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Braves primed for the top again

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With Falmouth getting hot in the playoffs, it’s easy to forget that Bourne owned the West Division last year and finished with the best record in the league. A couple of guys will be back from that team, and they’ll be joined by a strong influx of talent that has the Braves looking like a top on-paper contender.
 

FIVE TO WATCH

1. Brendan McKay
2. Boomer Biegalski
3. Ryan Boldt
4. Nick Banks
5. Pete Alonso

 

NOTABLE

  • C.J. Chatham ends up in Bourne? We need to be better than that, people.

  • Florida State’s Boomer Biegalski will be among the most proven incoming CCBL starting pitchers after settling into ace duties for Florida State this year. He struck out 120, good for ninth in the country.

  • With Biegalski leading the way, the Braves have as impressive a collection of starters as any in the league. Keegan Akin, Matt Crohan, Ryan Keaffaber, Brendan McKay, Josh Rogers, Ryan SMoyer and Dominic Taccolini were all weekend rotation guys this year.

  • McKay has earned a Team USA camp invite, but if he comes to Bourne, he could be the league’s top freshman. The two-way star has a 1.77 ERA and a .314 average.

  • Bourne has a couple of guys with strong bullpen experience, but it will be hard for any of them to push Miami’s Bryan Garcia from the closer’s role, once he arrives from Omaha. Garcia has saved 25 career games in just two seasons with the Hurricanes.

  • Veteran catchers are not a bad place to start building a roster, and Bourne has a pair of returning Cape Leaguers in Jason Delay and Brian Serven.

  • Lots of big-time hitters on the roster, but from a purely statistical standpoint, no one was better than Lehigh’s Mike Garzillo, who hit .359 with 13 homers this spring.

  • Ryan Smoyer, Pete Alonso and Ryan Boldt were all Northwoods League stars last year and will be primed to follow the familiar path to Cape League stardom this year.

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    PITCHERS

    Keegan Akin – SO – Western Michigan – Starter for most of his career, had 4.33 ERA with 75 Ks in sophomore season
    Boomer Biegalski – SO – Florida State – JUCO transfer emerged as ace this year, striking out 120 in 108 IP, with 3.17 ERA
    Matt Crohan – SO – Winthrop – Lefty had big sophomore season, going 7-4 with 3.05 ERA, 87 Ks on way to Big South second team nod
    Bryan Garcia – SO – Miami – Set Miami freshman record for saves last year with 15, has 10 more this year with Miami off to CWS
    Cooper Hammond – SO – Miami – Another key in Miami bullpen, leads team in appearances and owns 1.85 ERA
    Ryan Keaffaber – SO – Indiana State – MVC Freshman of the Year after closing in 2014 had 2.73 ERA in move to rotation this year
    Brendan McKay – FR – Louisville – Two-way star may be nation’s top freshman, but has also earned Team USA invite
    Andy Ravel – SO – Kent State – 21st-round pick out of high school had 3.13 ERA with 55 Ks in second season at Kent State
    Alex Robles – SO – Austin Peay – Two-way player had 3.31 ERA and batted .328 with three homers
    Josh Rogers – SO – Louisville – Solid starter for Cards is 8-1 with 3.53 ERA after posting 3.96 ERA with Braves last summer
    Cody Sedlock – SO – Illinois – Has 4.02 ERA in 21 appearances this year, mostly out of bullpen
    Ryan Smoyer – SO – Notre Dame – Top prospect award winner in Northwoods League last year went 9-1 with 2.27 ERA this spring
    Kirby Snead – SO – Florida – Followed busy freshman year with strong summer in Northwoods, has 3.19 ERA as reliever this year
    Jacob Sparger – SO – Louisville – Solid bullpen arm has 2.08 ERA in 14 appearances for Louisville
    Dominic Taccolini – SO – Arkansas – Moved to weekend rotation after strong freshman year and went 6-4 with 4.32 ERA
    Robert Tyler – SO – Georgia – Freshman All-American missed most of sophomore season after an injury, returning in May
     

    CATCHERS

    Jason Delay – SO – Vanderbilt – Hit .226 for Bourne last summer and batting .301 for Commodores this season
    Brian Serven – SO – Arizona State – Had some struggles in Bourne last year but returned to Tempe and hit .294 with 6 HRs this spring
     

    INFIELDERS

    Pete Alonso – SO – Florida – One of Northwoods League’s best last summer hitting .304 with three homers for Omaha-bound Gators
    C.J. Chatham – SO – Florida Atlantic – Followed strong debut with breakout sophomore season, hitting .344 with 28 XBH, 43 RBI
    Camden Duzenack – SO – Dallas Baptist – Helped lead DBU’s continued emergence with .286, 4 HR season
    Mike Garzillo – JR – Lehigh – Second baseman had huge junior year, batting .359 with 13 HR, 54 RBI and 15 SB
    Casey Golden – SO – UNC Wilmington – Freshman All-American last year hit .283 with 6 HR in second season
    Reid Humphreys – SO – Mississippi State – After part-time duty last year, hit .247 and was second on team in HR with 5
    Corey Julks – FR – Houston – Grabbed full-time job as season went on and hit .302 with 5 HR, 38 RBI
    Nick Solak – SO – Louisville – One of top hitters for dynamic Louisville offense, batting .326 with three homers, 18 SB
     

    OUTFIELDERS

    Nick Banks – SO – Texas A&M – Led SEC in hitting for much of the year, now batting .366 with 7 HR, 47 RBI
    Ryan Boldt – SO – Nebraska – Baseball America’s top prospect in the Northwoods League hit .344 in second season in Lincoln
    Vince Fernandez – SO – UC Riverside – West Coast League all star last summer had breakout sophomore year with .316 average, 7 HR
     

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    Harwich poised for more success

    harwich 15
     
    Harwich annually mines big-time programs for top young talent, and the cast will be similar this year. The pitching staff may lack a star at this point, but there’s plenty of pop in the order, with a handful of returning players ready to lead the way.

    The Mariners won the Eastern Division regular-season crown last year.

    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Buddy Reed
    2. Sheldon Neuse
    3. Saige Jenco
    4. Hunter Newman
    5. Cavan Biggio
     

    NOTABLE

  • Harwich has some Big League bloodlines with the sons of Craig Biggio and Preston Palmeiro and a cousin of Brad Lidge. With Biggio and Lidge, it’s a particularly strong Houston Astros connection. Can we find a Bagwell somewhere?

  • Like a number of teams profiled so far, the Mariners don’t have the proven ace-type pitcher on staff. Alabama’s Geoffrey Bramblett is probably the closest, after a steady year in the Crimson Tide’s weekend rotation.

  • LSU’s Hunter Newman has been terrific in a bullpen role for the Omaha-bound Tigers this season. He has a 0.53 ERA in plenty of work.

  • Florida and outfielder Buddy Reed are also headed to Omaha. Reed has been one of the best hitters in a dynamic Gator offense. He was rated one of the top prospects in the Northwoods League last summer.

  • Virginia Tech’s Saige Jenco was one of the top prospects in the Futures League before he even got to Blacksburg, playing there after his senior season of high school. The outfielder has since turned into an all-ACC player.

  • Baseball America tabbed Oklahoma’s Sheldon Neuse as its preseason Big 12 Player of the Year. It didn’t quite pan out, but Neuse still earned first-team all-conference honors after hitting .275. Neuse plays shortstop and can also pitch.

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    PITCHERS

    Evan Anderson – SO – Ole Miss – Had 2.11 ERA in swing role last year but had some struggles in same spot this year, with ERA over 6
    Geoffrey Bramblett – SO – Alabama – Moved to weekend rotation this year and was solid, going 8-3 with 3.81 ERA and 69 Ks
    Williams Durruthy – SO – Florida International – Standout reliever for two years running had 2.18 ERA, 2 saves this year
    Anthony Pacillo – SO – Seton Hall – Has 3.69 career ERA over 27 appearances, mostly starts in two years with Pirates
    Joe O’Donnell – SO – NC State – Ranked second on team in appearances and posted 2.08 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 52 IP
    Sean Labsan – SO – Florida Atlantic – Two-way player focused mostly on pitching this season and had 3.61 ERA as a starter
    Luke Scherzer – SO – Virginia Tech – Closer for the Hokies since freshman year owns nine career saves, struck out 56 in 45.2 IP this year
    Spencer Trayner – SO – North Carolina – Bullpen workhorse had 4.81 ERA in 23 appearances this spring
    Cam Vieaux – SO – Michigan State – Followed solid freshman year by going 4-7 with 3.49 ERA in weekend rotation
    Hunter Williams – FR – North Carolina – Made nine solid starts as a freshman and posted 1.79 ERA
    Cory Wilder – SO – NC State – Led team in strikeouts with 79 in 64.1 innings, finished with 3.50 ERA
    Zach Schellenger – FR – Seton Hall – Big righty went 2-3 with 4.97 ERA in debut season with Seton Hall
    Jacob Hill – JR – San Diego – Former JUCO standout had ERA over seven in 20 relief appearances but struck out 30 in 28 IP
    Joe DiBenedetto – SO – Seton Hall – Grabbed closer’s spot and saved three games to go with 3.13 ERA this spring
    Hunter Newman – SO – LSU – Back after medical redshirt, has been lights-out reliever with 0.53 ERA in 33.2 IP
     

    CATCHERS

    Stevie Berman – SO – Santa Clara – Standout hitter from the catching spot batted .336 with 4 HR this year
    Ryan Lidge – SO – Notre Dame – Nephew of former MLB closer Brad hit .279 with two homers in second season with Irish
     

    INFIELDERS

    Cavan Biggio – SO – Notre Dame – Son of Craig, returning Mariner hit .258 with 9 HR as a sophomore
    Drew Ellis – FR – The Citadel – Hit only .229 as a freshman but blasted 12 HR, fourth in the nation among freshmen
    Preston Palmeiro – SO – NC State – Son of former MLB star Rafael hit .305 with 7 HRs in first season of full-time duty
    Connor Justus – SO – Georgia Tech – Standout defender at shortstop hit .251 this season
    Sheldon Neuse – SO – Oklahoma – Fourth-best prospect in Cal Collegiate League last year hit .275 with 6 HR this spring
    Danny Zardon – SO – LSU – Returning Mariner hitting .288 for Tigers as a sophomore
     

    OUTFIELDERS

    Saige Jenco – SO – Virginia Tech – Third-team all-ACC pick hit .330 with 3 HR, 27 RBI and 10 SB
    Buddy Reed – SO – Florida – Standout in Northwoods League last summer hitting .313 with 18 SB for Omaha-bound Gators
    Nick Walker – SO – Old Dominion – Tied for team lead with six home runs this year, to go with .279 average
    Brock Deatherage – NC State – Started 35 games as a freshman and hit .291, stole 7 bases
     

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    Kettleers aim to be in the mix again

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    After its run to the Cape League championship in 2013, Cotuit slipped to 18-25-1 last season but made the West finals after sneaking into the playoffs. It’s a lesson – the Kettleers are always dangerous, no matter how their team looks. This season should be no different.

    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Anfernee Grier
    2. Jeren Kendall
    3. Michael Paez
    4. Duncan Robinson
    5. Kyle Wright

     

    NOTABLE

  • You can always count on speed in a Mike Roberts lineup, and there’s no shortage this year. Tulane’s Stephen Alemais stole 27 bases, while Coastal Carolina’s Michael Paez stole 19. Several other guys on the roster were in double digits/

  • For now, the Cotuit pitching staff doesn’t have a guy with a long, proven track record as a starter, but there are some solid pieces in the fold, led by reigning Ivy League Pitcher of the Year Duncan Robinson.

  • A pair of freshmen look like potential standout relievers, if they stick with that role this summer. Mitch Stallings of Duke struck out 54 in 45.1 innings, while Vanderbilt’s Kyle Wright owns a 1.09 ERA.

  • Will Haynie headed to Alabama after a strong high school career in Tennessee, but the 6-foot-5 catcher has yet to put it all together with the Tide, hitting under .200 in both his seasons.

  • If you’re starting from day one at Vanderbilt, you’re doing something right, and outfielder Jeren Kendall certainly is. He has hit .296 and stolen 18 bags for the Commodores this spring. He’ll follow in the footsteps of a number of Vandy outfielders who called Cotuit home in the summer.

  • Baseball America called Anfernee Grier the best player on a resurgent Auburn team this year, and the athletic sophomore seems primed for a big summer. He was among the SEC’s leaders in hits this season.

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    PITCHERS

    Daniel Brown – SO – Mississippi State – JUCO star with a big fastball struck out 28 in 20.1 relief innings this spring
    Justin Dunn – SO – Boston College – Had high ERA last year as a freshman but this season saved 5 games, struck out 46
    Nick Eicholtz – SO – Alabama – Had 3.65 ERA, mostly as a starter, in season that was cut short in early May
    Bernardo Flores – SO – USC – After limited action as a freshman, struck out 45 in 44.2 innings out of pen this season
    Nick Lewis – SO – Baylor – Has been up-and-down in two seasons in Waco, with 4.14 ERA this spring
    Duncan Robinson – JR – Dartmouth – Ivy League Pitcher of the Year had 2.62 ERA , 52 Ks & just 12 BB in 65.1 IP
    Austin Sexton – SO – Mississippi State – After quiet freshman year, had 3.77 ERA in weekend rotation this season
    Mitch Stallings – FR – Duke – Lefty led Blue Devils in appearances as a frosh and struck out 54 in 45.1 innings
    Jon Woodcock – JR – Virginia Tech – Veteran southpaw struck out a team-high 69 with 3.73 ERA this season
    Kyle Wright – FR – Vanderbilt – Top reliever for Commodores has 1.09 ERA, 53 Ks in 49.1 IP
     

    CATCHERS

    Will Haynie – SO – Alabama – Highly-touted catching prospect hit 8 home runs this season but batted just .195
    Tim Susnara – FR – Oregon – Late-round pick out of high school hit .223 in first season in Eugene
     

    INFIELDERS

    Stephen Alemais – SO – Tulane – All-conference pick hit .312, stole 27 bases this spring
    Spencer Gaa – SO – Bradley – Followed solid freshman year with .351 campaign this season
    Casey Hughston – SO – Alabama – Emerged as standout this spring, hitting .332 with six homers and 12 stolen bases
    Michael Paez – SO – Coastal Carolina – After strong summer in Prospect League, speedster hit .326 with 8 HR, 19 SBs
     

    OUTFIELDERS

    Matt Albanese – SO – Bryant – Northeast Conference Rookie of the Year last season hit .319 with 5 HR as a sophomore
    Gene Cone – SO – South Carolina – Hit .257, stole 13 bags while starting every game for South Carolina this season
    Anfernee Grier – SO – Auburn – Highly-ranked ahead of 2013 draft, followed steady debut with .323 average, 9 SB this year
    Keenan Innis – SO – Georgia Tech – After injury cut short his freshman year, hit .314 as a sophomore
    Jeren Kendall – FR – Vanderbilt – Wisconsin high school star fitting right in at Vandy, with .296 AVG, 7 HR, team-high 18 SB
    Jack Klein – SO – Stanford – Late-round pick in 2013 hit .217 this season
    Kort Peterson – SO – UCLA – Became regular contributor as a sophomore, hitting .274 and swiping 15 bags
     

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    Veteran hitters primed to lead Anglers’ resurgence

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    After a first-place finish in the East two years ago, the Anglers dropped to the bottom of the division last summer. With a talented offense primed to contribute from day one, Chatham would like to ride the rollercoaster right back to the top.

    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Will Craig
    2. Nate Mondou
    3. Zack Burdi
    4. Jake Fraley
    5. Josh Greene
     

    NOTABLE

  • Zack Burdi has followed in his brother’s footsteps at Louisville and Chatham – and in his radar gun readings. With Nick now in the Twins organization after being selected in second round of last year’s draft, Zack had the top fastball velocity in the Cape League last summer and assumed closer duties for the Cardinals this spring.

  • Chatham has had quite a few North Carolina aces in town over the years, and Zac Gallen joins the crew this season. Gallen struck out 74 in his sophomore season.

  • Thomas Jankins of Quinnipiac was the New England Collegiate Baseball League Pitcher of the Year last summer when he set a new league record in ERA at 0.40.

  • James Mulry had a tough season with Northeastern but he’s a Cape League veteran, having posted a 3.89 ERA for Harwich last year.

  • Chatham has the makings of a strong, sophomore-led offense with players on the heels of big seasons. No seasons were bigger than those of a pair of Wake Forest players who will head to Veterans Field. Will Craig earned ACC Player of the Year honors after hitting .382 with 13 homers and teammate Nate Mondou wasn’t far behind, with a .338 average and 10 homers.

  • LSU’s Jake Fraley hit .265 and stole 11 bases for the Anglers last summer. His potential has drawn praise from LSU coach Paul Mainieri since the start of his career and you would think he’s poised for a big summer.

  • The list goes on of solid offensive options, but the best news for the Anglers? Just one player – Fraley – is on a College World Series team.

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    PITCHERS

    Zack Burdi – SO – Louisville – Flame-throwing closer, returning Angler, has excelled for Cardinals with 9 SV, 0.69 ERA
    C.J. Burdick – FR – San Diego – Solid in swing role, posting 4.24 ERA and 55 K in 57.1 IP
    Daniel Castano – FR – Baylor – Big 12 all-freshman pick followed with solid sophomore year as starter, with 3.61 ERA
    Ty Damron – SO – Texas Tech – After quiet freshman year, started 11 games as a sophomore and had 3.58 ERA
    Dane Dunning – SO – Florida – Moved to rotation after debut in bullpen last year, struck out nearly a batter an inning
    Paker Dunshee – SO – Wake Forest – Has posted an ERA under 3 in two years of relief work with Demon Deacons
    Gabe Friese – SO – Kennesaw State – Part of weekend rotation for two years running, had 3.57 ERA this year
    Zac Gallen – SO – North Carolina – Top starter for Tar Heels went 4-3 with 2.79 ERA and 74 Ks
    Jake Godfrey – JR – LSU – Power arm was 21st-round pick last year, has gone 7-1 with 4.70 ERA this year
    Thomas Jankins – SO – Quinnipiac – NECBL Pitcher of the Year last summer had 3.20 ERA this spring
    Aaron McGarity – SO – Virginia Tech – Pitched in relief and starting role with 4.57 ERA this season
    James Mulry – JR – Northeastern – Standout with Harwich last year had up-and-down junior year, finishing with 5.71 ERA
    Jeff Paschke – JR – USC – Two-way player honed in on pitching this spring and had ERA over six in 13 appearances
    A.J. Puckett – SO – Pepperdine – Moved into weekend rotation as a sophomore and went 7-5 with 4.35 ERA
    Cameron Stone – SO – Stony Brook – Saved 8 games as a freshman and added 6 this year with 1.04 ERA
    Garrett Williams – SO – Oklahoma State – Highly ranked out of high school, returning Angler had 4.91 ERA out of pen this spring
    T.J. Zeuch – SO – Pittsburgh – Grabbed full-time spot in rotation this year and struck out 90 in 88.1 IP
     

    CATCHERS

    Aaron Barnett – SO – Pepperdine – Freshman All-American last year hit .303 this season
    Nick Sciortino – SO – Boston College – Started 43 games and hit .243 this spring
     

    INFIELDERS

    Kyle Brooks – JR – North Florida – Hit .303 and stole nine bases for North Florida this season
    Will Craig – SO – Wake Forest – ACC Player of the Year hit .382 with .496 OBP, blasted 13 home runs, 20 doubles and knocked in 58
    Garrett Hampson – SO – Long Beach State – Big West Freshman of the Year in 2014 hit .296, stole 17 bases this year
    Nate Mondou – SO – Wake Forest – Part of Demon Deacons power-hitting duo with Craig, Mondou hit .338 with 10 homers
    Zack Short – SO – Sacred Heart – Followed up all-conference debut with nine homers, .303 average this season
     

    OUTFIELDERS

    Trenton Brooks – SO – Nevada – Standout two-way player hit .365 and posted 3.65 ERA in 13 mound appearances
    Jake Fraley – SO – LSU – Highly-touted player set to return to Chatham off .314, 2 HR, 22 SB season with Tigers
    Josh Greene – SO – High Point – Built on solid freshman year by hitting .355 with 7 HR, 13 SB
    Luke Persico – SO – UCLA – Started every game for Bruins and hit .285 with three homers
    Bobby Stahel – JR – USC – Took leap this season with .376 average, four homers, 33 RBI on way to first-team all-conference nod
     

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    Falmouth rebuilds after title trip

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    A veteran Falmouth team led by two-time batting champ Kevin Newman made a run at its first Cape League title since 1980 last summer but fell short against a red-hot Y-D team in the title series. The veterans are gone – with just one player set to return – but the Commodores will be looking for another run in 2015.
     

    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Andrew Benintendi
    2. Mitch Longo
    3. Heath Quinn
    4. Jon Duplantier
    5. Keaton McKinney
     

    NOTABLE

  • Rice’s Jon Duplantier was highly-touted as a freshman but missed all of this season with an injury. If he’s healthy, the summer could be a springboard for him.

  • The Commodores have three pitchers who saved at least eight games this spring. Zach Jackson had the most impressive numbers to go with the saves total, striking out 80 batters in only 52 innings pitched.

  • Jackson’s Arkansas teammate, Keaton McKinney, was projected to be a top-five round pick out of high school, but signing demands and a strong commitment to Arkansas kept him out of the early rounds. He jumped right into the weekend rotation this year and posted a 3.21 ERA.

  • Both catchers on the Falmouth roster will make the trip bring Big 12 award credentials with them. Michael Tinsley was a second-team all-conference pick and Evan Skoug made the all-freshman team.

  • Maryland has been one of the stories of the NCAA Tournament so far, and Brandon Lowe has led the offense. The redshirt sophomore is batting .333 with nine homers and 53 RBI.

  • Mitch Longo earned MAC Player of the Year honors at Ohio University and will likely anchor Falmouth’s outfield this summer.

  • Boomer White was a key part of Falmouth’s run to the championship series last year and will be back in the fold this year. He’ll also be chomping at the bit, after sitting out this spring due to NCAA transfer rules.

  • Arkansas’ Andrew Benintendi will be perhaps the best hitter coming to the Cape, but don’t count on him making it. A breakout year has pushed the draft-eligible sophomore into the first round of a lot of mock drafts.

    •  

    PITCHERS

    Jon Duplantier – SO – Rice – Big right-hander had promising freshman year but was sidelined in 2015
    Morgan Earman – SO – Arizona – 21st-round pick in 2013 pitched in 10 games as a freshman but was limited to 2 IP this year
    Zach Jackson – SO – Arkansas – Dominant reliever for two years saved 8 games this spring with 80 K in just 52 IP
    Cobi Johnson – FR – Florida State – Late-round pick out of high school has high ERA but has struck out a batter an inning
    Turner Larkins – FR – Texas A&M – Solid starter in debut season had 3.96 ERA, 43 Ks
    Keaton McKinney – FR – Arkansas – Ranked in nation’s top 100 high school players last year, McKinney went 6-1 with 3.21 ERA in debut
    Sean McLaughlin – JR – Georgia – Injured last year, returned to weekend rotation this year and had 4.67 ERA with 57 Ks
    Alex Phillips – SO – San Jacinto – Baylor commit struck out 72 in 68 innings this season
    Wyatt Short – SO – Ole Miss – Lefty closer saved 10 games this year with 1.38 ERA
    Bo Tucker – FR – Georgia – Finished busy freshman year with 2.03 ERA out of the bullpen
    Stephen Villines – SO – Kansas – Ranked second in Big 12 in saves with 13, to go with 3.40 ERA
     

    CATCHERS

    Evan Skoug – FR – TCU – Late-round pick in 2014 was Big 12 all-freshman honoree after hitting .282 with team-best 43 RBI
    Michael Tinsley – SO – Kansas – Second-team all-Big 12 pick hit .337 with three homers, 39 RBI
     

    INFIELDERS

    Tate Blackman – FR – Ole Miss – 20th-round pick out of high school struggled as a freshman, finishing at .197
    Tristan Gray – FR – Rice – Standout Texas high schooler had solid debut with Rice, hitting .247 with 10 extra-base hits
    Brandon Lowe – SO – Maryland – Freshman All-American in 2014 has been terrific in 2015: .333, 9 HR, 53 RBI
    J.J. Matijevic – FR – Arizona – Boston’s 22nd-round pick in 2014 hit .238 in first year as a Wildcat
     

    OUTFIELDERS

    Andrew Benintendi – SO – Arkansas – National player of the year candidate hit .390 with 18 HR, but is draft-eligible
    Mitch Longo – SO – Ohio – MAC Player of the Year hit .357 with 7 homers, 49 RBI
    Heath Quinn – SO – Samford – Freshman All-American stayed hot in sophomore year, with .340 average, 14 home runs
    Boomer White – SO – Texas A&M – Returning Commodore sat out this spring after transferring from TCU
    J.B. Woodman – SO – Ole Miss – Built on good freshman year with .274 average, 7 home runs
     

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    Red Sox out to defend title

    YD_15 quick look
     
    The Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox surged to their fourth Cape Cod Baseball League championship in 11 years last summer, completing the run with a sweep of Falmouth in the title series. They made the run after finishing third in the East Division during the regular season and shuffling their roster regularly.

    Another talented group, led by a deep pitching staff and a host of big-name freshmen, is on its way.
     

    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Mike Shawaryn
    2. J.J. Schwarz
    3. Will Toffey
    4. Cole Billingsley
    5. Brett Adcock
     

    NOTABLE

  • Maryland is headed to a Super Regional and ace Mike Shawaryn has been a big reason why. After setting a school record for wins as a freshman, Shawaryn took the leap into bona fide ace territory this year, going 13-2 with an eye-popping 133 strikeouts. This may be the first preview, but it’s hard to imagine anyone in the Cape League has a better pitching coming to town than Y-D has with Shawaryn.

  • Shawaryn heads a list of starting pitchers with strong track records on the Y-D roster. Brett Adcock, Brandon Bailey and Shane Bieber were workhorses this year, with Adcock and Bailey both striking out more than 90.

  • Y-D had the league’s most fearsome closer last year in Phil Bickford. David Ellingson may not have the same pedigree, but he’s got the numbers. The Georgetown standout saved nine games with an ERA under 1.00 this season.

  • The Cape League always has a few native sons in uniform. Barnstable native Will Toffey could be the best in recent memory. The Vanderbilt freshman already lit up the Futures League last year and has forced his way into the lineup for the defending College World Series champions as a freshman.

  • TCU’s Brian Howard stands 6’9. That is all.

  • Y-D is slated to have three freshman catchers from powerhouse SEC programs. All have big potential, but J.J. Schwarz has made it good on more quickly than the others, with 15 homers for Florida in his debut season.

  • Y-D could have a very athletic outfield, with Stephen Wrenn of Georgia and South Alabama’s Cole Billingsley patrolling. Wrenn had started at center field in every game of his college career and flashed potential for Bourne last summer. Billingsley ranked 16th in the nation in stolen bases this year.

  • St. John’s Mike Donadio didn’t have a great sophomore year, at least compared to his Big East Rookie of the Year campaign in 2014, but he’ll be a valuable presence for the Red Sox this summer. A late addition last year, Donadio hit .367 with two home runs in the playoffs.

  • The Red Sox will likely have one of the youngest teams in the league, with 13 freshman ticketed for Red Wilson Field. That includes nine position players, who often struggle as freshmen on the Cape.

    •  

    PITCHERS

    Brett Adcock – SO – Michigan – Third-team all-Big 10 lefty K’d 95 in 90 IP, with a 3.10 ERA
    Brandon Bailey – SO – Gonzaga – Strong starter for Gonzaga went 8-3 with 3.72 ERA and tied for 3rd in WCC with 91 Ks
    Shane Bieber – SO – UC Santa Barbara – Dominated in West Coast League last summer and earned all-conference nod this year
    Ben Bowden – SO – Vanderbilt – Native of Lynn, Mass., has been valuable bullpen arm, with 45 Ks in 34.2 IP
    Gabe Cramer – JR – Stanford – Saw limited action in first two years, emerged as good reliever this year
    David Ellingson – SO – Georgetown – Dominant closer had 9 saves, .75 ERA this season
    Alex Faedo – FR – Florida – Late-round pick last year has been solid swing guy this spring, with 3.36 ERA
    Mitch Hart – FR – USC – Jumped right into weekend rotation and posted 4.07 ERA; second on team in IP
    Brian Howard – SO – TCU – Six-foot-nine righty struck out 43 in 43 innings this spring, pitching mostly out of bullpen
    Dustin Hunt – SO – Northeastern – ERA ballooned near five, but righty from Andover, Mass., led Huskies in Ks
    Dalton Lehnen – FR – Cincinnati – Freshman lefty led Cincy in starts but went 1-7 with 5.56 ERA
    Mike Shawaryn – SO – Maryland – One of nation’s best pitchers went 13-2, had 1.66 ERA and struck out 133, 4th nationally
    Ricky Thomas – FR – Fresno State – Freshman lefty had solid debut with 3.92 ERA
    Chris Viall – SO – Stanford – Solid swing man on pitching staff had 4.73 ERA this season
     

    CATCHERS

    Mike Papierski – FR – LSU – 16th-rd pick in 2014 draft has hit .214 in limited action for loaded LSU team
    Nathan Rodriguez – FR – Arkansas – Talented catching prospect was declared ineligible this season and did not play
    J.J. Schwarz – FR – Florida – 17th-rd pick last year has had huge freshman season: .320 with 15 HR, 66 RBI
     

    INFIELDERS

    Tommy Edman – SO – Stanford – Started every game this spring, hit .296 with a homer
    Dalton Guthrie – FR – Florida – Late-round pick in 2014 has started every game in debut season, posting .290 average
    Ryan Lillard – FR – Arizona State – Iowa native hit .233 in 26 games as a freshman
    Will Toffey – FR – Vanderbilt – Barnstable native & top prospect in Futures League last year hitting .309 in first year at VU
    Connor Wong – FR – Houston – Hit .248 with six homers in first season with Cougars
     

    OUTFIELDERS

    Cole Billingsley – JR – South Alabama – Had big year after medical redshirt in 2014, batting .345 and swiping 30 bags
    Luke Bonfield – FR – Arkansas – Mets’ 21st-rd pick in ’14 has hit .164 in limited duty for Razorbacks
    Michael Donadio – SO – St. John’s – Big East Rookie of Year in 2014 batted .302 this year
    Ryan Noda – FR – Cincinnati – Hit .230 and was second on UC to former CCBL all-star Ian Happ in HRs with 7
    Stephen Wrenn – SO – Georgia – Has started all 109 games of UGA career in CF; hit .324 with 8 HR this year

     

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    It Was Winter, Buddy

    lowell park snowAnyone else in New England feel like that guy from the Kingsford commercial right now?

    I don’t know if it was the brutal winter or the fact that I spent much of it covering college basketball for the first time, but I stumbled into baseball season – especially college baseball season – like that guy stumbles into the backyard.

    Thankfully, there’s still some time to get our bearings. Shall we?

  • The Cape League announced earlier this month that its Hall of Fame will be moving out of the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum after the 2015 baseball season. The Hall, which counts 137 members, has been in the museum since 2008, but is out-growing the space and will look for a new home.

  • The 2015 schedule is out and games are set to begin Tuesday, June 9. The season’s first pitch will come at Stony Brook Field at 5 p.m., as Brewster hosts Wareham. Falmouth, Harwich, Chatham and Orleans will also have home games on opening night. The All-Star Game will be played Saturday, July 25 in Wareham.

  • The Cape League was selected as the nation’s sixth-best baseball attraction in the book “101 Baseball Places to See Before You Strike Out.” Author Josh Pahigian writes, ” “When it comes to combining quality of play with intimacy of setting,” Pahigian writes, “no league in the country – amateur or professional – comes close to matching the experience fans enjoy in the Cape League.”

  • About a month ago, you were probably watching Notre Dame nearly knock off Kentucky in the best game of the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Playing a big role for the Irish was former Harwich Mariner Pat Connaughton, the rare baseball-basketball two-sport star. Connaughton was a fourth-round pick of the Orioles but has said that he would like to explore pro basketball options.

  • Former Chatham Angler Kris Bryant is a Major Leaguer, after the requisite 12 days of waiting so that the Cubs gain an extra year of control. The game’s top prospect hit .360 in his first seven games.

  • Kevin Newman won the Cape League batting title last year and the year before but it’s his Arizona teammate Scott Kingery – who played for Brewster last summer – who’s among the nation’s best this spring. At the season’s midway point, Kingery was hitting near .500. His average has dropped a bit since — to .433, still good for third in the nation. Another 2014 Cape Leaguer, Donnie Dewees of North Florida and Hyannis, ranks fourth at .423.

  • The MLB Draft is set for June 8-10. Three former Cape Leaguers rank in MLB.com’s current top 10 prospects: Walker Buehler (2), Kyle Funkhouser (4) and Michael Matuella (5). Buehler shined for Y-D last summer, helping lead the Red Sox to the league championship. Funkhouser played for Chatham in 2013. Matuella pitched briefly for Y-D in 2013. The top-ranked Cape League hitter is Ian Happ at 15.

  • Turning attention to 2015 Cape Leaguers, rosters are online and future stars are emerging as the college baseball season heats up. Among them: Wake Forest’s Will Craig (Chatham) has slugged 12 home runs, Texas A&M’s Nick Banks (Bourne) is hitting .403, tops in the nation among sophomores, Arkansas’ Andrew Benintendi (Falmouth) leads the nation with 14 homers, and Corey Ray (Wareham) has led Louisville to a No. 3 national ranking with a .324 average, nine home runs and 23 stolen bases.
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    Still the Next Star

    Kris Bryant was named USA Today's Minor League Player of the Year.
    Kris Bryant was named USA Today’s Minor League Player of the Year.

     

    This time last year, with only a little bit of professional baseball under his belt, it was already looking like former Chatham Angler Kris Bryant would be the next Major League star with Cape League roots.

    With a full year in the books, Bryant did nothing to change that belief – in fact, he only enhanced it.

    The Cubs prospect was named USA Today’s Minor League Player of the Year after he dominated at Double A Tennessee and Triple A Iowa this season. Bryant slashed .325/.438/.661 and hit a minors-best 43 home runs.

    Cape League fans will recall that Bryant didn’t set the world on fire in Chatham, hitting .223 with three homers in the summer after his freshman year at San Diego. From there, though, he pretty much did set the world fire at every stop, whether at San Diego or in the Cubs system that he rocketed through.

    Bryant is expected to make his Chicago debut next year.

    • Cranston, R.I., native John Razzino had a cup of coffee with the Cape League champion Y-D Red Sox at the beginning of the summer, and though he wasn’t around for the championship, he got one of his own. Playing in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, the Franklin Pierce standout helped lead the Amsterdam Mohawks to the league title. Razzino hit .370 with five home runs and stole 23 bases. He was named a second-team Summer All-American by Perfect Game.

     

    • Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline checks in with a look at the Cape’s top pitching prospects from this summer. As he did on Baseball America’s list, Walker Buehler leads the way.

     

    • Prospect Insider offers up its rankings, as well, with Wareham’s Kyle Cody at the top.

     

    • Kudos to the Cape League’s video squad for a fun year and, especially, for a very fun moment after the Cape League championship. Y-D’s Josh Lester once won the Little League World Series and was the subject of a tearful post-game interview. Gabby Lucivero and Lester recreated it after Y-D won the Cape League title.

     

     

     

    • Stadium Journey, which grades and reviews stadiums across the country, put together a ranking of Cape League fields. Hyannis’ McKeon Park holds the top spot, followed by Chatham’s Veterans Field.

     

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    Baseball America’s Top 30 Prospects

    Kyle Cody was the No. 2 prospect in the Cape League according to Baseball America.
    Kyle Cody was the No. 2 prospect in the Cape League according to Baseball America.

     

    Phil Bickford was the Cape League’s top pro prospect award winner, but he slots in behind quite a few other guys in Baseball America’s Top 30 Cape League prospects.

    His Y-D teammate Walker Buehler takes the top spot for Baseball America after his brief regular-season stint and his dominant effort in the playoffs. Wareham’s Kyle Cody and Brewster’s Cody Ponce check in next, before the top two hitters, Brewster’s Gio Brusa and Harwich’s Ian Happ. Bickford ranks sixth.

    Hyannis’ Marc Brakeman, Bourne’s Richard Martin Jr., Falmouth’s Kevin Newman and Harwich’s C.J. Hinojosa round out the top 10.

    The full list:
    1. Walker Buehler
    2. Kyle Cody
    3. Cody Ponce
    4. Gio Brusa
    5. Ian Happ
    6. Phil Bickford
    7. Marc Brakeman
    8. Richard Martin Jr.
    9. Kevin Newman
    10. C.J. Hinojosa
    11. Alex Young
    12. Steven Duggar
    13. Chris Shaw
    14. Kyle Twomey
    15. Eric Hanhold
    16. Mikey White
    17. Garrett Cleavinger
    18. Joe McCarthy
    19. Kevin Duchene
    20. Zack Erwin
    21. Josh Sborz
    22. Kal Simmons
    23. Kyri Washington
    24. Garrett Williams
    25. Justin Jacome
    26. Kolton Mahoney
    27. Ryan Perez
    28. Rhett Wiseman
    29. David Thompson
    30. Andrew Stevenson

     

  • As always a few surprises from guys who show the flashes that scouts love, but don’t necessarily have great seasons, like Wareham’s Kyri Washington and Chatham’s Garrett Williams.

  • Good to see Kevin Newman cracking the top 10. He was not on this list last year, despite winning the batting title.

  • Gio Brusa had the production to match his tools this summer, and it sounds like it was a major step forward for him. He ends up as the top position player prospect.

  • It was a big year for shortstop prospects, with Martin, Newman, Hinojosa, Mikey White and Kal Simmons all on this list. I was a little surprised to not see David Fletcher on there somewhere.

  • A very quiet year for rising sophomores. Bickford – who is leaving Cal State Fullerton so that he can enter next year’s draft – and Garrett Williams are the only two on the list.

  • Ambidextrous Hyannis pitcher Ryan Perez clearly became much more than just a curiosity this summer. He ranks 27th on this list, although BA’s Aaron Fitt speculates that Perez may end up scrapping the two-way routine to become a lefty reliever.

  • The other prospect list you should be looking for is Perfect Game’s, which should be out in the next few weeks.

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    Eleven from CCBL are PG All-Americans

    Marc Brakeman earned Summer All-America honors from Perfect Game.
    Marc Brakeman earned Summer All-America honors from Perfect Game.

     

    Perfect Game’s wrap-up of summer collegiate baseball continued Tuesday with the release of its Summer All-Americans. The Cape League led the way among all summer leagues with 11 players on the three-team, 48-member squad. The Northwoods League checked in second with nine.

    The Cape League honorees:

    First Team
    Conner Hale
    Kevin Newman
    Ian Happ
    Kolton Mahoney
    Marc Brakeman
    Phil Bickford

    Second Team
    Chris Shaw
    Alex Young

    Third Team
    Richard Martin, Jr.
    Andrew Stevenson
    Justin Jacome

    Perfect Game also gave an honorable mention nod to Cotuit reliever Adam Whitt.

    The list is fun to check out, not just for current Cape connections, but for potential future connections. Current rising sophomores will dominate the Cape League next summer, and PG’s All-Americans include 14 rising sophomores. I would expect to see many on the Cape.

    The list: Pete Alonso, Jon DuPlantier, Troy Dixon, Sheldon Neuse, Vince Fernandez, Michael Echaria, Adam McGarity, Tyler Stubblefield, Jayson Yano, Granger Studdard, Jon Escobar, Matt Diorio, Gunnar McNeill, Ronnie Dawson.

    The top standout from that class is Pete Alonso of Florida. After earning Freshman All-America honors this spring, Alonso tore up the Northwoods League, slashing .354/.419/.624 with 18 home runs on his way to league MVP honors. The home run total is tied for fourth in league history.

    Texas A&M pitcher Tyler Stubblefield is another name to watch. He earned Pitcher of the Year honors in Alaska with a miniscule 1.05 ERA.