospect seems to have found his niche in the Bruin bullpen. He’s made 23 appearances and he’s sporting a 3.09 ERA. In 32 innings, he has struck out 37 and walked only 16.

    Patrick Johnson – RHP – 5’10 170
    North Carolina
    Junior

    From his role as a mid-week starter with the Tar Heels, Johnson emerged as a valuable member of Chatham’s rotation last summer. He ended up with a 2-1 record and 2.76 ERA. Opportunities have continued to expand this spring for Johnson, who’s pitching in the weekend rotation. He’s currently 4-3 with a 3.76 ERA.

    Dan Klein – RHP – 6’3 190
    UCLA
    RS Sophomore

    Before this year, Klein’s career at UCLA had been pretty non-descript. He made seven appearances in 2008 and redshirted in 2009. This season, Klein has been anything but ordinary. In a year that has made him into one of the best closers in the nation, Klein has a 1.11 ERA and eight saves. In 32.1 innings, he has struck out 41 and walked only seven. He hasn’t allowed a home run all season, and opponents are hitting .188 against him.

    Greg Larson – RHP – 6’8 215
    Florida
    Sophomore

    Larson might end up being the tallest player on the Cape this summer, and I imagine he’ll draw some attention from scouts. Larson had a 3.45 ERA out of the bullpen for the Gators last year. This season, his strikeout numbers are up and his walks are down but he’s gotten hit a lot harder. Despite 19 strikeouts and three walks, he has an 8.34 ERA.

    Ken Monteith – RHP – 6’2 205
    Winthrop
    Sophomore

    A native of New Jersey, Monteith headed south to play for the Eagles. He had a successful freshman campaign while pitching out of the bullpen but he has run into some trouble this year. He’s 0-2 right now with a 12.83 ERA.

    Chris Munnelly – RHP – 6’2 170
    North Carolina
    Freshman

    Munnelly has some typical true freshman numbers, with an ERA that’s a little high and a few more hits than you’d like to see. The unusual thing is that Munnelly has gotten a lot of opportunities. He’s made 19 appearances — 15 out of the bullpen — and he’s fourth on the team in innings pitched. While his ERA sits at 5.28, he has struck out 45 in 46 innings.

    Hudson Randall – RHP – 6’3 180
    Florida
    Freshman

    Randall is one of two freshmen who have worked their way into the Gators’ weekend rotation. Brian Johnson (Falmouth) has been good and so has Randall. He’s currently 6-2 with a 2.94 ERA. In 64.1 innings, he has 44 strikeouts and 15 walks. Randall was a 46th-round pick last year.

    Phil Schreiber – RHP – 6’0 195
    Iowa
    Sophomore

    After pitching in the rotation and out of the bullpen last year, Schreiber has moved into the weekend rotation for Iowa this year with mixed results. In 11 starts, he’s 3-5 with a 5.37 ERA. He has struck out 29 and walked 23. In the Prospect League last summer, Schreiber was very good. He went 6-0 with a 1.30 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 48.1 innings.

    Logan Verrett – RHP – 6’2 180
    Baylor
    Sophomore

    Verrett came into Baylor with some strong credentials. Not everything matched up perfectly in his freshman year, though: he struck out more than a batter an inning but had an ERA over five. Still, he showed enough to get an invite to Team USA. He didn’t make the final cut but came to Chatham and had a nice summer. This year, he has taken the steps forward you might expect. He’s 4-3 with a 3.06 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 67.2 innings.

    Joe Zimmerman – RHP – 6’1 205
    New Orleans
    Sophomore

    Zimmerman averaged almost a strikeout per inning for the Privateers as a freshmen and he led the team in Ks. Things have not gone as well this season. Zimmerman is 0-6 with a 7.79 ERA. In 49.2 innings, he has struck out 19 and walked 16.

    Position Players

    *Phillip Pohl – C – 6’0 195 – Clemson – Sophomore
    *Jacob Stallings – C – 6’4 180 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    *Tom Belza – IF/OF – 6’1 185 – Oklahoma State – Junior
    Mark Ginther – IF – 6’3 198 – Oklahoma State – Sophomore
    *Ricky Oropesa – IF/P – 6’3 225 – USC – Sophomore
    Dan Paolini – IF/OF – 6′ 0 195 – Siena – Sophomore
    Stephen Perez – IF – 5’11 175 – Miami – Freshman
    *Tyler Rahmatulla – IF – 5’10 180 – UCLA – Sophomore
    Riley Reynolds – IF – 6’1 200 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
    Kevin Vance – IF/P – 6’0 205 – Connecticut – Sophomore
    Aaron Westlake – 1B – 6′ 3 235 – Vanderbilt – RS Sophomore
    Beau Amaral – OF – 5’11 175 – UCLA – Freshman
    Brian Humphries – OF – 6’2 195 – Pepperdine – Sophomore
    Jason Martin – OF – 5’8 165 – San Jose State – Junior
    Peter Verdin – OF – 6’0 198 – Georgia – Sophomore

    * – returning player

    Phillip Pohl – C – 6’0 195
    Clemson
    Sophomore

    Pohl was a 44th-round pick out of high school. He struggled with the bat in his first year at Clemson, then hit .179 in limited duty for Chatham last summer. This year, Pohl is hitting .241 with 17 RBI.

    Jacob Stallings – C – 6’4 180
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    North Carolina has sent quite a few talented catchers to the Cape over the years, and Stallings will try to fit that the mold. He didn’t see a ton of action as a freshmen and didn’t hit that well. He’s had a few more chances this season and he’s hitting .253 with 10 extra-base hits. Stallings played in 13 games for Chatham last summer.

    Tom Belza – IF/OF – 6’1 185
    Oklahoma State
    Junior

    Belza is a bona fide Cape League veteran at this point. He played for Y-D in the summer of 2008 and Chatham last year. Along the way, he’s been a steady force and one of the best hitters in the Oklahoma State lineup. After hitting .183 for the Anglers last summer, Belza is batting .289 this spring.

    Mark Ginther – IF – 6’3 198
    Oklahoma State
    Sophomore

    Ginther will join Belza, and if he keeps it up, he’ll be coming in off a really good season. He’s hitting at a .324 clip so far, and he leads the Cowboys with nine home runs. He’s also got 15 doubles and 47 RBI. Ginther was a 48th-round pick out of high school.

    Ricky Oropesa – IF/P – 6’3 225
    USC
    Sophomore

    Oropesa lived up to the hype as a freshman with the Trojans but he had his struggles on the Cape. If this spring is any indication, that won’t happen again. Oropesa is hitting .354 with 12 home runs, 18 doubles and 47 RBI. He leads the Trojans in just about every offensive category.

    Dan Paolini – IF/OF – 6′ 0 195
    Siena
    Sophomore

    Paolini has done nothing but hit at a really high level since arriving at Siena. On his way to MAAC Rookie of the Year honors last season, Paolini hit .430 with 11 home runs and 53 RBI. He hasn’t really dropped off this season. He’s currently batting .369 with 22 home runs and 53 RBI. He has already broken the Siena single-season home run record.

    Stephen Perez – IF – 5’11 175
    Miami
    Freshman

    Perez was an 18th-round pick out of high school last year, and he’s been on every list I’ve seen of the best freshman prospects in the nation. He hasn’t had an eye-popping first season, but he is starting every game at shortstop for Miami, so that’s saying something. He’s hitting .275 with five homers, 12 doubles and 28 RBI. He has also stolen 19 bases.

    Tyler Rahmatulla – IF – 5’10 180
    UCLA
    Sophomore

    Rahmatulla came to Chatham last summer with some hype but he hit just .101 in 27 games. This year, he’ll bring with him more than hype — he’ll also carry an outstanding spring to build on. Rahmatulla is hitting .354 for the Bruins with five home runs, 14 doubles and 31 RBI.

    Riley Reynolds – IF – 6’1 200
    Vanderbilt
    Sophomore

    Reynolds hit .332 with 16 doubles for the Commodores last year and his performance earned him an SEC All-Freshman nod. His second season in Nashville hasn’t been as good. Reynolds is hitting .209 this spring.

    Kevin Vance – IF/P – 6’0 205
    Connecticut
    Sophomore

    Vance came to Storrs all the way from Solana Beach, Calif. His first season on the East coast was pretty uneventful — he got 39 at-bats for the Huskies and had eight hits. This season, Vance is having a much better time. He’s hitting .355 with six homers, 10 doubles and 31 RBI.

    Aaron Westlake – 1B – 6′ 3 235
    Vanderbilt
    RS Sophomore

    Westlake saw some action for Vandy back in 2008, but an injury cost him most of the season and he earned a medical redshirt. In 2009, he made a comeback in a big way, winning the SEC batting title with a .377 average. He then hit .313 with Newport of the NECBL. This year, Westlake is having a solid campaign. He’s hitting .315 with seven homers, 13 doubles and 41 RBI.

    Beau Amaral – OF – 5’11 175
    UCLA
    Freshman

    A 45th-round pick out of high school, Amaral has made a big impact in his first season at UCLA. He currently leads the team in hitting with a .356 average. He’s also got two homers and 14 RBI.

    Brian Humphries – OF – 6’2 195
    Pepperdine
    Sophomore

    I read a lot of good things about Humphries heading into his freshman season, but he hasn’t quite turned into a star yet. He hit .305 for the Waves last year and started every game in center field. After hitting .264 in the Northwoods League, Humphries has hit .252 this spring, with two homers and 14 RBI.

    Jason Martin – OF – 5’8 165
    San Jose State
    Junior

    Martin was a recruited walk-on at San Jose State and he’s undersized. But in three years with the Spartans, he has become one of the team’s best players. This season, he’s hitting .387 with a .442 on-base percentage. San Jose is listed as Martin’s hometown, but his bio also notes that he was born in Worcester, Mass.

    Peter Verdin – OF – 6’0 198
    Georgia
    Sophomore

    Verdin saw part-time duty for the Bulldogs last year. This season, he’s been a regular and he’s had a solid year. He’s currently hitting .289 with seven homers, 14 doubles and 26 RBI. He also has 12 steals.