Cape Cod League Top Performers: Jun 15

Photo Courtesy of Georgia Tech Athletics

Just two undefeated teams remain after two days as both the Hyannis Harbor Hawks and Brewster Whitecaps won again while Chatham and Wareham remain winless. The Cotuit Kettleers, who were walked off on Opening Night, delivered a walk-off win of their own to get back to 1-1. 

While the first day featured five outstanding pitching performances which included two 10 strikeout days, day two was more hitter friendly as three more players checked in with home runs– Carson Tinney (Notre Dame/Portal), Andrew Williamson (UCF), and Blake Cyr (Florida). 

LHP Chase Richter (Arkansas State/Wareham Gatemen)

5.0 IP, 3 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 75p-51s

Arkansas State’s Chase Richter had arguably the best start of the evening as he delivered five shutout innings for the Wareham Gatemen and only allowed three hits while walking zero. He hit a batter in each of the first two innings, but really settled into a groove over the 3rd and 4th innings. He struck out the side in the 3rd and then retired Cotuit 1-2-3 with a pair of strikeouts in the 4th. He worked around two singles in the 5th to complete his scoreless outing. Wareham would end up losing 2-1 in extra innings to Cotuit.

RHP Preston Crowl (Virginia Tech/Cotuit Kettleers)

4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 2 K, 37p-25s

Preston Crowl was one of Virginia Tech’s best relievers this past spring and his success has carried over to his first appearance on the Cape. The right-hander entered the game in the top of the 3rd, replacing starter Cole Carlon. Crowl retired the first ten batters he saw before a Shamaar McDuffie single in the 6th ended the streak. The Hokie hurler was able to work around the one out hit, however, and induced two routine fly outs to retire the side and end his day. 

Crowl filled up the strike zone and pitched to contact, allowing for an efficient outing that saw him throw just 37 pitches over four innings pitched. While it’s possible for him to be stretched out ahead of next season, expect Crowl to be a high leverage reliever while on the Cape this summer.

LHP Trey Beard (Florida State/Hyannis Harbor Hawks)

4.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R/ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 54p-37s

Florida State’s newest arm, Trey Beard, electrified in his first outing on the Cape. The former Florida Atlantic Owl faced just one above the minimum as he carved through the Harwich lineup. Eric Becker was responsible for each of the two singles Beard gave up, with the second being erased by an inning ending double play in the 4th. Hyannis was leading 4-0 when Beard made way for reliever Richie Roman to start the 5th. Beard is a big time arm that should be a front-line starter for Florida State in 2026. He’ll be leaving for Team USA soon and there’s no guarantee that he’ll return to the Cape after, so get your views in now while you can.

3B Eric Becker (Virginia/Harwich Mariners)

3-3, BB

Eric Becker was the lone bright spot for the Harwich Mariners’ 4-1 loss to Hyannis on Sunday night. The Virginia shortstop is in the transfer portal, but as of this writing is yet to commit to a new school. It’s unlikely but possible that the new UVA coaching staff retains the talented middle infield since they were in the initial recruiting battle for Becker out of high school when they were at Duke.

Becker reached base in all four of his plate appearances and was the only Mariner to find success and reach base against Hyannis starting pitcher Trey Beard. All three singles were well struck line drives to the outfield and he earned his base on balls in the 7th. After playing shortstop on Opening Night and making a throwing error, Becker was at third base for Harwich on Sunday night and played clean defense. Becker is 4-for-6 with two walks and two strikeouts over his first two games of the summer. All four hits have been singles. 

SS Carson Kerce (Georgia Tech/Brewster Whitecaps)

1-3, 2 RBI, HBP

Carson Kerce started his summer 0-for-5 before he delivered a sharp line drive single to add two crucial insurance runs for Brewster in the 9th inning. Kerce is transitioning to shortstop after playing most of the spring at third base for Georgia Tech. As one of the nation’s best defenders, Kerce has played a clean shortstop over his first two games on the Cape. And while he only has the one big hit, his approach has been solid. Expect a decent summer from the Appy League star.

OF Andrew Williamson (UCF/Hyannis Harbor Hawks)

2-3, HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, BB

Central Florida star Andrew Williams batted second for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks and delivered the big two-run blast that helped propel his team past Harwich, 4-1 on Sunday night. He checked in with the Harbor Hawks’ first hit of the evening when he singled through the right side in the bottom of the 1st. He came around to score their first run as well when Myles Bailey doubled to right field.

Williamson’s first home run of the summer came in the bottom of the 3rd when he launched a two-run blast to deep right to double the Hyannis lead. Both of his hits in the game were his first two of the season and he’s now 2-for-5 with a homer, two walks, a stolen base, and two runs batted in. He’ll be a huge piece of the Hyannis offense for as long as he remains on the Cape.

SS Jake Schaffner (North Carolina/Hyannis Harbor Hawks)

2-3, 1 R, 1 BB, SB

Leading off and playing shortstop for Hyannis in their 4-1 win over the Harwich Mariners on Sunday night was new North Carolina Tar Heel Jake Schaffner. He makes his way to Chapel Hill after playing at North Dakota State and helping lead them to an NCAA Regional this past spring. Schaffner flew out to lead off the bottom of the 1st, then singled and came around to score on the Williamson home run in the 3rd. He drew a walk and stole second base to lead off the 5th but was thrown out trying to steal third a few pitches later. The new UNC infielder then reached for a third time in the game when he singled sharply to left in the bottom of the 8th inning. On the season Schaffner is 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored, but he is just 1-for-3 in stolen base attempts.

2B Will Baker (Georgia Tech/YD Red Sox)

2-4, 2B, RBI, R, SB

Will Baker has started the summer batting second and playing second for the YD Red Sox as the Georgia Tech infielder looks to build off a strong freshman spring. After a ground out to start his night, Baker checked in with a line drive single to the outfield that plated a run in the 3rd inning. A well struck line drive in the 5th went right to the shortstop for an out, but the Australian native continued his hot start with a two out RBI double to left that made it 4-0 YD. The Red Sox would go on to win by that score and Baker is now 4-for-8 on the year with a double, two RBI, and a stolen base. 

OF Blake Cyr (Florida/Brewster Whitecaps)

1-4, HR, 2 RBI, R

It was a quiet summer debut for Florida Gator Blake Cyr until the 9th inning when he launched a go ahead two run blast over the left field fence to give Brewster a 4-3 lead. The former Miami Hurricane played left and batted 7th for the ACC heavy Whitecaps. In his first three plate appearances, Cyr grounded out weakly twice and popped up to the infield. His two-run shot turned out to be the difference as Brewster scored four in the 9th and held on to win, 6-3.  

Sebastian Pisacreta (Pittsburgh/Orleans Firebirds)

2-3, 2B, BB

Pittsburgh’s hottest hitter down the stretch in the spring is off to a good start on the Cape as Sebastian Pisacreta delivered a two-hit debut in Orleans’ 4-0 loss to YD on Sunday night. Playing catcher and batting in the cleanup spot, Pisacreta doubled to left to lead off the 2nd inning in his first plate appearance of the summer. A ground ball hit back up the middle resulted in a one out single and the rising junior reached base for a third time when he walked with two outs in the 6th. Pisacreta was left stranded in all three situations as Orleans struggled hitting with runners in scoring position.