17 June, 2005

A's and Whitecaps are well-staffed

The Brewster Whitecaps and Chatham A's will both benefit from veteran managers, as Bob Macaluso returns for his sixth season at the Brewster helm and John Schiffner will guide the A's for the 13th summer. 

Schiffner has been portrayed on film by Brian Dennehy (in "Summer Catch"), has led the A's to two Cape League crowns and has more wins than any active manager. Chatham was 21-23 last year, but that means little in the Cape League, as the roster turns over each year. 

The A's always draw talent from Southern California and North Carolina, and this year is no exception, as left-hander Andrew Miller and righty Robin Woodward are both Tar Heels. 

Miller was named the top pitching prospect in the Cape League by Baseball America. He was 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA with Chatham last year. Woodward is also a returnee, posting a 1.56 ERA last year in eight games and 17 innings last season. 

David Huff (Cypress Junior College) is also back. He was 3-3 with a 1.09 ERA last year. Justin Cassell hopes to improve on his 0-4 mark of last season, and infielder Nick Derba (.143) also returns. 

Brooks Brown (Georgia), Chris Cody (Manhattan), Jacob Dempsey (Winthrop), Jared Hughes (Long Beach), Brandon Hynick (Birmingham Southern), Ian Kennedy (Southern Cal), Derrik Lutz (George Washington), Steve Richard (Maine) and Kevin Slowley (Winthrop) round out the pitching staff. 

Garrett Bussiere (Cal) and Baron Frost (USC) are the catchers, while Chris Coghan (Mississippi), Todd Farzier (Rutgers), Evan Longoria (Long Beach) and Aaron Reza (Modesto JC) are infielders. Adrian Ortiz (Pepperdine), Alex Presley (Mississippi), Tony Gonzalez (New Orleans) and Josh Morris (Georgia) will be in the outfield. 

Brewster has lured Matt Laporta (Florida) from Y-D, where he played last year and made the Cape Cod League All-Star team. He hit nine homers while driving in 20 runs and batting .234. A top-20 prospect according to Baseball America, he will play first and catch for Brewster. 

The Whitecaps also have Andrew Romine (Arizona State), the son of ex-Boston Red Sox player Kevin Romine, at shortstop. 

Max Scherzer (Missouri), who has a 98-mph fastball, and Erik Davis (Stanford) will lead the pitching staff. Chase Lirette (South Florida), Danny Gil (Miami) and Sergio Perez (Tampa), Harris Honeycutt (South Carolina), Casey Lambert (Virginia), Heath Rollins (Winthrop), Ryan Turner (Georgia Tech), Kevin Dryanski (Arizona State), Derek Roach (Wichita State), John Gaub (Minnesota) and P.J. Walters (South Alabama) are also lined up to pitch. 

Preston Clark (Texas) is the other catcher. Ryan Malone (Florida State), Matt Cusik (Southern Cal), Keoni Ruth (San Diego), Greg Sexton (William and Mary) and Roger Thomas (Miami) are infielders. and John Jay (Miami), Brian Leclerc (Florida), Tommy Lentz (Winthrop) and Davy Gregg (South Carolina) will patrol the outfield.