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New Name, New Season, and the Hyannis Harbor Hawks are Ready

06/02/2010 1:57 PM

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New Name, New Season, and the Hyannis Harbor Hawks are Ready

By NICOLE ALMEIDA
CCBL INTERN

HYANNIS ---- Hyannis hopes a new name ----- the franchise has abandoned Mets in favor of Harbor Hawks ---- will bring fresh excitement to the 2010 season.

     Arriving from Virginia are pitchers Tyler Wilson and Danny Hultzen. Both players return for their second summer in Hyannis. Wilson posted a 3.20 ERA last season, while Hultzen had a 2.17 ERA and batted .327.

     Joining them from Florida are Steven Rodriguez and Tyler Thompson. Rodriguez, a left-hander, was selected in the 2008 MLB draft by the Houston Astros. Thompson’s dad, Robby, played for San Francisco Giants.

     Left-hander Matt Dermody and catcher Dan Sheppard (Iowa) are rookies in the Cape League. Both freshmen, Dermody posted a 1.26 ERA and a .434 batting average, while Sheppard hit .430 with 28 RBI for the Hawkeyes.

     “I’m most excited about the returning players and seeing how they’ve improved during their school seasons,” general manager Bill Bussiere said. 

     Outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. (South Carolina), left-hander Kevin Brandt (East Carolina), right-hander Jimmy Messer (North Carolina) and outfielder Johnny Ruettiger (Arizona State) are among the veterans back in Hyannis.

     Bradley hit .349 last summer, while Brandt posted a 3.64 ERA. His North Carolina counterpart, Messer, struggled with a 6.08 ERA, although he hit .293. 

     Ruettiger averaged .360 and was a 35th-round pick by the Texas Rangers in 2008. He was also named to last summer’s Cape League All-Star team.

     Joining Ruettiger from Arizona State is freshman outfielder Jeff Lusardi, while another freshman, right-hander Matt Price (South Carolina) is sure to impress. A fractured wrist shortened Price’s college season, but he still fanned 11 in 15 scoreless innings. 

     “I’m ready for this season to start,” Bussiere said.