Wave Watch: Past and Present Players Making Impacts at College This Spring

By Tim Scott

As the anticipation for the 2015 NECBL season begins to accumulate, many former and current Waves continue to make an impact with their respective colleges and universities this spring. With the conference tournaments looming around the corner, many players are in the position to potentially lead their programs to postseason success, possibly including a trip to the College World Series in Omaha.

For the last three weeks, OceanStateWaves.com has captured the success of these players through the weekly “Wave Watch” series. In last week’s edition, five 2015 Waves players were recognized for their dominance on the diamond this spring, including INF Mike Corin (2015, Rhode Island), RHP David Gerber (2014-2015, Creighton), LHP Ryan Gray (2015, Trinity TX), INF/RHP Matt Murphy (2014-2015, Assumption), and 1B Robby Rinn (2014-2015, Bryant).

This week’s “Wave Watch” features a combination of players from both the 2014 and 2015 Waves. These players include LHP Jesse Adams, RHP Mitchell Jordan, INF Tim Lynch, C/OF Buck McCarthy, and INF Jake Palomaki.

LHP Jesse Adams (Boston College)

An integral component of the Waves pitching staff in 2014, Adams continues his strikeout flare in his junior season with the Boston College Eagles. In 15 appearances (four starts), the southpaw has posted a 2-2 record with a 2.92 ERA, while leading the team with 52 strikeouts in 40 innings. Opponents have only hit .186 against Adams, demonstrating his ability to pitch in any given situation for the Eagles.

Recently joining the Eagles starting rotation, Adams dominated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets lineup in his last start on April 19. The junior from Maumee, Ohio allowed just one hit over seven innings, striking out seven batters as the Eagles rolled past the Yellow Jackets, 4-0. Adams looks to continue his dominance in the starting rotation as the ACC Tournament approaches in two weeks.

RHP Mitchell Jordan (Stetson)

An NECBL All-Star during the 2014 season, Jordan has risen to the top of the Stetson Hatters rotation this spring. In the midst of his sophomore season, Jordan has a 3-1 record with a 3.03 ERA and 37 strikeouts in seven starts. Jordan leads the Hatters pitching staff with a .252 opponent’s batting average, showing his consistency in getting key outs during Atlantic Sun competition.

Jordan demonstrated his prowess on the mound in his most recent start on April 17. Facing the Northern Kentucky Norse, the sophomore from Longwood, Florida hurled seven innings, allowing an unearned run on five hits with five strikeouts as the Hatters emerged victorious, 13-1. With his experience in the Atlantic Sun, Jordan should shine as the Hatters come down the home stretch towards the A-Sun tournament.

INF Tim Lynch (Southern Miss)

After providing a powerful presence at the plate for the Waves midway through the 2014 season, Lynch returns for his second season with the Waves following a successful junior campaign with the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles. In 34 games (33 starts), the powerful third baseman has posted a .299 average with five home runs and 18 RBI. Lynch is a player who consistently makes an impact when he is in the batter’s box; he is among the team leaders in on-base percentage (.404) and slugging percentage (.487).

Splitting his time between third and first base for the Golden Eagles, Lynch shined in a recent game against the Florida Atlantic Owls on April 18. Despite a 10-5 loss at the talons of the Owls, Lynch went 2-3 with his fifth home run of the season and an RBI. With his commanding presence in the batter’s box, Lynch should continue to shine well into his second season at Old Mountain Field.

C/OF Buck McCarthy (Bryant)

Following a successful summer with the Waves in 2014, McCarthy demonstrated the prowess he will bring back to Old Mountain Field in 2015 in his junior season with the Bryant Bulldogs. The backstop from Saugus, Massachusetts has hit .289 in 25 games, slugging two home runs while driving home 16 runs. McCarthy has also thrown out 17% of baserunners that have attempted to steal against him, showing his strength behind the plate.

Recently named the Northeast Conference (NEC) Player of the Week, McCarthy rose to the occasion on April 19 against the Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers. The junior surged at the plate, going 3-4 with three RBI as the Bulldogs rolled past the Mountaineers, 14-9. With his veteran tendencies behind the plate, McCarthy looks to continue his leadership and offensive prowess into both the NEC Tournament and the 2015 NECBL season.

INF Jake Palomaki (Boston College)

Emerging as a long-term staple in the infield for the Boston College Eagles, Palomaki has shined at the plate and in the field during his freshman season. In 36 games (33 starts), Palomaki has hit .274 with two home runs and 14 RBI. The infielder from Kennesaw, Georgia also leads the Eagles with 13 stolen bases, while reaching base safely in 23 straight games.

Palomaki shined at the plate and on the basepaths on April 19 as the Eagles rolled past the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, 4-0. In the same game where fellow Wave alum Jesse Adams hurled seven shutout innings, Palomaki went 1-3 with an RBI and two stolen bases. With his emergence as a big-time infielder for the Eagles, expect Palomaki to continue his development with both the Eagles and the Waves in 2015.

PLAYERS PREVIOUSLY FEATURED ON “WAVE WATCH”

April 23: LHP Jesse Adams (2014, Boston College), RHP Mitchell Jordan (2014, Stetson), INF Tim Lynch (2014-2015, Southern Miss), C/OF Buck McCarthy (2014-2015, Bryant), INF Jake Palomaki (2015, Boston College)

April 16: INF Mike Corin (2015, Rhode Island), RHP David Gerber (2014-2015, Creighton), LHP Ryan Gray (2015, Trinity TX), INF/RHP Matt Murphy (2014-2015, Assumption), 1B Robby Rinn (2014-2015, Bryant)

April 9: OF Ryan Blanton (2014-2015, Georgia State), OF Drew Ferguson (2014, Belmont), C Ethan Ferreira (2014, Harvard), LHP Daniel Ludwig (2013, Belmont), LHP Tyler Wilson (2015, Rhode Island)

Tim Scott is the Broadcaster and Director of Media Relations for the Ocean State Waves. He can be contacted at timscott2796@gmail.com or followed on Twitter (@TimScott2796).