BREWSTER, Mass. – Three outs away from getting no-hit, the Brewster Whitecaps looked almost guaranteed to leave opening weekend with their first loss. The Falmouth Commodores had a 6-1 lead, a combined no-hit bid and eight full innings between Brewster’s (1-1) first run and its final three outs. Then Jacob Lee made sure the Whitecaps would have a comeback opportunity.

The Virginia Commonwealth catcher singled into left field to start the bottom of the ninth inning, ending Falmouth’s (2-0) no-hit bid and giving Brewster its first real step toward a comeback. Pinch hitters Owen Jenkins (Kentucky) and Alexander Peck (Arkansas) followed with singles of their own, neither of which hit particularly hard.

The Whitecaps found just enough outfield grass to load the bases, and with Dane Harvey coming to the plate, that was all Brewster needed.

But that’s not what Harvey was thinking.

“Hits are contagious, so I saw that when [Alexander Peck] got on, I was excited,” Harvey said. “We can put ourselves right on the [front] foot to kind of break this thing open.”

The Ohio State first baseman blasted a ball over the left-field fence, cutting Falmouth’s lead to one and turning what looked like a quiet finish into a full-on panic inning for the Commodores. Brewster could not finish the comeback, falling 6-5 to Falmouth at Stony Brook Field on Sunday. But even in defeat, the Whitecaps reinforced an identity that can win a team championship hardware.

“I feel like [today] shows that we’re not out of the fight,” Harvey said. “Getting no-hit through eight isn’t easy mentally, it isn’t easy for the pride, but we’re still here and we’re going to play the full nine. You’re going to have to get 27 outs to beat us.”

Until Harvey’s late-game long ball, Brewster did little to invigorate the Whitecaps faithful. The Commodores managed their pitching staff well, keeping Brewster’s hitters off balance while escaping the few innings when walks and errors gave the home team chances.

Those chances came inning after inning. With two on in the fourth, a strikeout and a flyout left both runners stranded. With five runners left on base, the Whitecaps were only a few timely swings away from starting the season 2-0.

“The fact that these guys haven’t died in the last few days gives you a glimpse of what type of team this might be,” manager Jamie Shevchik said. “They’ve got the one thing in them you can’t teach … being composed and locking in for nine innings, that’s stuff you can’t teach any of these kids anymore.”

A prime example of that grit came from the scorer of Brewster’s first run, Adam Magpoc. The San Diego State outfielder opened the bottom of the first inning with a walk, typical for a scrappy leadoff hitter like last year’s team MVP.

Magpoc’s scouting report would indicate that free passes are one of the worst mistakes opposing pitchers can make against him.He took the 90-foot jog down to first, then quickly turned it into more. Magpoc stole second and reached third before Jake Lambdin’s groundout scored Brewster’s first run of the game. Now the Whitecaps’ career stolen base leader, Magpoc is gearing up for another season filled with what he says he does best: stealing bases.

After that first-inning show of speed, the offense went stagnant. Brewster’s left fielder said the team knows what has to change before its next game.

“Let’s get it done early,” Magpoc said. “Once you get that lead, we trust our pitching staff to get the next couple outs … First couple games of the season, we’re feeling it out, but I like where this group is at.”

The Whitecaps already proved they can claw back from a five-run deficit, doing so in Saturday’s season-opening win against the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. Against Falmouth, they nearly did it again, only this time the comeback ran out.

Brewster however, did not leave Stony Brook looking overmatched. The Whitecaps proved to fans that no matter the deficit, there will always be a potential spark right around the corner.

“This team is coming together really close in a very short amount of time,” Magpoc said. “And I think over the next couple weeks you’re going to see a lot more of that.”

The Whitecaps play in Orleans on June 15th at 6:30 P.M. Listen to the Brewster radio broadcast or follow the game via Instagram (@brewsterwhitecaps) or X (@BrewsterCaps)