Hyannis dropped another close one, this time at Doran Park against the West Division’s second-place Bourne Braves. The Harbor Hawks fought through both sprinklers and a relentless Braves squad, ultimately falling, 7-6. After striking first, Hyannis traded runs and nearly pulled off a comeback in the ninth inning. Ryan McKay scored to make it a one-run game, placing the tying run on second base. Jayce Dobie stood just 180 feet away from evening the score but was left stranded.
Close games have become a defining theme for the Harbor Hawks this season. Whether due to their own missteps or tough opposition, Hyannis now holds a 1-6 record in one-run contests. As the second half unfolds, these tight margins may dictate the direction of their season. Manager Mitch Karraker discussed how the team has responded to those challenges and what’s needed moving forward.
“I think we just need a big hit. We need somebody to come out, and after we score, put up a zero. Those are the momentum things we need to feel. Right now, it feels like every time we score, we give up runs,” Karraker said. “It's just the feeling that we have right now. We’ve got to get that feeling out of there.”
While timely hits remained elusive, Hyannis continued to apply offensive pressure. In the fourth inning, Sawyer Black reached on a bunt single to tie the game. The Harbor Hawks have shown their ability to mix aggressive baserunning with situational offense. Karraker spoke about how that balance is starting to show up more frequently.
“Early in the year, we were just trying to see how guys do offensively and let them swing a little bit. Now we’re getting to the point where we need to win games. That’s probably going to show up more in our offense. I think we’ve brought in guys who can handle the inside game.”
That “win-now” mentality runs through the clubhouse. The desire to finish strong is growing, and games like this show how close Hyannis is to turning the corner. The bats made consistent contact and the opportunities were there, but once again, the Hawks were one hit away. Karraker acknowledged that progress is happening, even if the final result isn’t there yet.
“I think we’re making progress,” he said. “I told the guys after the game, it’s a loss, but I hope you can feel us progressing. Offensively, for sure. Defensively, I thought we played really sound baseball. Those middle innings got away from us a bit on the mound, and it’s going to happen. But if we can put it all together, I think we’ve got a chance to do something really good.”
The Harbor Hawks remain in playoff contention, but execution in tight moments will determine their path forward. With division races tightening and the season nearing its home stretch, Hyannis has the talent to rise—if they can string it all together.
Hyannis plays Chatham at 7 p.m. Thursday at Veterans Field.
Reach Matt Ford-Wellman
X: @MattFW_4
Gmail: mfordwellman.media@gmail.com
