Where the Stars of Tomorrow Shine Tonight!

Article By: CCBL Public Relations Office

College baseball season is finally here, which means we’re one step closer to Opening Day for the Cape League. We surveyed ten former Cape League interns to get their predictions heading into the 2023 NCAA Baseball season.

Out of the ten responses, Dylan Crews from LSU was the only player to receive multiple votes to win the 2023 Golden Spikes Award. Also receiving votes were: Jacob Wilson (Orleans ‘22), Tommy Troy (Cotuit ‘22), Vance Honeycutt (Bourne ‘23), Paul Skenes (Wareham ‘21), Maui Ahuna (Falmouth ‘22), Enrique Bradfield Jr. (Cotuit ‘22), Drew Beam, and Jacob Gonzalez.

Our voters were asked to rank their top five teams entering the season. Here were the results:
       1. LSU (46 points)
       2. Tennessee (34 points)
       3. Stanford (24 points)
       4. Ole Miss (17)
       5. Florida (12 points)
       6. Texas A&M (8 points)
       7. Vanderbilt (3 points)
       8. Wake Forest (2 points)
       9. Arkansas (2 points)
      10. Oklahoma State (2 points)

There are two premier matchups today that stick-out compared to the rest of the Opening Day slate. Vanderbilt (#10) vs. TCU (#15) is the only ranked matchup on the schedule at 4pm. 

Then, at 8pm, Tennessee (#2) will face Arizona in an elite pitching matchup. Tennessee will have Chase Dollander on the mound; widely believed to be the best pitcher in college baseball and a potential top overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Arizona will counter with TJ Nichols. Nichols had an up-and-down 2022, but enters this year with high upside and projection to be selected early on Day 2 of the MLB Draft.

Thank you to our former interns Allie Moore, Anna Zdunczyk, Brian Butler, Emma Carman, Ethan Kagno, Josh Schwam, Jude Donabedian, Katie Cullen, Kayla Gregoire, and Lexi Malouf.