Veteran hitters lead Harbor Hawks

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Hyannis had the second-worst team batting average in the league last year but held its own and grabbed a playoff spot in the West. The offense looks ready to have a much better showing this year, with a host of sophomores coming off strong seasons. The Harbor Hawks should also be closer to a finished product in the early part of the season than many of their counterparts.

 

FIVE TO WATCH

1. Matt Thaiss
2. Nicholas Pappas
3. Nick Deeg
4. Ryne Birk
5. JaVon Shelby

 

NOTABLE

  • With only one player headed to Omaha, Hyannis should be ahead of the curve in the early part of the season, compared with a lot of Cape League clubs.
  • That one player is a big one, though. Virginia’s Matt Thaiss has been one of the ACC’s best hitters and leads the team with 60 RBI.
  • College relievers dominate the Hyannis staff and several have had big success. Nolan Blackwood of Memphis heads the list. He gave up two runs the whole season while closing 14 games.
  • Returning Harbor Hawk Nick Deeg looks like the top incoming starter. The sophomore lefty stand 6-foot-5 and had a solid summer last year. Look for him to build on it this season.
  • Catchers Arden Pabst and Jake Rogers have yet to put it all together at the plate, but both are strong defenders. Rogers, of Tulane, led the nation in runners caught stealing this season.
  • College of Charleston’s Nicholas Pappas was an extra-base machine this year, with 12 homers and 28 doubles.
  • Kentucky’s JaVon Shelby was near the SEC lead with nine home runs.
  • Two incoming Hawks – Ryne Birk of Texas A&M and David Martinelli of Dallas Baptist – both hit 10 home runs this spring.
  • Ben DeLuzio hit under .200 with Hyannis last year, but this is a guy who was a third-round pick out of high school. Set to return, he’ll be poised for improvement.
  • Ole Miss infielder Colby Bortles is the younger brother of Blake Bortles, the third overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft.
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    PITCHERS

    Nolan Blackwood – SO – Memphis – Dominant closer this season saved 14 games and allowed two runs all year
    Thomas Burrows – SO – Alabama – Standout reliever for two years running owns 18 career saves, had 3.22 ERA this year
    Nick Deeg – SO – Central Michigan – Had 3.89 ERA for Hyannis last summer, posted 3.11 ERA in sophomore season with Chippewas
    Zach Girrens – SO – Saint Louis – Bumped to weekend rotation this year and went 7-1 with 4.20 ERA, team-best 75 strikeouts
    Ryan Hendrix – SO – Texas A&M – 17th-round pick in 2013 saved five games this year and struck out 64 in 54.1 innings
    Dakota Hudson – SO – Mississippi State – Has had success in two seasons in Bulldog pen, posting 4.32 ERA in 17 appearances this year
    Chris McGrath – FR – Duke – Made 11 appearances as a freshman, put up 3.48 ERA with 20 Ks in 20.2 IP
    Logan Salow – SO – Kentucky – Lefty has pitched mostly in relief for Wildcats, delivered 27 strikeouts this year with 5.32 ERA
    Marc Skinner – SO – Troy – Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in 2014, had 4.46 ERA with two saves this year
    Devin Smeltzer – SO – Florida Gulf Coast – Struck out 41 while starting and relieving, with ERA of 6.19
    Vance Tatum – SO – Mississippi State – Struck out 42 in swing role but had ERA over five this spring
    James Teague – SO – Arkansas – After limited duty as freshman, went 6-4 with 3.36 ERA in swing role this season
     

    CATCHERS

    Arden Pabst – SO – Georgia Tech – Scuffled to .138 average in 28 games with Hyannis last year, batted .235 for Tech this year
    Jake Rogers – SO – Tulane – Standout defensive catcher led NCAA in runners caught stealing this season, while batting .227
    Matt Thaiss – SO – Virginia – Former late-round pick of Red Sox, having enormous year for Cavs, .332 AVG, 9 HR, 60 RBI
     

    INFIELDERS

    Ryne Birk – SO – Texas A&M – Started all but two games for Aggies and hit .280 with team-high 10 home runs
    Colby Bortles – SO – Ole Miss – Brother of NFL QB Blake, hit .281 with seven homers in solid sophomore season
    Nicholas Pappas – SO – College of Charleston – Freshman All-American in 2014 had no sophomore slump: .337, 12 HR, 42 XBH
    Errol Robinson – SO – Ole Miss – Opening day starter at shortstop last year, continued to hit well this year .297 average, 1 HR
    JaVon Shelby – SO – Kentucky – Emerged as UK’s most dangerous hitter, batting .312 with team-highs of 9 homers and 44 RBI
    Blake Tiberi – SO – Louisville – NECBL all-star last year hit .261 with four homers for Cardinals this season
     

    OUTFIELDERS

    Corey Bird – FR – Marshall – Led team in hitting as a freshman and was second this year with .309 average, 1 HR, 9 SB
    Ben DeLuzio – SO – Florida State – Former 3rd-rounder had freshman struggles on Cape last year, hit .241 this spring with 14 SB
    Austin Hays – SO – Jacksonville – JUCO transfer hit .271 with three homers in first year with Dolphins
    David Martinelli – SO – Dallas Baptist – Burst onto the scene for emerging powerhouse DBU with .267 average, 10 homers