Monday was a great night for starting pitching in the Cape Cod Baseball League, even if it didn’t automatically equal team success.
Evan Shawver (Cincinnati) was dominant for the second time in as many outings, striking out 12 in six innings for Harwich a week after fanning 10 in six scoreless frames. He has the early league lead in strikeouts.
In a landscape that often favors short stints for pitchers, Shawver finally had some company Monday. Bryce Hubbart, a highly touted young pitcher from Florida State, struck out nine in five innings for Brewster. He now ranks second in the league in Ks. In Cotuit, Jake Smith (Miami) surrendered two hits in five innings and struck out 10.
As for their teams, Shawver was touched up for a pair of runs as Orleans won 2-1. Hubbart and the Whitecaps played to a 1-1 tie against Y-D. Cotuit made a winner out of Smith thanks to an offensive explosion and a bullpen that gave up some late runs but ultimately closed the door.
Orleans 2, Harwich 1
Shawver struck out the side around two hits in the first inning. He took a shutout into the fifth when Orleans broke through for the only runs it would need. The first scored on an error and the second came in on an RBI fielder’s choice by Connor Kokx (Long Beach State). Harwich got an RBI from Zack Prajzner (Notre Dame) but not much else. Orleans starter Max Rajcic (UCLA) tossed three scoreless frames. Jack Filby (UCLA) and Nick Hull (Grand Canyon) also delivered scoreless outings.
Brewster 1, Y-D 1
Hubbart went from solid in his first start to spectacular in his second. After allowing three runs and striking out seven on June 21, the Seminole lefty struck out nine and allowed just one hit. Y-D starter Drew Thorpe (Cal Poly) struck out five and allowed one run in five strong innings. Hubbart’s FSU teammate Ross Dunn helped close the door for Y-D, striking out five in 2.2 perfect innings. Andrew Marrero (UConn) struck out three in 1.1 scoreless innings. Each team got its lone bit of offense on solo home runs. Gavin Cross (Virginia Tech) did the honors for Brewster with his second of the season. Brooks Lee (Cal Poly) hit his second for Y-D and is now batting .387.
Cotuit 13, Hyannis 5
Smith was terrific for Cotuit, giving up two hits and striking out 10 against just one walk in five innings of work. The bullpen encountered a little bit of trouble, but the Kettleers had already provided plenty of run support. RJ Schreck (Duke) homered and drove in two. Brett Roberts (Florida State) added three hits and two RBI. Ben Rice (Dartmouth) and Brooks Baldwin (UNC Wilmington) also drove in two runs each. Cole Cummings (UC Santa Barbara) went 2-for-5. He has at least one hit in each of the six games he’s played.
Bourne 3, Chatham 3
Bourne’s six-game win streak to start the season is over, but the Braves are still unbeaten after a tie with Chatham. The Anglers were in position to send Bourne to its first loss, but a ninth-inning rally by the Braves forced the tie. It was a 3-2 Chatham lead with two outs in the ninth when Braylen Wimmer (South Carolina) knocked an RBI single to score Jake Agnos (East Carolina) with the tying run. The winning run was stranded on second as Chatham salvaged the tie. Agnos and Kyler Fedko (UConn) led the Bourne offense with two hits each. Jordan Patty (Central Michigan) struck out six in four strong innings for the Braves. Seth Stephenson (Temple College) went 3-for-3 for Chatham. Adam Tulloch (West Virginia) struck out six in four innings and is up to seven innings without a run allowed.
Falmouth 3, Wareham 3
Another tie? Yep. These two were even throughout. Falmouth scored two runs in the top of the first and Wareham scored two in the bottom half. The Commodores added a run in the second. So did the Gatemen. From there, it was all zeroes. Kade Kern (Ohio State) provided the bulk of the offense for Wareham with his second home run of the season. Kodie Kolden (Washington State) — yes even the initials matched tonight – had an RBI for Falmouth, as did Jace Bohrofen (Oklahoma). Chase Jeter (Sacred Heart) was the pitching star for Falmouth with three scoreless innings. Samuel Natera (New Mexico State) struck out seven in four scoreless innings for Wareham.
WHAT TO WATCH
Two of the top arms on the New England college baseball season face off as Harwich visits Y-D. Cam Schlitter (Northeastern) gets the ball for Harwich. Nick Dombkowski (Hartford) is slated to go for the Red Sox.
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