COTUIT, Mass. — As Day 1 of the MLB Draft raged on in Philadelphia, kickstarting the All-Star Week festivities, a handful of future selections were honing their craft around 340 miles northeast — at least, if trends continue.

The Brewster Whitecaps (15-7-1) saw six alumni of the program hear their name called by MLB organizations as the current iteration of the team got the job done against the Cotuit Kettleers (8-13-2) at Lowell Park on Saturday evening, prevailing 7-4. Whitecaps shortstop Jamie Laskofski (North Carolina), who’s making a name for himself as a prospect in his own right, delivered the deciding blow, mashing a two-run, tie-breaking home run in the seventh inning, while a sleeper pick to go in Day 2 of the draft, left-handed pitcher Nate Smithburg (Oklahoma), earned the win.

“I feel like I’m a proud father for these guys,” Whitecaps manager Jamie Shevchik said on the six Whitecaps who got drafted. “This is why we do this. In a couple years, when you’re turning on big league TV and you’re watching guys who you’ve coached, that’s a really special moment. … I’m so happy for those kids.”

Ryder Helfrick (Arkansas), Tegan Kuhns (Tennessee), Carson Tinny (Texas), Ty Head (North Carolina State), Carson Kerce (Georgia Tech) and Jacob Dudan (North Carolina State), all joined the ever-growing list of former Whitecaps to earn opportunities in professional baseball. In a year's time, Laskofski could join them.

The transfer from William & Mary’s, where he won the 2026 Coastal Athletic Association Player of the Year, is currently ranked by Baseball America as the No. 81 prospect in the 2027 draft class. As of now, Laskofski is known more for his contact tool than his power, but he flashed the strength when it counted on Saturday.

Operating with two outs and a full count in the top of the seventh, the left-handed hitter uncorked his A-swing against right-handed pitcher Tyler Finkbeiner (Michigan), sending a drive out to deep right field and over the wall. The home run, his second of the year, brought home left fielder Blaine Brown (Tennessee), as well as himself, to snap the game’s 3-3 tie.

“I knew I got enough of it and I spun it well, so it had a chance,” Laskofski said. “I just (thought) it’s either going to be a flyout or a bomb, so I just watched it.”

The home run came with Laskofski sporting an 0-for-3 line and after an injury scare in the first inning. Kettleers catcher Jesse Di Maggio (Westmont) slid into the shortstop’s surgically repaired right shoulder while stealing second base. Laskofski was visibly shaken up, but remained in the game after Shevchik and athletic trainer Jackee Hill checked up on him.

“Thankfully it didn’t pop out again,” Laskofski said. “We’ll be good tomorrow.”

Laskofski’s blast completed Brewster’s comeback, as the team fell behind early.

Reigning Cape Cod Baseball League Pitcher of the Week, lefty Payton Manca (Florida State), allowed a trio of singles in the bottom of the first to put Cotuit ahead. His troubles worsened on the aforementioned Di Maggio steal, as Laskofski missed the throw down to second, resulting in an error and an unearned run.

Manca, for the most part, was able to settle down, but a walk to Kettleers first baseman

Ryan Tyranski (Cincinnati) to leadoff the third bred chaos. Tyranski advanced to second on a wild pitch, but ended up on third after Whitecaps catcher Owen Jenkins (Texas Tech) sent his throw down to the bag into the outfield. Tyranski scored on a sac fly, leading to another unearned run.

“He didn’t have his best stuff today,” Shevchik said. “But pitchers don’t always have their best stuff. Sometimes, when you don't have your best stuff, you've got to still go out there and find ways to get outs. That’s probably what he did. He wasn’t in control today, he didn’t have his A-game, but he still grinded it out.”

Manca’s day ended after 70 pitches across 3.2 innings pitched and only one earned run on his tally, still raising his ERA from 0.57 to 0.93.

Schuyler Sandford (Florida), Smithburg, who appeared on Baseball America’s list of “5 Deep Cape Cod League Sleepers With 2026 MLB Draft Upside,” and Finbar O’Brien (Gonzaga) worked the remaining 5.1 innings of action, giving up just one earned run as they allowed the offense to claw back into the game.

Smithburg, who picked up the win with 1.1 innings of one hit, one walk, one earned run ball, could be a Day 2 pick, with Baseball America noting his unique submarine delivery, while still holding the ability to touch the mid-90s with his fastball, as intriguing enough to “warrant consideration late.”

Brewster’s bats started to chip back as soon as they fell into their hole, scoring one in the second after third baseman Holden Pantier (Georgia Tech) — another mention on Baseball America’s list — singled, stole second and ran 180 feet to score on a wild pitch.

They added another in the fourth after Pantier walked and scored on a throwing error and one to tie in the sixth after designated hitter Jacob Lee (Virginia Commonwealth) scored on a single off the bat of first baseman Eddie Yamin (Louisiana State).

The Whitecaps scored two insurance runs in the ninth, again taking advantage of the Kettleers throwing the ball around.

“One punch isn’t going to kill them every time,” Laskofski said. “You’ve got to keep adding on, keep throwing jabs and keep extending the score.”

Brewster’s papercuts, alongside the big hit, propelled them to a happy bus ride back to the team’s home base, Stony Brook Field. At the same time, six former Whitecaps, spread throughout the country, celebrated seeing their lives changing.

Players like Laskofski could find themselves on the other side of the coin soon enough. And while that moment would be one of the greatest of his life, he’s not in any rush to join the alumni section of Brewster lore, choosing instead to soak in wins like Saturday’s, as the rush to the playoffs rages on.

“I try not to think about (the draft), but it’s hard not to,” Laskofski said. “That’s obviously the dream, that’s obviously the goal. I’ve got a year left until I have to worry about that, so I’m just trying to enjoy this time; (you’re) never going to get it back.”