SUMMER 16

 

7/19/06

Nine-Game Streaks Propel Rochester , Y-D

The Cape Cod League’s Cotuit Kettleers (17-7) maintained the No. 1 spot in Perfect Game Crosschecker’s weekly Summer 16 rankings, but nine-game winning streaks by the Northwoods League’s Rochester Honkers (31-11) and the Cape League’s Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (17-11) had those clubs closing the gap on the Kettleers.

The gap could close even further as the Red Sox and Kettleers were scheduled to meet Tuesday night in a showdown of first-place teams in the Cape Cod League.

Yarmouth-Dennis, the 2004 Cape League champion, got off to a slow start this season but surged behind sophomore righthander Josh Fields (Georgia ), a projected first-round pick in 2007 whose fastball has been a steady 96 mph--while touching 98. He took over the Cape League lead with eight saves. Overall, he was 0-1, 1.54 with only three hits and four walks allowed in 12 innings, while striking out 17.

Rochester , which ran away with the Southern Division title in the first half in the Northwoods League, won its first seven games of the second half, stretching its unbeaten streak to nine. The Honkers finally had the streak snapped in a loss to Madison , but also boasted the league leader in saves. Righthander Jake Toohey (Illinois ) had 14 in 18 appearances while going 1-0, 2.00 with 32 strikeouts in 18 innings.

With Rochester moving into the No. 2 spot and Yarmouth-Dennis moving to No. 3, here’s the nation’s top 16 college summer league teams, through games of July 17:

          Team                                                League                        Record            LW

     1.  Cotuit Kettleers                               Cape Cod                          17-7                1

     2.  Rochester Honkers                         Northwoods                     31-11                3

     3.  Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox            Cape Cod                        17-11             NR

     4.  New Market Rebels                        Valley                                  27-8                6

     5.  Coppell Copperheads                    Texas                                   23-9                2

     6.  Edenton Steamers                          Coastal Plain                     25-9                9

     7.  Martinsville Mustangs                     Coastal Plain                     24-9                7

     8.  Peninsula Oilers                              Alaska                               23-12              16

     9.  Newport Gulls                                  New England                      21-9                5

   10.  Brewster WhiteCaps                      Cape Cod                        15-12              10

   11.  Vienna Senators                             Clark Griffith                       24-7              14

   12.  Orleans Cardinals                           Cape Cod                        15-13                4

   13.  Mat-Su Miners                                 Alaska                               20-12                8

   14.  Eldorado Broncos                           Jayhawk                           32-13              13

   15.  Columbus All-Americans               Great Lakes                       19-8             NR

   16.  Danville Dans                                  Central Illinois                   19-11             NR

       

--Compiled by Allan Simpson