WAREHAM, Mass. — Entering Saturday’s game at Wareham, things were going relatively well for the Bourne Braves.
They were riding a two-game winning streak that snapped a prior three-game skid and were the beneficiary of a strong stretch from their pitching. Their play at the plate wasn’t the best, only totaling 12 hits during that span, but they found a way to win in each game and looked to pick up another statement victory over the Wareham Gatemen.
But reality set in at Spillane Field.
The Braves (12-15-2) fell behind early and never recovered, putting forth a sluggish effort and three errors in a 10-5 defeat to the Gatemen (18-10-1).
“Usually, I say we do a good job,” field manager Scott Landers said. “But tonight we were just very blah and lackadaisical with everything.”
Wareham capitalized on sloppy defensive play from Bourne early, scoring two runs on miscues in the first inning. After second baseman Yohann Dessureault (Stetson) singled and outfielder Triston Gray (Fresno State) walked, they swiped second and third, with Dessureault scoring on a throwing error to third from catcher Chase Meggers (Oregon).
Gray was moved to third on a wild pitch from lefty Joe Ariola (Wake Forest) and crossed the dish thanks to another, increasing the Gatemen's advantage to 2-0. Ariola fanned six in four innings but mostly struggled, especially with command, issuing four walks, throwing two wild pitches and allowing four runs.
“He grinded,” Landers said. “He didn’t have his best stuff, he struggled with location a little bit. He got behind hitters in the first, and they got two cheap runs. Overall, we did not play well on the defensive side.”
In the third, the Braves were gifted a run of their own. With outfielder Davis Gillespie (Southern Mississippi) on third after walking, Wareham catcher Sam White (West Virginia) couldn’t corral a pitch low in the zone, resulting in a passed ball that allowed the Southern Mississippi product to score.
The shaky fielding continued, though, returning to bite the Braves again.
Wareham’s first two hitters in the bottom of the third — Dessureault and shortstop Antonio Jiminez (Central Florida) — found their way on base. Gray lined a single that outfielder Ethan Conrad (Wake Forest) couldn’t handle. That provided Dessureault enough time to score, and two ensuing walks issued by Ariola brought in another run for the Gatemen.
The Braves attempted to put a comeback together in the sixth, but it was ultimately for naught. After Meggers kept the inning alive by knocking a stand-up double off of the right field wall, Gillespie drove him in with an RBI single. However, the Gatemen put up three more runs during the bottom of the inning to take a commanding 8-3 lead.
While it faced a five-run deficit down to its final six outs, Bourne continued to chip away. Conrad’s third hit of the night — a single into right field — got the rally started, and first baseman Braden Holcomb (Vanderbilt) slapped a double to put runners on second and third. Two productive outs drove both runners in, making the score 8-5.
In the end, those two runs didn’t affect the outcome but provided Bourne’s lineup some confidence after struggling with its approach over the past few games.
“The guys are kind of getting it back to getting the runs,” Conrad said. “Once we do get the guys on base, it’s really crucial to get them in. So I think it’s good going into the playoffs that it’s starting to happen now.”
However, much like the rest of the night, Wareham took the momentum right back, plating two more runs in the bottom of the eighth to seal a 10-5 win.
Hitter of the Game — Ethan Conrad
Conrad has remained a consistent force at the plate down the stretch and boasts a .387 average in 75 at-bats. That much was apparent throughout his 3-for-5 night on Saturday.
He got his day started in the first inning, slamming a two-out single just beyond the reach of Antonio Jimenez. However, he was caught stealing second base, which ended the inning. During the fourth, he knocked a single into center field and later stole second base, but was stranded there.
Rounding out his performance in the eighth, Conrad got ahold of a 1-1 pitch high and inside, sending another single into center field.
“[I’m] just trying to jump on the first good pitch,” Conrad said. “Not be too patient up there. If it’s in the zone, I’m trying to jump on it.”
A look ahead
With a Braves loss and Falmouth tie against Yarmouth-Dennis, the gap between fourth and fifth place in the West Division sits at 2.5 games. Bourne will be back at Doran Park on Sunday to take on the Hyannis Harbor Hawks (17-11).
Left-hander JD Thompson (Vanderbilt) will likely garner the start for Bourne against Hyannis. He boasts a 3.00 ERA and 14 punchouts across nine innings and will look to rebound from a difficult four-frame start on July 14, when he conceded two earned runs and six hits to Cotuit.
The Harbor Hawks are likely going with newly signed southpaw Alizaeh Gutierrez (Angelo State) on Sunday. In 16 appearances during the 2024 spring, Gutierrez made 15 starts while posting a 4.52 ERA and 74 K’s through 81 2/3 frames.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
Notes
Jackson has a five-game on-base streak… Conrad boasts the second-highest average in the league (.387). He also has the most stolen bases in July (12) and the second-most for the entire summer (17)... Conrad and Holcomb rank first and second in the CCBL in average on the road, hitting .447 and .408, respectively… Outfielder Chris Stanfield (LSU) has the second-most swiped bags in July with 10… Bourne leads the league in stolen bases with 48.
