While the climate was less than ideal, Harwich Mariners field manager Steve Englert could not have asked for a better first inning to open the 2025 Cape Cod Baseball League season.
Not only did his starting pitcher, Jake McCoy, strike out the side in the top of the inning, leadoff hitter Tre Broussard hit a double and advanced to third on a throwing error. Before the first inning was over, Harwich held a 6-0 lead. Despite Bourne getting seven hits off Harwich relievers, the Mariners won, 7-5, at Whitehouse Field.
“That was great. We took advantage of some mistakes and got timely hits,” Englert said. “Tre coming out and setting the tone right there with that double. He snuck right underneath at second base. It was great.”
Harwich took advantage of two walks and two hit-by-pitches from Braves pitcher Josh Gunther. Bourne also committed two errors in the inning.
Broussard eventually came around to score on an RBI single by shortstop Eric Becker to give Harwich the first run of the game.
Two-way player Evan Dempsey got hit by a pitch and scored the sixth run on a wild pitch. The Florida Gulf Coast star reached base four times during the game after getting plunked twice, drawing a walk and lacing a single in the sixth.
McCoy’s dominance continued through the fourth inning. He ended his start with 10 strikeouts, including five to begin the game, and allowed just one unearned run and no walks.
“The heater up in the zone,” said McCoy on what kept Bourne quiet. “Their timing is a little off after not playing for a few weeks. It’s a little cold, so if I could flood the zone with the heater, that’s all that matters.
The Harwich bats went silent until the seventh inning. Broussard once again caused chaos on the basepaths. After getting hit by a pitch in the ribs to begin the inning, Broussard stole second, then advanced to third.
“I don’t mind getting banged up if it helps the team,” Broussard said. “I always want to start something to get momentum and get the bats going. Because if one gets going, two get going. It becomes contagious.”
Braves pitcher Louis Marinano got back-to-back strikeouts before catcher Matt Conte laced a line drive to right to bring in Broussard and give the Mariners their first run since the first inning.
After falling behind by six runs, the Braves chipped away at the lead once McCoy left the game, scoring three runs against Harwich relievers Ryan Bilka and Adam Arther.
Bourne forced Arther out in the eighth after making the score 7-4 and getting two men on with one out.
Englert called on Hayden Simmerson to get Harwich out of the jam. Despite giving up a walk to load the bases, the D-II All-American got the final two outs of the inning to keep the lead at three. The incoming Clemson transfer pitched around a solo home run in the ninth to get Harwich the win on Opening Night.
Harwich and Bourne last saw each other during the 2024 CCBL Championship. The Mariners won, 4-3, in Game 3 of the series to claim their sixth title.
Harwich heads to Hyannis on Sunday to square off against the Harbor Hawks. First pitch is at 6 p.m.
