Baseball Out On The Cape – Part II
(This is the second piece in a two-part series in which I highlight the top pitcher and hitter from each Cape Cod League team. To read my mini-introduction on baseball on the Cape and to check out the top Eastern Division players, click here. The order by which the teams appear below is based upon their regular season record—winningest team is listed first, etc.)
NOTE: In last week’s edition, Ryan Connolly was incorrectly attributed to the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, when, in fact, he pitches for the Cotuit Kettleeers. Please accept my apology for any confusion this may have caused.
Western Division
1. Cotuit Kettleers
Patrick Biondi, OF
College: University of Michigan
Stats: .388 AVG, 0 HR, 19 RBI
Biondi has the highest average of any player on the Cape this season. This past season, the Michigan Wolverine was the best all-around hitter on his team, and led the Big 10 conference in stolen bases.
Patrick Connolly, SP
College: College of Charleston
Stats: 8-0, 2.28 ERA, 56 SO
Connolly, in my opinion, is the best pitcher in the CCL this season. He leads the league in wins, and is among the league leaders in ERA. Hopefully, his arm can hold up through his collegiate career and onto his start in the Minors—surprisingly, he’s a submariner!
2. Wareham Gatemen
Tyler Horan, 3B
College: Virginia Tech University
Stats: .342 AVG, 16 HR, 40 RBI
Horan probably takes the cake when it comes to power hitters out on the Cape this season. The Hokie is known around the ACC for his crushing power, but plays in the outfield, rather than third base (like he does in the CCL). Horan finished second at this year’s TD Ameritrade College Home Run Derby in Omaha, Nebraska.
Jared Ruxer, RP
College: University of Louisville
Stats: 1-4, 2.95 ERA, 34 SO
Ruxer is one of the younger players on the Cape this season. After completing his first year as a Louisville Cardinal, Ruxer has pitched well out of Wareham’s ‘pen this season, striking out 34 in 36.2 innings pitched. Was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American.
3. Falmouth Commodores
Drew Dosch, IF/OF
College: Youngstown State University
Stats: .326 AVG, 8 HR, 30 RBI
Dosch started every game of his 2012 sophomore campaign on the hot corner. He hit a strong .353, and hit .368 against left-handed pitchers, which is even more impressive considering he’s left-handed himself. He was the All-Star starter at the DH spot in this year’s Cape Cod League All Star Game for the Western Division squad.
Craig Schlitter, SP
College: Bryant University
Stats: 5-2, 2.72 ERA, 41 SO
Schlitter got knocked around in his first few starts in his sophomore 2012 campaign, but ended up tossing ten straight games without allowing over three runs.
4. Bourne Braves
Mason Robbins, OF
College: University of Southern Mississippi
Stats: .316 AVG, 7 HR, 19 RBI
Robbins was named Conference USA’s Freshman of the Year and a Louisville Slugger All-American after hitting .330 with 3 HR and 38 RBI in his freshman season. He had an impressive 18-game hitting streak, and even threw 32 2/3 innings out of the bullpen for Southern Miss!
Chad Green, SP
College: University of Louisiville
Stats: 4-0, 3.00 ERA, 41 SO
Green was both a stalwart starter and a bullpen ace for the Louisville Cardinals in his sophomore 2012 season. In six starts, he was 6-0 with a 2.70 ERA. Threw a total of 46.1 innings for the Cardinals last season.
5. Hyannis Harbor Hawks
Brandon Trinkwon, IF
College: University of California Santa Barbara
Stats: .301 AVG, 6 HR, 33 RBI
Trinkwon was the third-in-the-order anchor for UC Santa Barbara last season, hitting .347. While accumulating 2 HR, he led the Big West Conference in the .460. He plays second base in college.
Sean Manaea, SP
College: Indiana State University
Stats: 5-1, 1.22 ERA, 85 SO
While Manaea may play for one of the Cape’s worst teams, you wouldn’t know it from looking at his stats. The tall left-hander is the strikeout king on the Cape, and was a strikeout king for the Sycamores this past season as well. He struck out 115 batters in 105 innings, finishing with a 5-3 record in 17 starts.