Still Alive

Gio Brusa and Brewster are four points out of a playoff spot.
Gio Brusa and Brewster are four points out of a playoff spot.

 

With the All-Star Game in the books, the Cape League now very quickly hits its stretch run, with just six days of games before the playoffs begin next Tuesday. While much of the playoff picture is already secure, at least on who will be in it, the first day of the stretch run offered a sign that there may still be some drama for the final spots.

Brewster beat Chatham 12-8 last night to get within four points of the Anglers for the fourth and final playoff spot in the East. And in the West, Wareham inched closer to fourth-place Cotuit with a 3-2 victory over Harwich. The Gatemen are now six points back.

Brewster has now won two straight going back to before the All-Star Game. It beat red-hot Y-D 13-3 and made it 25 runs in two games with the win over Chatham.

Luke Lowery (East Carolina) hit his fifth home run of the summer and knocked in two runs, while John Sansone (Florida State) homered for the second time in the last 10 days. Andrew Lee (Tennessee) added three RBI while Braden Bishop (Washington) went 3-for-3 with two RBI. Scott Kingery (Arizona), one of the hottest hitters in the league, had his ninth multi-hit game in his last 14 games. On the mound, Cody Ponce (Cal Poly Pomona) followed up his eye-catching All-Star Game performance with five solid innings. He struck out six and allowed four runs.

A.J. Murray (Georgia Tech) hit his sixth home run for Chatham, but Brewster had too much with 10 runs in the first five innings.

Wareham hosted East-leading Harwich and got one of its best pitching performances of the summer in a 3-2 victory. Liam O’Sullivan (St. Leo), who was making just his second start after opening the season in the bullpen, went eight innings and allowed just the two runs. He struck out three and scattered five hits. Sean Adler (USC) pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.

O’Sullivan was almost the hard-luck loser, as Harwich took a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning on an Ian Happ (Cincinnati) two-run triple. But Wareham answered right back with two runs in the bottom half. Facing Harwich starter Zack Erwin (Clemson), who struck out eight in 5.2 innings, Nick Halamandaris (California), Kyri Washington (Longwood) and Danny Rosenbaum (Louisville) all singled. John Bormann (Texas-San Antonio) followed with a two-run single to give Wareham all the runs it would need.

 

Hyannis 7, Falmouth 4

Hyannis moved to the verge of clinching a playoff spot with a victory over Falmouth, and they can thank their new ace for setting them on the right path. Marc Brakeman (Stanford), who opened the season in the bullpen, has won two straight starts in dominant fashion. After striking out 11 in six scoreless in his last start, Brakeman struck out nine and went six shutout innings again. He scattered six hits and is now tied for the league lead in strikeouts with 47. He has also walked just seven batters all summer. After Falmouth made a late charge against the Hyannis bullpen, Ian Gibaut (Tulane) closed the door for his second save. Donnie Dewees (North Florida) had three hits to lead the Hyannis offense, while Sam Haggerty (New Mexico) drove in two runs. For Falmouth, Conner Hale (LSU) had three RBI and is tied for the league lead.

 

Y-D 5, Orleans 3

We’re back to a three-way tie atop the East standings after Harwich’s loss and another Y-D victory over Orleans. The Red Sox also beat Orleans last Friday. This time, Cody Poteet (UCLA) – making his final start of the summer – turned in one last gem with eight strong innings. He struck out eight, scattered seven hits and surrendered three runs. Phil Bickford (Cal State Fullerton) pitched a perfect ninth for his eighth save and his fifth consecutive scoreless outing. The Y-D offense backed the strong pitching with two hits and two RBI each for Nico Giarratano (San Francisco) and Josh Lester (Missouri). A.J. Simcox (Tennessee) added three hits.

 

Bourne 7, Cotuit 1

Bourne snapped a three-game skid and increased its lead in the West to four points with a win over Cotuit. The game was scoreless until the fifth, when Bourne pushed a run across and never looked back. It scored two in the seventh and four in the eighth to pull away. Mark Laird (LSU) went 3-for-5 with an inside-the-park home run and four RBI. Richard Martin Jr. (Florida) added three hits, while Brett Sullivan (Pacific), Blake Davey (Connecticut) and Blake Allemand (Texas A&M) had two hits each. Andrew Sopko (Gonzaga) went five scoreless innings for the win. Lucas Laster (Mississippi State) and John Kuzia (St. John’s) closed it out. For Cotuit, Vincent Fiori (South Carolina) gave up three runs in six innings.

 

What to Watch

It seems like the third or fourth one in the last week, but we have yet another first-place showdown in the East as Harwich visits Orleans. It should be a good pitching match-up, too, with Jon Harris (Missouri State) going for Harwich against Orleans ace Kolton Mahoney (BYU).

Wareham Looking to Regain Form

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gatemen_logo_opt.jpgWareham followed up one of the franchise’s most memorable seasons with one of its most forgettable. After winning the Cape League title in 2012, the Gatemen just didn’t have the horses last year and won only nine games. They finished second-to-last in the league in both batting average and ERA, an easy recipe for a rough season.

As 2014 rolls around, the Gatemen would love a step back in the right direction, and they’re bound to get it just based on how much they struggled last year. If things come together well, they may get a good-sized step.

Four players return from last year, including two SEC pitchers who could anchor the rotation in Kyle Cody and Trey Killian. The lineup lacks the thumpers that Wareham had in 2012, but there’s some certainly some potential.

For the Gatemen, there’s nowhere to go but up.

 

THE SKINNY

Manager: Cooper Farris
Last Year: 9-33; Missed playoffs
Returning Players: 4
Juniors: 2
Sophomores: 10
Freshmen: 9

 

NOTABLE

  • Kentucky’s Kyle Cody pitched all of nine innings with the Gatemen last summer but made enough of an impression to check in on the league’s top prospect lists. This could be a big summer for him.
  • Wareham got a longer look at Trey Killian last year and had to like what they saw. He struck out nearly a batter an inning in the Gatemen rotation and will be a good bet for an even better summer this year.
  • Indiana’s Scott Effross may have the inside track at the closer’s job, based on college numbers. He’s saved five games each of the past two years.
  • It wasn’t too long ago that Wareham brought in UConn stars George Springer and Matt Barnes. Anthony Kay and Andrew Zapata may not be at their level, but the freshman pitchers are coming off solid debuts.
  • Elliot Surrey has been the second-best starting pitcher for a talented UC Irvine team that is headed to Omaha.
  • Also headed to Omaha are the Louisville Cardinals, who have three players pegged for Wareham. All would provide a boost, so the Gatemen will be waiting.
  • Texas-San Antonio catcher John Bormann was a 19th-round pick of the Angels in last week’s MLB draft.
  • If Bormann is in town, Wareham will have a dynamic catching duo. The other half is Rice junior John Clay Reeves, a juco transfer who was Conference USA’s Newcomer of the Year this season. LSU’s Chris Chinea can also catch but could bounce around the diamond as well.
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    FIVE TO WATCH

    1. Kyle Cody
    2. Trey Killian
    3. John Clay Reeves
    4. Elliot Surrey
    5. John Bormann

     

    PITCHERS

    *Kyle Cody – RHP – 6’7 245 – Kentucky – Sophomore
    Scott Effross – RHP – 6’2 195 – Indiana – Sophomore
    Max Engelbrekt – LHP – 6’3 200 – Oregon State – Sophomore
    Myles Gentry – RHP – 6’0 200 – Mississippi State – Sophomore
    Drew Harrington – LHP – 6’1 215 – Louisville – Freshman
    Anthony Kay – LHP – 6’1 185 – Connecticut – Freshman
    *Trey Killian – RHP – 6’3 205 – Arkansas – Sophomore
    Ryan Olson – RHP – 6’3 185 – San Diego – Freshman
    Elliot Surrey – LHP – 5’11 185 – UC Irvine – Sophomore
    Andrew Zapata – RHP – 6’0 190 – Connecticut – Freshman
    * – returning player

     

    Kyle Cody – RHP – 6’7 245
    Kentucky
    Sophomore

    Cody worked his way into Kentucky’s weekend rotation by the time conference play hit last season, starting the emergence that has him among the best sophomore arms in the country. He played briefly for Wareham last summer and offered a tantalizing glimpse for scouts. Perfect Game rated him as the Cape’s 30th-best prospect. This spring, he started six games and made 12 relief appearances, posting a 2.84 ERA.

    Scott Effross – RHP – 6’2 195
    Indiana
    Sophomore

    Effross saved five games with a 2.44 ERA last year en route to Freshman All-America honors. The 11th-best prospect in the Great Lakes Collegiate League, Effross followed up with an even better sophomore campaign. He saves five games again while dropping his ERA to 1.98. He struck out 40 and walked just 11 in 54 innings.

    Max Engelbrekt – LHP – 6’3 200
    Oregon State
    Sophomore

    Engelbrekt has been a valuable left-handed arm out of the bullpen throughout his stay in Corvallis. He made 17 appearances this year and posted a 2.84 ERA.

    Myles Gentry – RHP – 6’0 200
    Mississippi State
    Sophomore

    A Mississippi high school standout, Gentry jumped into the Bulldogs pen as a freshman and turned in a strong season, limiting opponents to a .200 batting average and posting a 3.69 ERA. This year, he had a 4.78 ERA in 20 appearances.

    Drew Harrington – LHP – 6’1 215
    Louisville
    Freshman

    Kentucky’s Gatorade Player of the Year in 2013, Harrington has flashed his potential in his freshman season with the Omaha-bound Cardinals. Though his ERA is 4.95 in 21 appearances, he has struck out 34 and walked only seven 36.1 innings.

    Anthony Kay – LHP – 6’1 185
    Connecticut
    Freshman

    Kay was drafted in the 29th round by the Mets but stuck with UConn and had a strong first season in a swing role. He had a 3.49 ERA and struck out 56 in 67 innings. He was second on the team in strikeouts.

    Trey Killian – RHP – 6’3 205
    Arkansas
    Sophomore

    The top high school prospect in the state of Arkansas in 2012, Killian made a splash for the Razorbacks last spring when he posted a 3.19 ERA in a swing role. He moved into the weekend rotation full-time this year and didn’t miss a beat, putting up a 2.30 ERA while striking out 62 in 94 innings. Killian made six starts for Wareham last summer and struck out nearly a batter an inning with an ERA a shade over four.

    Ryan Olson – RHP – 6’3 185
    San Diego
    Freshman

    Olson struck out 31 in 36 innings for the Toreros in his debut season but finished with an ERA over six.

    Elliot Surrey – LHP – 5’11 185
    UC Irvine
    Sophomore

    Surrey didn’t see a ton of innings as a freshman but has made up for lost time this year. Taking over as a weekend starter, Surrey has a 1.99 ERA and ranks second in innings pitched on the Omaha-bound UC Irvine club. He has struck out 75 and walked 27 in 108.1 innings.

    Andrew Zapata – RHP – 6’0 190
    Connecticut
    Freshman

    Another UConn freshman from New York, Zapata also pitched in a swing role and had some success in his debut season. The right finished with a 2.57 ERA despite walking one more batter than he struck out.

     

    POSITION PLAYERS

    John Bormann – C – 6’0 200 – Texas-San Antonio – Junior
    Willie Calhoun – INF – 5’9 180 – Arizona – Freshman
    *Christopher Chinea – C – 6’0 215 – LSU – Sophomore
    Nick Halamandaris – INF – 6’1 225 – California – Sophomore
    Anderson Miller – OF/LHP – 6’3 205 – Western Kentucky – Sophomore
    Corey Ray – OF – 6’0 190 – Louisville – Freshman
    John Clay Reeves – C – 6’0 200 – Rice – Junior
    Kramer Robertson – INF – 5’10 170 – LSU – Freshman
    Errol Robinson – INF – 5’11 170 – Mississippi – Freshman
    *Danny Rosenbaum – INF – 6’1 200 – Louisville – Sophomore
    Charlie Warren – OF/RHP – 6’2 185 – Rice – Freshman
    * – returning player

     

    John Bormann – C – 6’0 200
    Texas-San Antonio
    Junior

    Bormann was just selected by the Angels in the 19th round of this year’s draft. If he plays in Wareham, he’ll come in off a strong junior season. Bormann hit .288 with four homers and 24 RBI.

    Willie Calhoun – INF – 5’9 180
    Arizona
    Freshman

    Calhoun was a 17th-round pick of Tampa Bay last season but headed to Arizona. He finished his freshman year with a .247 batting average.

    Christopher Chinea – C – 6’0 215
    LSU
    Sophomore

    Chinea hit .247 as a freshman in part-time duty last year. After holding his own with Wareham, he made more solid contributions to the Tigers this year. He hit .250 with two homers.

    Nick Halamandaris – INF – 6’1 225
    California
    Sophomore

    Halamandaris was an eighth-round pick of the Mariners out of high school but has yet to make big waves at Cal. After hitting just over .200 last year, he batted .244 this year.

    Anderson Miller – OF/LHP – 6’3 205
    Western Kentucky
    Sophomore

    Miller was off to a strong start in his freshman year before it was cut short due to injury. Upon returning this year, he picked up where he had left off in a big way. Miller hit .335 with three homers, 18 extra-base hits and 33 RBI. He was a second-team all-Sun Belt selection.

    Corey Ray – OF – 6’0 190
    Louisville
    Freshman

    Ray was Seattle’s 33rd round pick last year but the Chicago native headed to Louisville. With the Cards, he has forced his way into more and more playing time thanks to a .347 batting average, a .434 OBP and eight extra-base hits.

    John Clay Reeves – C – 6’0 200
    Rice
    Junior

    Reeves started his career at Arkansas before a stint at Navarro Junior College last year. He burst onto the scene at Rice this year, hitting .317 with six homers en route to the Conference USA Newcomer of the Year award. Reeves has also been praised for his work behind the plate.

    Kramer Robertson – INF – 5’10 170
    LSU
    Freshman

    The son of Baylor women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey, Robertson headed East after a strong high school career in Texas. He played in 47 games for the Tigers this spring, starting 30 of them, and hit .200.

    Errol Robinson – INF – 5’11 170
    Mississippi
    Freshman

    A Maryland native, Robinson has had a strong debut in Oxford. Playing regularly for the CWS-bound Rebels, Robinson has a .290 batting average.

    Danny Rosenbaum – INF – 6’1 200
    Louisville
    Sophomore

    Rosenbaum has been one of the top hitters in a loaded Louisville lineup that begins play in the College World Series this week. The sophomore is batting .297 with 11 extra-base hits and 24 RBI. He played in Wareham last summer and hit .246.

    Charlie Warren – OF/RHP – 6’2 185
    Rice
    Freshman

    A Texas high school star, Warren started 35 games for the Owls this spring, finishing with a .264 batting average.