BOURNE, Mass. — It was close the first time Bourne and Brewster met, with the Whitecaps taking it 4-3.
The second time it was still in Brewster’s favor, but the result was quite the opposite, as the Whitecaps handed the Braves their worst loss of the season in a 14-0 beatdown that ended after seven innings of play due to the mercy rule.
On Thursday, Bourne finally figured out how to beat the second-place team in the entire league entering the contest, dethroning the Whitecaps 7-2.
The Braves got the scoring started in their first licks at the plate, as Ryker Waite (Vanderbilt) built off his 2-for-3 performance the night before against the Hyannis Harbor Hawks with a single. A double from Jon LeGrande (St. John’s) moved Waite to third, and Waite then beat out a play at the plate on an infield single from Kuhio Aloy (Arkansas) for the first run of the game.
LeGrande moved over to third after the single from Aloy, and he touched home plate to make it a 2-0 ballgame after an RBI sacrifice fly from Braden Holcomb (Vanderbilt).
Brewster then cut the lead in the third, loading the bases after a pair of singles from Scott Newman (South Carolina-Upstate) and Cal Fisher (Florida State), with Brendan Lawson (Florida) getting hit by a pitch to round out the three runners on base.
An RBI sacrifice fly from Dalton Wentz (Wake Forest) made it a one-score game, having the scoreboard read 2-1 after the frame.
The Whitecaps then tied it up their next time up at the plate with Alex Sosa (NC State) and Carson Tinney (Notre Dame) reaching on a pair of one-base knocks. The duo advanced on a wild pitch from Folger Boaz (North Carolina), and Sosa would cash in shortly after on an RBI groundout from Newman to make it a 2-2 game.
Bourne then took the lead right back in the fifth, as Mark Quatrani singled, scoring on an RBI double from Drew Wyers (Bryant). An RBI single from Gavin Kelly scored Wyers, giving the Braves a 4-2 advantage.
The Braves tacked on more in the seventh, starting with a bases-loaded opportunity for Kelly after a single from Cal Sefcik (Cincinnati, walk from Quatrani and a single from Wyers. Kelly delivered, knocking in Sefcik on an RBI single.
Quatrani then scored on a double play hit by Waite with Kelly touching home plate shortly after on an RBI double by LeGrande.
Colton Hartman (Louisville) closed it out in the ninth, giving the Braves their third straight win.
Bourne Braves Player of the Game
Gavin Kelly was a key contributor on offense today, going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs and a stolen base.
Key moment
Landon White (Bryant) was flawless in relief, pitching four shutout innings with four strikeouts after taking over for Folger Boaz.
Bourne has often seen relievers blow up en route to losses, so it was a positive for the squad to see him come in and deliver.
A look ahead
Bourne (12-13-1, 25 points) will travel to Spillane Field to face the Wareham Gatemen (14-13, 28 points). The last time the two teams met the Gatemen won 5-4.
First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Keep up to date with the Braves
Sign up for our newsletter here to keep up with all things Bourne Braves during the summer!
