Cape Cod League Hot Sheet Week Five

2. Cole Mathis, 1B/RHP, College of Charleston 

Team: Cotuit Kettleers

Age: 19

Why He’s Here: .357/.387/.750 (10-for-28), 7 R, 5 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 13 RBIs, 2 BB, 5 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: The two-way star from College of Charleston has been impressive this summer. He’s been throwing regularly for the Kettleers, as well as playing first base and hitting in the middle of the order. Last week Mathis had arguably his best week at the plate. He homered in consecutive games against Wareham and Falmouth, driving in 10 between the two contests. He tallied multi-hit games in four out of seven contests and reached base in six of the seven games. This summer Mathis is the Shohei Ohtani of the village. (GP)

3. Cameron Smith, 3B, Florida State

Team: Hyannis Harbor Hawks

Age: 20 

Why He’s Here: .345/.394/.621 (10-for-29), 7 R, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBIs, 2 BB, 1 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: This is Smith’s third consecutive week on the Hot Sheet. He’s moved down slowly from No. 1 in week three to No. 2 in week four and now No. 3 this week. Smith kept hitting last week—he is now in the midst of a 14-game hitting streak. Smith has a hit in all but seven of his 33 games played this summer and five of those came in his first nine games. Last week Smith had an extra-base hit in four of his seven games, striking out just once all week. (GP)

4. James Tibbs, OF, Florida State

Team: Brewster Whitecaps

Age: 20 

Why He’s Here: .444/.500/.704 (12-for-27), 4 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBIs, 3 BB, 6 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: This is Tibbs’ second consecutive week on the Hot Sheet, and he’s been scorching hot the last 14 games. Tibbs finished the week with three consecutive multi-hit games, including a 3-for-4 showing with a home run and four RBIs against Wareham on July 19. Tibbs is now tied for second in the league in home runs with Cole Mathis of Cotuit. He currently ranks fifth in the CCBL in slugging percentage and is top five in extra-base hits. Tibbs will participate in this Saturday’s all-star game as a member of the East Division all-stars. (GP) 

5. Caleb Lomavita, C, California 

Team: Cotuit Kettleers

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: .375/.375/.667 (9-for-24), 7 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs, 0 BB, 4 SO, 2-for-2 SB

The Scoop: Lomavita this summer has continued to establish himself as a likely day one draft pick in 2024. This past week was highlighted by an impressive 6-for-11 stretch between July 13 and 14 in which he homered in each game and drove in seven runs. He is currently riding a four-game hit streak that includes three multi-hit efforts. Lomavita’s 17 RBIs rank second on Cotuit, while his .317 average ranks third. He has also shown off his defensive prowess of late, flashing a plus throwing arm and athleticism behind the dish. (PF)

6. Cam Schuelke, RHP, Mississippi State

Team: Cotuit Kettleers

Age: 21

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 6.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: The 2022 Cape Cod League Reliever of the Year has picked up right where he left off and is currently in the middle of a lights-out stretch. This past week, Schuelke spun 6.1 shutout innings across two appearances. On July 15, he notched a rare 11-out save against Yarmouth-Dennis with 3.2 perfect innings and seven strikeouts. Schuelke attacks hitters from three different arm slots and is one of the most uncomfortable pitchers to face in the league. His sweeping slider looks like a wiffle ball, while his sinking fastball bears in on the hands of opposing hitters. Schuelke’s 35 strikeouts are the second-highest total on the Cape. (PF)

7. Grant Norris, SS, Penn State

Team: Cotuit Kettleers

Age: 22

Why He’s Here: .346/.469/.654 (9-for-26), 6 R, 2 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBIs, 5 BB, 6 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Last year it was Tyler Johnson who enjoyed a post-draft hot streak for Cotuit as an older Cape player. Norris is enjoying a similar run as he had two huge games last week. His high-water mark came against Yarmouth-Dennis on July 15; he went 4-for-4 with two home runs. He topped off the week with a two-hit effort against Chatham on Wednesday with a pair of doubles. (GP) 

8. Camron Hill, LHP, Georgia Tech

Team: Cotuit Kettleers

Age: 20

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 0.00, 7.1 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 4 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: This is Hill’s third week on the Hot Sheet but he’s been in contention each week. Hill hurled another 7.1 innings without allowing an earned run, and he’s allowed just one earned run over 28 innings this summer. You can argue his last two starts haven’t even been Hill’s best work but he still managed to provide quality innings each time out. A tall, projectable and athletic lefthander, Hill mixes three pitches in a fastball at 91-93 mph, a slider in the low 80s and a changeup in the low 80s. He has a lot of starter traits with more projection to come. (GP)

9. Jack Penney, 3B, Notre Dame 

Team: Orleans Firebirds

Age: 20 

Why He’s Here: .474/.600/.526 (9-for-19), 4 R, 1 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 5 RBIs, 6 BB, 5 SO, 0-for-0 SB

The Scoop: Penney has come into his own as of late for the second-place Firebirds and has become a focal point of the lineup. The 2023 Cape all-star has notched multiple hits in three of his last six games, highlighted by a 3-for-5, two-RBI performance in a 12-0 win over Harwich. Penney has a smooth, simple, line drive-oriented swing and a sound approach. This season he is hitting .281 with a pair of home runs and a team-leading 12 RBIs. (PF)

10. Zach Yorke, 1B, Grand Canyon

Team: Hyannis Harbor Hawks

Age: 19

Why He’s Here: .414/.452/.414 (12-for-29), 5 R, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 6 RBIs, 2 BB, 0 SO, 0-for-0 SBThe Scoop: The younger brother of Red Sox prospect Nick Yorke, Zach is an interesting prospect in his own right. An advanced hitter, Yorke rarely strikes out and is adept at peppering the opposite field with line drives and singles. He didn’t strike out once last week while reaching base 14 times. His 12 hits were second most in the CCBL over the last seven games. A first base-only player with limited tools, Yorke can hit and will go as far as his bat takes him. (GP)

11. Derek Clark, LHP, West Virginia

Team: Orleans Firebirds 

Age: 21

Why He’s Here: 2-0, 1.08, 8.1 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 10 SO, 1 HR

The Scoop: Outside of Camron Hill, there is an argument to be made that Clark is the best active pitcher in the CCBL. After firing 1.1 shutout innings against Bourne on July 14, Clark excelled in his first start of the summer. He allowed one run on five hits across seven innings pitched, struck out six and walked none. Clark’s calling card is his pitchability, and he has above average command of his entire arsenal. Clark’s best offering is his slider that has a miss rate of 46% and plenty of horizontal movement. On the season, he has a 1.33 ERA with 29 strikeouts to eight walks across 27 innings pitched. (PF)

12. Sean Hard, RHP, Boston College

Team: Harwich Mariners

Age: 20 

Why He’s Here: 0-0, 1.00, 9 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 6 BB, 10 SO, 0 HR

The Scoop: Hard has flourished this summer in Harwich and this past week was the Mariners’ most reliable arm. In his two appearances, he allowed just one earned run across nine innings pitched and struck out 10. On July 17 against Yarmouth-Dennis, Hard went a season-high 4.2 innings, collected six strikeouts and did not allow an earned run. The 6-foot-5 righthander relies heavily on his fastball that he throws 69% of the time, while his best secondary offering is a sharp, downer curveball. This summer Hard has pitched his way to a 2.50 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched. (PF)