WAREHAM, Mass. — Following their 9-1 loss to the Wareham Gatemen on Friday night to cap off Friday’s doubleheader, the Bourne Braves gathered for a long conference in right field. Usually, Field Manager Scott Landers would take this time to say a quick word to the team after a game. Tonight was different.
Friday night’s loss was the Braves’ second of the day and fourth straight. Before that game, the Bravos hadn’t lost a game by more than four runs all summer. The defeat also dropped Bourne out of its first-place spot in the West division, which now belongs to the red-hot Hyannis Harbor Hawks.
In their postgame meeting, multiple members of the coaching staff addressed the team. From the outside looking in, the message was clear: The Braves need to get back on track.
“It just hasn’t been good performance by us,” said Landers about his team’s struggles. “We gotta come out tomorrow and play our style of baseball with some more energy, focus, and urgency.”
Despite the demoralizing loss, there were a couple bright spots for the Braves. DH Burke-Lee Maebus (Mississippi State) delivered a three-hit performance in the loss with a pair of base hits and his fourth double of the summer.
Shortstop Ryker Waite (Vanderbilt) contributed the only run of the night for Bourne. The infielder hit a solo home run in the first inning to give the Bravos a temporary lead. The solo shot was Waite’s second straight at-bat with a home run after he had one in his last at-bat in game one of the doubleheader.
“He’s just gotta keep doing what he’s doing right now,” said Landers about Waite’s contributions to the Braves’ offense. “We’ve gotta do stuff around him to be better.”
Bourne is now down to its final three games of the season. The Braves will have another doubleheader on Saturday, with both games being at home. Then, they will close the season on the road against Cotuit.
“We’re gonna have to get our rest tonight, come to the field tomorrow and forget about today,” said Maebus after the game. “This squad is good. We can turn it around pretty quick, and I think that’s what we’re gonna do tomorrow.”
NEXT UP
Bourne will return home on Saturday for another doubleheader. In game one, the Braves take on the Harwich Mariners with first pitch at 12:30 p.m. ET. Following a short break, Bourne will play their second game of the day at 6 p.m. ET against the Y-D Red Sox.
