Seven Harbor Hawks are Chosen to Represent the West at the Upcoming All-Star Game
Sam Fosberg – Hyannis Harbor Hawks
The Harbor Hawks have been leading the CCBL in countless different categories this summer. Whether it’s for a first-place record, stolen bases, or All-Star selections, they’ve done it all. Hyannis ties Yarmouth-Dennis with a league-leading 7 All-Stars this year and will represent the most players out of any team in the Western Division. Not half bad for a team that finished dead last in the standings just a season ago.
First-year General Manager Nick Johnson and first-year Director of Baseball Operations Mazdak Darvari have done fantastic jobs flipping this roster into a contender. Now their hard work is paying off because of how represented the Hawks are in the Cape’s Midsummer Classic. It’s been extremely impressive seeing what these two have done for this ball club behind the scenes.
“When I was brought onto the team, the vision of the roster was to put out a team that excelled at an older style of baseball”, Darvari says. “We wanted position players who had high contract rates, low chase rates, good speed, and defensive versatility. On the other side of the ball, we wanted pitchers who commanded the zone well and had a good swing and miss stuff.”
Mazdak also mentions, “on an individual level, having the most all-star representation on the Cape is a great feeling for the baseball ops team who spent countless hours working to find and bring these types of players in as well as the guys themselves who have worked their tails off all year to now get some recognition as some of the best players in the country.”
Let’s meet the 2022 Harbor Hawks All-Stars…
INF Mitch Jebb - Michigan State:
Mitch Jebb started this season on the Cotuit Kettleers roster. After being told he wouldn’t get much playing time with the Ketts, he was granted a release and was quickly poached by the Harbor Hawks. Jebb is now an All-Star with Hyannis, it’s funny how things work out. The speedy, do-it-all, utility man has been slotted in the leadoff spot for most of the Hawks season. Jebb is currently first on the team in qualified batting average holding a .315 clip, and third in the entire league’s category. He also has the second most runs batted in for the Hawks with 13.
Another Hawks infielder who got the All-Star nod is Rikuu Nishida. Nishida has been a fan favorite all season long for the Hyannis faithful. He enjoys engaging in funny antics in the box, stands at 5’ 6”, and can run like a gazelle. The Mt. Hood CC sophomore will be transferring to Oregon in the fall, where he looks to reek even more havoc on the bases. Nishida is a quick infielder who has been the perfect ninth hitter for the Hawks. Rikuu has collected 21 stolen bases this season, and there’s no doubt that if he gets the opportunity to run in Wareham, he will. The Japanese native also plays exceptional defense at second base with great range.
INF Dominic Pitelli - U of Miami:
The third and final Hawks infielder chosen to represent the West is Dominic Pitelli. The University of Miami product has made countless dazzling plays at a short stop this summer for Hyannis. He plays a premium position and hits left-handed, something Major League scouts look for while recruiting. Pitelli is tied for first on the team in home runs with 3, including a game in Orleans where he crushed 2. Pitelli’s also fourth on the team in RBIs with 12 and had a monster early July where he hit over .400 over a week and a half. Dom is a very tooley player that showcases plus defense, combined with contact and power.
OF Cole McConnell - Louisiana Tech:
When McConnell first arrived in Hyannis, many thought it may take him a game or two to get settled in due to a long season at Louisiana Tech, but the outfielder didn’t hesitate to make an impact. The left-handed hitter has been a staple for Coach Beattie, as is always hitting around the third or fourth spot on the lineup card. Cole is currently third on the team in batting average at .276 and leads the club in RBIs with 18. The power has always been there for McConnell, and he showed it off by homering twice in a big game against rival Cotuit earlier this season. He’s currently tied for the lead in home runs with 3 on Hyannis, all while playing a stellar center field. He has been named a Western Division starter in Wareham on Saturday.
When the word leader comes to mind, I’m sure many Hawks players think of Tito Flores right away. The Michigan corner outfielder has been rock solid for Hyannis this season and has had some insanely clutch moments. Both of his home runs have been good for evening up the score or giving Hyannis the lead, and his presence in the lineup takes the pressure off many hitters. When the team’s in need, Tito is always there. The Detroit native has 20 hits this year while walking 13 times. When Hawks hitters have been slumping, they have even used Tito’s Michigan helmet to bring them good luck. That shows how highly everyone thinks of Flores.
Heading into this summer, Magdiel Cotto was given a huge opportunity to boost his already relevant draft stock. It’s safe to say he’s done just that. The tall, hard-throwing, southpaw has been selected to start on the mound for the Western All-Stars. Cotto has thrown a team-high 22 innings this summer and has been dominant posting a 2.04 ERA. The South Carolina native is versatile as well, as he’s started 4 games for Hyannis while coming out of the bullpen 4 times as well. There’s no doubt that earning the start in the All-Star game will further improve his stock for the 2023 MLB Draft.
RHP Zach Voelker - Transfer Portal:
Last but not least, our 7th All-Star is Zach Voelker. The righty who’s transferring out of Long Beach State to pursue other opportunities is clearly making a name for himself in the Cape. He’s contributed 20.2 frames and has been thought of more as a reliever until he dominated in a start against Falmouth just last week where he threw up 5 scoreless innings. Voelker has also posted a 1.30 ERA, good for the best-qualified reliever on Hyannis. He will look to come out of the pen on Saturday.