Fire Power

On a night when college baseball continued to lament the lack of offense in Omaha, their college baseball brethren on Cape Cod flashed some pop in Yarmouth.

Orleans smacked four home runs in a 6-2 victory over Y-D. It is, I believe, the first time since 2012’s year of the home run that a Cape League team has gone yard four times in one game.

Taylor Ward (Fresno State) started the power surge in the second inning, when he smacked a leadoff home run. Two pitches later, Edwin Rios (Florida International) went back-to-back with another bomb. In the third, leadoff man Johnny Sewald (Arizona) hit one, and in the fourth, R.J. Ybarra (Arizona State) clubbed a two-run blast.

Orleans hit more home runs in this one game than any other Cape League team has hit in the entire season. Orleans already led the league in homers with three, but with seven now, the cushion is much bigger. Wareham is next with three and no other team has more than two. Two teams – Chatham and Harwich – are still without a home run.

The four-homer night on Tuesday secured Orleans’ second victory of the season as the Firebirds moved to 2-4. Trent Thornton (North Carolina) made the homers count with 5.1 strong innings on the mound. He allowed two runs and struck out four. Kyle Twomey (USC), Reilly Hovis (North Carolina) and Jacob Cronenworth (Michigan) finished the job without surrendering a run.

Cotuit 7, Bourne 6

Defending champion Cotuit won its fourth in a row with a 7-6 victory over Bourne. The Kettleers had started the summer 0-2 but haven’t lost since. They smacked 11 hits against the Braves, stole five bases and again used a parade of pitchers on their way to the narrow victory. Casey Schroeder (Polk State College) hit a home run to lead the offense, while Jeremy Taylor (East Tennessee State) drove in two runs. Drew Jackson (Stanford), a key part of last year’s championship run, made his first appearance of 2014 and went 2-for-4. The Kettleers did much of their damage against Jimmy Herget (South Florida), who had been impressive in his first start. On the basepaths, Cotuit continued to run wild. They’ve stolen a league-high 18 bases thus far. Caleb Whalen (Portland) stole one more last night and leads the league with five. And on the mound, Cotuit has used at least four pitchers in five of six games this year – and used three in the other. On Tuesday, they used six. Adam Whitt (Nevada) earned his second win with three scoreless innings out of the pen and Jeff Kinley (Michigan State) notched a save. For Bourne, Blake Davey (Connecticut) went 3-for-4 with a home run.

Harwich 2, Falmouth 1

The Mariners won their league-best fifth game thanks to a sixth-inning rally against the Commodores, who dropped to 3-3. Trailing 1-0, the Mariners got RBI from Sal Annunziata (Seton Hall) and Brendon Sanger (Florida Atlantic) to take a lead. Reliever Johnathan Frebis (Middle Tennessee State), who just returned for his second stint in Harwich, tossed three scoreless innings of relief in making the lead stand up. Robby Kalaf (Florida International) tossed a scoreless ninth for the save. Steven Duggar (Clemson) had two hits for Falmouth, but the Commodores only managed four total. Falmouth’s Matt Hall (Missouri State) turned in his second solid start, going five scoreless innings and striking out six. He leads the league in strikeouts with 11. For Harwich, Michael Boyle (Radford) allowed just an unearned run in five innings.

Chatham 6, Brewster 2

Chatham snapped a four-game skid with a victory over Brewster. Nick Collins (Georgetown) had two hits and two RBI to lead the offense, which broke out after scoring a total of six runs all season. Chatham took advantage of four Brewster errors, and all their runs were unearned. Garrett Hampson (Long Beach State), Landon Cray (Seattle) and Blake Butera (Boston College) all had two hits, as did standout LSU freshman Jake Fraley, who was making his Chatham debut. On the mound, Andrew Chin (Boston College) allowed two runs in six innings, while striking out four. Jeff Gelinas (Maine) and Kyle Davis (USC) combined on the last three innings.

Hyannis 8, Wareham 4

Hyannis jumped into a three-way tie for first in the West with an 8-4 victory over Wareham. Bobby Melley (Connecticut) had his best game in a Hyannis uniform, going 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Daniel Kihle (Wichita State) homered and drove in three, while Sam Haggerty (New Mexico) homered as part of a three-hit night. Tate Scioneaux (Southeastern Louisiana) allowed two earned runs in 5.1 innings and Lance Thonvold (Minnesota) went 3.2 innings for the save. For Wareham, Jake Little (Memphis) hit his second home run of the season.

What to Watch

James Mulry (Northeastern), who dominated for Harwich on opening night, will make his second start as the Mariners visit Hyannis for a 7 p.m. start. The Harbor Hawks will throw Joseph Shaw (Dallas Baptist) in his Cape League debut. He had a 2.96 ERA while pitching mostly as a reliever for Dallas Baptist this spring.

June 17, 2014June 17, 2014

One at a Time

The Brewster Whitecaps are tied for the second fewest extra-base hits in the Cape Cod Baseball League, with only four in five games.

But singles seem to be working just fine.

Despite the lack of extra bases, Brewster has scored the second-most runs in the league. The positive trend continued in Monday’s make-up game, as Brewster smacked 11 hits – 10 singles – in a 7-4 victory over Hyannis, the only game on the Cape League docket.

Wade Wass (Alabama) went 1-for-4 with three RBI and his Alabama teammate Mikey White had a single, two runs scored and two RBI. Justin Montemayor (Houston) went 3-for-6 with three singles, Kyle Overstreet (Alabama) had two hits and Zach Gibbons (Arizona) had two hits, including the only extra-base hit, a double.

The Whitecaps did strand 15 runners, perhaps a symptom of station-to-station baseball, but the seven runs proved to be enough thanks to strong starting pitching. Garrett Mundell (Fresno State), a late addition to the roster who was an 18th-round pick of the Diamondbacks this year, made his Cape debut and shined. The 6’6 righty struck out six and scattered four hits in seven shutout innings. Hyannis scored four runs after Mundell departed but reliever Andrew Naderer (Grand Canyon) buckled down to finish off the win.

Brewster is now 3-2, good for second place in the East. Hyannis is also 3-2, part of a three-way tie for second in the West.

What to Watch

Bourne’s Jimmy Herget (South Florida) will make one more start before heading to Team USA training camp, and it comes today at 5 p.m. in Cotuit. The Kettleers starter is TBA.

Speaking of Team USA, a whopping 34 players have been invited to the training camp – many who are currently on the Cape – so you may see some holes in lineups this week.

June 16, 2014June 16, 2014

Daily Fog: Evened Out

Sam Haggerty and Hyannis were the last unbeaten team in the league - for a few hours. — Sam Haggerty and Hyannis were the last unbeaten team in the league – for a few hours.

Five days into the Cape Cod Baseball League season, nobody’s undefeated and nobody’s winless.

Yesterday’s slate of doubleheaders assured that. Previously unbeaten Harwich and Hyannis squared off and split their doubleheader, Brewster handed Bourne its first loss, and Yarmouth-Dennis broke into the win column twice with a sweep of Wareham.

I think the Red Sox were the happiest if the bunch.

Coming into the year, they looked like one of the most talented teams in the league but didn’t get much going in the first three games of the season, losing 7-2, 3-0 and 2-1. The third of those was the most frustrating as potential ace Michael Murray (Florida Gulf Coast) was charged with two unearned runs in a 2-1 loss.

Sunday, the Red Sox were finally on track.

In game one, they had their best offensive day of the season and beat the Gatemen 7-1. Rob Fonseca (Northeastern), who missed the spring season due to injury, smacked a home run for his first Cape League hit. Jason Goldstein (Illinois) and Donnie Walton (Oklahoma State) added two hits apiece, and Michael Foster (Northeastern) drove in two runs.

On the mound, former first-round pick Phil Bickford (Cal State Fullerton) made his Cape League debut and struck out three in three scoreless innings. Dimitri Kourtis (Mercer), who played for Harwich in 2012, followed with three strong innings for the win.

In game two, Josh Staumont (Azusa Pacific) and Tyler Jay (Illinois) combined to allow just an unearned run in seven innings as Y-D won 3-1. A.J. Simcox (Tennessee) knocked in two runs while Fonseca and Brennon Lund (BYU) had two hits each.

Kyle Cody (Kentucky), potentially one of the top pitching prospects in the league, struck out six in three innings for Wareham.

Hyannis 2, Harwich 0; Harwich 5, Hyannis 2

Hyannis staked claim to the title of lone unbeaten – but it didn’t last long. After knocking off unbeaten Harwich to go to 3-0, the Harbor Hawks fell in game two to the Mariners. In the opener, Jordan Minch (Purdue) and Matthew Margaritonda (Marshall) combined on the shutout, scattering seven hits while striking out three. Hyannis was out-hit 7-3, but scratched across runs in the first and third innings. Joe Purritano (Dartmouth) had an RBI, while Bobby Melley (Connecticut) and Matthew Britton (Mississippi State) had one hit each. In game two, Harwich starter Jon Harris (Missouri State) struck out eight in four innings and his offense rallied from a 2-0 first-inning deficit. Ian Happ (Cincinnati), who went 5-for-6 in the doubleheader, had three hits in game two and scored a run. Tyler Servais (Princeton) added two hits and Danny Zardon (LSU) had an RBI.

Brewster 5, Bourne 2; Bourne 4, Brewster 3

The Whitecaps handed Bourne its first loss in game one. Andrew Lee (Tennessee) struck out six and allowed one earned run in two innings for the win, and Evan Hill (Michigan) picked up the save. Gio Brusa (Pacific) hit his first home run of the year and drove in two, while Luke Lowery (East Carolina) also knocked in two. In the second game, Bourne held off a Brewster rally to win by a run. Jake Long (Clemson) got the win in relief with 2.1 scoreless innings and John Gorman (Boston College) notched a save. Richard Martin Jr. (Florida) had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored to lead the Braves offense.

Cotuit 4, Chatham 1; Cotuit 3, Chatham 0

Cotuit moved to 3-2 on the year with a sweep of Chatham, who fell to 1-4. Four pitchers combined on a steady performance in game one, with Adam Whitt (Nevada) picking up the win. Casey Schroeder (Polk State College), Brendan Hendriks (San Francisco) and D.C. Arendas (South Carolina) drove in a run each. In game two, four more pitchers teamed up for a one-hit shutout. Dalton Potts (Tennessee Martin) and Bailey Clark (Duke) carried a no-hitter into the fourth. Chatham broke through with its lone hit in the fifth, but that was all Vincent Fiori (South Carolina) gave up. A.J. Minter (Texas A&M) closed things out with 2.2 scoreless frames. Logan Taylor (Texas A&M) had two hits to power the offense.

Falmouth 6, Orleans 5; Falmouth 9, Orleans 3

Orleans was coming off a 9-0 victory over Chatham but was swept at home by Falmouth. The Commodores scored two in the fifth inning of a back-and-forth game one on a two-run homer by Conner Hale (LSU). Hale was a late addition to this year’s roster who played a key role for the Commodores last year. Kevin Newman (Arizona), another returning player, also homered. Kyle Zimmerman (Wayne State) picked up the win in relief and Kevin Mooney (Maryland) grabbed a save. For Orleans, Christin Stewart (Tennessee) hit his second home run of the summer, making him the the only player in the league with two. In the second game, the Commodores rolled 9-3 behind a nine-hit attack. Leon Byrd Jr. (Rice) went 2-for-3 and drove in three runs, while Matthew Eureste (San Jacinto) went 3-for-4 and is now hitting .556 on a temp contract. Hale went 2-for-4 to add to his big day. On the mound, Matt Eckelman (St. Louis) picked up the win.

What to Watch

Just one game on the docket tonight, a makeup between Brewster and Hyannis. It’s set for 6 p.m. at McKeon Park. Starting pitchers still TBD.

June 15, 2014June 15, 2014

Daily Fog: Shutout Central

Bourne and Harwich are off to the best starts in the first week of the Cape League season, each with a 3-0 record to their name. They won’t play each other until next Friday, June 20.

Maybe by then, they’ll have given up a run or two.

The Braves and Mariners have gone three-for-three by dominating on the mound. Harwich has a 0.33 ERA, Bourne owns a 0.62 ERA. They both notched their second consecutive shutouts last night.

For Harwich, the pitching has coincided with a whole lot of offense. They’ve scored more runs than any team in the league, paving the way for lopsided shutouts – 10-0 on Thursday and 7-0 over Wareham last night. But last night’s win began, again, with the starting pitching. This time, Zack Erwin (Clemson) went five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and striking out five against a Gatemen team that scored 13 runs in its previous game. Jacob Evans (Oklahoma) and Robby Kalaf (Florida International) finished the shutout.

At the plate for the Mariners, Kyle Barrett (Kentucky) went 4-for-4 and Craig Aikin (Oklahoma) went 3-for-5 with three RBI. Anthony Hermelyn (Oklahoma), who’s had a hit in all three games, went 2-for-3.

Over in Bourne, the Braves shut out Falmouth 6-0 on the heels of a 1-0 victory over Orleans. Andrew Sopko (Gonzaga), one of the top pitching prospects in the Alaska League last year, had a big debut on the Cape, giving up three hits and striking out six in six scoreless innings. He faced just two over the minimum. Brett Morales (Florida) and Joey Strain (Winthrop) closed out the shutout.

Brett Sullivan (Pacific) led the Bourne offense with two hits, including the team’s first home run of the year. Gavin Collins (Mississippi State) also had two hits.

Orleans 9, Chatham 0

Orleans doesn’t have the 3-0 record that Bourne and Harwich boast, but the Firebirds got into the win column with a shutout of their own last night over Chatham. After rehabbing third-round pick Trevor Megill (Loyola Marymount) went one scheduled inning, Nathan Bannister (Arizona) tossed four scoreless frames. Kolton Mahoney (BYU) then struck out seven of the 14 batters he faced in four scoreless innings. The offense handled the rest, smacking 16 hits. Christin Stewart (Tennessee) hit the Firebirds’ first home run of the year, while Edwin Rios (Florida International) drove in three runs.

Cotuit 2, Y-D 1

The Kettleers picked up their first win and kept Y-D as the only winless team in the league with a 2-1 victory at Lowell Park. Two runs in the fourth were the difference as Cotuit rallied from an early 1-0 deficit. After Blake Stevens (Birmingham Southern) struck out seven in four innings, Sam Tewes (Wichita State) picked up the win with 3.1 innings of relief. The Kettleers offense only had four hits, but scratched across the tying run before an RBI single by Brendan Hendricks (San Francisco) brought home the go-ahead run.

What to Watch

Every team is set for doubleheaders today so there’s plenty of baseball with beautiful weather in the forecast. In Yarmouth, the Red Sox are hosting Wareham and will send former first-round pick Phil Bickford (Cal State Fullerton) to the mound in game one. Bickford was the 10th overall pick in last year’s draft but opted for the college ranks and had a strong freshman year for the Titans.

June 13, 2014June 13, 2014

Daily Fog: The Start that Counts

Ian Happ is off to a big start for Harwich - and so are his team's starting pitchers. — Ian Happ is off to a big start for Harwich – and so are his team’s starting pitchers.

In a Cape Cod Baseball League season, it always takes a week or two for starting pitchers to warm up. Many have been out of action for a while, so they have to get stretched out. They start small, three innings, four innings, maybe five.

But in Harwich, they have started big.

A night after James Mulry (Northeastern) struck out nine in seven shutout innings, Jason Inghram (William & Mary) took a perfect game into the sixth and struck out eight in seven scoreless frames as the Mariners moved to 2-0 with a 10-0 victory over Brewster.

Of the 20 starts made by Cape League pitchers this year, only three have seen the starter go more than six innings, and Harwich’s southpaw duo owns two of those. The average has been 4.2 innings, and Mulry and Inghram have blown that out of the water.

Inghram’s performance was part of a big night for pitching on the Cape, where three games ended in shutouts. His performance was as good as any.

Inghram was the ace of the William & Mary staff this spring with an ERA under two and a 10-2 record. He also racked 109.2 innings, so he’s plenty warmed up. On Thursday, he needed just 86 pitches to get through seven. He retired the first 17 batters he faced before Josh Vidales (Houston) broke up his perfect game in the sixth. He allowed one more two-out hit in the seventh and nothing else.

Ronnie Glenn (Penn) and Skylar Hunter (The Citadel) pitched a scoreless frame each to finish off the win.

The Harwich offense also took care of business, pounding 11 hits and breaking the game open with a six-run fourth. Returning star Ian Happ (Cincinnati) had another big night, going 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. Sal Annunziata (Seton Hall) added two hits and three RBI, while Anthony Hermelyn (Oklahoma) drove in two.

North Carolina star Skye Bolt made his long-awaited Harwich debut when he pinch-hit in the eighth. Bolt was on the Harwich roster last year but ended up with Team USA.

Falmouth 3, Y-D 0

Pitching also shined in Yarmouth, where second-year Falmouth Commodore Kevin McCanna (Rice) tossed six innings of one-hit baseball in a 3-0 win. McCanna had an ERA over six on the Cape last summer, but his spring at Rice was an indicator that he’d be moving in the right direction this summer. He obliged in his first start, striking out four and giving up just the one hit. At the plate, Matt Eureste (San Jacinto) and Austin Afenir (Oral Roberts) – both on temporary contracts – drove in a run apiece, with Afenir notching three hits. Y-D starter Kevin Duchene (Illinois), a former Big 10 Freshman of the Year, gave up two runs in 4.2 innings.

Bourne 1, Orleans 0

The other shutout belonged to Bourne, which moved to 2-0 with an 11-inning victory over the Firebirds. Eric Nyquist (Mercer) gave up two hits in six innings before giving way to the bullpen, which picked up where he left off. Lucas Laster (Mississippi State), John Gorman (Boston College) and Brad Raley (Lake Erie College) delivered five scoreless frames and set the stage for Bourne to walk-off in the 11th. With a runner on third, Billy Fleming (West Virginia) smacked a base hit to bring in the only run of the game and give Bourne the win. The Braves finished with only three hits as Orleans pitchers were just as good as their counterparts. Tyler Honahan (Stony Brook) started and struck out five in five innings.

Wareham 13, Chatham 3

Wareham’s 2013 offense did not score more than 12 runs a single time, but the 2014 Gatemen did it on day two as they got into the win column with a blowout of Chatham. Wareham got at least one hit from every player in the lineup and finished the night with 17. Nick Halamandaris (California) went 3-for-5 with two RBI, while Memphis teammates Jake Little and Keaton Aldridge each hit home runs – the first homers of the Cape League season. Little and Aldridge also had multi-hit games, along with Willie Calhoun (Arizona), Andrew Knizner (NC State) and Charlie Warren (Rice). Anthony Kay (Connecticut) got the win with three scoreless innings of relief.

Hyannis 6, Cotuit 5

The Harbor Hawks and Kettleers met for the second straight night, and the Hawks delivered their second straight one-run win. After trailing 4-0 they rallied to tie it but fell behind 5-4 in the eighth. But in the top of the ninth, they scored two to take a one-run lead and held it through the bottom of the ninth. Florida State star freshman Ben DeLuzio, a third-round pick out of high school, delivered a two-run triple in the eighth to give Hyannis the lead. Lance Thonvold (Minnesota) struck out two in a scoreless ninth to seal the win. Hyannis also got two RBI from Bobby Melley (Connecticut), the Barnstable native who’s coming off a huge year for UConn. Cotuit got another multi-hit night from D.C. Arendas (South Carolina), who went 2-for-3 and is your early league batting average leader.

What to Watch

Two big-time pitchers will make their Cape League debuts tonight. At 6:30 in Falmouth, Y-D’s Michael Murray (Florida Gulf Coast) gets the ball on the heels of a tremendous spring in which he emerged as one of the nation’s best pitchers. In Orleans, the Firebirds will start Trevor Megill (Loyola Marymount), who was a third-round pick of the Cardinals in this year’s draft. Megill, who was on Orleans’ preseason roster last year, had Tommy John surgery and missed all of this past season at Loyola.

June 12, 2014June 12, 2014

Daily Fog: Chatham Restart

Blake Butera, pictured last year, drove in four runs in Chatham's season-opening win. — Blake Butera, pictured last year, drove in four runs in Chatham’s season-opening win.

I was shocked to find, when writing the Chatham early look for this season, that Blake Butera (Boston College) hit .196 for the Anglers last year. In my head, he was a key cog for the best team in the league, not someone who finished below the Mendoza Line.

Despite the statistics, though, I think I had it right. Butera was a key cog. He started 34 games in the regular season, hit .357 in the playoffs and was welcomed back with open arms to Chatham this season.

If opening night is any indication, he won’t be below the Mendoza Line this season.

Butera went 2-for-5, with a double, two runs scored and four RBI to lead Chatham past Orleans 10-2 at Eldredge Park. Butera started the game with a single, scored soon after, and his team never trailed from there. He added a three-run double in the eighth to put the game out of reach.

Butera’s strong start coincided with a strong beginning for the Anglers, who wouldn’t mind replicating last year’s 6-0 start.

Matthew Peters (California University), who’s on a temporary contract, went 3-for-4 and scored two runs, while Patrick Mazeika (Stetson) went 1-for-2 with three runs scored and an RBI. Mazeika played briefly for Cotuit last summer and should be a big addition for the Anglers.

On the mound, another returnee from Boston College made his second straight opening night appearance for Chatham. Andrew Chin, who came out of the bullpen in Chatham’s opening night win last year, gave up just an unearned run in four innings. Lou Distasio (Rhode Island), another guy on a temp contract, pitched two perfect innings and was credited with the win.

Orleans got two hits and an RBI from Edwin Rios (Florida International).

Harwich 7, Y-D 2

The Mariners also got a big night from a returning standout as Ian Happ (Cincinnati) went 2-for-2 and scored two runs in a victory over Y-D. Happ is perhaps the Cape League’s top returning prospect. Also coming up big were Robert Youngdahl (Notre Dame), who went 2-for-4 with two RBI, and Angelo Amendolare (Jacksonville), who knocked in two. The offense was more than enough for starter James Mulry (Northeastern), who had by far the night’s best pitching performance. In a time of the season when short outings are the norm, Mulry went seven scoreless and struck out nine, while scattering five hits. Interestingly, his college teammate Michael Foster (Northeastern) was the only one to do much damage, going 3-for-4 for Y-D. Doug Willey (Franklin Pierce) was strong in relief, striking out five in four scoreless innings.

Bourne 4, Wareham 2

South Florida standout Jimmy Herget went six strong innings and the Braves had a steady offensive night in a 4-2 win over the Gatemen. Herget, who was last seen on a mound in a conference tournament upset of Louisville, will head to Team USA training camp soon, but made his first start in Bourne count. He allowed two runs and struck out five in six innings for the win. The Braves got two hits and an RBI each from Logan Ratledge (NC State), Blake Davey (Connecticut), and Stephen Wrenn (Georgia). Wareham got five strong innings of relief from Liam O’Sullivan (St. Leo) in the loss.

Hyannis 3, Cotuit 2

The Harbor Hawks edged rival Cotuit 3-2 thanks to a run in the sixth. Cam Gibson (Michigan State) drew a bases-loaded walk to break the 2-2 tie and Hyannis held on from there. Matthew Margaritonda (Marshall) and Ian Gibaut (Tulane) combined on three scoreless innings of relief, with Gibaut picking up the save. Starter Tate Scioneaux (SE Louisiana) also pitched well, giving up one earned in six innings for the win. Dalton Britt (Liberty) had two hits to lead the offense. Cotuit got three hits from D.C. Arendas (South Carolina).

Brewster 7, Falmouth 3

Coming off its second straight last-place finish, Brewster started 2014 in style, rallying from an early 3-0 deficit to top Falmouth 7-3. Travis Maezes (Michigan) had the best offensive night in the league, going 4-for-4 with two runs scored. Dalton DiNatale (Arizona State) added two hits and two runs scored, while John Sansone (Florida State) delivered a three-run triple that broke the game open. On the mound, Cody Ponce (Cal Poly Pomona) gave up three runs in 3.1 innings before a shutdown performance by the bullpen. Ryan McCormick (St. John’s) pitched 2.2 perfect frames and Andrew Naderer (Grand Canyon) struck out four in three scoreless innings. For Falmouth, reigning Cape League batting champ Kevin Newman (Arizona) went 2-for-5 with two RBI.

What to Watch

Y-D hosts Falmouth at 5 p.m for what should be a good early-season pitching performance. Kevin Duchene (Illinois) makes his first start for Y-D after a spring in which he had a 1.80 ERA in the weekend rotation. Kevin McKanna (Rice) gets the ball for Falmouth as he makes his return to the Cape.

June 11, 2014June 11, 2014

Wareham Looking to Regain Form

Wareham followed up one of the franchise’s most memorable seasons with one of its most forgettable. After winning the Cape League title in 2012, the Gatemen just didn’t have the horses last year and won only nine games. They finished second-to-last in the league in both batting average and ERA, an easy recipe for a rough season.

As 2014 rolls around, the Gatemen would love a step back in the right direction, and they’re bound to get it just based on how much they struggled last year. If things come together well, they may get a good-sized step.

Four players return from last year, including two SEC pitchers who could anchor the rotation in Kyle Cody and Trey Killian. The lineup lacks the thumpers that Wareham had in 2012, but there’s some certainly some potential.

For the Gatemen, there’s nowhere to go but up.

THE SKINNY

Manager: Cooper Farris
Last Year: 9-33; Missed playoffs
Returning Players: 4
Juniors: 2
Sophomores: 10
Freshmen: 9

NOTABLE

Kentucky’s Kyle Cody pitched all of nine innings with the Gatemen last summer but made enough of an impression to check in on the league’s top prospect lists. This could be a big summer for him.

Wareham got a longer look at Trey Killian last year and had to like what they saw. He struck out nearly a batter an inning in the Gatemen rotation and will be a good bet for an even better summer this year.

Indiana’s Scott Effross may have the inside track at the closer’s job, based on college numbers. He’s saved five games each of the past two years.

It wasn’t too long ago that Wareham brought in UConn stars George Springer and Matt Barnes. Anthony Kay and Andrew Zapata may not be at their level, but the freshman pitchers are coming off solid debuts.

Elliot Surrey has been the second-best starting pitcher for a talented UC Irvine team that is headed to Omaha.

Also headed to Omaha are the Louisville Cardinals, who have three players pegged for Wareham. All would provide a boost, so the Gatemen will be waiting.

Texas-San Antonio catcher John Bormann was a 19th-round pick of the Angels in last week’s MLB draft.

If Bormann is in town, Wareham will have a dynamic catching duo. The other half is Rice junior John Clay Reeves, a juco transfer who was Conference USA’s Newcomer of the Year this season. LSU’s Chris Chinea can also catch but could bounce around the diamond as well.

FIVE TO WATCH

1. Kyle Cody
2. Trey Killian
3. John Clay Reeves
4. Elliot Surrey
5. John Bormann

PITCHERS

*Kyle Cody – RHP – 6’7 245 – Kentucky – Sophomore
Scott Effross – RHP – 6’2 195 – Indiana – Sophomore
Max Engelbrekt – LHP – 6’3 200 – Oregon State – Sophomore
Myles Gentry – RHP – 6’0 200 – Mississippi State – Sophomore
Drew Harrington – LHP – 6’1 215 – Louisville – Freshman
Anthony Kay – LHP – 6’1 185 – Connecticut – Freshman
*Trey Killian – RHP – 6’3 205 – Arkansas – Sophomore
Ryan Olson – RHP – 6’3 185 – San Diego – Freshman
Elliot Surrey – LHP – 5’11 185 – UC Irvine – Sophomore
Andrew Zapata – RHP – 6’0 190 – Connecticut – Freshman
* – returning player

Kyle Cody – RHP – 6’7 245
Kentucky
Sophomore

Cody worked his way into Kentucky’s weekend rotation by the time conference play hit last season, starting the emergence that has him among the best sophomore arms in the country. He played briefly for Wareham last summer and offered a tantalizing glimpse for scouts. Perfect Game rated him as the Cape’s 30th-best prospect. This spring, he started six games and made 12 relief appearances, posting a 2.84 ERA.

Scott Effross – RHP – 6’2 195
Indiana
Sophomore

Effross saved five games with a 2.44 ERA last year en route to Freshman All-America honors. The 11th-best prospect in the Great Lakes Collegiate League, Effross followed up with an even better sophomore campaign. He saves five games again while dropping his ERA to 1.98. He struck out 40 and walked just 11 in 54 innings.

Max Engelbrekt – LHP – 6’3 200
Oregon State
Sophomore

Engelbrekt has been a valuable left-handed arm out of the bullpen throughout his stay in Corvallis. He made 17 appearances this year and posted a 2.84 ERA.

Myles Gentry – RHP – 6’0 200
Mississippi State
Sophomore

A Mississippi high school standout, Gentry jumped into the Bulldogs pen as a freshman and turned in a strong season, limiting opponents to a .200 batting average and posting a 3.69 ERA. This year, he had a 4.78 ERA in 20 appearances.

Drew Harrington – LHP – 6’1 215
Louisville
Freshman

Kentucky’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2013, Harrington has flashed his potential in his freshman season with the Omaha-bound Cardinals. Though his ERA is 4.95 in 21 appearances, he has struck out 34 and walked only seven 36.1 innings.

Anthony Kay – LHP – 6’1 185
Connecticut
Freshman

Kay was drafted in the 29th round by the Mets but stuck with UConn and had a strong first season in a swing role. He had a 3.49 ERA and struck out 56 in 67 innings. He was second on the team in strikeouts.

Trey Killian – RHP – 6’3 205
Arkansas
Sophomore

The top high school prospect in the state of Arkansas in 2012, Killian made a splash for the Razorbacks last spring when he posted a 3.19 ERA in a swing role. He moved into the weekend rotation full-time this year and didn’t miss a beat, putting up a 2.30 ERA while striking out 62 in 94 innings. Killian made six starts for Wareham last summer and struck out nearly a batter an inning with an ERA a shade over four.

Ryan Olson – RHP – 6’3 185
San Diego
Freshman

Olson struck out 31 in 36 innings for the Toreros in his debut season but finished with an ERA over six.

Elliot Surrey – LHP – 5’11 185
UC Irvine
Sophomore

Surrey didn’t see a ton of innings as a freshman but has made up for lost time this year. Taking over as a weekend starter, Surrey has a 1.99 ERA and ranks second in innings pitched on the Omaha-bound UC Irvine club. He has struck out 75 and walked 27 in 108.1 innings.

Andrew Zapata – RHP – 6’0 190
Connecticut
Freshman

Another UConn freshman from New York, Zapata also pitched in a swing role and had some success in his debut season. The right finished with a 2.57 ERA despite walking one more batter than he struck out.

POSITION PLAYERS

John Bormann – C – 6’0 200 – Texas-San Antonio – Junior
Willie Calhoun – INF – 5’9 180 – Arizona – Freshman
*Christopher Chinea – C – 6’0 215 – LSU – Sophomore
Nick Halamandaris – INF – 6’1 225 – California – Sophomore
Anderson Miller – OF/LHP – 6’3 205 – Western Kentucky – Sophomore
Corey Ray – OF – 6’0 190 – Louisville – Freshman
John Clay Reeves – C – 6’0 200 – Rice – Junior
Kramer Robertson – INF – 5’10 170 – LSU – Freshman
Errol Robinson – INF – 5’11 170 – Mississippi – Freshman
*Danny Rosenbaum – INF – 6’1 200 – Louisville – Sophomore
Charlie Warren – OF/RHP – 6’2 185 – Rice – Freshman
* – returning player

John Bormann – C – 6’0 200
Texas-San Antonio
Junior

Bormann was just selected by the Angels in the 19th round of this year’s draft. If he plays in Wareham, he’ll come in off a strong junior season. Bormann hit .288 with four homers and 24 RBI.

Willie Calhoun – INF – 5’9 180
Arizona
Freshman

Calhoun was a 17th-round pick of Tampa Bay last season but headed to Arizona. He finished his freshman year with a .247 batting average.

Christopher Chinea – C – 6’0 215
LSU
Sophomore

Chinea hit .247 as a freshman in part-time duty last year. After holding his own with Wareham, he made more solid contributions to the Tigers this year. He hit .250 with two homers.

Nick Halamandaris – INF – 6’1 225
California
Sophomore

Halamandaris was an eighth-round pick of the Mariners out of high school but has yet to make big waves at Cal. After hitting just over .200 last year, he batted .244 this year.

Anderson Miller – OF/LHP – 6’3 205
Western Kentucky
Sophomore

Miller was off to a strong start in his freshman year before it was cut short due to injury. Upon returning this year, he picked up where he had left off in a big way. Miller hit .335 with three homers, 18 extra-base hits and 33 RBI. He was a second-team all-Sun Belt selection.

Corey Ray – OF – 6’0 190
Louisville
Freshman

Ray was Seattle’s 33rd round pick last year but the Chicago native headed to Louisville. With the Cards, he has forced his way into more and more playing time thanks to a .347 batting average, a .434 OBP and eight extra-base hits.

John Clay Reeves – C – 6’0 200
Rice
Junior

Reeves started his career at Arkansas before a stint at Navarro Junior College last year. He burst onto the scene at Rice this year, hitting .317 with six homers en route to the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year award. Reeves has also been praised for his work behind the plate.

Kramer Robertson – INF – 5’10 170
LSU
Freshman

The son of Baylor women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey, Robertson headed East after a strong high school career in Texas. He played in 47 games for the Tigers this spring, starting 30 of them, and hit .200.

Errol Robinson – INF – 5’11 170
Mississippi
Freshman

A Maryland native, Robinson has had a strong debut in Oxford. Playing regularly for the CWS-bound Rebels, Robinson has a .290 batting average.

Danny Rosenbaum – INF – 6’1 200
Louisville
Sophomore

Rosenbaum has been one of the top hitters in a loaded Louisville lineup that begins play in the College World Series this week. The sophomore is batting .297 with 11 extra-base hits and 24 RBI. He played in Wareham last summer and hit .246.

Charlie Warren – OF/RHP – 6’2 185
Rice
Freshman

A Texas high school star, Warren started 35 games for the Owls this spring, finishing with a .264 batting average.

June 11, 2014June 17, 2014

Fresh Start for Whitecaps

It’s hard to be a perennial anything in the Cape Cod Baseball League – powerhouse, doormat or otherwise.

The way the last two seasons have gone for the Brewster Whitecaps, that’s good news. The Whitecaps have had some talented players and have had good summers from a development standpoint, but wins have been hard to come by. Brewster finished last in the East in 2012 and 2013, which has set them up with the longest playoff drought in the league.

With not a single player back from last year, it’s a good time for a fresh start. The Whitecaps have assembled a sophomore-dominated team, with a mix of big prospects like Gio Brusa and Mikey White to go with some steady players with a lot of college innings under their belt.

It’s a whole new year.

THE SKINNY

Manager: John Altobelli
Last Year: 14-29-1; Missed playoffs
Returning Players: 0
Juniors: 1
Sophomores: 23
Freshmen: 4

NOTABLE

Blake Fox hasn’t lost a game in his Rice career, and he’s been a part of 18 decisions, so it’s not really a small sample size. The lefty had an ERA under two this season and has ace potential for the Whitecaps.

For a while, Brewster’s roster included highly-touted UCLA sophomore pitcher Hunter Virant. He’s no longer on the squad, which hurts Brewster’s star power, but a host of solid arms could help make up for it. The Whitecaps have five weekend starters on board.

Brewster will have Maryland pitcher Zach Morris on the roster. [Obligatory Saved by the Bell reference].

Arizona seems to always send the same type of player to the Cape – speedy, hard-nosed outfielders who can drive the top of a lineup. Zach Gibbons fits the mold and is headed to Brewster.

Gio Brusa, a guy the Boston Red Sox wanted in the fifth round of the 2012 draft, should be Brewster’s top prospect. He was the third-best prospect in the Alaska League last summer.

Alabama is sending a trio of sophomores Brewster’s way, all of whom are coming off good seasons. Mikey White, who clubbed seven homers this year, looks to be the best of them.

Brewster has become the summer home for players from the fledgling Oregon program. Scott Heineman had a huge impact last year. This year, it’s two talented freshmen – Trent Paddon and Austin Grebeck, the son of former Major Leaguer Craig Grebeck.

FIVE TO WATCH

1. Gio Brusa
2. Mikey White
3. Blake Fox
4. Trent Paddon
5. Dalton DiNatale

PITCHERS

Blake Fox – LHP – 6’4 220 – Rice – Sophomore
Evan Hill – LHP – 6’5 190 – Michigan – Sophomore
Andrew Lee – RHP/1B – 6’5 220 – Tennessee – Sophomore
Dave Mahoney – LHP – 6’3 202 – Connecticut – RS Junior
Ryan Mason – RHP – 6’6 215 – California – Freshman
Levi MaVorhis – RHP – 6’1 195 – Kansas State – Sophomore
Joe McCarthy – RHP – 6’5 215 – Southern New Hampshire – Sophomore
Zach Morris – LHP – 6’5 225 – Maryland – RS Sophomore
Kenny Oakley – RHP – 6’3 180 – UNLV – Sophomore
Trent Paddon – RHP – 6’2 235 – Oregon – Freshman
Cody Ponce – RHP – 6’6 240 – Cal Poly Pomona – Sophomore
Pat Ruotolo – RHP – 5’11 240 – Connecticut – Freshman
Dylan Silva – LHP – 6’1 215 – Florida State – Sophomore

Blake Fox – LHP – 6’4 220
Rice
Sophomore

Fox pitched out of the bullpen as a freshman and in the weekend rotation as a sophomore. The common thread? He doesn’t lose. Fox is a perfect 18-0 in his collegiate career. This season, he went 12-0 in 15 starts with a 1.46 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 104.2 innings. He was named first-team all-Conference USA.

Evan Hill – LHP – 6’5 190
Michigan
Sophomore

Pitching as a weekend starter right out of the gate, Hill walked nearly as many as he struck out as a freshman but managed to post an ERA under four. This season, he improved his strikeout-to-walk numbers and had an ERA of 3.24. He’s pitched as a starter all but once in his two years with the Wolverines.

Andrew Lee – RHP/1B – 6’5 220
Tennessee
Sophomore

Lee didn’t pitch at all as a freshman, focusing all his energies on hitting. This year, he went the other way, seeing just six at-bats while emerging as a valuable arm on the mound. Making 7 starts and 16 relief appearances, Lee had a 3.90 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 56 innings.

Dave Mahoney – LHP – 6’3 202
Connecticut
RS Junior

Mahoney has been at UConn since 2011, when he redshirted. Since then, he’s been busy, making 71 appearances out of the bullpen in three seasons. This year, he finished with a 5.06 ERA.

Ryan Mason – RHP – 6’6 215
California
Freshman

Mason eased his way into a big role on the Bears’ pitching staff this spring. In nine starts and seven relief appearances, he went 7-1 with a 3.04 ERA.

Levi MaVorhis – RHP – 6’1 195
Kansas State
Sophomore

MaVorhis showed glimpses of big things in a Big 12 All-Freshman campaign last year. This spring he slid into K-State’s Friday starter role and delivered, posting a 3.95 ERA.

Joe McCarthy – RHP – 6’5 215
Southern New Hampshire
Sophomore

McCarthy earned All-Freshman honors in the Division II Northeast 10 Conference last year, after striking out a batter an inning while pitching mostly as a reliever. He went 5-1 this year with a 4.03 ERA.

Zach Morris – LHP – 6’5 225
Maryland
RS Sophomore

Morris led the Cincinnati Bearcats in ERA as a freshman in 2012 but transferred to Maryland, where he sat out the 2013 season. In his return to action this year, he made seven starts and three relief appearances while turning in a 2.77 ERA.

Kenny Oakley – RHP – 6’3 180
UNLV
Sophomore

Oakley pitched well in a swing role as a freshman in 2013 then saved five games in the Texas Collegiate League, where Perfect Game had him as the 16th-best prospect. This spring, he started 14 games and put up a 3.15 ERA. He struck out 79 in 97 innings.

Trent Paddon – RHP – 6’2 235
Oregon
Freshman

A California high school star, Paddon made a strong debut with Oregon this spring. In 21 appearances mostly out of the bullpen, he had a 3.38 ERA. He struck out 41 and walked only 11 in 50.2 innings. Paddon got a taste of summer ball last year when he played in the West Coast Collegiate League as a rising freshman.

Cody Ponce – RHP – 6’6 240
Cal Poly Pomona
Sophomore

Ponce has had two good seasons on the mound for Division II Cal Poly Pomona. This season, he had a 2.48 ERA as a starter, striking out 49 in 72.2 innings. He had four complete games.

Pat Ruotolo – RHP – 5’11 240
Connecticut
Freshman

A native of Peabody, Mass., Ruotolo emerged as a reliable bullpen arm for the Huskies this spring, making 25 appearances and sporting a 2.86 ERA. He struck out 49 in 44 innings.

Dylan Silva – LHP – 6’1 215
Florida State
Sophomore

Silva saw spot duty as a freshman in 2013 but made an impression when he allowed just one earned run in 11 innings of work. He played a bigger role this season and continued to pitch well, putting up a 1.98 ERA in 17 appearances. He struck out 28 in 23.2 innings.

POSITION PLAYERS

Braden Bishop – OF – 6’1 190 – Washington – Sophomore
Gio Brusa – OF/RHP – 6’3 190 – Pacific – Sophomore
Dalton DiNatale – INF/OF – 6’4 205 – Arizona State – Sophomore
Zach Gibbons – OF – 5’11 182 – Arizona – Sophomore
Austin Grebeck – OF – 5’8 152 – Oregon – Freshman
Luke Lowery – C/1B – 6’2 237 – East Carolina – Sophomore
Travis Maezes – INF – 6’0 188 – Michigan – Sophomore
Kevin Martir – C – 6’0 200 – Maryland – Sophomore
Justin Montemayor – INF/OF – 6’3 225 – Houston – Sophomore
Kyle Overstreet – INF – 6’1 210 – Alabama – Sophomore
Georgie Salem – OF – 5’11 210 – Alabama – Sophomore
John Sansone – INF – 5’11 200 – Florida State – Sophomore
Josh Vidales – INF – 5’8 160 – Houston – Sophomore
LaMonte Wade – INF/OF – 6’1 180 – Maryland – Sophomore
Mikey White – INF – 6’1 200 – Alabama – Sophomore

Braden Bishop – OF – 6’1 190
Washington
Sophomore

Bishop was a 36th-round pick out of high school and had a good debut for Washington last year. This season, he established himself as one of the best players in the Pac 12 when he hit .304 with a .394 OBP, 10 extra-base hits and a league-high 21 stolen bases.

Gio Brusa – OF/RHP – 6’3 190
Pacific
Sophomore

Brusa was drafted in the 37th round in 2012, but would have gone much higher if he hadn’t been set on attending Pacific. As a freshman, he hit .256 before emerging as one of the best prospects in the Alaska League last summer. Perfect Game had him rated third. This spring, the offensive potential started to shine through as Brusa had a similar batting average at .257 but cracked 22 extra-base hits and drove in 40.

Dalton DiNatale – INF/OF – 6’4 205
Arizona State
Sophomore

The brother of former Miami and Brewster standout Dave DiNatale, Dalton makes the trek to the Cape off a solid sophomore campaign. He batted .294 with three homer, 16 extra-base hits and 36 RBI, which ranked second on the team.

Zach Gibbons – OF – 5’11 182
Arizona
Sophomore

After seeing regular duty last year, Gibbons jumped to the leadoff spot in the Wildcats order this season and excelled there. He hit .338 with a .414 on-base percentage. He also stole seven bases.

Austin Grebeck – OF – 5’8 152
Oregon
Freshman

The son of former Big Leaguer Craig Grebeck, Austin made his presence felt in part-time duty for the Ducks this spring. He hit .254, smacked eight doubles and had an on-base percentage of .369. Like his teammate Paddon, he also played in the West Coast Collegiate League last summer and was named the circuit’s 18th-best prospect.

Luke Lowery – C/1B – 6’2 237
East Carolina
Sophomore

The brother of former Johnny Bench Award winner Jake Lowery – who attended James Madison – Luke is making his mark at East Carolina. He hit .284 this season and smacked four home runs. He was the 11th-best prospect in the Coastal Plain League last year.

Travis Maezes – INF – 6’0 188
Michigan
Sophomore

A native of Ann Arbor, Maezes has had two very good seasons for his hometown Wolverines. As a freshman, he hit .313 with 16 extra-base hits. This season, he batted .302 with a .413 OBP, 25 extra-base hits and 19 stolen bases.

Kevin Martir – C – 6’0 200
Maryland
Sophomore

Martir played at catcher and DH as a freshman and hit .279. He hit .269 this year and popped four home runs for the Terps.

Justin Montemayor – INF/OF – 6’3 225
Houston
Sophomore

After a strong freshman year, Montemayor had a big hand in Houston’s breakout season this year, which saw the Cougars rise into the national top 10. Montemayor hit .298 with a .345 OBP and drove in 31 runs on his way to a first-team all-conference nod.

Kyle Overstreet – INF – 6’1 210
Alabama
Sophomore

Part of a trio of Alabama hitters who are headed to Brewster, Overstreet was an SEC all-freshman pick in 2013 and followed that with a solid sophomore season. He hit .278 this year with four homers and 30 RBI.

Georgie Salem – OF – 5’11 210
Alabama
Sophomore

Like Overstreet, Salem has been solid in two years in Tuscaloosa, hitting .282 this year with 14 extra-base hits and 22 RBI. Last summer, he played in the Northwoods League and was named the 16th-best prospect by Perfect Game.

John Sansone – INF – 5’11 200
Florida State
Sophomore

A 39th-round pick out of high school, Sansone has been a regular contributor for two years running in Tallahassee. After hitting .233 last year, he dropped to .221 this year, but did have 15 extra-base hits and a .361 on-base percentage.

Josh Vidales – INF – 5’8 160
Houston
Sophomore

Like Montemayor, Vidales built on a strong freshman campaign to help lead Houston’s breakout this season. He hit .285 on the year with 30 RBI and stole 11 bases. He was named the MVP of the American Athletic Conference tournament after going 5-for-5 in the title game.

LaMonte Wade – INF/OF – 6’1 180
Maryland
Sophomore

Wade was a versatile performer as a freshman, playing the infield, outfield and pitching. He stayed off the mound entirely this year, and finished with a .247 average, 15 extra-base hits and 25 RBI. He was the 11th-best prospect in the Cal Ripken League last year, according to Perfect Game.

Mikey White – INF – 6’1 200
Alabama
Sophomore

White was a second-team All-SEC pick as a freshman and delivered an even better sophomore season. He hit .300, reached base at a .399 clip and ranked second on the team with seven home runs.

June 10, 2014June 10, 2014

Red Sox Primed to Contend Again

The team of the 2000’s hasn’t done too bad for itself in the 2010’s either. Yes, the Y-D Red Sox haven’t won a title since they won their third in four years in 2007, but they’ve made the championship series twice in the last four years. Both series went to three games, meaning the Red Sox were a game away from being just as dominant this decade as they were in the last.

There have been some down years mixed in, but they don’t typically linger, and on the heels of a sub-.500 year in 2013, the Red Sox are poised for a resurgence in 2014.

As on-paper projections go, it’s easy to see this Red Sox team making a lot of noise. Where some clubs cobble together pitching rotations from unproven arms, the Red Sox have a deep corps of veteran weekend starters, led by Michael Murray, who should be the league’s top incoming arm. On the offensive side, the Red Sox have several top-notch prospects, plus a slew of veterans with long college track records.

So far, Team USA and the College World Series haven’t done too much damage either, which is always a risk for an extra-talented squad.

The Red Sox are primed for another big year.

THE SKINNY

Manager: Scott Pickler
Last Year: 20-22-2; Lost in East semis
Returning Players: 1
Juniors: 9
Sophomores: 23
Freshmen: 4

NOTABLE

The aforementioned Michael Murray had a tremendous season for Florida Gulf Coast. He’ll follow the same summer path of former Eagle Chris Sale, who starred for Y-D and now pitches for the Chicago White Sox.

In a Vanderbilt rotation that includes first-round pick Tyler Beede, you could make a case that future Red Sox Walker Buehler has been the ace. The sophomore righty has a 2.39 ERA and is just six strikeouts off Beede’s pace.

The Red Sox had big success with UNLV’s Erick Fedde on the mound last summer and will welcome in his teammate Bryan Bonnell this year. Bonnell joined Fedde in the Runnin’ Rebels’ weekend rotation this season.

I would expect touted LSU freshman Parker Bugg to crack the Tigers’ weekend rotation next year after a bullpen stint this year, and a good summer in Yarmouth could be the first step in that direction.

Bugg and Maryland’s Mike Shawaryn are the only freshman pitchers on the team and both have impressed thus far.

Bubba Derby starred as a starter for San Diego State this spring after dominating ninth innings last year. Scouts like him as a future closer, so we’ll see which role he takes this summer.

Justin Jacome is another of the veteran starters, with two big seasons in UC Santa Barbara’s weekend rotation.

A.J. Simcox leads the group of positional player prospects. The Tennessee shortstop was rated No. 2 in the Alaska League last summer.

Simcox’s Tennessee teammate Vincent Jackson goes 6’5, 205 and was a 23rd-round pick of the Yankees in 2012.

Franklin Pierce junior John Razzino stole 45 bases this year, ranking third in all of Division II.

Northeastern doesn’t send a ton of guys to the Cape, but two are coming to Y-D with big reputations. Ray Fonseca and Michael Foster were expected to anchor the middle of the order this season. Fonseca missed the spring with an injury but Foster held up his end of the bargain.

Y-D has two catchers on the roster – Jason Goldstein of Illinois and Ryan Hissey of William & Mary – and both have hit very well thus far in their college careers. In a league where everyday catchers don’t often don’t hit much, having two with potential could be a big advantage.

Y-D’s one returning player, D.J. Stewart of Florida State, may end up with Team USA instead. If he does, the Red Sox are still getting a pretty good Seminole, as junior John Nogowski was a recent roster addition.

Missouri sophomore Josh Lester played for the Columbus (Ga.) Northern Little League team that won the Little League World Series championship in 2006.

FIVE TO WATCH

1. Michael Murray
2. A.J. Simcox
3. Walker Buehler
4. D.J. Stewart
5. Bubba Derby

PITCHERS

Bryan Bonnell – RHP/1B – 6’5 200 – UNLV – Sophomore
Walker Buehler – RHP – 6’1 160 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
Parker Bugg – RHP – 6’6 218 – LSU – Freshman
Bubba Derby – RHP – 5’10 185 – San Diego State – Sophomore
Kevin Duchene – LHP – 6’1 220 – Illinois – Sophomore
Zac Favre – RHP – 6’3 217 – Central Florida – Sophomore
Justin Jacome – RHP – 6’6 215 – UC Santa Barbara – Sophomore
Tyler Jay – LHP – 6’1 170 – Illinois – Sophomore
Nick Kozlowski – RHP – 6’1 220 – Hofstra – Junior
Michael Murray – RHP – 6’2 210 – Florida Gulf Coast – Sophomore
Drake Owenby – LHP – 6’3 210 – Tennessee – Sophomore
Mike Shawaryn – RHP – 6’4 210 – Maryland – Freshman
Josh Staumont – RHP – 6’2 205 – Azusa Pacific – Sophomore
Dillon Tate – RHP – 6’2 185 – UC Santa Barbara – Sophomore
George Thanopoulos – RHP – 6’1 190 – Columbia – Sophomore
Henry Van Zant – RHP – 5’11 192 – Bowdoin – Junior
Doug Willey – RHP – 6’2 205 – Franklin Pierce – Junior

Bryan Bonnell – RHP/1B – 6’5 200
UNLV
Sophomore

Bonnell was a two-way player as a freshman but has focused on pitching since. He had a decent summer in the Northwoods League last year and built on it in his sophomore season with the Runnin’ Rebels. Pitching in the weekend rotation, Bonnell had a 2.90 ERA. He struck out only 48 but was a workhorse with 114.2 innings.

Walker Buehler – RHP – 6’1 160
Vanderbilt
Sophomore

A 14th-round pick out of high school, Buehler pitched in a swing role as a freshman with pretty good results then vaulted into a weekend rotation spot this year. Buehler has a 2.39 ERA for the Commodores, who are headed for the College World Series. He has struck out 102 in 94 innings.

Parker Bugg – RHP – 6’6 218
LSU
Freshman

Baltimore’s 34th-round pick last year, Bugg opted for the college ranks and made an immediate splash in Baton Rouge. The righty had a 2.75 ERA in 26 appearances. He saved two games and struck out 29 while walking just five in 36 innings.

Bubba Derby – RHP – 5’10 185
San Diego State
Sophomore

Derby saved 10 games on his way to Freshman All-America honors last year. He moved into the weekend rotation this season and didn’t miss a beat, posting a rotation-best 3.08 ERA while striking out a team-high 100 in 105.1 innings of work. Last summer, he led the Cal Ripken League in ERA and strikeouts and was picked as the circuit’s second-best prospect by Perfect Game.

Kevin Duchene – LHP – 6’1 220
Illinois
Sophomore

Duchene won nine games and lost only one as a freshman last year, and he didn’t tail off much as a sophomore. The lefty went 4-1 with a 1.80 ERA, striking out 35 in 55 innings pitched.

Zac Favre – RHP – 6’3 217
Central Florida
Sophomore

A high school standout in Jacksonville, Favre had been a dynamic reliever for two years running in Orlando. He had a 3.28 ERA last year and dropped it to 2.64 this season. He struck out 29 in 30.2 innings.

Justin Jacome – RHP – 6’6 215
UC Santa Barbara
Sophomore

Jacome was the Gauchos’ Saturday starter for most of his freshman season and had a 3.89 ERA. In limited action in the West Coast League, Jacome made an impression and was named the ninth-best prospect in the league by Perfect Game. He shined as a starter again this spring, going 8-2 with a 2.61 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 79.1 innings.

Tyler Jay – LHP – 6’1 170
Illinois
Sophomore

Jay had a good debut in the Fighting Illini bullpen last year and parlayed it into the closer spot this season. He excelled in that spot, saving 10 games with a 1.94 ERA. He struck out 47 in 41.2 innings.

Nick Kozlowski – RHP – 6’1 220
Hofstra
Junior

Pitching in a swing role the last two years, Kozlowski was a steady contributor. He moved to the weekend rotation this year and put up a 4.45 ERA. He struck out 44 in 62.2 innings.

Michael Murray – RHP – 6’2 210
Florida Gulf Coast
Sophomore

Murray had a good freshman season and a so-so summer in the Northwoods League. This year changed everything as Murray emerged as one of the best pitchers in the nation. He went 13-1 with a 1.85 ERA and struck out 79 while walking just 14 in 107 innings. He was one of the national leaders in starters’ ERA, and for much of the year, his ERA was under one. He was the Atlantic Sun Pitcher of the Year and is a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award.

Drake Owenby – LHP – 6’3 210
Tennessee
Sophomore

Owenby has been a valuable reliever throughout his time in a Vols uniform. This year, he had a 3.20 ERA with 24 strikeouts in 25 innings. Last summer, Owenby was picked by Perfect Game as the third-best prospect in the California Collegiate League.

Mike Shawaryn – RHP – 6’4 210
Maryland
Freshman

Shawaryn was a 32nd-round pick of the Royals last year. In College Park, he vaulted directly into the weekend rotation and was a big reason why the Terps made a Super Regional. Shawaryn went 11-4 with a 3.12 ERA and struck out 72 in 92.1 innings.

Josh Staumont – RHP – 6’2 205
Azusa Pacific
Sophomore

Staumont led the NAIA Golden State Athletic Conference in strikeouts as a freshman at Biola University. He transferred to D-II Azusa Pacific for this year and picked up where he left off, striking out a team-high 89 in 80.2 innings. He had a 4.24 ERA.

Dillon Tate – RHP – 6’2 185
UC Santa Barbara
Sophomore

Tate didn’t do much as a freshman but grabbed the closer’s job this year and saved 12 games. He struck out 46 in 43.1 innings and earned Big West second team honors.

George Thanopoulos – RHP – 6’1 190
Columbia
Sophomore

After a decent freshman season, Thanopoulos didn’t pitch in 2013. He returned to action this year with a bang, going 5-2 with a 2.60 ERA and striking out 40 in 52 innings.

Henry Van Zant – RHP – 5’11 192
Bowdoin
Junior

Van Zant has bounced around the bullpen and the rotation for Bowdoin, but has had success in every spot. This year, in three starts and five relief appearances, he had a 1.95 ERA and struck out better than a batter an inning.

Doug Willey – RHP – 6’2 205
Franklin Pierce
Junior

Willey has had three big seasons out of the Franklin Pierce bullpen, culminating with a 12-save campaign in 2014. He posted a 1.95 ERA this year and struck out 31 in 39 innings.

POSITION PLAYERS

Joey Armstrong – UTIL – 5’11 195 – UNLV – Sophomore
Rob Fonseca – 1B – 6’2 205 – Northeastern – Junior
Michael Foster – INF – 6’0 190 – Northeastern – RS Sophomore
Nico Giarratano – INF – 5’11 182 – San Francisco – Freshman
Jason Goldstein – C – 6’0 200 – Illinois – Sophomore
Ryan Hissey – C – 6’0 180 – William & Mary – Sophomore
Vincent Jackson – OF – 6’5 205 – Tennessee – Sophomore
Josh Lester – INF – 6’2 200 – Missouri – Sophomore
Ryan Lukach – OF – 6’2 205 – Hartford – RS Sophomore
Brennon Lund – OF – 5’11 185 – BYU – Freshman
Andre Mercurio – OF – 5’9 175 – San Jose State – Junior
John Nogowski – INF – 6’1 210 – Florida State – Junior
John Razzino – OF – 6’2 190 – Franklin Pierce – Junior
A.J. Simcox – INF – 6’3 180 – Tennessee – Sophomore
Andrew Stevenson – OF – 6’0 177 – LSU – Sophomore
*D.J. Stewart – OF – 6’0 230 – Florida State – Sophomore
Xavier Turner – INF – 6’2 220 – Vanderbilt – Sophomore
Mike Vigliarolo – INF – 6’1 225 – St. Louis – Junior
Donnie Walton – INF – 5’10 174 – Oklahoma State – Junior
* – returning player

Joey Armstrong – UTIL – 5’11 195
UNLV
Sophomore

Armstrong hit .324 as a freshman then earned all-star honors in the Texas Collegiate League, where Perfect Game had him as the league’s 22nd-best prospect. He hit .302 this season with a .388 OBP and also cracked four home runs.

Rob Fonseca – 1B – 6’2 205
Northeastern
Junior

A .300 career hitter with 14 homers, Fonseca missed the 2014 spring season with an injury. Prior to the injury, he was a preseason all-CAA pick.

Michael Foster – INF – 6’0 190
Northeastern
RS Sophomore

Foster had a big redshirt freshman campaign last year and picked up where he left off in 2014, hitting .299 with three homers, while stealing 18 bases. He also made 12 appearances on the mound and saved five games.

Nico Giarratano – INF – 5’11 182
San Francisco
Freshman

Giarratano grabbed a starting spot with the Dons as a freshman this season and held his own. He hit .242 with 11 extra-base hits.

Jason Goldstein – C – 6’0 200
Illinois
Sophomore

One of the top high school catchers in the country, Goldstein earned Big 10 All-Freshman honors last year before really turning it on this year. He hit .316 with four homers, 15 extra-base hits and 28 RBI. He won a Northwoods League title with the Madison Mallards last summer and was named the league’s 15th-best prospect – and its top catching prospect – by Perfect Game.

Ryan Hissey – C – 6’0 180
William & Mary
Sophomore

Hissey started 62 games as a freshman last year and earned CAA all-rookie honors. He was even better this year, hitting .313 from the catcher’s spot with eight home runs and 39 RBI.

Vincent Jackson – OF – 6’5 205
Tennessee
Sophomore

Jackson was a 23rd-round pick of the Yankees out of high school. He hasn’t put up huge numbers yet at Tennessee – hitting .290 last year and .234 this year – but he was the 22nd-best prospect in the Northwoods League last year, according to Perfect Game.

Josh Lester – INF – 6’2 200
Missouri
Sophomore

A 30th-round pick out of high school, Lester was an SEC All-Freshman selection in 2013. As the Tigers’ everyday shortstop this year, Lester hit .237.

Ryan Lukach – OF – 6’2 205
Hartford
RS Junior

Lukach had a good freshman season way back in 2011 before an injury cost him his sophomore season. After returning to form last year, Lukach hit .296 this year and tied for the team lead with five home runs.

Brennon Lund – OF – 5’11 185
BYU
Freshman

Tabbed by Perfect Game in the preseason as the top freshman in the West Coast Conference, Lund didn’t disappoint. He hit .303 for the Cougars and stole 11 bases.

Andre Mercurio – OF – 5’9 175
San Jose State
Junior

Mercurio has had three solid seasons for the Spartans, posting a career batting average of .290 with a .367 OBP. He hit .280 this year and stole five bases.

John Nogowski – INF – 6’1 210
Florida State
Junior

Nogowski built on two decent years by becoming one of the Seminoles’ best hitters this season. He finished with a .307 average, a .431 OBP, five homers and 49 RBI. The Athletics selected him in the 34th round last week.

John Razzino – OF – 6’2 190
Franklin Pierce
Junior

After transferring in from the Community College of Rhode Island, the R.I. native has lit up the basepaths for the Ravens. He stole 13 bases as a sophomore then broke a school record and ranked third in the nation with 45 this season. He was caught only eight times. Razzino also batted .264.

A.J. Simcox – INF – 6’3 180
Tennessee
Sophomore

One of the top prep shortstops in the nation in 2012, Simcox slipped to the 32nd round because of his strong commitment to Tennessee. The Vols are thrilled to have him. He’s been the team’s starting shortstop for two years and hit .270 this year with 13 stolen bases. Last summer, he starred in the Alaska League and was named the third-best prospect by Perfect Game.

Andrew Stevenson – OF – 6’0 177
LSU
Sophomore

Stevenson hit under .200 as a freshman in Baton Rouge but starred in the Northwoods League over the summer, hitting .363 with 15 extra-base hits. Perfect Game ranked him the league’s 21st-best prospect. This spring, he was a new man for the Tigers. He led the team with a .335 batting average.

D.J. Stewart – OF – 6’0 230
Florida State
Sophomore

Stewart has been invited to Team USA, and with good reason. He’s had two big seasons, plus a good summer for Y-D last year. For FSU this season, he led the team with a .351 batting average, seven home runs, a .471 OBP and 50 RBI.

Xavier Turner – INF – 6’2 220
Vanderbilt
Sophomore

A 34th-round pick of the Red Sox out of high school, Turner headed to Vandy, where he earned Freshman All-America honors last year. He’s hitting .282 this year with a .349 OBP and 15 stolen bases.

Mike Vigliarolo – INF – 6’1 225
St. Louis
Junior

Vigliarolo became the first Billiken to win Atlantic 10 Player of the Year honors when he took the top prize last year after hitting .341. He kept it up this year, hitting .328 with seven homers and 25 extra-base hits. Though he did not repeat as Player of the Year, he earned first-team all-conference honors.

Donnie Walton – INF – 5’10 174
Oklahoma State
Junior

A Big 12 All-Freshman pick in 2013, Walton followed up his strong debut with another good season in 2014. He hit .310 with a .407 OBP and cracked three home runs.

June 10, 2014June 10, 2014

Star-powered Braves Set to Go

The Bourne Braves have had the Cape Cod Baseball League MVP in two of the last three years and three of the last five. It’s never a guarantee of success – the Braves were a .500 team with last year’s MVP Max Pentecost – but the awards represent the fact that good things are happening in Bourne more often than not these days. And look what Bourne did after its .500 season last year. The Braves made a surprising run to the West finals.

As the 2014 season begins, the Braves are bringing in one of the youngest teams in the league, so there are some unknowns there. But it’s also a talented club, led by a host of proven college pitchers like Ryan Kellogg and Jimmy Herget.

Maybe there’s another MVP in the mix, too. Either way, the Braves are hoping for continued success.

THE SKINNY

Manager: Harvey Shapiro
Last Year: 21-21-1; Lost in West finals
Returning Players: 2
Juniors: 1
Sophomores: 11
Freshmen: 11

NOTABLE

Arizona State pitchers Ryan Kellogg and Ryan Burr both have a shot to be among the best pitchers on the Cape this summer. Kellogg returns to Bourne for a second year, off another strong season in Tempe. Burr, who’s also been invited to Team USA, has been a dynamic closer for the Sun Devils.

Few pitchers on Cape rosters can boast a better 2014 college season than South Florida’s Jimmy Herget. The righty was one of the top pitchers in the American Athletic Conference, and led South Florida’s conference tourney upset of now Omaha-bound Louisville.

Bourne has three Louisville pitchers who have done very well this year. That’s the good news. The bad news from Bourne’s perspective is that the Cards are headed to Omaha, so the future Braves may be late arrivals.

Harrison Bader has done nothing but hit in two years with the Florida Gators, leading the team in batting average as a freshman and a sophomore.

Mississippi State freshman Gavin Collins was a top-notch catching prospect who slid in the draft last year due to an injury. He had a solid debut in Starkville this season.

Bourne has seven freshman hitters. Considering the struggles freshmen often have on the Cape, that could be a challenge, but this crew has a lot going for it. Brett Sullivan had a terrific freshman campaign at Pacific and Stephen Wrenn looks like a star-in-the-making at Georgia.

The Braves will have one veteran to anchor the lineup in Mark Laird, who returns for a second year. He’s been a steady player for LSU.

FIVE TO WATCH

1. Ryan Kellogg
2. Ryan Burr
3. Harrison Bader
4. Brett Sullivan
5. Mark Laird

PITCHERS

Ryan Burr – RHP – 6’4 225 – Arizona State – Sophomore
Thomas Hatch – RHP – 6’1 200 – Oklahoma State – Freshman
Dylan Hecht – RHP – 6’2 195 – UC Santa Barbara – Sophomore
Jimmy Herget – RHP – 6’3 165 – South Florida – Sophomore
*Ryan Kellogg – LHP – 6’6 225 – Arizona State – Sophomore
Anthony Kidston – RHP/INF – 6’2 195 – Louisville – Sophomore
Sam Kmiec – LHP – 6’0 210 – Winthrop – RS Sophomore
Lucas Laster – LHP – 5’11 175 – Mississippi State – Junior
Brett Morales – RHP – 6’1 200 – Florida – Freshman
Josh Rogers – LHP – 6’3 210 – Louisville – Freshman
Andrew Sopko – RHP – 6’2 200 – Gonzaga – Sophomore
Jacob Sparger – RHP – 6’5 197 – Louisville – Freshman
* – returning player

Ryan Burr – RHP – 6’4 225
Arizona State
Sophomore

A 33rd-round pick out of high school, Burr grabbed the closer’s role last year and set a school freshman record for saves with 11. Despite pitching out of the bullpen, he ranked second on the team in strikeouts. He continued to pitch as a closer this season, saving 12 games while striking out 56 in 44 innings. Burr has been invited to Team USA.

Thomas Hatch – RHP – 6’1 200
Oklahoma State
Freshman

According to Baseball America, Hatch was the 95th-best high school prospect in the 2013 draft, and he was selected in the 33rd round. He headed off to Stillwater, where he had some ups and downs as a freshman. Hatch finished with a 5.28 ERA in a swing role.

Dylan Hecht – RHP – 6’2 195
UC Santa Barbara
Sophomore

Hecht closed for the Gauchos as a freshman last year and picked up nine saves. He played in the West Coast League last summer and was tabbed as the league’s third-best prospect by Perfect Game. Hecht moved off the closer role this season and had an ERA over six in just nine appearances.

Jimmy Herget – RHP – 6’3 165
South Florida
Sophomore

Herget was thrown into the fire last year when he made his first collegiate start against powerhouse Florida State. He responded with four strong innings and parlayed that into an outstanding freshman season. He was even better this year as he emerged as an ace. Herget had a 1.26 ERA and struck out 90 in 107.1 innings. He earned first-team all-conference honors.

Ryan Kellogg – LHP – 6’6 225
Arizona State
Sophomore

Kellogg was a 12th-round pick out of high school and starred as a freshman in Tempe, putting up a Freshman All-American season that included a no-hitter. In Bourne last summer, Kellogg had an ERA under two in six starts. This spring, he continued to be steady, going 8-3 with a 3.76 ERA and leading the team in innings pitched.

Anthony Kidston – RHP/INF – 6’2 195
Louisville
Sophomore

Kidston pitched in a swing role last year and saw occasional two-way duty. He has focused exclusively on pitching this spring with good results. Kidston has been the Cardinals’ Sunday starter and hasn’t lost a game, going 9-0 with a 3.54 ERA.

Sam Kmiec – LHP – 6’0 210
Winthrop
RS Sophomore

Kmiec had a strong freshman season for the Eagles last year and was even better this year, putting up a 2.95 ERA as a weekend starter. In 103.2 innings, he struck out 73 and walked just 17.

Lucas Laster – LHP – 5’11 175
Mississippi State
Junior

A junior-college transfer, Laster was a valuable member of the Bulldogs’ staff this season as he made four starts and five relief appearances with a 2.60 ERA. He struck out 25 in 34.2 innings.

Brett Morales – RHP – 6’1 200
Florida
Freshman

Morales was one of the top high-school prospects in the state of Florida last year and was drafted in the 24th round. He had an up-and-down debut with the Gators, putting up an ERA over six in 11 appearances.

Josh Rogers – LHP – 6’3 210
Louisville
Freshman

A native of New Albany, Ind., Rogers crossed the Ohio River to attend Louisville and has made a splash for the CWS-bound Cardinals. Making nine starts and five relief appearances, Rogers owns a 3.63 ERA and has struck out 47 in 53 innings.

Andrew Sopko – RHP – 6’2 200
Gonzaga
Sophomore

Sopko was a Montana high school star and was drafted in the 14th round in 2012. He didn’t do much in his first year in Spokane but was named the Alaska League’s 17th-best prospect by Perfect Game last summer. This year, he took the expected leap, putting up a 3.64 ERA as a weekend starter.

Jacob Sparger – RHP – 6’5 197
Louisville
Freshman

The top prospect in Wisconsin last year, Sparger headed to Louisville and has had a strong debut campaign. Pitching mostly out of the bullpen, Sparger has a 3.20 ERA and has struck out 26 in 45 innings.

POSITION PLAYERS

Harrison Bader – OF – 6’1 195 – Florida – Sophomore
Gavin Collins – C – 5’11 200 – Mississippi State – Freshman
Jason Delay – C – 6’0 – 180 – Vanderbilt – Freshman
Bryce Harman – INF – 6’6 220 – East Carolina – Freshman
Ryan Howard – INF – 6’1 192 – Missouri – Freshman
Ben Johnson – OF – 6’1 195 – Texas – Sophomore
*Mark Laird – OF – 6’2 175 – LSU – Sophomore
Richard Martin Jr. – INF – 5’11 186 – Florida – Sophomore
Brian Serven – C – 6’0 195 – Arizona State – Freshman
Brett Sullivan – INF – 6’0 175 – Pacific – Freshman
Stephen Wrenn – OF – 6’2 180 – Georgia – Freshman
* – returning player

Harrison Bader – OF – 6’1 195
Florida
Sophomore

Bader was a New York high school star who headed south and promptly led the Gators in hitting last year. After a summer in the Northwoods League, he paced Florida again this year, hitting .335 with two homers, 24 RBI and a a team-best .411 OBP. He also stole 13 bases.

Gavin Collins – C – 5’11 200
Mississippi State
Freshman

Collins was projected as a top-five round pick before an injury cost him his senior season in high school. His loss was Mississippi State’s gain as Collins hit the college ranks with a .304 batting average and one home run.

Jason Delay – C – 6’0 – 180
Vanderbilt
Freshman

A Georgia high school star, Delay gradually worked his way into the starting catcher’s job at Vanderbilt this year. He finished with a .272 average and 13 RBI.

Bryce Harman – INF – 6’6 220
East Carolina
Freshman

Harman was a basketball and baseball standout at his Virginia high school and was a 27th-round draft pick last year. At East Carolina, he hit .244 but blasted a team-high seven home runs and had a .338 OBP.

Ryan Howard – INF – 6’1 192
Missouri
Freshman

Howard jumped right into the starting lineup in his freshman year in Columbia and acquitted himself well. He hit .302 and knocked in 20 runs.

Ben Johnson – OF – 6’1 195
Texas
Sophomore

Johnson didn’t have a great freshman year but is in the midst of an honorable mention All-Big 12 season this year. He’s hitting .271 for the Omaha-bound Longhorns and he leads the team with six home runs.

Mark Laird – OF – 6’2 175
LSU
Sophomore

Laird grabbed a starting job in the LSU outfield last year and hit over .300. He then hit .292 with Bourne last summer. This year, he batted .291 for the Tigers and stole 10 bases.

Richard Martin Jr. – INF – 5’11 186
Florida
Sophomore

Martin was a 38th-round pick out of high school and saw regular duty for the Gators last year. He played for Falmouth in the Cape League last summer and struggled to a .193 average. This spring, he was back on the horse, hitting .266 with 13 extra-base hits and 18 stolen bases.

Brian Serven – C – 6’0 195
Arizona State
Freshman

Serven started 45 games for the Sun Devils as a freshman this season and held his own. He finished with a .249 batting average to go with three homers and 27 RBI.

Brett Sullivan – INF – 6’0 175
Pacific
Freshman

Sullivan joined older brother Tyler in the Pacific lineup this season and made himself right at home with a huge debut. Sullivan hit a team-best .357, smacked four home runs, hit a team-best 24 extra-base hits and drove in a team-high 40 runs.

Stephen Wrenn – OF – 6’2 180
Georgia
Freshman

Wrenn was drafted in the 27th round last year by his hometown Braves but opted to stick with his commitment to Georgia. He started 55 games as a freshman and hit .254 with 20 RBI. He set a school record for an outfielder with a perfect fielding percentage.