For much of the 2012 season, it looked like the Harwich Mariners were primed to repeat as Cape Cod Baseball League champions. The Mariners set a Cape League record for home runs, had the MVP and had some purely dominant stretches.

But as always in the Cape League, great teams don’t always win. The most powerful offensive team in Cape League wood-bat history was limited to two runs in a first-round sweep at the hands of Orleans.

Disappointing finish aside, the Mariners were once again one of the most talented teams in the league. It’s a tradition that’s been growing every year, so much so that it’s hard to believe Harwich had an 11-year playoff drought before winning the CCBL championship in 2008.

Harwich is poised for more in 2013. The roster looks like a strong collection of talent again, particularly on the offensive side, where Brett Austin returns and Mark Zagunis, Skye Bolt and Derek Fisher headline a great crop of newcomers. The pitching staff has some proven starters in the fold, too.

All in all, it looks like more of the same. The Mariners may not be breaking any records this year, but I’d be surprised if they weren’t in the mix.

 

THE SKINNY

Manager: Steve Englert
Last Year: 27-16-1; Lost in East First Round
Returning Players: 4
Juniors: 2
Sophomores: 21
Freshmen: 7

 

NOTABLE

Note to his fellow Mariners: don’t challenge Pat Connaughton to a pick-up basketball game this summer. Connaughton averaged 8.9 points per game as a sharp-shooting guard for the Notre Dame basketball team in the winter. He’s a solid left-handed pitcher for the baseball Irish in the spring.

K.J. Hockaday was poised to become a star for Maryland this spring, but an injury and a suspension have turned his sophomore season upside down. There’s still a lot of potential – the former 14th-round pick hit .346 in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League last summer.

In Alex Bregman, Skye Bolt and C.J. Hinojosa, Harwich has a tremendous trio of freshmen on its roster. Bregman is on Team USA’s roster as well, so the Mariners may not get all three, but even two would be a great addition.

Bregman, in particular, has had an incredible season. For a while, you could say he was having a better season than any freshmen in the country. Now, you can drop the freshmen label and still make a pretty good case.

Based on his Cape track record on the mound and his spring with the bat, Kentucky’s A.J. Reed could make a case to simultaneously be the top returning pitcher and hitter in the league. He had a 2.20 ERA for the Mariners last year and has blasted 13 homers for the Wildcats this spring.

Brandon Woodruff pitched for Harwich last summer too, but I somehow missed the fact that he was a fifth-round pick out of high school in 2011. He has not been as dominant as you might expect from someone who went so early. If he gets a chance to be a full-time starter this summer, it could be his opportunity for a breakout.

With two big seasons at Virginia Tech to his name, there’s a good chance Mark Zagunis ends up as the top catching prospect on the Cape. This year, Zagunis has almost the same statistics as teammate Tyler Horan, a guy you probably remember. Horan blasted 16 homers for Wareham last summer.

Zagunis isn’t the only standout catcher on the roster. Brett Austin returns for a second summer in Harwich. He was a supplemental first round pick out of high school and has been solid in two years at NC State.

Virginia went from unranked in the preseason to one of the top teams in the country this year, and a trio of Cavaliers are slated for Harwich. All of them – Branden Cogswell, Nick Howard and Derek Fisher – have had a big hand in the team’s success. Fisher may be the best of the bunch – he was the top prospect in the Northwoods League last summer.

I usually have a pretty good grasp on incoming stars, but I was not familiar with Gunnar Heidt. The College of Charleston sophomore infielder has been tremendous, one of the top players in the Southern Conference. And that league sent CCBL MVP Phil Ervin to Harwich last summer.

 

FIVE TO WATCH

1. Alex Bregman
2. Skye Bolt
3. A.J. Reed
4. Derek Fisher
5. Mark Zagunis

 

PITCHERS

Aaron Bummer – LHP – 6’3 200 – Nebraska – Sophomore
Bryan Bonnell – RHP – 6’5 205 – UNLV – Freshman
Gunnar Carroll – RHP – 6’1 190 – Army – Junior
*Tyler Burgess – LHP – 5’11 180 – Missouri State – Sophomore
Pat Connaughton – RHP – 6’5 215 – Notre Dame – Sophomore
Jake Drossner – RHP – 6’3 200 – Maryland – Freshman
Johnathan Frebis – LHP – 6’4 230 – Middle Tennessee State – Sophomore
Keaton Haack – RHP – 6’4 205 – Alabama – Freshman
Logan Jernigan – RHP – 6’3 201 – NC State – Sophomore
Mason McCullough – RHP – 6’4 220 – North Carolina – Sophomore
Dillon Peters – LHP – 5’10 190 – Texas – Sophomore
*A.J. Reed – LHP – 6’4 220 – Kentucky – Sophomore
Chandler Shepherd – RHP – 6’2 185 – Kentucky – Sophomore
Justin Taylor – RHP – 6’4 187 – East Carolina – Freshman
*Brandon Woodruff – RHP – 6’3 220 – Mississippi State – Sophomore
* – returning player

 
Aaron Bummer – LHP – 6’3 200
Nebraska
Sophomore

A 31st-round draft pick out of high school in 2011, Bummer had a solid freshman campaign as a bullpen arm. He’s gotten more work in a swing role this year and owns a 2.72 ERA.

Bryan Bonnell – RHP – 6’5 205
UNLV
Freshman

Another 31st-round pick, Bonnell has struggled in spot relief duty this year. He has a 13.03 ERA in eight appearances.

Gunnar Carroll – RHP – 6’1 190
Army
Junior

Carroll emerged as Army’s closer last season and entered this year ranked fourth on the school’s all-time saves list. He has four saves this year to go with a 5.66 ERA.

Tyler Burgess – LHP – 5’11 180
Missouri State
Sophomore

Burgess set Missouri State’s freshman saves record in 2012 on his way to Freshman All-American honors. He pitched for Harwich last summer and was a valuable bullpen arm, posting a 2.16 ERA in 15 appearances. Back at Missouri State this spring, Burgess is one of three pitchers the Bears have used as a closer. He has three saves and a 3.52 ERA.

Pat Connaughton – RHP – 6’5 215
Notre Dame
Sophomore

Connaughton, a two-sport standout for the Irish, has followed up a strong basketball season with a solid campaign on the diamond. In eight starts, he has a 2.29 ERA. Perfect Game rated Connaughton as the Big East’s second-best prospect for the 2014 draft entering this season.

Jake Drossner – RHP – 6’3 200
Maryland
Freshman

Drossner was one of the top high school prospects in Pennsylvania last year and was drafted by the Cubs in the 23rd round. He has had an up-and-down first season in College Park, with a 5.80 ERA in 12 games.

Johnathan Frebis – LHP – 6’4 230
Middle Tennessee State
Sophomore

Frebis was named the Sun Belt Freshman of the Year in 2012 after leading the Blue Raiders in strikeouts. He’s been a weekend starter this year but has hit a sophomore slump. He has a 5-5 record and a 5.46 ERA.

Keaton Haack – RHP – 6’4 205
Alabama
Freshman

A high-school star in North Carolina, Haack headed for SEC country and is making himself right at home in Tuscaloosa. In 19 relief appearances, he has a 2.30 ERA with 25 strikeouts in 31.1 innings.

Logan Jernigan – RHP – 6’3 201
NC State
Sophomore

Jernigan had an ERA over five as a freshman but has settled in this year. In seven appearances, he has a 1.06 ERA with 17 strikeouts in 17 innings.

Mason McCullough – RHP – 6’4 220
North Carolina
Sophomore

In his second year as a reliever with the Heels, McCullough has only pitched 10.1 innings but has made the most of them. He has a 0.87 ERA with 13 strikeouts.

Dillon Peters – LHP – 5’10 190
Texas
Sophomore

Texas has had some uncharacteristic struggles this season, but you can’t blame Peters. The sophomore lefty has emerged as an ace for the Longhorns. He’s 6-3 with a 1.79 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 80.1 innings.

A.J. Reed – LHP – 6’4 220
Kentucky
Sophomore

Reed continues to cement himself as one of the top two-way players in the country and is slated to do it all in Harwich again. He actually struggled with the bat for the Mariners last year but was a standout on the mound. This spring, he has not struggled in any area. Reed is hitting .287 with 13 homers and 51 RBI. On the mound, he has a 4.04 ERA as a weekend starter.

Chandler Shepherd – RHP – 6’2 185
Kentucky
Sophomore

Shephered was the top prospect in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League last summer and has picked up where he left off this season. In 24 appearances, Shepherd has a 2.94 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 52 innings.

Justin Taylor – RHP – 6’4 187
East Carolina
Freshman

Taylor was the jewel of a strong East Carolina recruiting class that arrived on campus this fall. But this spring, he has been limited to three appearances.

Brandon Woodruff – RHP – 6’3 220
Mississippi State
Sophomore

Woodruff was a solid performer for Harwich last summer, posting a 3.37 ERA while pitching as both a starter and a reliever. He has a 4.34 ERA for the Bulldogs this spring. Woodruff was a fifth-round draft pick out of high school.

 

POSITION PLAYERS

*Brett Austin – C – 6’1 200 – NC State – Sophomore
Kevin Krause – C – 6’2 190 – Stony Brook – Sophomore
Mark Zagunis – C – 6’0 205 – Virginia Tech – Sophomore
Alex Bregman – INF – 6’0 190 – LSU – Freshman
Branden Cogswell – INF – 6’1 175 – Virginia – Sophomore
Brendon Hayden – INF – 6’6 215 – Virginia Tech – Sophomore
Gunnar Heidt – INF – 6’0 195 – College of Charleston – Sophomore
C.J. Hinojosa – INF – 5’10 185 – Texas – Freshman
K.J. Hockaday – INF – 6’3 220 – Maryland – Sophomore
Nick Howard – INF – 6’4 215 – Virginia – Sophomore
Aaron Barbosa – OF – 5’10 172 – Northeastern – Junior
Skye Bolt – OF – 6’3 – 185 – North Carolina – Freshman
Tanner English – OF – 5’9 165 – South Carolina – Sophomore
Derek Fisher – OF – 6’3 205 – Virginia – Sophomore
Ben Moore – OF – 6’0 200 – Alabama – Sophomore
* – returning player

 
Brett Austin – C – 6’1 200
NC State
Sophomore

Austin was a supplemental first round pick out of high school in 2011. After batting .284 last spring and .276 for Harwich last summer, he’s right in the same range as a sophomore. Austin is at .279 with two homers and 32 RBI this season.

Kevin Krause – C – 6’2 190
Stony Brook
Sophomore

Krause was a freshman star for the Seawolves in their College World Series season last year, batting .330 with three homers. He has been limited to 19 games this season with injury and is hitting .217.

Mark Zagunis – C – 6’0 205
Virginia Tech
Sophomore

Zagunis had a terrific freshman season in 2012 and has not slowed down one bit since then. He was named the second-best prospect in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League last summer. This spring, he’s been better than ever, batting .336 with eight homers and 46 RBI, to go with a team-best .440 OBP. He also, surprisingly for a catcher, has 16 steals.

Alex Bregman – INF – 6’0 190
LSU
Freshman

Bregman was a 29th-round pick out of high school and was one of those guys who certainly could have gone earlier. He’s been tremendous for the Tigers in his debut. He’s hitting .388 with five homers, 15 doubles, seven triples and 49 RBI, while also playing a great shortstop. Bregman has been invited to Team USA.

Branden Cogswell – INF – 6’1 175
Virginia
Sophomore

Cogswell hit .260 in part-time duty this year. He’s been full-time this season and a big part of Virginia’s great campaign. Cogswell is hitting .346 and has added 12 steals.

Brendon Hayden – INF – 6’6 215
Virginia Tech
Sophomore

A 36th-round draft pick out of high school, Hayden hit .336 as a freshman in 2012. His sophomore season has been a struggle. Hayden is hitting .209 with four homers. Hayden has also made 10 appearances as a pitcher and has a 3.00 ERA.

Gunnar Heidt – INF – 6’0 195
College of Charleston
Sophomore

Heidt started in the middle infield from day one last year and hit .243. This year, he’s taken a giant leap and has emerged as one of the best players in the Southern Conference. Heidt is hitting .344 with four homers and 53 RBI.

C.J. Hinojosa – INF – 5’10 185
Texas
Freshman

Perfect Game ranked Hinojosa as the 32nd-best prospect in the nation ahead of last year’s draft and he went in the 26th round. At Texas, he is hitting .288 with two homers and 27 RBI.

K.J. Hockaday – INF – 6’3 220
Maryland
Sophomore

Hockaday had a strong freshman campaign in 2012 and followed it up with a great summer in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League, where he was named the top prospect by Baseball America. Bit his sophomore season has been a rough one – Hockaday battled an injury and was later suspended in April. He’s back now and is hitting .286.

Nick Howard – INF – 6’4 215
Virginia
Sophomore

Like his teammate Cogswell, Howard went from part-time to full-time this year and has made the most of it. Howard is hitting .325 with two homers and 34 RBI. He also pitches for the Cavs 5-4 with a 3.43 ERA as a weekend starter.

Aaron Barbosa – OF – 5’10 172
Northeastern
Junior

Barbosa has led the way for the Huskies this spring. The junior is hitting .321 with 16 RBI. He is also 26-for-27 in stolen bases, which ranks him top-30 nationally.

Skye Bolt – OF – 6’3 – 185
North Carolina
Freshman

Bolt got his debut season off to a roaring start and hasn’t slowed down on his way to becoming one of the top freshmen in the nation. An injury robbed him of a good chunk of time, but he’s still hitting a team-best .386 with six homers and 42 RBI. Bolt was a 26th-round pick out of high school.

Tanner English – OF – 5’9 165
South Carolina
Sophomore

English was a 13th-round pick out of high school. He started 68 games as a freshman and hit .298. This season, English is hitting .265.

Derek Fisher – OF – 6’3 205
Virginia
Sophomore

After hitting .288 with seven homers as a freshman, Fisher shined in the Northwoods League, where Baseball America tabbed him as the top prospect. He has impressed again this spring. Fisher is hitting .320 with seven homers and 44 RBI.

Ben Moore – OF – 6’0 200
Alabama
Sophomore

Moore hit .342 last year and was picked for the SEC All-Freshman team. His numbers are down a bit this year, but he’s still been the top hitter for the Tide. Moore is batting .298 with four homers and 38 RBI.