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Surging

J.J. Matijevic and Falmouth have found their way into the playoff race.
J.J. Matijevic and Falmouth have found their way into the playoff race.

 
It was all looking so clear. Division leaders clinched playoff spots a while ago. Second-place teams soon joined them. Third and fourth place couldn’t be far behind.

They are, in fact, very far behind.

With a few losses leaving the door open, and their pursuers getting hot, six teams find themselves alive in the playoff race with one day remaining in the regular season. With four teams already safely in, that’s all 10 Cape League teams alive for postseason play with one game to go.

The race has been driven by the teams who were bringing up the rear. Falmouth and Harwich looked like the odd men out a week ago. The Commodores were in the midst of a losing streak that would stretch to seven games. Harwich was hovering near .500 but not making up much ground.

Just a few days later, they’re in the mix.

Falmouth has won three in a row since stopping the losing streak, including the best win of all last night. The Commodores trailed West division winner Hyannis 3-1 late in the game, but scored six runs in the eighth and two in the ninth in storming to a 9-3 win.

Heath Quinn (Samford) started the rally with a game-tying, two-run homer. A base hit by J.B. Woodman plated another run before J.J. Matijevic (Arizona) and Shane Benes (Missouri) hit run-scoring doubles.

Matijevic finished 3-for-5 with two RBI. He’s been on fire lately, going 13 for his last 25, and that stretch has certainly helped Falmouth make its run.

Ben Ancheff (St. Thomas) got the win in relief for Falmouth. The Commodores are now just one point behind Wareham and Cotuit in the West standings. With Cotuit and Wareham meeting today, the Commodores will have a chance to leapfrog one of them with a win.

As for Harwich, the Mariners won for the second straight night, 7-3 over Brewster. Operating with no margin for error – a loss yesterday would eliminate them and the same is true today – Harwich has kept itself alive.

The bats set the stage Saturday, scoring three runs in the first and one in the second. Brock Deatherage (NC State) and Connor Justus (Georgia Tech) both homered. Matt Gonzalez (Georgia Tech) and Cavan Biggio (Notre Dame) added two hits each.

Scott Tully (Notre Dame) gave up three runs in 5.1 innings and the bullpen allowed just two hits over the final 3.2 innings.

Harwich is now two points back of Chatham and Y-D, who are tied for third. The Mariners will face Brewster again in their finale, needing a win and some help to stay in it.
 

Cotuit 11, Y-D 0

In danger of falling into last place, the Kettleers snapped a three-game skid by blasting Y-D. Tim Susnara (Oregon) went 2-for-5 with five RBI to pace the 14-hit attack. Josh Rojas (Hawaii), playing in just his fourth game, went 3-for-4 and scored two runs. All the offense was more than enough for Daniel Brown (Mississippi State), who worked 6.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Luke Olson (George Washington) finished the job.
 

Bourne 5, Wareham 4

The Gatemen had 14 hits, but Bourne erased a one-run deficit with two in the eighth in a 5-4 victory. C.J. Chatham (Florida Atlantic) was the hero in the eighth with a two-run double, part of a two-hit night. Reid Humphreys (Mississippi State) and Nick Solak (Louisville) also had two hits each. After the rally, Austin Conway (Indiana State) worked a scoreless ninth for his 10th save. He still has a 0.00 ERA. For Wareham, the Andrew Calica .400 watch is moving right along. Calica went 2-for-5 and is hitting .427 with just one game left. Unless something crazy happens – an 0-for-8 day perhaps – Calica will finish over .400. At the rate he’s going, he may even crack the all-time Cape League top five, which all came from the metal bat era.
 

Orleans 4, Chatham 2

The magic number for Chatham has been one for much of the week, but the one has proved elusive. Orleans handed the Anglers’ their third straight loss Saturday. Tanner Tully (Ohio State) went six innings and gave up only two unearned runs. Eder Erives (Arizona State) picked up the save. Jeremy Martinez (USC), Willie Abreu (Miami) and Ronnie Dawson (Ohio State) drove in runs for Orleans. The Firebirds have won three straight and, with a win Sunday, can match the 2007 Y-D Red Sox for the best record since 2000.
 

What to Watch

Everything, pretty much. With so many teams still in the mix, there will again be playoff implications in every game. The match-up between Cotuit and Wareham at Spillane Field is the only one in which neither team has clinched, so that one may be particularly interesting. History could also be made, as Calica’s quest for .400 hits the finish line.
 

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Serving Notice

Tyson Miller struck out 11 and allowed just an unearned run as Brewster beat Orleans.
Tyson Miller struck out 11 and allowed just an unearned run as Brewster beat Orleans.

 

The Orleans Firebirds will likely win the East Division title and could still finish with the same 31-12-1 record as the 2007 Y-D Red Sox, the benchmark for great Cape teams in the last 15 years. But the last two nights have hinted that, regardless of where they finish, the Firebirds won’t have an easy time of it in the postseason.

After tying Orleans Tuesday, second-place Brewster beat the Firebirds 4-1 Wednesday behind a fantastic pitching performance by Tyson Miller (California Baptist). The Whitecaps, who clinched a playoff spot with the win, are now eight points back of Orleans with four games left for both teams, meaning there’s a chance they could finish in a tie. Brewster has the second-best record in the league at 23-16-1.

Miller set the course for Wednesday’s win. The 6’4 righty – who struck out 85 for D-II California Baptist this spring – had his best start in what was already a solid summer. In fact, given the opponent, it was perhaps the Cape League’s best start of the summer. Miller allowed just an unearned run on three hits in eight innings and struck out 11. He didn’t walk a single batter. Orleans managed just one extra-base hit for the game.

Thomas Hackimer (St. John’s) pitched the final inning for the save.

If you had predicted a pitcher to dominate Wednesday’s game, Orleans starter Eric Lauer (Kent State) would have been the choice. Lauer came in with a 1.47 ERA and leads the league in strikeouts. Brewster touched him up for three early runs and chased him after three innings.

Nick Senzel (Tennessee) went 2-for-4 with his 15th double of the season, while Robbie Tenerowicz (California) went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Four other Whitecaps drove in runs and Brewster finished with nine hits.

Brewster has now earned a tie and a win while facing Orleans co-aces Mitchell Jordan and Lauer. Granted, the Whitecaps were shut-out by Jordan before coming through against the bullpen. And Lauer wasn’t at his best. But still – those guys don’t typically get beat. The loss was Lauer’s first. Tuesday’s game was the first one Jordan has pitched in that Orleans didn’t win.

Orleans will take another crack at a division crown tonight — and they won’t have to play Brewster again in the regular season. If the last two days are any indication, they may meet again when postseason baseball comes around.
 

Y-D 9, Wareham 1

Y-D broke open a 2-1 game with seven runs in the eighth inning and cruised past Wareham to keep pace in the race for the last two East playoff spots. The Red Sox are now 20-20 and still hold a one-game lead on Harwich for fourth place. Gio Brusa (Pacific) had two doubles and three RBI to lead the way Wednesday. Cole Billingsley (South Alabama), Tommy Edman (Stanford) and Mike Donadio (St. John’s) chipped in two hits each. Ricky Thomas (Fresno State) won his league-best seventh game with 6.2 strong innings. He gave up one run on five hits and struck out eight. The big news for Wareham – and the league – in the loss was that Andrew Calica (UC Santa Barbara) has reached the plate appearance mark necessary to qualify for the batting title. He also went 3-for-4, pushing his league-best average to .439. With just four games remaining, Calica has as good a shot as anybody in recent years to become the Cape League’s first .400 hitter since 1990.
 

Hyannis 5, Cotuit 2

Hyannis improved to 5-0 against rival Cotuit this year thanks to a 5-2 victory at McKeon Park. With everybody else in the West losing Wednesday, the Harbor Hawks also inched closer to a division title. They now have a five-point edge on second-place Bourne. Dakota Hudson (Mississippi State) starred in relief Wednesday, striking out eight of the 16 batters he faced in four shutout innings. Bulldog teammate Vance Tatum started and went 4.1 innings. Austin Hays (Jacksonville) and Blake Tiberi (Louisville) each had three hits to pace the offense. Tristan Hildebrandt (Cal State Fullerton), a late roster reinforcement, went 2-for-3 in his seventh game as a Harbor Hawk. Hyannis scored three of their five runs off Cotuit ace Jon Woodcock (Virginia Tech), who had allowed a total of four earned runs on the year before Wednesday. Cotuit fell to 16-24 but remains in a tie for third place with Wareham, five points ahead of last-place Falmouth.
 

Chatham 3, Falmouth 2

The aforementioned Commodores were on the verge of snapping a six-game losing streak but Chatham erased a 2-0 deficit with three runs in the eighth and won 3-2. Nate Mondou (Wake Forest) and Aaron Knapp (California) singled to start the eighth inning rally. A groundout brought one run home before an error on an overthrow from third base plated two more. Armed with the lead, Andre Scrubb (High Point) and Aaron McGarity (Virginia Tech) tossed a scoreless inning each to finish it off. Knapp had two hits to lead the Chatham offense. Heath Quinn (Samford) homered for Falmouth. Turner Larkins (Texas A&M) went 6.1 scoreless innings but was left with a no-decision after Chatham’s rally. The Anglers improved to 22-18 and have a magic number of two for clinching a playoff spot.
 

Harwich 3, Bourne 1

Harwich remained in the mix for an East playoff berth with a 3-1 victory over Bourne. The Mariners are one game back of Y-D for the fourth and final postseason spot. Hunter Williams (North Carolina) allowed one run in 4.1 innings and struck out six. Relievers Joe Ravert (La Salle) and Zach Schellenger (Seton Hall) followed with 2.1 scoreless innings apiece, with Schellenger earning the win. Adam Pate (North Carolina) went 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead an eight-hit attack. Cavan Biggio (Notre Dame) and Johnny Adams (Boston College) knocked in one run each.
 

What to Watch

Flame-throwing reliever Zach Burdi (Louisville) is scheduled to make a start as Chatham hosts Y-D and Brandon Bailey (Gonzaga), with both teams in the thick of the East playoff race. In Hyannis, division leaders will meet when the Harbor Hawks host Orleans.
 

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Unofficial Derby

Bobby Dalbec has eight home runs in just 17 games this summer.
Bobby Dalbec has eight home runs in just 17 games this summer.

 
Bobby Dalbec (Arizona) will not participate in the Cape League All-Star Game’s Home Run Derby.

So the Orleans slugger simply had his own personal derby Sunday night. Dalbec blasted two, giving him a league-best eight on the summer, as the Firebirds beat Y-D 5-4.

While Ronnie Dawson (Ohio State) was the hero with a walk-off single in the ninth, Dalbec continued to carry the torch for the Firebirds’ powerful offense.

Dalbec’s eight home runs match of the end-of-season totals for the league leaders in each of the last two seasons. And of course, the amazing thing is that he has hit eight home runs in just 17 games. Dalbec started the season in Orleans and played in only nine games before departing for Team USA. He has played eight games since returning.

Because it’s fun to play the pace game, if Dalbec had not played with Team USA and continued on his current home run track, he would have somewhere around 13 right now.

Even when you don’t consider what could have been, Dalbec is having a remarkably powerful summer. He hit a two-run shot in the first inning last night then hit a solo shot in his next at-bat.

Dalbec’s bombs upped the Firebirds’ team total to 28. They have nearly doubled up their next closest competitor in that category (Y-D’s 15).

For all of Dalbec’s pop Sunday, the Firebirds found themselves in a tied game with Y-D in the ninth. Dawson came up with runners on first and third and plated the winning run with a base hit. Kit Scheetz (Virginia Tech) got the win in relief. Bryan Reynolds (Vanderbilt) went 3-for-4 and his hit in the ninth set up Dawson’s game-winner.

Orleans is now 24-9 and has a whopping 12-point lead on second-place Brewster and Chatham. Y-D fell to 17-16 with Sunday’s loss.

 

Falmouth 6, Hyannis 6

Hyannis trailed 6-1 in the bottom of the ninth and scored five runs to tie it before the teams played three scoreless extra innings. Austin Hays (Jacksonville) had a two-run double in the big ninth and came home with the tying run on a triple by Colby Bortles (Ole Miss). Hyannis went on to load the bases in the 11th but couldn’t push a run across. Wyatt Short (Ole Miss) and Andrew Frankenreider (Northern Illinois) handled the extra-inning pitching duties for Falmouth, while Will Stillman (Wofford) and Collin Kober (McNeese State) did the job for Hyannis. For Falmouth, J.J. Matijevic (Arizona) hit his fourth home run.
 

Bourne 4, Chatham 2

Bourne broke a 2-2 tie in the eighth on RBI singles by Mike Garzillo (Lehigh) and Nick Solak (Louisville) and went on to a 4-2 win over the Anglers. The key hits were part of 2-for-4 days for both Garzillo and Solak. Austin Conway (Indiana State) went 1.2 innings of relief for the win. Keegan Akin (Western Michigan) had gone five shutout innings before Chatham rallied. Luke Persico (UCLA) and Garrett Hampson (Long Beach State) both had two hits for the Anglers.
 

Harwich 8, Brewster 5

The Mariners stopped Brewster’s five-game winning streak with an 8-5 win at Whitehouse Field. Joe O’Donnell (NC State) tossed five shutout innings before the Whitecaps made a late surge against the Mariner bullpen that fell short. Sheldon Neuse (Oklahoma), Adam Pate (North Carolina) and Preston Palmeiro (NC State) all had three hits for the Mariners. Brock Deatherage (NC State) and Cavan Biggio (Notre Dame) each drove in two runs. Spencer Trayner (North Carolina) got the save for the Mariners, escaping a jam in the ninth.
 

Cotuit 5, Wareham 3

The Kettleers won for the second straight night and have now matched Wareham and Falmouth with 13 wins in the West. Cotuit trailed 3-0 into the fourth but scored all its runs from there. Jeren Kendall (Vanderbilt) went 2-for-3 with two RBI as he continues to be a major spark for the Kettleers. He’s hitting .297 since arriving from Omaha. Brett Stephens (UCLA), Tim Susnara (Oregon) and Jackson Klein (Stanford) each knocked in a run. Duncan Robinson (Dartmouth) got the win in relief and Justin Dunn (Boston College) had the save.
 

What to Watch

Off day around the league today. Tuesday night, second-place Bourne will try to continue its success against West-leading Hyannis at McKeon Park.
 

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The Next Wave

Former Harwich Mariner D.J. Lemahieu is one of eight Cape League alumni set for their first MLB All-Star Game.
Former Harwich Mariner D.J. Lemahieu is one of eight Cape League alumni set for their first MLB All-Star Game.

 
The Cape Cod Baseball League has 15 alumni in the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, six more than it had last year. As top prospects continue to take the bigs by storm, that all-star number is a sign that there’s a new wave of Cape Cod talent in the majors, too.

Eight of the Cape’s All-Stars are first-time participants, bolstering the league’s ranks in MLB stardom. Chris Sale and Buster Posey had taken the torch in recent years from the Evan Longorias and Chase Utleys of the world. Now, players like Dallas Keuchel, Kris Bryant, D.J. LeMahieu and Brandon Crawford are joining them. It’s also the first All-Star Game for Yasmani Grandal, Brad Boxberger, Joe Panik and former Cape League MVP A.J. Pollock.

Keuchel, who had a 3.20 ERA for Wareham in 2007 and a 2.63 ERA in 2008, will start on the mound for the American League. The Houston Astro is 11-4 with a 2.23 ERA and 114 strikeouts on the year.

Todd Frazier is making his second All-Star appearance, but you could put the former Chatham A in the same up-and-coming category. Frazier won the Home Run Derby in style Monday and will represent the hometown Reds in the starting lineup.

Jason Kipnis and Josh Donaldson are also making their second appearances.
 

  • While the MLB season is at its halfway point, the Cape League season is about two-third of the way over. As has been the case for a while now, the most lasting team impression continues to belong to the Orleans Firebirds. At 20-8, they have the best record in the league by four games and are playing .714 baseball. If they continue at that pace, they’ll go 31-13, which would be the best mark in the league since a dominant Y-D team went 31-12-1 and won its second consecutive Cape League title.

  • While the return of Bobby Dalbec and Bryson Brigman from Team USA makes Orleans even stronger, it’s pitching that may really carry the day for the Firebirds. They lead the league in team ERA at 2.08 and starting pitchers Mitchell Jordan, Eric Lauer, Kyle Serrano and Corbin Burnes sure look like the league’s best starting rotation.

  • Orleans’ Dalbec and Kyle Lewis are tied for the league lead in home runs with five each. Interestingly, that’s not all that rare of a feat at the end of a season. In 2014, Chatham’s Chris Shaw ranked first and teammate A.J. Murray was tied for second. In 2013, Falmouth’s Casey Gillaspie led the way and Rhys Hoskins was tied for second.

  • Cape leaderboards are often populated by guys who get off to quick starts, even when they slow down a little. It’s always easy to miss those who have heated up more recently, like Y-D’s Tommy Edman and Falmouth’s Heath Quinn. Edman, a star in the NECBL last year, was hitting .208 a week into the Cape season but has seen his average rise steadily upward. He’s now batting .325, good for fifth in the league. And the bat is just a bonus – he has made only one error while playing mostly second base for the Red Sox. Quinn, who was at .23 after a week, is now hitting .317 with seven extra-base hits.

  • Wareham’s Andrew Calica is approaching the minimum number of plate appearances per team game to qualify for the league batting average leaderboard. If he stays anywhere near his current pace, he’ll take that list by storm. Since making his debut June 23 — two weeks into the season — Calica is hitting .469 in 15 games and has delivered nine multi-hit games.

  • Stat-line that I haven’t had a chance to focus on anywhere else: Harwich’s Cavan Biggio has reached base in 20 of the 22 games he’s played. He has a .420 on-base percentage.

  • Also very good at getting on base? Chatham’s Will Craig, who has a .390 on-base percentage despite a .208 average. He has drawn a league-best 20 walks.

  • Virginia Tech must have had one heck of a bullpen this spring. Hokies Luke Scherzer and Aaron McGarity rank first and third in the league in saves, while teammate Kit Scheetz leads the league in appearances and has a 2.46 ERA for Orleans.

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    2015 Midseason Awards

    The Orleans Firebirds are the best team in the league and is it any wonder? In the Right Field Fog Midseason Awards, the Firebirds take two.

     

    MOST VALUABLE PLAYER

    Kyle Lewis, Orleans

    kyle lewisLewis was not on the first roster that the Orleans Firebirds posted on their web site earlier this year, but it’s safe to say he was a pretty good addition.

    Lewis is hitting .338 with five home runs and 13 RBI while leading the powerful Firebirds to the best record in the league. Lewis ranks second in the league in hitting, first in home runs and second in RBI. He also leads the league in slugging percentage and is eighth in on-base percentage.

    At 6’4, 205, he’s the kind of athlete that scouts love, and his production is now right in line with his tools. He grew up playing basketball and baseball and has said that, of the two, he took basketball more seriously. But after giving it up, he’s emerging as a bona fide star who may be in line for Cape League Top Prospect honors, as well.

    The big summer represents another major step for a guy who had a breakout sophomore season at Mercer. He hit .367 and smashed 17 home runs on his way to a host of accolades, including Southern Conference Player of the Year honors. He was coming off a decent debut, in which he hit .281 as a freshman. He then had a strong summer in the Great Lakes League before he played briefly for Cotuit at the end of last season, getting two hits in six games.

    His return trip has been a little bit better.


    IN THE RUNNING

    Jacob Noll, Hyannis
    Donnie Walton, Y-D
    Cavan Biggio, Harwich
    Nick Senzel, Brewster
    Errol Robinson, Hyannis

     

    OUTSTANDING PITCHER

    Mitchell Jordan, Orleans

    mithell jordanJordan had a good summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League last year then was solid for Stetson as a sophomore.

    This has been better than good or solid.

    Jordan started on opening night for Orleans and tossed five shutout innings in a 1-0 win over Bourne. He has started five more games since and has gone at least five innings in each one, without allowing a single earned run. That’s right – the guy who’s second in the league in innings pitched also has a 0.00 ERA. He’s 4-0 and leads the league in strikeouts with 31.

    Jordan, a 6’2 righty, has simply been untouchable. Opponents are hitting .106 against him, which is a pretty amazing number. To make that number even crazier, he has allowed nine hits and none – NONE – have gone for extra bases.

    A lot of pitchers have been very good this summer, but nobody can match up with Jordan.

    Good, solid – and pretty spectacular.

    IN THE RUNNING

    Nick Deeg, Hyannis
    Ricky Thomas, Y-D
    Zac Gallen, Chatham
    Eric Lauer, Orleans
    Devin Smeltzer, Hyannis
    Jon Woodcock, Cotuit

     

    OUTSTANDING RELIEF PITCHER

    Andrew Frankenreider, Falmouth

    andrew frankenreiderSaves typically trump everything else for this award, but for bullpen work of all kinds, Frankenreider takes the cake.

    The Northern Illinois standout has saved three games while sharing Falmouth closer duties with Stephen Villines. Frankenreider has allowed two hits and no runs – earned or unearned – in eight games (11.2) innings. He has also struck out 17, second-best among full-time relievers.

    Northern Illinois is not a school that sends many players to the Cape – he’s just the third in school history – but he’s certainly making a good impression after saving nine games for the Huskies in the spring.

    Harwich’s Luke Scherzer leads the league in saves – and four other guys have four saves – but Frankenreider has been too good to pass over.

    IN THE RUNNING

    Luke Scherzer, Harwich
    Stephen Villines, Falmouth
    Austin Conway, Bourne
    Jason Harper, Orleans
    Andre Scrubb, Chatham
    Thomas Hackimer, Brewster
    Aaron McGarity, Chatham
     

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    Streak No. 4

    Parker Dunshee went six strong innings to help Chatham take game one of a doubleheader with Hyannis.
    Parker Dunshee went six strong innings to help Chatham take game one of a doubleheader with Hyannis.

     
    Chatham’s eight wins this season have all come in two-win bursts. They won two in a row to start the summer, lost their next game, won two in a row, lost three straight, then won two in a row and lost their next game.

    Their latest burst was their most impressive. The Anglers visited West-leading Hyannis Monday at McKeon Park and swept a doubleheader with the Harbor Hawks, winning 3-2 and 3-1.

    The victories give Chatham an 8-5 record, which matches Hyannis and is good for second-best in the league to Orleans’ 10-3 mark.

    Chatham started the twin bill with a bang Monday night, scoring all three of its runs in the top of the first inning. Will Craig (Wake Forest), Aaron Barnett (Pepperdine) and Zack Short (Sacred Heart) knocked in the runs in consecutive at-bats.

    The early lead proved just enough for a pair of Chatham pitchers. Starter Parker Dunshee (Wake Forest) allowed two runs in six-plus innings and struck out three. In the seventh – the final inning in scheduled doubleheader games – Hyannis scored a run off reliever Andre Scrubb (High Point), which was charged to Dunshee, and had the winning run on base before Scrubb retired the final two batters for his third save.

    In the second game, it was Hyannis that jumped in front with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Chatham immediately took the lead with two in the second and tacked on insurance in the seventh. Short homered for the Anglers, while Trenton Brooks (Nevada) and Cory Raley (Texas Tech) knocked in one run each.

    Ty Damron (Texas Tech) allowed one run in five innings of work for the win. C.J. Burdick (San Diego) and Aaron McGarity (Virginia Tech) pitched a scoreless inning each to finish it off.

    The Anglers had two in a row again. They’ll try to stretch a streak to three for the first time all year when they host Brewster tonight.
     

    Harwich 5, Cotuit 3; Harwich 6, Cotuit 1

    Harwich also swept its doubleheader, making things interesting at the top of the East standings, where there hasn’t been much of a race to this point. The Mariners are now 7-5-1, just a point back of Chatham for second place. Starting pitching set the course for the Mariners Monday, with each of their starters going five innings and giving up no earned runs. Joe O’Donnell (NC State) did it in the first game before Cotuit took a late lead against the bullpen. Harwich rallied for three runs in the seventh to win it. Saige Jenco (Virginia Tech) had an RBI single to power the rally. Luke Scherzer (Virginia Tech) grabbed his league-best fourth save. Hunter Williams (North Carolina) allowed one unearned run in five innings for the win in game two. Michael Hernandez (Nova Southeastern) powered a 10-hit attack with a three-run homer. Adam Pate (North Carolina) had three hits, while Cavan Biggio (Notre Dame) had two hits and two RBI, bumping his average to .371. Cotuit’s Michael Paez (Coastal Carolina) in the sweep, going 2-for-3 to take over the league batting lead at .400. He’s also second in stolen bases with six.
     

    Y-D 7, Falmouth 6; Y-D 5, Falmouth 1

    The defending champs have struggled this season, but they know how to win a doubleheader. The Red Sox topped Falmouth for their second twin bill sweep of the summer, which accounts for four of their five wins on the season. Y-D scored four runs in the top of the seventh to take the opener, with Mike Donadio (St. John’s), Gio Brusa (Washington), Stephen Wrenn (Georgia) and Connor Wong (Houston) driving in the runs. Wrenn finished 2-for-4 with three RBI. Brusa, a standout with Brewster last year, went 1-for-4 in his 2015 debut. Christopher Viall (Stanford) pitched a scoreless bottom of the seventh to finish off the game-one win. The Red Sox stayed hot in game two, smacking nine hits on their way to the sweep. Tommy Edman (Stanford) drove in two runs. Ricky Thomas (Fresno State) turned in his second strong start of the summer, giving up one run in 5.2 innings with seven strikeouts.
     

    Bourne 6, Orleans 3; Orleans 3, Bourne 0

    The Braves snapped Orleans’ six-game winning streak in the opener but Orleans got right back on track with a shutout in the second game. Jacob Robson (Mississippi State) had two hits and two RBI to pace a 10-hit Bourne attack in the first game. Mike Garzillo (Lehigh), Corey Julks (Houston) and Ryan Boldt (Nebraska) also had two hits. Bryan Baker (North Florida) turned in his third straight scoreless relief outing, going 3.1 innings and striking out five for the win. Austin Conway (Indiana State) picked up the save. In the second game, Bourne was no match for Mitchell Jordan (Stetson), who dominated again. He went five scoreless innings, just as he did in his first two starts of the summer. He also struck out seven to take over the league lead in that category with 17. Joe Ryan (Cal State Northridge) pitched the final two innings for the save. An error and a two-run single by Austin Miller (Loyola Marymount) in the sixth gave Orleans all the offense it would need. Nick Jensen-Clagg (Kent State) was a bright spot for Bourne in the loss, striking out eight in four scoreless innings. He has 16 strikeouts in 8.1 innings this summer.
     

    Brewster 5, Wareham 4; Wareham 5, Brewster 0

    Brewster used a four-run fourth inning to pull away in game one, while two Gatemen pitchers combined on a shutout in game two. The Whitecaps took a 1-0 lead in the first game on a third-inning home run by Toby Handley (Stony Brook). They added four hits in the fourth innings, and three runs came home on passed balls or wild pitches, ahead of an RBI double by Eli White (Clemson). Wareham chipped away but was held scoreless over the final two innings. Thomas Hackimer (St. John’s) went the final 1.1 for the save. Highly-touted lefty Matt Krook (Oregon) started for Wareham, making his first appearance since the 2014 college season, and struck out two in two scoreless innings. In game two, Wareham righted the ship thanks to Evan Hill (Michigan) who allowed three hits in six shutout innings. He had plenty of support, with Logan Sowers (Indiana) and Andrew Knizner (NC State) driving in two runs each.
     

    What to Watch

    Orleans has had just one game against its closest competition in the East, but that changes this week. Harwich visits Eldredge Field tonight and Chatham comes to town Thursday.
     

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    Joining the Club

    Charlie Warren, pictured last summer, scored a run as Wareham beat Hyannis Wednesday.
    Charlie Warren, pictured last summer, scored a run as Wareham beat Hyannis Wednesday.

     
    Some statistics lie. Others tell a pretty good story. Runs scored and runs allowed can generally be counted among the more reliable. They tend to have a direct impact on the columns that accompany them in the standings – wins and losses.

    A quick glance at those numbers in the Cape League standings shows three teams that should be above everybody else. Orleans, Hyannis and Wareham have all scored 44 runs, best in the league. They have all allowed 30 or under, with run differentials of at least 14. No one else in the league has a differential better than five.

    And yet, only two of those teams are above everybody else where it counts. Hyannis and Orleans are 7-2. Wareham is 4-5.

    The Gatemen have been the victims of two 1-0 losses and a game they lost in which they scored 11 runs. They have found some unique ways to lose.

    Wednesday night, they were happy to find a unique way to win. Taking full advantage of four Hyannis errors, the Gatemen scored five unearned runs off potential Harbor Hawks ace Nick Deeg (Central Michigan) and won 7-0 over the previously red-hot Harbor Hawks.

    Hyannis had won five in a row since its only loss, which incidentally came at the hands of the Gatemen in the first week of the season. Wareham had lost four in a row heading into Wednesday.

    The Gatemen began capitalizing in the second inning. Deeg’s own error on a sacrifice bunt attempt came back to hurt when the Gatemen pushed three runs across on the extra out. Jarett Rindfleisch (Ball State) had a sacrifice fly and Mark Karaviotis (Oregon) brought in two runs with a two-out single.

    An error on a stolen base attempt and another on a ground ball allowed two runs to score in the fifth. Andrew Knizner (NC State) had a two-run double in the seventh to cap the scoring.

    Hyannis never got back into the game, as three Wareham pitchers combined on a four-hit shutout. Bailey Clark (Duke) went five innings for the win, Daulton Jefferies (California) allowed one hit in three innings and Shea Spitzbarth (Molloy) pitched a scoreless ninth.

    Wareham’s losing skid was over. And for one night at least, the Gatemen were right where the numbers say they should be.
     

    Bourne 4, Falmouth 3

    Winless until Tuesday, Bourne has now won two straight after a dramatic 4-3 victory over Falmouth last night. The Braves trailed 3-1, tied it with two in the sixth and won it in the bottom of the ninth when Mike Garzillo (Lehigh) raced home with the winning run on a passed ball. Garzillo had singled to start the inning. The walk-off passed ball came with two outs and the bases loaded. Garzillo had previoulsy tied the game in the sixth with an RBI double. Charles Galiano (Fordham) also had an RBI double in that frame. Bryan Baker (North Florida), who pitched the final two innings in relief, picked up the win.
     

    Harwich 4, Chatham 0

    Harwich won for a second consecutive night over the Anglers, and this one was even more impressive than the first. Geoff Bramblett (Alabama) tossed 6.1 innings of two-hit ball and the Mariners had a steady night at the dish for the 4-0 win. Bramblett, who improved to 2-0, gave up just two singles – one of the infield variety – and struck out six. Anthony Ciavarella (Monmouth) and Williams Durruthy (Florida International) finished off the shutout. Cavan Biggio (Notre Dame) went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI, continuing a strong start to his second summer in Harwich. He hit .203 last year but is at .360 so far this year as he rides a four-game hitting streak. Connor Justus (Georgia Tech) also had two hits and an RBI. Harwich has won three straight and is 5-3-1, good for second place in the East behind Orleans.
     

    Orleans 6, Y-D 5

    Orleans won its fourth in a row and matched Hyannis for the league’s best record with a victory over Y-D. The Firebirds got three hits and an RBI from Bryson Brigman (San Diego). Kyle Lewis (Mercer) added two hits and two runs scored. Eric Lauer (Kent State), who had gone five scoreless in his first start, allowed two runs in five innings this time in moving to 2-0. Donovan Walton (Oklahoma State) had three hits and three RBI for Y-D, which scored three runs in the ninth to get within one before Jason Harper (Southern Connecticut) wiggled out of trouble for the save.
     

    Cotuit 4, Brewster 3

    The Whitecaps dropped their fifth straight since a 3-0 start as Cotuit scored a run in the eighth for the narrow margin. An RBI single by Jackson Klein (Stanford) brought in the go-ahead run. Cotuit also got two RBI from Brody Weiss (Riverside CC). Jon Woodcock (Virginia Tech) earned the win with four strong innings of relief. After Brewster scored a run in the top of the eighth – and his team answered – Woodcock worked a perfect ninth to finish off the win.
     

    What to Watch

    Just one game on tap today, a make-up of the fogged-out match-up between Chatham and Brewster. The Anglers will have T.J. Zeuch (Pittsburgh) on the hill for his second start. He went 5.2 innings without giving up an earned run in his first start. Brewster counters with Jacob Jenkins (Pacific), who will be making his first appearance.
     

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    Lending a hand

    Corey Julks and his Bourne teammates got a little help Tuesday night.
    Corey Julks and his Bourne teammates got a little help Tuesday night.

     
    The Bourne Braves would have broken the spell at some point, but I’m sure they didn’t mind welcoming a few reinforcements to help the cause Tuesday night. Two players making their season debut knocked in both runs and a pitcher making his first appearance slammed the door in relief as the Braves picked up their first win of the season 4-2 over Brewster.

    Bourne had played the first week of the season with only about half of the position players on its initial roster, and with four pitchers in Omaha plus a handful of others who were late arriving from Super Regional play. Combine all that with some slow starts by the hitters who were in town – the Braves are last in the league in team batting average – and it adds up to an 0-6-1 start.

    Tuesday, the Braves got a lift. Nick Solak (Louisville) and Vince Fernandez (UC Riverside) were just activated Monday and jumped right into the starting lineup.

    Solak was the second-leading hitter for a Louisville team that nearly made Omaha while Fernandez hit .316 with seven homers for Riverside. Tuesday, they picked up where they left off. Solak went 2-for-3 and drove in a run with a single and another on a double. Fernandez went 2-for-5 and drove in the other two runs with an eighth inning base hit.

    Corey Julks (Houston), who was a bright spot in the rough opening week, went 2-for-3 and scored a run.

    Bourne trailed 2-1 after five but scored one in the seventh and two in the eighth.

    And another newcomer made the comeback count. Nick Jensen-Clagg (Kent State), a solid starter for the Golden Flashes who was activated Sunday, made his debut out of the bullpen in the fifth inning. Brewster had just scored its two runs, but Jensen-Clagg got out of the inning with a groundout then proceeded to dominate. He didn’t allow a run or a hit over the final 4.1 innings and struck out eight of the 13 batters he faced, without issuing a walk.

    With the Braves in front, he struck out the first two batters in the bottom of the ninth then induced a fly-out to end it.

    Bourne is in the win column.
     

    Hyannis 7, Cotuit 3

    The beat goes on for the red-hot Harbor Hawks, who won their fifth straight and pushed their league-best record to 7-1. They scored two in the first Tuesday at Lowell Park then pulled away late for their second win over the Kettleers this summer. Jacob Noll (Florida Gulf Coast) went 3-for-5 with three RBI, giving him eight RBI in just four games. JaVon Shelby (Kentucky), Colby Bortles (Ole Miss) and Ben DeLuzio (Florida State) knocked in one run apiece. On the mound, Mike King (Boston College) tossed five scoreless innings and struck out five for the win.
     

    Orleans 5, Y-D 1

    East-leading Orleans also stayed hot, topping the Red Sox for its third straight win and moving to 6-2. Bobby Dalbec – who told the league’s official site that he’ll return after his Team USA stint – continued his torrid start with his league-best fourth home run. He also leads the league in RBI with nine. Bryson Brigman (San Diego), who is also heading to Team USA, added a hit and an RBI. Joe Ravert (La Salle) started and gave up one run in four innings. Kit Scheetz (Virginia Tech) claimed the win in relief with two scoreless innings. For Y-D, Donovan Walton (Oklahoma State) went 3-for-5.
     

    Falmouth 1, Wareham 0

    Three pitchers combined on a shutout and Falmouth scored a run in the seventh to get to .500 with a 1-0 victory over the Gatemen. Alex Phillips (San Jacinto) gave up two hits in five innings, Seth Gustin (Holy Cross) worked two hitless frames and Wyatt Short (Ole Miss) pitched the eighth and ninth for the save. The lone run came in the seventh, when J.B. Woodman (Ole Miss) doubled and raced home on an RBI single by Heath Quinn (Samford). Those were the only two hits of the day for Falmouth. Zac Houston (Mississippi State) tossed five innings of no-hit ball for the Gatemen with nine strikeouts.
     

    Harwich 4, Chatham 3

    The Mariners trailed 3-0 but scored four in a row for a victory over the Anglers. Harwich moved to 4-3-1 while Chatham dropped to 4-3. Cavan Biggio (Notre Dame) went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Preston Palmeiro (NC State) and Sheldon Neuse (Oklahoma) also drove in one run apiece. Starter Scott Tully (Notre Dame) and four relievers combined to shut-out Chatham for the final five innings. Joe DiBenedetto (Seton Hall) was credited with the win and Luke Scherzer (Virginia Tech) the save. Scherzer came on with a runner on first in the ninth, walked two, but then escaped the bases-loaded jam with a strikeout.
     

    What to Watch

    Harwich takes on Chatham for a second straight night, this time at Veterans Field. Geoff Bramblett (Alabama) and Dan Castano (Baylor) will be on the hill after solid first starts last week.
     

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    Southpaw Success

    Hyannis is off to the best start in the league with a 4-1 record.
    Hyannis is off to the best start in the league with a 4-1 record.

     
    There are five left-handed pitchers on the Hyannis Harbor Hawks roster right now. Three of them have made starts.

    And the Harbor Hawks may want to go ahead and let the other two give it a try.

    For the third time in four wins this year, Hyannis rode a strong effort from a left-handed starting pitcher to a victory. This time it was Devin Smeltzer (Florida Gulf Coast) allowing two runs in 5.2 innings of work as Hyannis won 5-2 over Orleans. He followed strong efforts by Vance Tatum (Mississippi State) and Nick Deeg (Central Michigan). Together, they’ve given up three runs in 17.2 innings, powering three of the Harbor Hawks’ league-high four wins.

    Deeg started the trend with seven shutout innings in a win over Cotuit. Tatum allowed one run in five innings in a victory over Harwich. And Saturday, it was Smeltzer’s turn.

    The southpaw didn’t have a great spring, seeing his ERA rise over six with FGCU. He was also matched up with an Orleans offense that was coming off a 15-hit, 3-home run night in a 12-3 victory over Y-D.

    But Smeltzer was up to the task. He scattered seven hits, all of which were singles. Nine of the 17 outs he recorded came via strikeout. Aaron Civale (Northeastern) and Will Stillman (Wofford) finished off his win with 3.1 scoreless innings of relief.

    The Hyannis offense got two hits and two RBI from Blake Tiberi (Louisville) in his summer debut. Ben DeLuzio (Florida State) scored two runs, Bobby Melley (Connecticut) had two hits and an RBI and Errol Robinson (Ole Miss) scored a run for the fourth time in five games.

    It was all part of a familiar formula – solid offense and a strong start from a lefty. Hyannis is at the top of the league because of it.
     

    Y-D 5, Bourne 0

    The league’s only winless teams squared off at Doran Park, and it was the Red Sox who got into the win column. Y-D pounded 12 hits – after coming in with 19 on the year. Tommy Edman (Stanford) made his first Cape League hit a home run, while Donovan Walton (Oklahoma State) and Mike Donadio (St. John’s) had two hits and an RBI apiece. Brady Conlan (Cal State Dominguez Hills) went 3-for-5. Y-D also got its best pitching performances of the year. Ricky Thomas (Fresno State) gave up two hits and struck out six in six shutout innings.
     

    Harwich 12, Wareham 11

    The Mariners won a wild one with Wareham, rallying from a 9-3 deficit and holding on for the one-run victory. Preston Palmeiro (NC State), making his second start of the summer, went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI to lead the comeback offense. Sheldon Neuse (Oklahoma) and Cavan Biggio (Notre Dame) added two RBI each. Every player in the Harwich lineup had a hit, as the Mariners finished with 14 of them. Reliever Anthony Ciavarella (Monmouth) set the stage for the comeback with four scoreless innings out of the bullpen. He struck out seven of the 12 batters he faced. In the loss, Wareham got home runs from a pair of red-hot hitters in Jay Jabs (Franklin Pierce) and David MacKinnon (Hartford). Jabs has a hit in every game, while MacKinnon – on a temporary contract – leads the league with a .471 average.
     

    Chatham 5, Cotuit 2

    The Anglers scored four runs in the top of the first and got five shutout innings from Parker Dunshee (Wake Forest) to top Cotuit 5-2. Zack Short (Sacred Heart) led the early burst with a three-run homer. Trenton Brooks (Nevada), Will Craig (Wake Forest), Aaron Knapp (California) and Nick Sciortino (Boston College) finished with two hits apiece as Chatham knocked 12 hits for the game. Dunshee struck out three in his five innings.
     

    Falmouth 3, Brewster 2

    Falmouth scoed two runs in the seventh to break a 1-1 tie and held off a late charge by the Whitecaps for the 3-2 win. J.J. Matijevic (Arizona) went 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI, accounting for all of the Falmouth runs. He also scored two of the runs. Heath Quinn (Samford) went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Austin Tribby (Missouri) went five scoreless innings on the mound for the Commodores and his college teammate Bryce Montes de Oca (Missouri) struck out six in three innings of relief. He now leads the league in strikeouts with 12, over two relief appearances. Andrew Frankenreider (Northern Illinois) struck out the side in the ninth for the save.
     

    What to Watch

    There’s a full slate of doubleheaders on tap. Based on the standings, the Hyannis-Brewster twin bills at Stony Brook Field may be the best bet. Those teams lead their respective divisions.

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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.

    •  

    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