Three Panthers Head to Cape Cod League
6/10/2019 1:51:00 PM | Baseball
Trio of Panthers to Play in Top Collegiate Summer League
PITTSBURGH – After impressive 2019 seasons in the spring, University of Pittsburgh baseball players Kyle Hess, Billy Corcoran, and Chase Smith are set to join the prestigious Cape Cod Baseball League this summer.
Known as the premier collegiate summer baseball league, the Cape Cod League has featured some of the biggest names in the MLB today, including Chris Sale, Kris Bryant and Jacoby Ellsbury. The league, which includes a 44-game regular season schedule followed by a three round, best-of-three playoff series format, will start the season Monday, June 10.
Hess, a rising sophomore, will join the Bourne Braves, who finished with an 18-25-1 record last season. Ranked as the No. 3 outfielder and 12th best overall player in Pennsylvania last year by Perfect Game, Hess was an integral part of the Panthers' roster during his freshman season. Starting in 38 of his 40 appearances, the Mount Joy, Pa., native racked up 33 RBI and boasted a .348 on-base percentage. Hess caught fire late in the season as he went on a 10-game hit streak from April 26 to May 11, which included going 6 for 13 in the series against Presbyterian.
Corcoran, a fellow rising sophomore, will join the Hyannis Harbor Hawks this summer after being a key part of Pitt's rotation in the spring. Drafted by the Texas Rangers out of high school, the righty will look to lead the Harbor Hawks to more success this summer after the team finished 24-17-3 last season. Ranked the third best right-handed pitcher and No. 11 overall prospect in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game, the Ridley, Pa., native had a solid freshman campaign in the spring, finishing the season with a 3.80 ERA in 20 appearances. Corcoran made 11 starts on the year, the second most on the team, and finished with the most innings pitched on the staff as well with 68.2. The Malvern Prep product was tough to hit against as opponents averaged only .247 off of him this season while racking up 54 strikeouts.
Smith, a rising junior on the Panthers' staff, will join the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox after anchoring Pitt's bullpen this spring. He joins a Red Sox team that enjoyed a great season last year, finishing on top of their division in the league with a record of 27-12-5. The Marietta, Ga., native appeared in 33 games for the Panthers during the spring, the most on the staff, and finished the year with 59.2 innings pitched. Smith was a key figure out of the bullpen as he boasted an impressive 2.72 ERA, striking out 55 batters. The righty finished the year with four wins and five saves while batters hit only .245 off of him during his sophomore campaign.
Pitt is familiar with sending players to the wooden bat league in the past. Pitchers Dan Hammer and Derek West represented the school at the Cape last summer, where both players saw immense success on the field. Hammer's on-field play with the Chatham Anglers play earned him a spot in the Cape Cod League All-Star game last July, while West allowed only two runs in 16.1 innings during his tenure with the Wareham Gatemen.
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Known as the premier collegiate summer baseball league, the Cape Cod League has featured some of the biggest names in the MLB today, including Chris Sale, Kris Bryant and Jacoby Ellsbury. The league, which includes a 44-game regular season schedule followed by a three round, best-of-three playoff series format, will start the season Monday, June 10.
Hess, a rising sophomore, will join the Bourne Braves, who finished with an 18-25-1 record last season. Ranked as the No. 3 outfielder and 12th best overall player in Pennsylvania last year by Perfect Game, Hess was an integral part of the Panthers' roster during his freshman season. Starting in 38 of his 40 appearances, the Mount Joy, Pa., native racked up 33 RBI and boasted a .348 on-base percentage. Hess caught fire late in the season as he went on a 10-game hit streak from April 26 to May 11, which included going 6 for 13 in the series against Presbyterian.
Corcoran, a fellow rising sophomore, will join the Hyannis Harbor Hawks this summer after being a key part of Pitt's rotation in the spring. Drafted by the Texas Rangers out of high school, the righty will look to lead the Harbor Hawks to more success this summer after the team finished 24-17-3 last season. Ranked the third best right-handed pitcher and No. 11 overall prospect in Pennsylvania by Perfect Game, the Ridley, Pa., native had a solid freshman campaign in the spring, finishing the season with a 3.80 ERA in 20 appearances. Corcoran made 11 starts on the year, the second most on the team, and finished with the most innings pitched on the staff as well with 68.2. The Malvern Prep product was tough to hit against as opponents averaged only .247 off of him this season while racking up 54 strikeouts.
Smith, a rising junior on the Panthers' staff, will join the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox after anchoring Pitt's bullpen this spring. He joins a Red Sox team that enjoyed a great season last year, finishing on top of their division in the league with a record of 27-12-5. The Marietta, Ga., native appeared in 33 games for the Panthers during the spring, the most on the staff, and finished the year with 59.2 innings pitched. Smith was a key figure out of the bullpen as he boasted an impressive 2.72 ERA, striking out 55 batters. The righty finished the year with four wins and five saves while batters hit only .245 off of him during his sophomore campaign.
Pitt is familiar with sending players to the wooden bat league in the past. Pitchers Dan Hammer and Derek West represented the school at the Cape last summer, where both players saw immense success on the field. Hammer's on-field play with the Chatham Anglers play earned him a spot in the Cape Cod League All-Star game last July, while West allowed only two runs in 16.1 innings during his tenure with the Wareham Gatemen.
#H2P | Twitter | Instagram
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