12 June 2008


Cape League set to kick off another summer season

By Matt Rice

REGIONAL -

As the first heat wave of the summer blankets the area, fans will finally get a look at the new faces invading their communities as the Cape Cod Baseball League gets set to open the 2008 summer season.

Here’s a quick look at some of the familiar and not-so-familiar faces that will be seen in local uniforms this summer.
Brewster

During last summers three-team playoff chase for the final spot in the East, the Brewster Whitecaps found themselves on the short end of the stick as they lost out to Chatham for the final spot.

Despite barely missing the playoffs last summer, the Whitecaps will show-off a whole new crop of talented players as none of the players from last year’s roster came back for a second stint in Brewster.

But despite the new faces, the Whitecaps should have enough firepower on the mound and behind the plate to compete.

New to the Whitecaps this summer will be pitchers Matt Packer (Virginia), Caleb Cotham (Vanderbilt), Mark Lamm (Vanderbilt) and Iden Nazario (Miami),

Packer is currently 6-2 with a 1.16 ERA at Virginia, while Cotham is 7-5 at Vanderbilt.

Lamm has been holding batters to a .202 average this spring and Nazario had an ERA of .84 in limited time for the Hurricanes.

A wildcard this summer could be Blake Smith, a pitcher from California. Along with his impressive 3-0 record and 3.26 ERA, Smith also carries a .539 slugging percentage and plays a solid outfield.

As far as the offense, the Whitecaps will look to hitters Connor Powers (Mississippi State), who batted .384 this spring, Jim Klocke (Southeast Missouri) who’ll see time as catcher for Brewster this summer, and Mike Freeman (Clemson) who batted .332 this spring.
Chatham

As the Chatham A’s get set to host the annual CCBL All-Star game on July 26, the team is hoping for similar results the last time they hosted the All-Star game in 1998, which happened to be the last time they won the league championship.

The team will look to their top returning pitcher, Tom Milone (Southern Cal), to launch the team back into the playoffs.

Milone was the 2007 B.F.C. Whitehouse Award winner, presented each summer to the leagues top pitcher.

In 2007, Milone led the league with a 6-1 record and 2.92 ERA. This year he’s expected to be at the top of the A’s pitching staff along with a number of returning pitchers.

The A’s earned a spot in the East division playoffs but couldn’t get by the eventual league champs, the D-Y Red Sox. 

This summer Chatham has nine returning players from last years’ squad.

Along with Milone, returning A’s include this year’s expected center fielder and lead off hitter, Addison Johnson (Clemson) along with Kevin Couture (Southern Cal), Charles Brewer (UCLA), Gregg Glime (Baylor), Jeff Lorick (Virginia), Kyle Seager (N.C.), Alex White (N.C.) and Gavin Brooks (UCLA).

Newcomers to the team include Hector Rabago (Southern Cal), Aaron Miller (Baylor), Casey Haerther (UCLA), Victor Sanchez (San Diego), Brad Boxberger (Southern Cal) and Dylan Brown (Oklahoma State).

Chatham skipper John Schiffner became the league’s all-time leader in wins and currently holds the record with 338 victories under his belt heading into the 2008 season.
Harwich

The Harwich Mariners will open their season this weekend with a host of newcomers wearing the local colors.

“I hope they’re all standouts,” said Englert who is entering his 10th season with Harwich.

The team will open their regular season schedule at Bourne on Saturday night, then host Wareham on Sunday night for their home opener. 

With only one returning player, right-handed pitcher Sean Black (Seton Hall), the team, like most Cape League teams, will be comprised mostly of newcomers.

Last year, Black went 0-1 with a 4.32 ERA in three appearances for the Mariners but has had success this spring at Seton Hall, posting a 3.44 ERA with a 3-3 record. 

First-year Mariners include outfielders DJ Belfonte (Nebraska), Brian Kemp (St. John’s), infielder Jason Stidham (Florida State), infielder/outfielder Joe Sanders (Auburn), left-handed pitcher and first baseman Brandon Belt (Texas), and infielder Shaver Hanson (Baylor).

Right-handers Patrick Johnson (North Carolina) and Will Kempf (Baylor) will provide strong pitching. Johnson steps off his college field with a 4.14 ERA in 41 innings pitched, and a 4-1 record, while Kempf brings a 3.69 ERA in 68 innings pitched and a 3-1 record.

First baseman/outfielder Dustin Ackley (North Carolina) is solid hitter at .399 with seven home runs and 44 RBI this season.

Catcher Tommy Medica (Santa Clara) brings a .342 average, six home runs, and 44 RBI to the team.

Both Ackley and Medica are being looked at by Team USA, though “I’ve been really trying to sell the Cape to these two guys,” said Englert. “There’s tremendous exposure received through MLB Scouts by playing in the league. They haven’t said yes to the national team, so we are keeping our fingers crossed.”

Englert’s goal this season is to “win the whole thing, obviously, but more importantly, showcase players’ talents and increase [their] draft status and help to improve in all aspects of the game -- physically and mentally.”

The Mariners have sent several players into the Major Leagues, including Kevin Millar (Baltimore), Jason Bartlett (Tampa Bay), Kelly Shoppach (Cleveland), Adam Melhuse (Texas) and most recently, Tim Lincecum (San Francisco).
Orleans

Despite registering the top ERA in the league last year (2.79), it was the lack of offense that had the Orleans Cardinals on the outside looking in for the 2008 CCBL playoffs.

Their league-best staff ERA was stellar, but it was their .221-team batting average that proved to be their downfall.

The Cardinals have six players returning from last year's roster, including two of their top pitchers.

Southpaw Rob Catapano (North Carolina) and Kyle Kamppi (Georgia Southern) were key members of the bullpen in 2007, with ERA’s of 0.92 and 1.50, respectively.

Nate Freiman (Duke), Brad Gemberling (Princeton), Travis Tartamella (Pepperdine) and Hampton Tignor (Florida) will also return from Orleans’ 2007 roster.

This year, the Cardinals’ roster will also feature Angelo Songco, Kyle Spraker, and Martin Viramontes, all from Layola Marimount.

They’ll also will feature Nevada’s Matt Bowman and Shaun Kort, Cal State-Fullerton’s Gary Brown and Christian Colon, Georgia’s Justin Earls and Rich Poythress, and Kent State’s Brad Stillings and Kyle Smith.

Joining them will be Massachusetts natives and Duke teammates Freiman and Alex Hassan. Freiman hails from Wellesley, while Hassen is a native of Milton. 

Another key piece of the Cardinals lineup could be Cole Figueroa. As a member of the Harwich Mariners last summer, Figueroa was selected to represent the East Division during the All-Star game after batting .281.

He’s currently Florida’s second leading hitter with a .350 average.

Selected in the sixth round of the MLB Draft, Figueroa could opt to sign with the Padres, possible leaving the Cardinals offense short a bat. 

Manager Kelly Nicholson is back for his fourth season in Orleans.

Since his arrival in 2005, Nicholson has led the Cardinals to five top three finishes in the ERA race, finishing in the top spot three times and the second best twice.