Article By: Joseph McLaughlin

Wareham, Mass — The Gatemen welcomed the Hyannis Harbor Hawks to an overcast sky at Spillane Field on Sunday. Drizzles of rain dropped onto the field, creating a cool and mild day perfect for baseball.

Going into Sunday, the Gatemen found their groove again after a minor setback on Friday with their first shutout win over the Falmouth Commodores on Saturday. It is the first time the Gatemen faced Hyannis since July 12 and the first time they hosted them since opening day on June 14.

They were 2-1 in the season series with the Harbor Hawks entering the night, but would not walk away victorious. The Gatemen (18-16) fell to the Hyannis Harbor Hawks (14-17-3) by a score of 2-1 after a tight defensive game.

The loss does not take the Gatemen out of first place in the West; however, wins for both Hyannis and Bourne shorten their lead and loosen their grip on the West’s top spot.

The game began with Hyannis quickly jumping out in front at the top of the first inning. Hyannis’ Jayce Dobie (Nevada) doubled to center field to score Parker Brosius (Georgia Tech), putting the Harbor Hawks ahead 1-0.

From there, it was all defense for both teams as the score remained 1-0 for the next five innings. This led to both teams combining for just nine hits on the night, with the Gatemen getting four.

That did not mean that Wareham did not have chances of their own. Left Fielder Chase Krewson (Rutgers) crushed a one-out double to move Designated Hitter Caden McDonald (Florida) over to third, putting two runners in scoring position with one out. However, the Gatemen were not able to capitalize on the opportunity.

“Tonight was a close game and anything could have happened. With it being a 1-0 game there for a while, your at bats are valuable. We had some moments with runners on first and third and bases loaded, but we weren't able to get a runner in. And that's kind of things just look back on, just being able to play more situational baseball, whether it just be a ground out or fly ball, like doing something for the team there,” said Krewson.

Krewson was the only Gatemen who had two hits on the night, giving his offense a chance with a runner on base. He also knew Hyannis Pitcher Eddie Copper (South Carolina), which gave him an advantage at the plate.

“I tip my cap to Eddie. I’ve known him through travel baseball, like we did a lot of showcases together. He’s a great competitor. It's definitely an advantage, especially out here, to know him. You’re not really seeing any video of the pitches, so to have an idea of what their stuff looks like is huge,” said Krewson.

It was not until the bottom of the seventh inning that the Gatemen got on the board. Third Baseman Vance Sheahan (Miami) reached on a fielder’s choice that brought the first out of the inning, then scored the tying run thanks to a Hyannis throwing error on a ground ball from Right Fielder Colby Turner (Michigan).

“I was just trying to be aggressive. I know it was a close ball game, so I was trying to score on any chance possible. And I rounded third and saw that it was a low throw, and he picked it and just got away from it a little bit. So I know I had a good shot again at scoring,” said Sheahan.

Sheahan went 0-for-3 in the game but was still able to reach base and make something happen with the opportunity.

“It wasn't pretty, by any means, but he's been struggling a little bit and just for him to find a way on base any way he could at this point the year and being able to come around and score that tying run was huge. I know it's a big boost of confidence for him. And we're going to need him going into these final six games,” said Wareham Gatemen Field Manager Ryan Smyth.

With the game tied up at one, both teams battled into the top of the ninth, where the Harbor Hawks threatened with the bases loaded and 0 outs. Relief Pitcher Eli Jones (Northwest Florida State) forced a ground ball right back at him to create the force out at home. Then, Pitcher Shea Wendt (Creighton) came into the game and recorded a strikeout.

Then Wendt delivered a 3-2 pitch to Hyannis’ Jeff Lougee, who walked in the Harbor Hawks’ second run to make it 2-1. It was a tough break for the Gatemen, who were able to get out of the inning only down one.

However, their efforts were not enough, and they fell to Hyannis for the second time this season and the second time at home. It was a game that the Gatemen were in until the very end, but some missed opportunities ultimately cost them in the end.

“Tonight was a tight pitching duel, but we had some opportunities offensively to push some runs across. And I think we had bases loaded and then we had second and third, first and third, and we just didn't come up with a big hit. We've been in plenty of spots this year where our offense has carried us, but now the pitching is starting to carry us, kind of a little bit. So, once we put it back together, this will be a very scary team,” said Smyth.

The game did not just have a tight baseball game, but also a scary event. In the bottom of the third inning, Second Baseman Brayden Randle (Ole Miss) hit a foul ball to the opposite side of the backstop, high enough to crash into the light tower next to Wareham’s dugout.

The collision sent shards of glass down from the sky and onto the green area where people were sitting. No one was severely injured, with only one man sustaining a minor hand injury. The game did stop for a moment, but resumed shortly after the wild phenomenon.

The team heads into a day off on Monday, where they will recharge at Water Wizz. Then, the team will embark on one final six-game stretch to close out the season. Their next game will be on Tuesday against the Chatham Anglers at Spillane Field. First pitch will be at 6:00 p.m. in Wareham.