Team USA played their final game in the United States on Monday against Russia where they picked up a 6-0 victory. The Russian team was able to hold Team USA to only four hits but gave up eight walks with three errors. Scott Gorgen (UC-Irvine) started for Team USA and went 4.2 innings while giving up three hits and struck out eight batters to pick up his first victory with the team. Seth Frankoff (UNC-Wilmington) relieved Gorgen and provided 3.1 shutout innings with five strikeouts and one hit allowed. Team USA is now off until August 2nd when they play Japan in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Team USA Release

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT8DdNI1_UI]

Aaron Crow won the Western Division MVP award this Saturday at the Cape Cod League All-Star game after striking out the side in the first inning. He plays for the Missouri Tigers and CapeProspects.com has provided us with the video above and they provide a full scouting report which can be read by clicking here.

Special to the CBB from NYDore
Following in line with recruiting coordinator Erik Bakich’s recent success, Vanderbilt is continuing to load up on young talent. Following a 10-man ’07 class that will all be reporting to campus, Vandy is signing blue chip pitchers at a rapid rate for next year’s class. The latest addition is Portsmouth, Rhode Island lefty Ryan Westmoreland. EastBayRI.com reported that the crafty lefty committed last Friday at a New England Collegiate Baseball League game in Newport RI. The full article is available by clicking here.

Perfect Game ranks Westmoreland as a top 2008 prospect with a 9 out of 10 rating (2006 showcase). Westmoreland was throwing between 85-87 during the 2006 PG Showcases, exhibiting solid downward movement on a sinking fastball and change, to complement a solid slider.

He joins lefties Grayson Garvin (Suwanee GA; 2007 PG rating pending, 8 in 2005) and Corey Williams (Huntsville AL; 2007 PG rating pending, 8.5 in 2005). Garvin and Williams topped out at 89 and 91, respectively. The heat comes from the right side of the mound, and Tennessee, where Vandy has inked Smyrna two-sport legend Sonny Gray and Battle Ground Academy’s Navery Moore. Both Gray and Moore have hit 96 on the gun, though Moore has undergone Tommy John surgery. Moore has not attended a PG Showcase, while Gray’s 2007 rating is pending.

The five pitchers will join Corbin’s first recruit of the class, Annandale, New Jersey outfielder Matt Marquis. Perfect Game gave Marquis a 9 rating and noted his frame, agility and line drive power.

Bakich and Head Coach Tim Corbin will be graduating or losing to the draft a large portion of the position players next spring, including 2007 All-American 3B Pedro Alvarez, RF Dominic De la Osa and SS Ryan Flaherty. Look for the Commodores to add to the ’08 crop with a third baseman, middle infielder and a catcher. Targeted for catcher are Tennessee standouts Casey Dykes and Jacob Stallings (son of VU hoops coach Kevin). Both Dykes and Stallings received 8.5 ratings from Perfect Game in 2006.

VandySports.com (Rivals) editor Mike Rapp recently caught up with five of Vanderbilt’s 2007 blue chippers. Florida OF Joey Manning, Texas RHP Chase Reid, US Virgin Islands LHP Kellen St. Luce, Panamanian (by way of Maryland) SS Gabe Ortiz and Connecticut Catcher Curt Casali all have foregone professional opportunities by enrolling in summer school. Rivals subscribers can read Mike’s 5-part interview series with the newest Commodores by clicking here.

Team USA dropped the final game of their series with the Netherlands by a score of 9-3 on Sunday evening. Team USA played sloppy defense in the game by committing three errors which led to four unearned runs. The Netherlands were led by a strong start from Daniel Bergman who allowed only three hits and a walk in six innings of shutout baseball. Team USA starter Mike Minor (Vanderbilt) was roughed up in 4+ innings while giving up five runs (one earned) on five hits. The Netherlands offense was led by Harvey Monte who went 3-5 with a run batted in. Team USA offensive leader was Jordan Danks (Texas) who went 3-5 with three RBI. Team USA now hosts Russia on Monday before heading to the Netherlands to take part in the World Port Tournament which starts on August 2nd.

Team USA Release

Team USA rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth inning to defeat the Netherlands 2-1 in Game two of their brief three game set. Team USA was down to their final out with Josh Romanski (San Diego) on second which represented the tying run and Pedro Alvarez (Vanderbilt) up to bat. Alvarez came through with a double to drive in the tying run in Romanski. Roger Kieschnick (Texas Tech) then hit a run scoring single to drive home Alvarez with the eventual winning run. The USA pitching staff was fantastic throughout the game as they only allowed one hit. Eric Surkamp (NC State) started for Team USA and went 5.2 innings while giving up the only hit and run of the game while walking the four batters. Brett Hunter (Pepperdine) relieved Surkamp and pitched a perfect 3.1 innings while striking out five. The teams will finish off a doubleheader on Sunday at 5 pm in Durham NC.

Team USA Story

UPDATE: You can watch tonight’s game which started at 5 pm by clicking here.

The Idaho Statesman has checked in with an article about Tony Thomas Jr. and how he is adjusting to playing with the short season Boise Hawks who are affiliated with the Chicago Cubs. Thomas dominated the ACC in 2007 with a .430 average and was named the Player of the Year in the ACC while playing for Florida State. The Chicago Cubs picked him in the third round with the 97th overall pick. Thomas started the summer with the Mesa (AZ) rookie ball team but was quickly promoted to Boise. The full article is available here.

The East defeated the West by a score of 3-2 in the 45th annual Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game which took place in Wareham this year. The East team picked up all three runs in an exciting fourth inning. Yonder Alonso (Miami, FL) got a single with one out in the inning off of Christian Friedrich (Eastern Kentucky). He was driven in on a ringing triple by Gordon Beckham (Georgia) to get the East squad on the board. Beckham would then score on a wild pitch to put the East up 2-0 but the East was not finished in the fourth as Dennis Raben (Miami, FL) homered to finish off the scoring in the top of the inning. The West would respond in the bottom of the fourth with Matt Hague (Washington) scoring on a fielder’s choice. James Darnell (South Carolina) would homer later in the game but it was too late as the East was able to squeak out a 3-2 victory.

Dennis Raben was named the MVP for the East squad for hitting that homer and Aaron Crow (Missouri) of the West squad was named that team MVP for striking out all three batters in the first inning.

Remember that the Game will be shown on Monday, July 30th on NESN if you want to watch the premier college baseball players.

CCBL Recap
Box Score
CodBall Recap

FROM PRESS RELEASE

DURHAM, NC— Tyson Ross (3-0, California) took a no-hitter into the sixth, striking out eight over seven innings in leading Team USA (19-7) to a 14-0 victory over the Netherlands in the first of a three-game, two-day series. Ross allowed just two hits while walking none, in his first appearance since the Gold Medal Game eight days ago.

Brett Wallace (Arizona State) drove in five with a three-run home run and a two-run double, while Ryan Flaherty (Vanderbilt) went 3-for-5 with four RBIs a day after turning 21 years old. Roger Kieschnick (Texas Tech) went 3-for-4, as the trio all hit home runs.

Flaherty, Kieschnick and Jordan Danks (Texas) all hit home runs as part of an eight-run eighth inning.

Ross was perfect through the first 14 batters, before an error by second baseman Ryan Flaherty allowed the first Dutch base runner to reach base in the fifth. Ross finished off the inning by striking out the side. Ross’ no-hit bid was broken up an inning later, by Danny Rombley, with a one-out base hit to center field.

Five of the Americans first six runs came with two outs to give them a 6-0 lead after three.

The Americans tallied back-to-back, two-out RBI singles from Logan Forsythe (Arkansas) and Kieschnick to take a 2-0 lead in the first. Wallace’s two-out, two-run single in the second then made it 4-0.

A Kieshnick homer in the third gave the Americans a 5-0 lead in the third, before a two-out, RBI double from Josh Romanski (San Diego) made it 6-0. Dutch righthander Rob Cordemans gave up six runs on seven hits over the first two and two-third innings.

Wallace’s homer in the eighth made it 9-0, after reliever Diegomar Markwell pitched four and one-third scoreless innings. Wallace’s blast was one of three homers and eight runs in the inning, as Flaherty added a three-run shot and Danks followed with a solo shot.

TEAM NOTES
It was second baseman Ryan Flaherty’s 21st birthday last night… shortstop Danny Espinosa made a nice play off the glove of Ross in the first inning to rob Dirk van’t Klooster of a base hit… these same two teams will play in Holland in Rotterdam starting next week at the World Port Tournament… the four home runs was a summer-high… high school senior Tyler Stovall, a Team USA junior team invitee, pitched the ninth inning.

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The nine-game American trip will continue with the Netherlands on Sunday in Cary (morning game at 11 a.m.), and Durham (afternoon game at 5 p.m.), before closing out with and Russia on Monday (one night game) in Cary, NC at 7 p.m… the team closes out their schedule at the World Port Tournament in the Netherlands starting on August 2.

Eric Sorensen of CSTV recently made a trip down to the Cape Cod Baseball League and filed a report on the league. The article is very good in terms of getting looks at a bunch of players including Wake Forest’s Allan Dykstra. The one problem with the article is that Sorensen did very little research for some of the background information on the league. He states that all the games he attended (only 3) that admission was never charged and he was not sure if any of the other teams in the league charge for games. He only needed to go over to the Cape Cod Baseball League’s website and it is clearly stated that no admission is charged for games. Sorensen also takes the chance to complain about the umpiring in the league saying that they must be high school or small college umpires. Actually, The umpires are members of the CBUAO which just started up this past college season and sent many umpires to NCAA Regionals and World Series at different levels. They also provide most assignments in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. They have a full website available here.

Eric Sorenson Article

Doug Kroll who also works with CSTV checks in with an article previewing the Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game which will take place tonight at 6 pm (weather permitting). He breaks down the All-Star game by each school and their representation in the league.

Doug Kroll Article

As always for the best Cape Cod League coverage head over to CodBall and for the best coverage of prospects head to Cape Prospects.

Team USA jumped out to a 6-0 lead against China after two innings but the game would be called in the fourth inning as rain started to fall. The game will not be made up and Team USA will play the Netherlands on Saturday and a doubleheader on Sunday.

Team USA Release

Team USA announced today that UC-Irvine pitcher Scott Gorgen, NC State pitcher Eric Surkamp, UNC-Wilmington pitcher Seth Frankoff, and Tyler Stovall from Hokes Bluff (HS) have joined the team starting on Friday when the team completes their series against China. They replace Brian Matusz, Jacob Thompson, and Lance Lynn who have all left the team to rest their arms until the next college season.

UC-Irvine Release
NC State Release
UNC-Wilmington Release

Team USA won 16-0 over China on Thursday evening behind seven strong innings from starter Ryan Berry who only gave up four hits and walked no batters. Team USA was led on offense by Tommy Medica who went 3-5 with three RBI. Pedro Alvarez, Roger Kieschnick, and Jordy Mercer each added a home run.

Team USA Recap

Matt Daly of Hawaii threw a no-hitter on Wednesday in a 4-1 victory for the Hyannis Mets over the Wareham Gatemen. Daly gave up four walks and his team made one error to allow the Gatemen to score a run. He had been struggling throughout the summer accumlating a 0-4 record with a 5.46 ERA entering the game. The victory gave him his first win of the season and lowered his ERA to 4.14.

South Coast Today
Cape Cod Times

PRESS RELEASE
BIRMINGHAM, AL— China’s Kun Chen, Youhua Guo and Quansheng Zhao out dueled Team USA’s Lance Lynn (2-1) and Jordy Mercer as the Chinese (1-2) won the third game of the five-game series over the Americans (17-7), 2-1, on Wednesday evening. Team USA had won the first two games of the series.

Chen went the first six and two-thirds, giving up one run on seven hits, before yielding to Guo. Guo went an inning and one-third before yielding to Zhao in the ninth, who posted the save, despite putting the tying run on second base.

Brett Wallace (Arizona State) and Danny Espinosa (Long Beach State) each had three of the Americans nine hits, who rested starting outfielders Jordan Danks (Texas) and Logan Forsythe (Arkansas) to begin the night.

Espinosa’s bunt base hit in the ninth sent the winning run to the plate against Zhao with one out. Espinosa was then balked to second. Zhao though got a flyout and strikeout to end the game.

An RBI single followed by a groundout gave China a 2-1 lead in the second, the second time in two nights the Chinese led early.

Lynn went the first four innings, giving up two runs on two hits. Mercer went the final six innings, not allowing a hit the rest of the way. He struck out eight on the night and did not walk a batter.

Wallace gave the Americans a 1-0 lead in the first with an RBI single.

TEAM NOTES
The game was delayed by over an hour due to a rain storm which started around 90 minutes prior to first pitch… Manager Mike Weathers played in the Oakland A’s minor league system in Birmingham, AL in the mid-1970’s for three years… RHPs Jacob Thompson (Virginia) and Brian Matusz (San Diego), neither of which are injured, left the team for precautionary reasons due to a high number of innings pitched over the previous eight months… Thompson finished the summer 1-2 with a 1.27 ERA, Matusz was 3-1 with a 1.33 ERA… junior national team invitee, Tyler Stovall, a lefthander/outfielder from Hokes Bluff (AL) High School joined the team on Wednesday and will be with the team through the end of the week… Team USA is now 2-2 against Communist-led governments over the last four games (China and Cuba).

UPCOMING SCHEDULE
The five-game series with China continues in Rome, GA on Thursday and Ft. Mill, SC on Friday, finishing off the nine-game (two-day) American trip with the Netherlands and Russia in North Carolina… the team closes out their schedule at the World Port Tournament in the Netherlands starting on August 2.

We recently came across some information that Illinois has added another player from Canada for next season in catcher Aaron Johnson from Sussex, New Brunswick. He is now the fourth player in the last seven years from Canada to join the Illinois program. He is following in the footsteps of Lars Davis who was a third round pick of the Colorado Rockies in 2007. Johnson is currently playing for the Lethbridge Bulls in the Western Major Baseball League in Canada which is a summer league which is comparable to many of the top summer leagues in the United States. He is hitting .341 with the team this summer. The full press release is available here.