Article By: Joseph McLaughlin

Wareham, Mass. — It was another Red Shirt Friday at Spillane Field in Wareham, and the Gatemen welcomed the Braves to their home for the third Friday in a row.

The Gatemen surged into Friday, winning eight of their last nine games en route to a season-high seven-game winning streak. Their last game on Thursday against Cotuit was another classic, where Wareham battled back to win the game 4-2.

However, Friday was unfortunately the end of their winning streak. The Gatemen (14-14) fell to the Braves (13-13-1) by a score of 9-8 after a miraculous attempt at a comeback after being down 9-0 very early in the game.

Both the Gatemen and the Braves now sit at .500 on the year with 12 games remaining in the season. The Gatemen still hold first place in the West Division, however, because of a one-point advantage in the standings.

The Gatemen were in trouble early in the game as the Braves loaded the bases with no one out. That put Bourne’s Kuhio Aloy (Arkansas) in the batter’s box in a cleanup hitter’s dream scenario. Aloy, who has played against the Gatemen well all year, put the Braves on the board with a two-run single to left field.

The Braves did not stop there, as Camden Kozeal (Arkansas) blasted a three-run home run to extend Bourne’s lead to 5-0 with 0 outs in the first. Gatemen Starting Pitcher Lazaro Collera (Miami) unfortunately could not find his rhythm and only lasted a third of an inning.

The Gatemen then entrusted the game to Relief Pitcher Shea Wendt (Creighton). Wendt also faced challenges while on the mound in the first inning. Jon LeGrande (St. John’s) doubled to score Campbell Smithwick (Mississippi), and Gavin Kelly (West Virginia) drove in 2 RBI off a single to make it 8-0 Braves after the first inning.

The inning seemed to take the wind out of the sails for the Gatemen, as their offense only produced 2 hits through six innings. It was a drastic contrast to the past week and a half of baseball they played.

The score became 9-0 in the fourth inning after Cal Sefcik (Cincinnati) grounded out to score Aloy, and it seemed all hope was lost. The only thing going well for them was great debut outings from both Eli Jones (Northwest Florida State), Jackson Melendy (Bowdoin College), and Bryce Turner (Florida International), who are excited to be a part of this Gatemen team.

“It's an environment out here that's created by this community that you really can't replicate anywhere else. And I mean, you're on the field with the best players in the country, anytime you get to compete against guys like that, it's always going to be challenging but fun at the same time,” said Jones.

It was fun. I was happy to be out there with the guys and compete. We have good camaraderie, good energy, and everyone really loves to play baseball,” said Melendy.

The three pitchers combined for 5.0 innings of relief, allowing only 4 hits, 1 unearned run, 1 walk, and striking out 4 batters. It was the first time the Gatemen were able to see what they could do, and they delivered.

“It's tough getting new guys in there and seeing what they can do in tight jams. You don't necessarily know what they have. Tonight was a good night to get those guys in with an early deficit. Other than that first inning, we pitched it pretty well,” said Gatemen Field Manager Ryan Smyth.

Then the bats started to heat up. Catcher Hunter Carns (Florida State) got the Gatemen on the board in the seventh inning with a solo home run, marking back-to-back nights Carns hit one out of the park.

The Gatemen then piled more runs on in an inning later, scoring seven runs in the eighth inning alone. Shortstop Chris Ramirez (California Baptist) singled to score Right Fielder Colby Turner (Michigan). Then Left Fielder Easton Breyfogle (Arizona) scored on a walk to make it 9-3.

First Baseman Chris McHugh (NC State) then drove a single to left field to score Ramirez, and Second Baseman Brayden Randle (Ole Miss) to make it 9-5.

Then, Designated Hitter Caden McDonald (Florida) hit a sharp single to left field to score Carns. After that, Center Fielder Hayden Yost (Florida) blasted a two-run double that nearly cleared the wall, but came a few feet short, making the score 9-8.

The Gatemen then had Ramirez in scoring position with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, with Carns at the plate. However, he struck out swinging, officially giving the Gatemen their first loss since July 8 against the Brewster Whitecaps.

It was a game the Gatemen seemed destined to lose, but everyone on the team still fought to the very end and did not give Bourne a victory without a fight.

“It’s exactly what we preach. These guys are buying into that and sticking with the plan of we're just going to play all nine and see how it goes. We learned a lot tonight in that loss. What they just did throughout the last three innings, they're here to fight,” said Smyth.

“Coach just said it's easy in a summer ball league to have an inning like that and go down. It's easy to just pack it in and take it to the next day. But, when you have guys out here that are as good as we have, and they really want to fight and come back, it shows you that, I mean, we can play,” said Jones.

They showed an identity of relentlessness and that a game against the Gatemen is not over until three outs are recorded in the ninth inning. Even though the Gatemen lost this game, they still have a lot of positives to reflect on heading into the All-Star Break, something the team is excited for.

“It's one of my favorite days out of the year; going to the All-Star game and watching our guys perform and be at that stage. We have a lot of guys representing us, and I'm just glad they have an opportunity to do so,” said Smyth.

The Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game is Saturday, July 19, at Red Wilson Field, home of the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. Gates open to fans at 11:45 a.m., and you can have the chance to get autographs with the players, see the Home Run Contest at 2:30 p.m., and see the All-Star Game at 4:05 p.m.

After that, the Gatemen return to regular-season baseball on Monday, July 21, to face the Y-D Red Sox one last time this summer. First pitch for that game will be at 5:00 p.m., also at Red Wilson Field in Yarmouth.