Cape Exposure A Boon For Bison

During their summer playing for Falmouth in the Cape Cod League, Lipscomb players Michael Gigliotti, Jeffrey Passantino and Brady Puckett have gotten used to questions about their school. Throughout the summer, they have explained to many curious inquirers where their school is and what conference they play in.

The Bison know their school (located in Nashville and a member of the Atlantic Sun Conference) isn’t the most well-known and have been happy to spread the word about Lipscomb. Gigliotti and Passantino are especially understanding because, as Florida natives, they weren’t familiar with Lipscomb before they were recruited.

“I didn’t even know where Lipscomb was until they came to me, so you can’t blame (the questioners),” Gigliotti said.

Any Cape observers who didn’t know much about Lipscomb before this summer have gotten a quick lesson. Gigliotti and Passantino started the all-star game, and were joined on the roster by Puckett. With three all-stars, Lipscomb tied Virginia for the most players in the game. The trio also powered Falmouth to the West Division championship.

As the Cape’s regular season comes to a close and the playoffs begin Friday, the Bison are glad to have had the opportunity to raise their profile this summer.

“To put Lipscomb on the map is a really good feeling,” Passantino said. “We’re super happy get to be the three guys here to show what we’re all about.”

Passantino and Puckett both top pitching leaderboards. Passantino is 3-0, 0.64 and leads the league in ERA. Puckett is 5-1, 1.50 and leads the league in victories. Until Tuesday, Falmouth had not lost a game Puckett started all summer. Gigliotti ranks 10th in the league in hitting, with a line of .311/.404/.430 and 11 stolen bases in 41 games.

While they have all had standout summers individually, they are proud of how well the Commodores have played as a team. Falmouth clinched the division title this week, its first since 2004.

“It would be awesome to all be in same league,” Gigliotti said. “But to be on the same team and see each other every day is a lot of fun.”
Lipscomb coach Jeff Forehand has happily followed the trio’s success this summer. The Bison don’t often send players to the Cape, but former players Rex Brothers and Caleb Joseph played in the league during their college careers.

Lipscomb director of operations Brian Ryman and Falmouth manager Jeff Trundy are friends, giving the Bison a helpful connection to the Cape. But Forehand said they won’t send a player to the prestigious league unless they think he is ready for that level of competition. It doesn’t happen often, but former Lipscomb players Rex Brothers and Caleb Joseph both played on the Cape.

“The last time we sent guys down there was Joseph and Brothers,” Forehand said. “We just don’t call unless we think we’ve got some guys that can really contribute.”

Gigliotti, Passantino and Puckett have proven to be up to the challenge. Gigliotti is a top-of-the-order type hitter with above-average speed and good bat-to-ball skills. Puckett pounds the strike zone with a low-90s fastball and takes advantage of his 6-foot-9 frame to throw from a steep downhill angle. Passantino, who began the summer on a temporary contract, lacks Puckett’s size, but has kept hitters off balance all summer and fills up the strike zone.

The Cape presents a difficult challenge for all players. With the league drawing many of the best players from around the country, the level of competition increases from what they are used to during their college season.

“I feel like it’s a whole other world,” Puckett said. “There are no holes in the lineups here. It’s a lot of fun.”

It has been a fun summer for all three of the Bison. Passantino said it has been the best summer of his life.

Their enthusiasm has been apparent to Forehand, as well.

“You can tell they’re having the time of their life,” Forehand said. “Every year I get the call from players playing in summer league, ‘Coach, I’m getting tired, my hammy’s hurting, my knee’s hurting, I’ve been playing since January, my family is going on vacation, my girlfriend.’ All these things and they want to depart earlier. But I haven’t heard that from these three – not even a hint. I think they would prefer to stay there until Christmas if they could.”

They might not be able to stay all the way until Christmas, but Gigliotti, Passantino and Puckett have a chance to extend their time in Falmouth by another week if they can help the Commodores to the championship series.

No matter how far they are able to advance in the playoffs, the Bison are sure to have fun as the summer comes to a close.

“We’re best friends,” Passantino said. “For us three to go through it together, we’re all smiles all day long.”