The Harwich Mariners started up the last stretch of the season traveling to Wareham to face the Gatemen Monday. The Mariners were coming off of a 9-0 loss to the Y-D Red Sox Friday at Whitehouse Field. The last time the Mariners traveled to Wareham, Harwich lost after the Gatemen scored six unanswered in the bottom of the ninth.
Jason Flores was the starter for the Mariners Monday. Flores has only been used as a late-game bullpen arm for the Mariners this season. The future Georgia Bulldog entered the game without allowing a run in his five innings of work.
The Gatemen struck first in the bottom of the first inning after Wareham’s Connor Cuff drove a ball to deep center field for an RBI double. A Levi Clark single the following at-bat would score Cuff from second to give the Gatemen a 2-0 lead. A third run would score in the first inning in favor of the Gatemen after a Foster Apple single.
Wareham would extend their lead in the bottom of the second after another Connor Cuff RBI to give the Gatemen a 4-0 lead.
Harwich's offense came alive in the top of the third inning after a leadoff double from Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe.
Niko Brini launched a ball to deep center field hitting off the top of the fence. Brini was thinking triple the entire way, being in a full sprint halfway to first. The future Vanderbilt Commodore was able to notch his second triple of the year in his first five games. Brini now sits in third for most triples in the league, with 20 games less than the rest of the top five.
Ty Smolinski would follow Brini’s triple with a two-run blast to right field. Smolinski didn't participate in the Cape Cod Leagues Home Run Contest this past weekend despite being tied for first with the most home runs. Smolinski must have been saving his home run swings for when it counts. The power hitting shortstop wasted no time taking the solo lead in the league for home runs.
The Gatemen went on to score the last five runs of the game and ultimately take down the Mariners in a 9-3 victory.
What’s Next?
The Mariners come back to Whitehouse Field Tuesday to host the Falmouth Commodores.
First pitch is set for 6:30.
