The Harwich Mariners got back in the win column for the first time in nearly two weeks on Monday night, defeating the Bourne Braves, 4-1, at Doran Park on a muggy July night. The Mariners ended a nine game losing streak dating all the way back to July 4, when they were defeated, 10-5, by Brewster.
Monday night was arguably the most complete game the Mariners have played all season. Two home runs, multiple heads-up baserunning plays and complete dominance on the mound lead Harwich to victory.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, but runners on the corners, Harwich newcomer Jake Hilton was in trouble for the first time in his three innings of work. Tasked with protecting his team's 4-0 lead, Hilton went down 1-0 to the next batter, Camden Kozeal. That's when Harwich manager Steve Englert decided it was time to take a stroll out to the mound and give his pitcher a chance to reset.
As Englert approached the mound, he quickly made Hilton crack out with a smile. With his nerves relieved, Hilton got back to work.
He delivered three straight strikes — fastball, changeup, fastball — and just like that, was out of danger, washing away the Braves' best chance to get within striking distance.
"I was just giving him a little break there," Englert said. "It was a high-leverage situation and he had just had a grind of an at-bat, so I was just giving him a break."
Hilton, a Division III product out of Pomona Pitzer, was lights out in his CCBL debut. He notched five strikeouts in three innings of work, only allowing two hits.
Not to be overshadowed, Harwich starter Olin Johnson was equally strong in his four innings of shutout work on the mound. After struggling in his first outing against Chatham, Johnson held Bourne batters at bay throughout his outing, striking out four while allowing just three base hits.
The Mariners' offense was more than up to the task of supporting its pitching staff Monday night. Cade Kurland started the game off with a literal bang, crushing his first home run of the campaign over the left field fence, putting the Mariners up before fans had a chance to get settled in at Doran Park.
Jake Ogden matched his teammate with a home run of his own in the fourth inning. Ogden took the first pitch he saw deep, a 400-foot blast that put his team up 3-0.
Rather than looking at what has happened in the last couple of weeks, Englert is focused on taking things one game at a time.
"We just won one in a row and we're going to keep it going," Englert said.
The Mariners have an off day Tuesday before they take the field in Brewster on Wednesday for the second of a three-game road trip. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. at Stony Brook Field.
