The Hyannis Harbor Hawks secured a 6-5 comeback win over the Falmouth Commodores, winning its fourth straight game against its West Division rival this season. This gives the Harbor Hawks (12-13-3) back-to-back victories heading into the All-Star break, moving ahead of the Commodores (12-15-1) to third place in the West Division standings.
“[We] have all of our guys [that] we feel like are going to be here all year,” manager Mitch Karraker said. “Feels good to get them going out on a positive note heading into the final stretch of the season.”
Trailing 5-3 in the bottom of the eighth, Charlie Bates started the fire in Hyannis’ offense with a leadoff single into centerfield. One out later, Brody Briggs kept the line moving with a walk, bringing up Owen Prince, representing the go-ahead run.
Prince grounded to the left side, under the glove of a sprawling Justin Osterhouse as Falmouth shortstop Adrian Lopez scooped the ball with no play to be made as every runner reached safely.
The Harbor Hawks' lineup turned over as Jake Schaffner had the first bases-loaded opportunity for the home squad. The North Carolina infielder skyed a fly ball into deep left field, giving Bates ample time to tag up from third.
Now in a 5-4 deficit with two runners on and two outs, Jeff Lougee hammered a line drive into left, deflecting off the glove of Ashton Wilson as he charge and leaped at the laser. As Maika Niu came from center to back up the play, Briggs scored while Prince ripped around third, blazing home to give Hyannis its first lead of the game.
The Harbor Hawks handed Connor Kelley the save opportunity in the bottom of the ninth in his first appearance of the summer. The UTSA right-hander set the Commodores down in order, the final out coming on an incredible play from Briggs backing up an errant throw to first to catch the runner attempting to advance.
“[Kelley] did it all year at UTSA and they were a really good team,” Karraker said. “He was really comfortable in that setting and it was good to see him get out there and have some success in his first outing.”
Hyannis’ bullpen starred throughout the game as Mason Russell and Chandler Dorsey partnered to take down four innings between Carson Jasa’s start and Kelley’s save.
Russell went two innings without allowing a hit before Antonio Morales led off the top of the seventh with a single, followed by a Carl Schmidt double that put both runners in scoring position.
Dorsey came in, settled in with a strikeout, but couldn’t keep Niu from doing damage. The Marshall centerfielder fired a ball down the left field line, scoring a tandem of runs as he pulled into second.
Dorsey closed the inning with a pair of strikeouts, then set Falmouth down in order in the eighth. This kept the Harbor Hawks within striking distance, where their offense eventually capitalized.
The Hyannis attack played catch-up since the first inning as the visitors broke through early on.
Niu put himself and Clark Schmidt in scoring position with a double in the top of the first, leading to a Kent Schmidt single that put the Harbor Hawks in an immediate 2-0 hole.
The Commodores added a run in the third after a Niu walk and Kent Schmidt single put runners on the corners with one out. Justin Osterhouse grounded to first as Gabe Camacho tagged the bag, then threw to first as Kent Schmidt got in a rundown to make sure Niu scored.
Hyannis finally breached the scoreboard with a two-run homer from Briggs in the fourth, then tied the game at three apiece with an RBI double from Bates in the fifth.
With later offensive heroics and well-managed pitching, the Harbor Hawks created momentum to build upon heading into the All-Star break.
The Brewster Whitecaps will challenge Hyannis’ momentum on July 21 at 5 p.m. in Stony Brook Field.
Tymothy Brown can be reached at tymbrown12@gmail.com and followed on X @tym_brown1.
