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2012 Early Look: Harwich Mariners

TeamLogo_Harwich2003.jpgHarwich Mariners
Manager: Steve Englert
2011 Record: 24-19-1

Harwich has won two of the last four Cape Cod Baseball League championships, including the 2012 crown. At the start of the playoffs, I’m not sure I would have picked them in either year they won (they were 24-20-1 in 2008 and 24-19-1 last year). But twice now, they’ve seemed to shine when the stage was at its biggest.

That’s something that you can’t predict, and it’s something that is probably more related to the identity of an individual team than the identity of an organization. But at the same time, Harwich is clearly doing things right. The Mariners are bringing in a lot of talent year after year and they seem to have the right guy to mold it in Englert.

This year is no different. There are 35 players on the roster at this point so there will certainly be shuffling. But when it’s all sorted out in August, I wouldn’t be surprised if Harwich was the most talented team on the Cape.

And if they hit their playoff stride again, watch out.

Roster Rundown
Returning Players: 3
Juniors: 8
Sophomores: 17
Freshmen: 10

Notable

  • Harwich has a huge roster at this point, with 35 players listed, so not all of these guys will end up on the Cape. But if this is a case of throwing a lot to the wall and seeing what sticks, it looks like a pretty good plan. Lots of talent here. I could have gone 10 deep on the players I’m excited to see without having to stretch it.

  • The Mariners had an outstanding bullpen last season and it was one of the biggest reasons they won the championship. Whether the 2012 crew can replicate that success remains to be seen, but there’s certainly potential with guys like C.K. Irby, Evan Mitchell and Brandon Woodruff looking like candidates to lead the way.

  • Aaron Nola has followed in his brother Austin’s footsteps at LSU, and now he’s following Austin’s path to Harwich. Aaron is coming in off a great freshman season.

  • The Mariners have done well with Missouri State pitchers over the years, and they’ve got two more coming this year in returnee Grant Gordon and newcomer Tyler Burgess. But the Mariners were also supposed to have Missouri State’s Nick Petree, the Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Year. He is no longer on the roster.

  • Another mid-major program that’s had some success in Harwich is Samford, who sent flamethrower Lex Rutledge a few years ago. Two more will come from Samford this year and they bring big credentials with them. C.K. Irby was an outstanding two way player and Phil Ervin had a huge season with the bat.

  • Kentucky had two star freshmen this year in A.J. Reed and Austin Cousino. While Cousino has been invited to Team USA and probably won’t make it to Hyannis, Reed is still on the Harwich roster. He’s got the potential a star at the plate and on the mound.

  • I love when hometown players get a chance to play in the Cape League, and Harwich is giving that opportunity to native son Andrew Sadoski. He may be able to hold his own too, after an outstanding spring on the mound at Bridgewater State.

  • The Jared King on the Harwich roster is one of two Jared Kings expected to be on the Cape this summer. The other is from Kansas State and is on the Falmouth roster. I’m definitely going to confuse the two of them at some point.

  • I will also confuse Notre Dame players Eric Jagielo and Trey Mancini, who had nearly identical numbers this spring. I already had to check their names like three times for this note.

  • If you didn’t see him last year, you should make a point to go to a Harwich game and watch Austin Wilson. At 6’5, 245 and with plenty of athleticism, he is not the type of player you typically see making it to college or making it to the Cape. With a good summer, Wilson could secure his spot as the major prospect he’s always been touted as.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Austin Wilson
    2. Brian Ragira
    3. Aaron Nola
    4. Brett Austin
    5. Eric Skoglund

    Pitchers

    Tyler Burgess – LHP – 6’0 185 – Missouri State – Freshman
    Eddie Campbell – LHP – 6’0 195 – Virginia Tech – Sophomore
    *Grant Gordon – RHP – 6’0 180 – Missouri State – Junior
    Justin Hageman – RHP – 6’2 205 – Western Kentucky – Sophomore
    Ryan Harvey – RHP – 6’2 220 – Seton Hall – Junior
    C.K. Irby – RHP/INF – 6’2 195 – Samford – Sophomore
    Dimitri Kourtis – RHP – 6’3 190 – Mercer – Freshman
    Clark Labitan – RHP – 5’9 170 – Virginia Tech – Junior
    Corey Littrell – LHP – 6’3 195 – Kentucky – Sophomore
    Dylan Maki – RHP – 6’1 205 – Northeastern – Junior
    Evan Mitchell – RHP – 6’2 176 – Mississippi State – Sophomore
    Aaron Nola – RHP – 6’2 180 – LSU – Freshman
    Garrett Nuss – RHP – 6’2 190 – Central Florida – Freshman
    Cole Pitts – RHP – 6’5 225 – Georgia Tech – Freshman
    A.J. Reed – LHP/INF – 6’4 230 – Kentucky – Freshman
    Andrew Sadoski – RHP – 6’4 200 – Bridgewater State – Sophomore
    Eric Skoglund – LHP – 6’7 180 – Central Florida – Freshman
    Brandon Woodruff – RHP – 6’3 215 – Mississippi State – Freshman

    Tyler Burgess – LHP – 6’0 185
    Missouri State
    Freshman

    Burgess was a dominant high-school pitcher in Missouri and didn’t have much of a struggle with the transition to college ball. He lead the Bears in appearances this season with 26 and was very effective, posting a 2.08 ERA to go with 31 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched.

    Eddie Campbell – LHP – 6’0 195
    Virginia Tech
    Sophomore

    Campbell hails from Bridgewater, Mass., so he’ll be playing relatively close to home this summer. Campbell had an ERA over six this spring but flashed his potential with 40 strikeouts in 35.1 innings pitched.

    Grant Gordon – RHP – 6’0 180
    Missouri State
    Junior

    Gordon has shuffled around between the bullpen and the rotation at Missouri State but has had success in every role. He pitched with Harwich last summer and had a 3.06 ERA as a valuable member of the bullpen. This spring, he remained in the bullpen for the Bears and had a 3.28 ERA in 19 appearances.

    Justin Hageman – RHP – 6’2 205
    Western Kentucky
    Sophomore

    Hageman burst onto the scene for the Hilltoppers last year, posting a 3.22 ERA on his way to Sun Belt Freshman of the Year honors. He hit a bit of a sophomore slump this year, going 4-6 with a 5.28 ERA.

    Ryan Harvey – RHP – 6’2 220
    Seton Hall
    Junior

    After two strong seasons in a row at Seton Hall, Harvey was selected by the Rangers in the 18th round of this year’s draft, so we’ll wait and see if he ends up playing at all for the Mariners. He was a standout starting pitcher for Seton Hall this spring, going 6-4 with a 3.04 ERA and 90 strikeouts in only 77 innings pitched.

    C.K. Irby – RHP/INF – 6’2 195
    Samford
    Sophomore

    Irby had a solid freshman season for Samford and emerged as one of the top two-way players in the country this season. Pitching in the closer’s role, he finished with 10 saves, a 2.06 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 39 innings pitched. At the plate, Irby hit .340 with five home runs and 48 RBI.

    Dimitri Kourtis – RHP – 6’3 190
    Mercer
    Freshman

    Kourtis was a valuable arm for Mercer in his debut season. He made 25 appearances, with eight starts, and ended up with a 3.90 ERA. HE struck out 38 in 64.2 innings pitched.

    Clark Labitan – RHP – 5’9 170
    Virginia Tech
    Junior

    Labitan has been at Virginia Tech for four years as a result of a redshirt year in 2010. This season, he finally found his groove and became one of the team’s top relievers. In 28 appearances, he had a 3.18 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 45.1 innings pitched.

    Corey Littrell – LHP – 6’3 195
    Kentucky
    Sophomore

    Littrell was a 35th round pick out of high school. As a freshman in 2011, he didn’t have great overall numbers but showed flashes of brilliance. This year, he sustained those flashes as he became the ace of the UK staff. Littrell went 9-2 with a 2.74 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 98.2 innings pitched.

    Dylan Maki – RHP – 6’1 205
    Northeastern
    Junior

    A native of Gloucester, Mass., Maki had a strong 2011 as a reliever for the Huskies, posting a 3.26 ERA and striking out better than a batter an inning. He had some struggles this year, finishing with a 7.52 ERA in 16 appearances.

    Evan Mitchell – RHP – 6’2 176
    Mississippi State
    Sophomore

    Mitchell has had two strong seasons with the Bulldogs, finishing both seasons with more strikeouts than innings pitched. This year, he had a 3.52 ERA in 13 appearances and struck out 43 in 38.1 innings pitched.

    Aaron Nola – RHP – 6’2 180
    LSU
    Freshman

    The brother of former Harwich standout Austin Nola, Aaron will make his way north after a great freshman season in Baton Rouge. Pitching in the weekend rotation, Nola went 7-4 with a 3.61 ERA. He struck out 89 and walked just seven in 89.2 innings, good for the best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the nation. Nola was a 22nd round pick out of high school.

    Garrett Nuss – RHP – 6’2 190
    Central Florida
    Freshman

    Central Florida had a great pitching staff this year and two of its best are coming to Harwich in Nuss and Eric Skoglund. Nuss pitched mostly out of the bullpen and finished with a 3.89 ERA with 41 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched. Nuss was a 32nd-round pick of the Yankees last year.

    Cole Pitts – RHP – 6’5 225
    Georgia Tech
    Freshman

    A 32nd-round pick out of high school last year, Pitts jumped immediately into the Tech rotation this season and had a strong campaign. He went 6-4 with a 4.50 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched.

    A.J. Reed – LHP/INF – 6’4 230
    Kentucky
    Freshman

    Reed is raking in the Freshman All-America honors after a season in which he starred as a two-way player for the Wildcats. On the mound, Reed went 5-3 with a 2.52 ERA and 51 strikeouts against just nine walks in 53.2 innings pitched. At the dish, he hit .300 with four home runs and 43 RBI. Reed was a 25th-round draft pick out of high school last year.

    Andrew Sadoski – RHP – 6’4 200
    Bridgewater State
    Sophomore

    Sadoski is a Harwich native and he’s getting a chance to return home this summer while he’s in the midst of a great career at Bridgewater State. Sadoski was 8-1 this year with a 1.72 ERA.

    Eric Skoglund – LHP – 6’7 180
    Central Florida
    Freshman

    Another standout freshman from UCF, Skoglund earned C-USA all-freshman honors after a great debut season. He went 5-3 with a 3.21 ERA and 45 strikeouts in 47.2 innings of work. Skoglund was a 16th-round pick out of high school last year

    Brandon Woodruff – RHP – 6’3 215
    Mississippi State
    Freshman

    Woodruff was a two-way star in high school. At Mississippi State this year, he focused mostly on pitching and met good results. In 12 appearances, with six starts, Woodruff had a 2.38 ERA with 37 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched.

    Position Players

    Brett Austin – C – 6’1 190 – NC State – Freshman
    Michael Connolly – C – 6’0175 – Maine – Sophomore
    Sam Dove – OF – 6’2 188 – Georgia Tech – Junior
    Tanner English – OF – 5’9 170 – South Carolina – Freshman
    Phil Ervin – OF – 5’10 195 – Samford – Sophomore
    Zane Evans – C/RHP – 6’2 210 – Georgia Tech – Sophomore
    Colin Gay – OF – 6’1 180 – Maine – Sophomore
    Eric Jagielo – INF – 6’2 215 – Notre Dame – Sophomore
    *JaCoby Jones – OF – 6’3 207 – LSU – Sophomore
    Jared King – INF – 6’1 205 – Virginia – Junior
    Justin Leeson – OF – 6’3 205 – Georgetown – Junior
    Trey Mancini – INF – 6’4 215 – Notre Dame – Sophomore
    Brian Ragira – OF – 6’2 200 – Stanford – Sophomore
    Matt Reida – INF – 5’11 175 – Kentucky – Sophomore
    John Sheridan – OF – 6’2 195 – Brown – Junior
    Austen Smith – INF – 6’4 240 – Alabama – Sophomore
    *Austin Wilson – OF – 6’4 235 – Stanford – Sophomore

    Brett Austin – C – 6’1 190
    NC State
    Freshman

    A supplemental first round pick last year, Austin came to NC State with considerable hype. While he didn’t have as good a season as some of his freshmen teammates in Raleigh, he was still solid. He hit .284 with 17 doubles and 37 RBI.

    Michael Connolly – C – 6’0 – 175Maine
    Sophomore

    A native of Middleborough, Mass., Connolly hit .248 as a freshman for the Black Bears. This year, he saw in action in only 17 games and hit .147.

    Sam Dove – OF – 6’2 188
    Georgia Tech
    Junior

    A junior, Dove did not get drafted this year, but it wasn’t for a lack of success on the diamond. Dove was second on the team with a .340 batting average. He also had three home runs and 30 RBI to go with 12 stolen bases.

    Tanner English – OF – 5’9 170
    South Carolina
    Freshman

    English has been a key to success for the Gamecocks, who are chasing their third consecutive national championship. A 13th-round pick out of high school, English is hitting .306, good for second on the team, and has stolen nine bases.

    Phil Ervin – OF – 5’10 195
    Samford
    Sophomore

    Ervin had a huge freshman campaign for Samford last year, hitting a team-best .371 on his way to first-team all-conference honors. For an encore, Ervin had another big year in 2012. He hit .327, with 10 home runs, 18 doubles and 52 RBI.

    Zane Evans – C/RHP – 6’2 210
    Georgia Tech
    Sophomore

    Evans grabbed the starting catcher’s job immediately last year and earned Freshman All-America honors with a solid season. This year, he was a little bit better, hitting .295 with four home runs, 17 doubles and 51 RBI. Evans also made 19 appearances as a relief pitcher, posting a 3.68 ERA and striking out 34 in 36.2 innings.

    Colin Gay – OF – 6’1 180
    Maine
    Sophomore

    Another Southeastern Massachusetts product, Gay made the trek from Franklin up to Maine, where he’s having a solid career. This spring, he hit .299 with a homer and 28 RBI. He also stole 14 bases.

    Eric Jagielo – INF – 6’2 215
    Notre Dame
    Sophomore

    Jagielo was picked in the last round of the 2010 draft, but if his sophomore season is any indication, he’ll go a lot higher when he’s eligible again next year. Jagielo hit .310 this spring with 13 home runs, 14 doubles and 43 RBI.

    JaCoby Jones – OF – 6’3 207
    LSU
    Sophomore

    Like his LSU teammate Nola, Jones — a 19th round pick out of high school in 2010 — is likely to get a lot of attention from scouts this summer. He played briefly for Harwich last year, hitting .234 in 14 games. This spring, he hit .253 with four home runs and 29 RBI. He also stole 11 bases.

    Jared King – INF – 6’1 205
    Virginia
    RS Junior

    King redshirted the 2010 season after a shoulder injury. He returned last year and had a solid campaign, hitting .321. His average dipped to .253 this year, but he did have four home runs, 12 doubles, five triples and 44 RBI.

    Justin Leeson – OF – 6’3 205
    Georgetown
    Junior

    Leeson was eligible for the draft this year and went in the 39th round to Kansas City. That comes after a great junior season, in which Leeson hit .325 with two home runs and 25 RBI. He also stole 18 bases.

    Trey Mancini – INF – 6’4 215
    Notre Dame
    Sophomore

    Mancini had a strikingly similar campaign to his teammate Jagielo. He hit .317 with 12 home runs, 10 doubles and 45 RBI. Mancini also hit nine home runs last year as a freshman.

    Brian Ragira – OF – 6’2 200
    Stanford
    Sophomore

    Ragira was slated to join his teammate Austin Wilson in Harwich last summer but didn’t end up coming after serving as an alternate for Team USA. The Mariners would love to get both this year, because they’re probably isn’t a pair of more highly-touted teammates in the league. Ragira hit .329 this year with five home runs and 50 RBI.

    Matt Reida – INF – 5’11 175
    Kentucky
    Sophomore

    One of three Wildcats on the Harwich roster, Reida had some struggles with the bat this year but still started every game. He finished with a .239 average, two home runs and 22 RBI.

    John Sheridan – OF – 6’2 195
    Brown
    Junior

    Sheridan hails from Palo Alto, Calif., but has spent the last three years in Providence, where he’s had a solid career at Brown. He hit .315 this year with a home run, 13 RBI and 12 stolen bases.

    Austen Smith – INF – 6’4 240
    Alabama
    Sophomore

    Smith started every game as a freshman last year and hit .297 with 44 RBI. He slumped a bit in his sophomore year, finishing at .240 with three homers and 23 RBI.

    Austin Wilson – OF – 6’4 235
    Stanford
    Sophomore

    Wilson already has the body of a Major Leaguer and he draws plenty of attention wherever he goes. Perfect Game picked him as the Cape Leagues third-best prospect last year despite the fact that he struggled for much of the summer. Wilson still hasn’t put it all together but he continued to show flashes this spring, hitting .285 with 10 home runs and 54 RBI.

    Posted on

    2011 Early Look: Harwich Mariners

    TeamLogo_Harwich2003.jpgHarwich Mariners
    Manager: Steve Englert
    2010 Record: 22-21-1

    On the heels of a championship season in 2008, the Harwich Mariners never quite put it all together last season, finishing just above .500 and barely squeaking into the playoffs. The stats pretty much told the story — the Mariners had some solid hitters who struggled, and the team hit just .224, ninth in the league. The pitching numbers were in the middle of the pack.

    With four returning players and a deep group of sophomores, the Mariners are once again strong on paper — they’ll just be looking for a little more production.

    It’ll be interesting to see if they get it. The Mariners don’t seem to have quite as many guys coming off seasons, primed to emerge as top prospects. But they have some big arms in Kevin Gausman and Lex Rutledge, plus a lot of pitchers and hitters who were solid this season. A big summer, and any number of those guys could emerge. Throw in some draft-eligible guys who might make it, and the Mariners have the makings of a team that can compete.

    They also have a very good freshman class. It’s only four-deep, but Gausman, JaCoby Jones, Brian Ragira and Austin Wilson are about as good a quartet as you could find.

    All in all, the Mariners look a lot like everybody else right now. And that’s not a bad spot to be in.

    Roster Rundown
    Returning Players: 4
    Juniors: 3
    Sophomores: 22
    Freshmen: 4

    Notable

  • As noted above, the Mariners have a couple of guys with destinations unknown. Carter Capps and Brian Goodwin are the most notable. Both could be pretty early picks, but we’ve seen in recent years that that doesn’t guarantee a player will miss out on the Cape.

  • Capps has been incredibly dominant this year for D-II Mt. Olive. If a team isn’t sure how he stacks up against tougher competition, maybe they could keep an eye on him on the Cape? Let’s hope, because I think he’d be a fun pitcher to have in the league.

  • On a similar note, I still included South Carolina’s Christian Walker on the list. He has been named to Team USA. This is the first year USA Baseball has just picked a team without trials, so I don’t know if that’s up in the air at all, or if he’s definitely going with USA. We shall see.

  • Lex Rutledge was one of the top freshman arms on the Cape last season, and I think he’ll be one of the top sophomores this year. It’ll be interesting to see how he’s used — he’s been both a starter and a reliever at Stamford.

  • Kevin Gausman will be a definite pitcher to watch. He’s one of the top freshmen in the nation, and since he’s eligible for the draft in 2012, this could be a big summer for him.

  • Andrew Rash hit 18 home runs this year for Virginia Tech and became just the second Tech player to earn first-team All-ACC honors. The other? Former Y-D star Austin Wates.

  • Stanford is sending some top-notch prospects to the Cape this year, and Harwich has two of them in Brian Ragira and Austin Wilson. Both are in the midst of very good freshman seasons.

  • I imagine Austin Nola is a player Harwich would love to have back. He’s a junior so he’s eligible for the draft, but I think it’s possible he still comes to Harwich. A veteran at shortstop is a nice building block for a Cape League team.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Kevin Gausman
    2. Carter Capps
    3. Brian Goodwin
    4. Lex Rutledge
    5. Austin Wilson

    Pitchers

    Eddie Butler – RHP – 6’2 165 – Radford – Sophomore
    Carter Capps – RHP – 6’4 220 – Mount Olive College – RS Sophomore
    Kevin Gausman – RHP – 6’4 170 – LSU – Freshman
    Grant Gordon – RHP – 6’0 175 – Missouri State – Sophomore
    Blake Hauser – RHP – 6’2 175 – Virginia Commonwealth – Sophomore
    *Pierce Johnson – RHP – 6’3 180 – Missouri State – Sophomore
    Branden Kline – RHP – 6’3 190 – Virginia – Sophomore
    Joe Mantiply – RHP – 6’4 204 – Virginia Tech – Sophomore
    Chris Overman – RHP – 6’2 228 – North Carolina State – Sophomore
    Tanner Perkins – LHP – 6’3 190 – Western Kentucky – Sophomore
    Taylor Rogers – LHP – 6’3 170 – Kentucky – Sophomore
    Lex Rutledge – LHP – 6’2 205 – Samford – Sophomore
    Chris Stratton – RHP – 6’3 186 – Mississippi State – Sophomore

    Eddie Butler – RHP – 6’2 165
    Radford
    Sophomore

    Butler was a 35th-round draft pick out of high school and was tabbed as one of the top newcomers in the Big South after his freshman season. This year, Butler went 9-2 with a 4.15 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 95.1 innings.

    Carter Capps – RHP – 6’4 220
    Mount Olive College
    RS Sophomore

    After flashing a 96-mph fastball and earning top prospect honors in the Coastal Plain League last summer, Capps has delivered an absolutely dominant season for D-II Mt. Olive this year. Capps is 14-0 with a 1.37 ERA. In 111.1 innings, he has struck out 124 and walked just 16. Those numbers prompted the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association to pick Capps as its National Pitcher of the Year. The only bad news for Harwich is that Capps is eligible for the draft this year and is ranked as the nation’s 151st best prospect by Baseball America.

    Kevin Gausman – RHP – 6’4 170
    LSU
    Freshman

    Gausman was a sixth-round pick last year and when he opted for LSU, he immediately was labeled as one of the top freshmen in the country. Overall, he hasn’t disappointed. Though he went 5-6 in 14 appearances, he posted a solid 3.51 ERA and tallied a team-high 86 strikeouts in 89.2 innings pitched. Gausman really heated up late in the year and earned SEC Freshman of the Week honors twice in the month of May.

    Grant Gordon – RHP – 6’0 175
    Missouri State
    Sophomore

    Gordon made a big impression out of the bullpen as a freshman when he finished seventh in the nation with a K/9 ratio of 11.89. This year, Gordon moved into the rotation and saw his numbers go in the wrong direction. He struck out 50 in 69.2 innings and walked 41. Despite that, he still managed to post a 4.26 ERA.

    Blake Hauser – RHP – 6’2 175
    Virginia Commonwealth
    Sophomore

    A 25th-round pick out of high school, Hauser had a solid 2010 with the Rams then went to the Cal Ripken Collegiate League, where he was named the second-best prospect by Baseball America. This spring, Hauser went 3-4 with a 4.65 ERA and struck out 47 in 50.1 innings.

    Pierce Johnson – RHP – 6’3 180
    Missouri State
    Sophomore

    Johnson was a 15th-round pick out of high school in 2009 and after a rough debut for Missouri State, he came to Harwich and was quietly very impressive. Johnson went 3-1 with a 2.11 ERA and struck out 41 in 42.2 innings. This spring, Johnson had a little better luck for the Bears, finishing 6-7 with a 4.76 ERA. He struck out almost a batter an inning.

    Branden Kline – RHP – 6’3 190
    Virginia
    Sophomore

    After an impressive season as a swing guy a year ago, Kline has emerged as one of the top closers in the nation for one of the best teams in the nation. In 27 appearances, Kline has been lights out. He has a 1.85 ERA, 46 strikeouts in 34 innings and 17 saves. That saves mark is tied for third in the country. Out of high school, Kline was a sixth-round pick of the Red Sox.

    Joe Mantiply – RHP – 6’4 204
    Virginia Tech
    Sophomore

    Mantiply didn’t put up great numbers as a freshman but returned as one of the Hokies’ more experienced pitchers for 2011. He ended up starting a team-high 14 games, and he went 5-8 with a 4.36 ERA. He struck out 66 in 84.2 innings.

    Chris Overman – RHP – 6’2 228
    North Carolina State
    Sophomore

    Overman saw limited action as a freshman in 2009, but it’s been a very different story this year. Overman has been busy and he leads the team with 27 appearances. He’s also made the most of them — the righty has a 2.54 ERA, six saves and 40 strikeouts in 46 innings.

    Tanner Perkins – LHP – 6’3 190
    Western Kentucky
    Sophomore

    Perkins went right into the Hilltopper rotation as a freshman last year and took his lumps, but the experience must have paid off. This year, he earned second-team all-conference honors thanks to an impressive campaign. Perkins went 7-4 with a 2.36 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 99 innings pitched.

    Taylor Rogers – LHP – 6’3 170
    Kentucky
    Sophomore

    A lefty with a lot of potential, Rogers hasn’t quite lived up to it thus far in Lexington. As a freshman, he was in the weekend rotation all year and had a solid start before finishing with an ERA above six. This year, Rogers went 3-7 with a 5.14 ERA and 49 strikeouts.

    Lex Rutledge – LHP – 6’2 205
    Samford
    Sophomore

    Rutledge was a 26th-round pick out of high school but has been climbing the charts in his draft class ever since he posted a 1.71 ERA and posted big velocity as a freshman in 2009. He then came to Harwich and left as the Cape League’s 10th-best prospect, according to Baseball America. This season, Rutledge got an opportunity to start and continued to shine, posting a 3.71 ERA in 79 strikeouts in 63 innings.

    Chris Stratton – RHP – 6’3 186
    Mississippi State
    Sophomore

    Stratton has been a mainstay in the Mississippi State rotation since day one. Last year, he struck out almost a batter an inning and earned SEC All-Freshman honors. This year, his ERA is above five, but he has again posted big strikeout numbers. He has 74 in 74.1 innings.

    Position Players

    Stephen Bruno – INF – 5’7 165 – Virginia – Sophomore
    Billy Burns – OF – 5’9 170 – Mercer – Junior
    Mike Garza – INF – 6’1 200 – Georgetown – RS Sophomore
    *Brian Goodwin – OF – 6’0 195 – Miami-Dade CC – Sophomore
    Jabari Henry – OF – 6’1 195 – Florida International – Sophomore
    JaCoby Jones – INF – 6’3 200 – LSU – Freshman
    *Austin Nola – INF – 5’11 185 – LSU – Junior
    Brian Ragira – 6’2 205 – Stanford – Freshman
    Andrew Rash – OF – 5’11 193 – Virginia Tech – RS Sophomore
    Darnell Sweeney – INF – 6’1 170 – Central Florida – Sophomore
    Alex Swim – C – 5’11 180 – Elon – Sophomore
    Luke Viot – C – 6’3 220 – Missouri State – Sophomore
    Christian Walker – INF – 6’0 220 – South Carolina – Sophomore
    Keith Werman – INF – 5’7 150 – Virginia – Junior
    Austin Wilson – 6’4 235 – Stanford – Freshman
    *John Wooten – INF – 6’4 197 – East Carolina – Sophomore

    Stephen Bruno – INF – 5’7 165
    Virginia
    Sophomore

    Bruno didn’t see a ton of action as a freshman in Charlottesville but made the most of his time and hit .388. This year, Bruno has played in only seven games, and he holds a .240 average. Bruno was a 26th-round pick in the 2009 draft.

    Billy Burns – OF – 5’9 170
    Mercer
    Junior

    Burns was a 16th-round pick out of high school but opted to attend Mercer, where he’s had a great college career. After hitting .294 as a freshman, he batted .381 last season. This year, he finished at .357 with six homers, 33 RBI, a .473 on-base percentage and 29 stolen bases.

    Mike Garza – INF – 6’1 200
    Georgetown
    RS Sophomore

    Garza transferred from Stanford and sat out last season. This year, he hit .306 with four homers, 39 RBI and 14 steals.

    Brian Goodwin – OF – 6’0 195
    Miami-Dade CC
    Sophomore

    Goodwin was one of the most watched players on the Cape last summer, when he hit .281 with 15 stolen bases for the Mariners. Originally labeled as one of the top prospects for the 2012 draft, Goodwin became eligible for the 2011 draft when he left North Carolina. He hit .382 with eight home runs for Miami Dade this spring and is ranked by Baseball America as the nation’s 44th-best prospect for the 2011 draft.

    Jabari Henry – OF – 6’1 195
    Florida International
    Sophomore

    Henry was the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year a season ago after he hit .311 with 12 homers and 51 RBI. Henry’s batting average dipped to .241 this year but he still hit nine home runs with 33 RBI. Henry was a 39th-round pick out of high school in 2009.

    JaCoby Jones – INF – 6’3 200
    LSU
    Freshman

    The Mississippi player of the year out of high school and a 19th-round pick, Jones arrived on campus in Baton Rouge and didn’t disappoint. While starting every game, he hit .338 with four home runs and 32 RBI. He also added 12 stolen bases.

    Austin Nola – INF – 5’11 185
    LSU
    Junior

    Nola has been a mainstay in the LSU lineup since 2009, when he helped the Tigers win the College World Series. After hitting .221 for Harwich last summer, the slick-fielding shortstop hit .296 this year with two home runs and 42 RBI.

    Brian Ragira – 6’2 205
    Stanford
    Freshman

    A 30th-round draft pick in 2010, Ragira has had a big first season in Palo Alto and was recently named Pac 10 Freshman of the Year. Ragira is hitting .321 with four homers and a team-high 41 RBI.

    Andrew Rash – OF – 5’11 193
    Virginia Tech
    RS Sophomore

    After a redshirt year, Rash emerged as a solid performer last season when he hit .344 with six home runs. This season, he took things to another level, earning first-team all-conference honors after hitting .335 with 18 home runs, 17 doubles and 53 RBI. He was tied for eighth nationally in home runs.

    Darnell Sweeney – INF – 6’1 170
    Central Florida
    Sophomore

    A late-round pick out of high school in 2009, Sweeney made the Conference USA All-Freshman team after hitting .358 this season. He’s been solid this year, with a .279 average and 43 RBI. He has also stolen 12 bases.

    Alex Swim – C – 5’11 180
    Elon
    Sophomore

    Swim hit .310 last year and earned Southern Conference All-Freshman honors. This year, he batted .280, and though he didn’t hit a home run, he smacked 15 extra-base hits and had 33 RBI.

    Luke Viot – C – 6’3 220
    Missouri State
    Sophomore

    Viot was drafted in the 32nd round out of high school in 2009 then had a solid first season for the Bears. This year, he hit .286 with six home runs and 35 RBI.

    Christian Walker – INF – 6’0 220
    South Carolina
    Sophomore

    Walker was a Freshman All-American last year when he helped lead the Gamecocks to the national championship. He’s trying to do the same thing this year and pulling even more weight. Walker is hitting .357 with nine home runs, 57 RBI and a .561 slugging percentage. He leads the team in average, doubles, home runs, RBI and slugging, and he was a second-team All-SEC pick.

    Keith Werman – INF – 5’7 150
    Virginia
    Junior

    As a sophomore, Werman earned All-ACC honors and led the Cavaliers with a .414 batting average, one of the highest marks in school history. This year, Werman has still been a fixture in the lineup for the Cavs, but his numbers have come back to earth. He’s hitting .214

    Austin Wilson – 6’4 235
    Stanford
    Freshman

    Another talented Stanford freshman, Wilson — a 12th-round pick last year — came in with a little more hype than his teammate Ragira. He didn’t quite match Ragira’s numbers but wasn’t far off. Wilson hit .313 with four homers and 21 RBI.

    John Wooten – INF – 6’4 197
    East Carolina
    Sophomore

    Wooten hit .311 last spring then played in Harwich, where he hit .211. This year, Wooten is at .284 with 27 RBI. He’s second on the team with 15 doubles.

    Posted on

    Early Look: Harwich

    TeamLogo_Harwich2003.jpgHarwich Mariners
    Manager: Steve Englert
    2009 Record: 18-25-1

    This preview took me about an hour longer than I expected. Just as I was writing the last of the bios, I stopped in at Harwich’s web site and saw some new names on the roster. Seven of them to be exact.

    It might be that kind of summer for the Harwich Mariners.

    Every year, someone wrestles with extreme amounts of roster turnover. Sometimes it doesn’t work out (Wareham ’08); sometimes it does (Bourne ’09). We’ll see which end of the spectrum Harwich ends up on, because at this point, it does look like the Mariners will have to do some serious shuffling. Six of their players have been invited to Team USA. Several others are on College World Series contenders. A handful are draft eligible.

    But know this: that extra hour didn’t bother me much because the seven additions make up a really talented group. If all the changes turn out the same way, the Mariners will be fine.

    As it stands now, the Mariners have a large and productive roster, particularly on the offensive side of things. LSU’s Mikie Mahtook is a familiar face for college baseball fans and he’ll be poised to make a run at Cape League top prospect honors if he doesn’t stick with Team USA. Steven Proscia is batting cleanup for the best team in the country, Levi Michael is a Cape veteran who’s having a big sophomore season. Clint Moore is perhaps the best player in Army history; Austin Nola one of the best defensive shortstops in the country. I could go on and on. There’s a lot to talk about.

    The pitching staff has some big arms, and the biggest might end up being one you’ve probably never heard of. Division II star Joe Holtmeyer is one of the recent additions. There are some strong sophomore prospects in the fold, as well as a couple of highly-touted freshman.

    It’s a good mix. But like those Wareham and Bourne teams from the past few years and countless others before them, success will hinge on a lot more than what happens on the field. That’s true of any Cape team, but it rings even truer for a team like this.

    But I didn’t mind a little extra work tonight. As they work to sort everything out — and return to the glory of their 2008 championship — I’m sure the Harwich staff won’t mind either.

    Roster Rundown
    Returning Players: 2
    Juniors: 5
    Sophomores: 23
    Freshmen: 5

    Notable

  • Only two players are back for the Mariners, and one — Matt Price — is a draft-eligible sophomore. Still, with 23 sophomores and only five freshmen, the Mariners are a veteran club.

  • The term five-tool player gets thrown around a lot, but when you see Mikie Mahtook play, you’re seeing a true five-tool guy. He’s got it all.

  • LSU’s College World Series run last season was sparked in part by the emergence of three freshmen — Mahtook, Austin Nola and Matty Ott. All three are on the Harwich roster this summer, as well as the Team USA invite list.

  • Virginia’s rise to national prominence has had a pretty big impact in Harwich. Last year, the Cavaliers sent some big guns Harwich’s way and they’re doing it again this year with Steven Prosica and John Hicks. Both are having strong sophomore seasons.

  • The Mariners have two players whose brothers played in the Cape League. Tyler Pill’s brother Brett played for Orleans in 2005. Braden Kapteyn’s brother Wade played for Bourne in 2007.

  • As I mentioned above, you probably haven’t heard of Joe Holtmeyer. I hadn’t, but his is a name I’m not going to forget. Holtmeyer pitches for the University of Nebraska at Omaha and might be the first player from that school to ever play on the Cape. I think he’ll represent pretty well. Holtmeyer led Division II in strikeouts with 152, and he compiled them in just 87.1 innings. That means he struck out 1.75 batters per inning, which is unheard of. Obviously the level is different, but just for a reference point — not to compare in any way — Stephen Strasburg struck out 1.79 per inning last year. So keep an eye on Holtmeyer. It’ll be interesting to see how he does against the nation’s best.

  • Braden Kapteyn and Andrew Leenhouts were both summer standouts in other leagues last year, and they’ve been pretty impressive in their sophomore seasons. Northeastern’s Leenhouts has put up really good strikeout numbers.

  • This roster is so big that it’s tough to get a handle on the Harwich offense, but I think it’s going to be really good. The three new position players — Stewart Ijames, Taylor Motter and Max White have some of the best numbers on the team, and the team was already pretty stacked.

  • The Harwich outfield could be really special. Taylor Dugas and Mahtook are two of the best players in the SEC. Ronnier Richardson and Brian Goodwin are two of the most athletic freshmen in the country. Ijames is a power bat and Aaron Conway almost broke the Northwoods League stolen base record last summer.

  • I don’t remember many players from Army making it to the Cape, but Clint Moore looks like the perfect ambassador, in more ways than one. Not only has Moore had an outstanding career on the field, he was a finalist for the AAU Sullivan Award, a prestigious honor given to the nation’s outstanding amateur athlete. It’s based on success as well as leadership, character, sportsmanship and the ideals of amateurism.

  • Harwich could have a dynamic bullpen if things fall right. Daniel Burawa is a flamethrower for St. John’s while freshman Lex Rutledge has been dominant as Samford’s closer. Ott was one of the nation’s best closers last season.

    • Five Players I’m Excited to See
    1. Mikie Mahtook
    2. Steven Proscia
    3. Joe Holtmeyer
    4. Stewart Ijames
    5. Levi Michael

    Pitchers

    Daniel Burawa – RHP – 6’3 215 – St. John’s – Junior
    Dylan Floro- RHP – 6’2 180 – Cal State Fullerton – Freshman
    Sean Gilmartin – LHP – 6’2 192 – Florida State – Sophomore
    Joe Holtmeyer – RHP – 6’3 230 – Nebraska at Omaha – Sophomore
    Pierce Johnson – RHP – 6’2 165 – Missouri State – Freshman
    Braden Kapteyn – RHP – 6’4 220 – Kentucky – Sophomore
    Andrew Leenhouts – LHP – 6’3 190 – Northeastern – Sophomore
    Will Locante – LHP – 6’0 190 – Tennessee – Sophomore
    Kyle McKenzie – RHP – 6’0 165 – Tulane – Freshman
    Adam Morgan – LHP – 6’1 180 – Alabama – Sophomore
    Matty Ott – RHP – 6’1 184 – LSU – Sophomore
    *Matt Price – RHP – 6’2 163 – Virginia Tech – Sophomore
    Tyler Pill – RHP – 6’1 180 – Cal State Fullerton – Sophomore
    Matt Ramsey – RHP – 5’10 208 – Tennessee – Sophomore
    Nick Routt – LHP – 6’4 198 – Mississippi State – Sophomore
    Lex Rutledge – LHP – 6’1 185 – Samford – Freshman
    Ryan Sharpley – RHP – 6’4 210 – Notre Dame – Junior
    Mike Wright – RHP – 6’5 185 – East Carolina – Sophomore

    * – returning player
    (Stats as of May 23)

    Daniel Burawa – RHP – 6’3 215
    St. John’s
    Junior

    Burawa started his career at Suffolk County Community College in New York. He transferred to St. John’s and didn’t see any action last year, but he has shined this season. Pitching as the Red Storm’s closer, he has eight saves with a 2.41 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 18.2 innings. One report I read says Burawa has run his fastball up to 95 this season.

    Dylan Floro – RHP – 6’2 180
    Cal State Fullerton
    Freshman

    Floro was projected to go as high as the second round in last year’s draft, but he lasted until the 20th and stuck with his commitment to Fullerton. The Titans are happy to have him. Pitching mostly out of the bullpen as a freshman, Floro leads the team with a 2.79 ERA. He’s 5-0 with 40 strikeouts in 58 innings. He has issued just five walks all season.

    Sean Gilmartin – LHP – 6’2 192
    Florida State
    Sophomore

    Gilmartin was one of the best freshman pitchers in the country a year ago when he went 12-3 with a 3.49 ERA. He was initially on Cotuit’s roster last year but ended up playing briefly as a position player in the NECBL instead. This spring, Gilmartin is 6-6 with a 4.63 ERA. In 83.2 innings, he has struck out 86. He’s also hitting .405 in 42 at-bats. He’s a Team USA invitee.

    Joe Holtmeyer – RHP – 6’3 230
    Nebraska at Omaha
    Sophomore

    Pitching for the University of Nebraska at Omaha, a Division II program, Holtmeyer earned first-team All-American nods with an amazing season. He went 9-2 with a 2.89 ERA, but most impressively, he struck out 152 and walked just 35 in 87.1 innings. He led Division II in strikeouts by a pretty wide margin. Holtmeyer’s fastball has reportedly been clocked in the mid-90s.

    Pierce Johnson – RHP – 6’2 165
    Missouri State
    Freshman

    The Rays liked Johnson enough to make him a 15th-round pick last year despite the fact that he saw limited innings in his senior season because of a broken hand. Johnson opted to attend Missouri State anyway. He has pitched as a starter and a reliever and currently has a 7.15 ERA. He has struck out almost a batter an inning, but he’s walked almost as many as he has struck out.

    Braden Kapteyn – RHP – 6’4 220
    Kentucky
    Sophomore

    Kapteyn was part of a talented recruiting class that arrived in Lexington last year, and he’s flashed as much potential as any member of that class. A two-way player, Kapteyn hit .319 as a freshman and had some success pitching out of the bullpen. Over the summer, he really broke out in the New York Collegiate Baseball League. On his way to being named the league’s top prospect by Baseball America, Kapteyn hit .319 with four home runs and went 4-1 with a 2.47 ERA and a remarkable 72 strikeouts in 47.1 innings. He’s hitting .294 this year and has a 4.09 ERA.

    Andrew Leenhouts – LHP – 6’3 190
    Northeastern
    Sophomore

    Leenhouts had a strong first season for the Huskies, posting a 2.37 ERA out of the bullpen. Over the summer, he was named the Atlantic Collegiate League’s sixth-best prospect by Baseball America. This spring, it’s been easy to see why scouts thought so highly of him. Leenhouts is currently 3-3 with a 3.25 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 63.2 innings.

    Will Locante – LHP – 6’0 190
    Tennessee
    Sophomore

    Locante made the second-most appearances by a freshman in school history last year, and though his ERA ended up over six, he struck out 31 in 21 innings. This season, Locante leads the team in appearances again and has a 7.36 ERA.

    Kyle McKenzie – RHP – 6’0 165
    Tulane
    Freshman

    A Boston native who attended Thayer Academy, McKenzie was ranked as the top prospect in Massachusetts last year. Baseball America had him labeled as eighth-to-10th round talent, but with his commitment to Tulane, he didn’t go until the 30th round. McKenzie has pitched mostly in relief for the Green Wave this year and it’s been a bit of a struggle. He has an 8.47 ERA.

    Adam Morgan – LHP – 6’1 180
    Alabama
    Sophomore

    Morgan was much better as a starter last year than a reliever, posting a 2.96 ERA in nine starts and an ERA over 12 in four relief appearances. He’s starting full-time this season with mixed results. He’s currently 5-4 with a 6.38 ERA. He has struck out 58 in 72 innings, but he’s also given up 95 hits.

    Matty Ott – RHP – 6’1 184
    LSU
    Sophomore

    Ott exploded onto the college baseball scene last year when he became LSU’s closer and set a school saves record for the eventual CWS champion Tigers. He ended up with a 2.68 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 50.1 innings. He earned several All-America nods and was also named SEC Co-Freshman of the Year. The numbers in Ott’s second season haven’t been as good. He’s got 11 saves but also a 6.64 ERA.

    Matt Price – RHP – 6’2 163
    Virginia Tech
    Sophomore

    Price had some ups and downs as a freshman pitching in the weekend rotation last year, but he followed that with a solid summer for the Mariners. He ended up with a 2.97 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 36.1 innings. This year, Price has gone 7-3 with a 4.50 ERA. In 80 innings, he has struck out 76 and walked only 23. He’s a draft-eligible sophomore.

    Tyler Pill – RHP – 6’1 180
    Cal State Fullerton
    Sophomore

    Pill followed in the footsteps of brother Brett and made an immediate impact at Fullerton last year. Stepping into a gap in the weekend rotation, Pill set school freshman records in wins, shutouts and winning percentage. This season, Pill is 4-4 with a 3.36 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 61.2 innings. He also sees regular action for the Titans when he’s not on the mound and he’s currently hitting .347 with five home runs. Pill has been invited to Team USA.

    Matt Ramsey – RHP – 5’10 208
    Tennessee
    Sophomore

    Like his teammate Locante, Ramsey hasn’t been lights out in his relief career, but he’s put up impressive strikeout numbers along the way. Last year, he fanned 44 in 36.1 innings. This year, he’s brought his ERA down to 4.28 while striking out 43 in 35.2 innings. Ramsey was a 46th-round pick out of high school.

    Nick Routt – LHP – 6’4 198
    Mississippi State
    Sophomore

    Routt was a weekend starter from day one last season and charted a 4.15 ERA, good enough to earn a few Freshman All-America nods. This season, an injury sidelined Routt for a while. He’s 1-1 with a 6.52 ERA. He has struck out 21 in 19.1 innings.

    Lex Rutledge – LHP – 6’1 185
    Samford
    Freshman

    Rutledge was a 26th-round pick out of high school. In the midst of his outstanding freshman campaign, you can bet Samford is happy he didn’t sign. Rutledge has pitched as the team’s closer this spring and he has been impressive. He currently sports a 1.20 ERA to go with 11 saves. In 45 innings, he has struck out 61 and walked only 15.

    Ryan Sharpley – RHP – 6’4 210
    Notre Dame
    Junior

    Sharpley made his first Cape League appearance two years ago, when he pitched for Hyannis in 2008. He missed all of last spring, summer and fall with an injury. Sharpley was a top prospect coming out of high school, so the ability is there. This season, while working his way back to full strength, Sharpley has 0-1 with an 8.22 ERA in nine appearances.

    Mike Wright – RHP – 6’5 185
    East Carolina
    Sophomore

    Wright didn’t have a great first season with the Pirates but he delivered a solid summer last year in the Coastal Plain League. This spring, the tall righty has gone 2-2 with a 6.35 ERA, but some of his other numbers have been a little more impressive. In 28.1 innings, he has struck out 28 and walked only three.

    Position Players

    John Hicks – C/1B – 6’2 205 – Virginia – Sophomore
    Craig Manuel – C – 6’2 200 – Rice – Sophomore
    Pratt Maynard – C – 6’0 210 – North Carolina State – Sophomore
    Andrew Ciencin – INF – 6’1 205 – North Carolina State – Sophomore
    Dan Evatt – INF – 6’2 – 218 – Baylor – Junior
    *Levi Michael – INF – 5’11 175 – North Carolina – Sophomore
    Clint Moore – INF – 5’11 190 – Army – Junior
    Taylor Motter – INF – 6’1 205 – Coastal Carolina – Sophomore
    Austin Nola – INF – 5’11 185 – LSU – Sophomore
    Steven Proscia – INF – 6’2 215 – Virginia – Sophomore
    Max White – INF – 6’0 196 – Oklahoma – Freshman
    John Wooten – INF – 6’4 197 – East Carolina – Freshman
    Aaron Conway – OF – 5’8 170 – Missouri State – Junior
    Taylor Dugas – OF – 5’7 165 – Alabama – Sophomore
    Stewart Ijames – OF – 6’1 205 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Mikie Mahtook – OF – 6’1 196 – LSU – Sophomore
    Ronnie Richardson – OF – 5’7 175 – Central Florida – Freshman
    Brian Goodwin – OF – 6’0 190 – North Carolina – Freshman

    * – returning player

    John Hicks – C/1B – 6’2 205
    Virginia
    Sophomore

    As a freshman, Hicks played at several different positions and was a key part of Virginia’s run to the College World Series. He finished with a .307 average and eight home runs. This year, Hicks has settled in at first base for the top-ranked Cavaliers and has been a consistent performer while starting all but two games. He’s currently hitting .297 with seven home runs and 41 RBI.

    Craig Manuel – C – 6’2 200
    Rice
    Sophomore

    Manuel had a solid freshman season for the Owls, working his way into a fair mount of playing time and hitting .292. He also excelled behind the plate. This season, Manuel has been in a similar position and is hitting .275.

    Pratt Maynard – C – 6’0 210
    North Carolina State
    Sophomore

    Primarily a pitcher in high school, Maynard converted to catcher at NC State and became an intriguing prospect pretty quickly. After hitting .261 as a freshman, he blossomed in the Coastal Plain League, batting .318 with four home runs. Baseball America tabbed him as the league’s third-best prospect. This spring, Maynard has continued his ascendance, hitting .286 with 10 home runs, 11 doubles and 46 RBI.

    Andrew Ciencin – 2B/3B – 6’1 205
    North Carolina State
    Sophomore

    Ciencin broke into the starting lineup as a freshman and ended up leading the Wolfpack in batting and slugging. After a solid summer teaming with Maynard on the Forest City Owls of the Coastal Plain League, Ciencin has become a force in the middle of the Wolfpack order this spring. He’s hitting .314 with nine home runs and 19 doubles, and ranks third in the ACC with 68 RBI.

    Dan Evatt – INF – 6’2 – 218
    Baylor
    Junior

    After getting picked in the 45th round out of high school in 2007, Evatt redshirted his first season in Waco. Last year, he made his debut and hit .308 for the Bears with seven home runs. This season, Evatt is hitting .213

    Levi Michael – INF – 5’11 175
    North Carolina
    Sophomore

    Michael graduated from high school early so that he would be enrolled at North Carolina in time for last season. Young as he was, he managed to hit .290 with 13 home runs as a freshman. After hitting .247 for Harwich last summer, Michael has emerged as an all-conference caliber player for the Tar Heels. He’s hitting a team-best .355 with eight home runs, 13 doubles and 50 RBI.

    Clint Moore – SS – 5’11 190
    Army
    Junior

    Moore has become one of the best players in Army baseball history in his three years at West Point. He hit .395 last year with 11 home runs, 18 doubles and 65 RBI, earning several All-American honors. This season, he’s hitting .311 with seven home runs, eight doubles and 33 RBI.

    Taylor Motter – INF – 6’1 205
    Coastal Carolina
    Sophomore

    Motter made a big impact for the Chanticleers as a freshman, hitting .286 and starting all but one of the team’s games. This season, Motter has been a mainstay again and he’s putting up better numbers. As a key piece of a powerful lineup, he’s currently hitting .330 with nine home runs, 17 doubles and 42 RBI.

    Austin Nola – SS – 5’11 185
    LSU
    Sophomore

    Nola’s insertion into the starting lineup last year at shortstop solidified the defense and had a lot to do with LSU’s run to the national championship. Nola ended up hitting .240 but excelled with the glove. Over the summer, he was named the eighth-best prospect in the Prospect League by Baseball America. This year, he’s hitting .316 with five home runs, 12 doubles and 46 RBI. In the field, he’s made six errors all season. Nola has been invited to Team USA.

    Steven Proscia – 3B – 6’2 215
    Virginia
    Sophomore

    Proscia hit .333 with 10 home runs as a freshman and was predicted by Baseball America to be a breakout star this season. While his numbers haven’t been eye-popping, all you need to know is that Proscia hasn’t moved from the clean-up spot all year for the No. 1 team in the country. And the numbers have been good: he’s hitting .317 with eight home runs, 16 doubles and a team-best 58 RBI.

    Max White – INF – 6’0 196
    Oklahoma
    Freshman

    White was one of the top high school players in Oklahoma and he has lived up to the potential this season in Norman. He’s hitting .321 with 14 home runs, 11 doubles and 39 RBI.

    John Wooten – INF – 6’4 197
    East Carolina
    Freshman

    Wooten was a 20th-round pick out of high school last year and he has made an immediate impact in his first season with the Pirates. While starting almost all of ECU’s games, Wooten has hit .311 with nine home runs, 10 doubles and 40 RBI. He was projected to contend for a starting job at first base, but he has settled in at shortstop instead. He’s also been batting cleanup.

    Aaron Conway – OF – 5’8 170
    Missouri State
    Junior

    Conway has been pretty steady in his Missouri State career, hitting around .300 and bringing plenty of speed to the table. After stealing 18 bases in the spring of last year, he stole 44 in 47 tries in the Northwoods League over the summer, coming one shy of the league record. This season, Conway is hitting .286 with seven homers, seven doubles and 23 steals.

    Taylor Dugas – OF – 5’7 165
    Alabama
    Sophomore

    Dugas hit .352 and earned Freshman All-America recognition last year, but had vaulted to another level this year. As a fixture atop the Crimson Tide lineup, Dugas finished the regular season ranked fourth in the SEC with a .404 batting average. He hit 13 doubles, four triples and a home run and also stole 17 bases. Dugas has been invited to Team USA.

    Stewart Ijames – OF – 6’1 205
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    Ijames had a fantastic freshman year in Louisville before an injury cost him his sophomore season. He got healthy in time for the summer, though, and was named the eighth-best prospect in the Coastal Plain League by Baseball America. Back with the Cards this season, Ijames is hitting .344 with 12 home runs, 16 doubles and 57 RBI.

    Mikie Mahtook – OF – 6’1 196
    LSU
    Sophomore

    Like his teammate Nola, Mahtook emerged as a freshman and was a key piece of LSU’s championship run. Mahtook is an athletic center-fielder with five-tool potential, and he’s living up to it this season. As one of the top sophomores in the country, Mahtook is hitting .333 with 13 homers, 18 doubles, 46 RBI and 22 stolen bases. Also like Nola, Mahtook is a Team USA invitee.

    Ronnie Richardson – OF – 5’7 175
    Central Florida
    Freshman

    Richardson was drafted in the 11th round last year out of high school, largely because of his tremendous speed, which rates as a 70 on the 20-80 scale. He opted not to sign with the Twins and he’s had a solid first season with Central Florida. He’s hitting .297 with four homers, nine doubles, two triples and 12 stolen bases.

    Brian Goodwin – OF – 6’0 190
    North Carolina
    Freshman

    Goodwin follows in a long line of talented Tar Heel freshman who’ve come to the Cape over the years. An athletic outfielder, Goodwin was drafted in the 17th round last June and had been projected to go even higher. When he opted not to sign, he became one of the most hyped incoming freshman in the land. In his first season, he’s hitting .293 with seven home runs, 12 doubles and seven triples.