Last year, five of the first seven Daily Fog entries of the year focused on dominant pitching performances. The other two were about the speed and small-ball on display in Cotuit.
This year, it’s already time to break with tradition.
While starters Matt Barnes and Nick Tropeano were impressive in Sunday’s opening night match-up, what caught my eye Monday night was the offense. There were some impressive pitching performances, but nothing eye-popping like last year, when we had four dominant starts in the first two days of the season.
Instead, the eight teams who played Monday combined for 24 runs. It’s not a huge number, and it’s way too early to draw conclusions.
But one thing’s for sure: there are some hitters on the Cape this year.
Some of the best on Monday night were playing in Brewster.
While the Whitecaps’ Troy Channing (St. Mary’s) hit a home run and drove in two, the Chatham duo of Dan Paolini (Siena) and Mark Ginther (Oklahoma State) powered a 12-hit attack as the Anglers topped Brewster 6-4. Both those guys had big springs. Paolini hit .386 with 26 home runs. Ginther checked in at .320 with 12 home runs. On Monday, they picked up where they left off. Paolini went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI while Ginther went 2-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI.
Zach Jones (San Jose State) and Garrett Smith (Boston College) also had two hits for the Anglers. Ricky Oropesa (USC), who had a fantastic spring, started his summer with an 0-for-4, but if he hits as expected, Chatham will have a fearsome middle of the order.
The Anglers also got a solid pitching performance from returning player Mike Dennhardt (Boston College), who struck out six and allowed just one earned run in five innings. Andrew Gagnon (Long Beach State) struck out the first five batters he faced before the Chatham bats got going. He ended up allowing four runs in 4.2 innings.
For Brewster, Channing got his summer off to a strong start with the 2-for-4 night and the home run.
Elsewhere
Before I get to the other recaps, I wanted to highlight some of the names that popped up last night. In Bourne, the Braves have added two Big East stars: Louisville’s Phil Wunderlich and Connecticut’s Mike Nemeth. Wunderlich hit .355 with 21 home runs this year and was drafted in the 12th round, while Nemeth hit .386 with 15 home runs and went undrafted. Another player who surprisingly went undrafted was Fresno State’s Jordan Ribera, who’s now on the Y-D roster. Ribera hit .343 and led the nation with 27 home runs. Also making an appearance was Boston College pitcher Kevin Moran, who’s back with Hyannis. The Barnstable High grad was drafted in the ninth round this June. Also back with Hyannis is Sam Houston State’s Dallas Gallant, who was drafted in the 23rd round.
And another quick note: Ribera’s presence gives the Cape League five of the top seven home runs hitters in the nation. A pretty rare feat.
Bourne raised its championship flag before the game but lost a tough 3-2 decision to Falmouth on opening night at Doran Park. Cecil Tanner (Georgia), who struggled this spring but has loads of potential, allowed a run on three hits in five innings of work and picked up the win. Nate Koneski (Holy Cross) struck out an impressive seven batters in four innings of relief. K.C. Serna (Oregon), Kevin Medrano (Missouri State) and Zach Wright (East Carolina) each drove in a run for the Commodores, who led the whole way. For Bourne, Team USA invitee Ryan Wright (Louisville) had two hits.
In their first game as the Harbor Hawks, Hyannis gave their new name a little extra exposure, winning an extra-inning battle with Orleans 3-2 in the 11th. Cody Stubbs (Tennessee) drove in the winning run. The aforementioned Gallant got the win in relief with three scoreless innings.
John Leonard (Boston College) and Matt Ianazzo (Pittsburgh) combined on the first shutout of the season as Y-D blanked Harwich 4-0. Leonard struck out seven and didn’t walk anybody in six innings. Ianazzo allowed just two hits in three innings for the save. Andrew Leenhouts (Northeastern) pitched well for Harwich, allowing just an earned run in four innings, but Y-D touched him up for two runs that were unearned. Bobby Crocker (Cal Poly) and Dusty Robinson (Fresno State) each had an RBI for the Red Sox. Harwich had Team USA invitee Austin Nola (LSU) in the lineup, but none of their other USA guys were in there.
What to Watch
Division II star Joe Holtmeyer (Nebraska at Omaha) is scheduled to make his first start as Harwich hosts Chatham tonight at 7 p.m. Holtmeyer had 152 strikeouts this season, which led Division II by a wide margin.
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Random question, are this years doubleheaders 7 or 9 innings this year?
They’re scheduled for seven innings I believe.