SUMMER 16
Yarmouth-Dennis Maintains Grip Atop Rankings
The power of the Cape Cod League is evident in the latest version of PG Crosschecker’s rankings of the nation’s top summer college league teams. For the third straight time, theCape’s Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox are No. 1. In all, four Cape Cod League teams are in the latest rankings. Only the Coastal Plain League (two) has more than one team.
The Red Sox, winners of two of the last three Cape Cod playoff championships, continue to hold a comfortable lead atop the
Cape
’s Eastern Division race. Shortstop Gordon Beckham, a rising junior at
Georgia
, has been the top offensive player for Y-D and the league’s best overall performer. Beckham was hitting .313 with a league-high eight homers.
PG Crosschecker’s ranking of the top 16 summer league teams. Records as of July 15; previous ranking in parentheses:
1.
Yarmouth-Dennis
Red
Sox
(1)
Cape
Cod 18-8-1
Led by Beckham, Y-D leads
Cape
in batting (.274) and has almost twice as many homers as league’s second-best club.
2.
Santa
Barbara
Foresters (4)
California
31-5
Defending NBC World Series champs are primed to repeat; Oklahoma State OF Rebel Ridling (.407-6-25) swinging hot bat.
3.
Fayetteville
Swampdogs (2) Coastal Plain 31-6
Illinois
twosome of Aaron Martin (5-0, 1.02) and Ben Reeser (5-0, 0.92) has Swampdogs on roll at league’s All-Star break.
4.
Green Bay
Bullfrogs (6) Northwoods 29-11
Division III pitchers lead Bullfrogs staff:
Carthage
’s Chris Krepline (5-1, 2.72), Chapman’s Kurt Yacko (2-0, 0.00, 11 SV).
5. Mat-Su Miners (5)
Alaska
18-5
Miners have 1.88 team ERA, led by
Washington
’s Jason Erickson (3-0, 0.84),
Santa Clara
’s Alex Rivers (3-1, 1.14).
6. Bourne Braves (3)
Cape Cod
15-10-2
East
Carolina
’s T.J. Hose (3-1, 0.42) tied for league ERA lead; Stetson OF Brian Pruitt (.291-3-22) second in RBIs.
7.
Lima
Locos (12)
Great Lakes
20-6
Purdue’s Matt Bischoff (3-0, 1.33),
Morehead
State
’s J.R. Peck (10 SV),
Ball
State
’s Adam Quinn (4-0, 2.18) pace staff.
8.
Chatham
A’s (8)
Cape Cod
14-11-2
UCLA pair of 3B Jermaine Curtis (.323-2-15) and RHP Charles Brewer (1-1, 2.74) making an impact at plate, on mound.
9.
Waynesboro
Generals (10) Valley 25-9
Butler
’s Jon Dages (6-0, 1.10), Tennessee Tech’s Adam Liberatore (4-1, 3.25),
Belmont
’s Jimmy Stanley (9 SV) top staff.
10.
Falmouth
Commodores (NR)
Cape
Cod 14-13
Six straight wins, league’s top hitter (Wichita
State
’s Conor Gillaspie), ERA leader (Missouri
’s Aaron Crow) has team on roll
11.
Torrington
Twisters (NR)
New England
17-9
San
Diego
State
2B Garett Green (.348-0-19), Stony Brook’s Gary Novakowski (3-2, 1.65) help Twisters to best record.
12.
Derby
Twins Jayhawk 27-9
2006 NBC World Series runners-up continues to set hot pace atop Jayhawk League standings.
13.
Vienna
Senators Clark Griffith 27-4
Tulane pair of 1B Sam Honeck (.350-10-28) and LHP Aaron Loup (6-0, 1.15) pace Senators to best record in summer ball.
14.
Moses
Lake
Pirates West Coast 19-8
Pirates getting strong efforts from Oral Roberts’ Dale Reneau (4-0, 1.21),
Washington
State
’s Michael Ratigan (2-1, 2.68).
15.
Thomasville
Hi-Toms Coastal Plain 27-11
Hi-Toms boast league HR co-leaders:
Georgia
1B Rich Poythress (.326-11-37), The Citadel OF Chris Swauger (.304-11-35).
16.
McKinney
Marshals
Texas
15-8
Rice’s Jon Runnells (3-0, 0.70),
Kansas
State
’s Justin Murray (3-1, 0.91) pace TCL’s best pitching staff.