Falmouth manager Jack Dahm’s Commodores passed another early-season test Tuesday night to kick off his rookie season coaching on the Cape. Falmouth built an early lead, weathered a late Orleans rally, and secured a 7-4 victory over the Firebirds at Guv Fuller Field.
The Commodores have enjoyed a strong start to the season under Dahm’s supervision, and Dahm feels ready for the challenge on the Cape as he establishes a team culture just a week into the season.
Dahm has emphasized good energy, aggression at the plate, and focus on the mound. The Commodores’ offense has delivered, putting up eleven, six, and seven runs in their three wins.
“We had a bunch of errors in the first game, and it wasn't real clean, but our pitchers kept their focus and kept pitching,” Dahm said. “I've been very impressed with that.”
Falmouth’s offense has pulled them through some battles to start the season, but Dahm has full faith in his pitching staff to keep the games tight.
The staff has a 4.11 ERA to complement a .252 batting average, both good for top five on the Cape.
Dahm relies on his talented bullpen to preserve his team's leads late into games.
“Three runs in the top of the eighth were big. We've done that a few times now, and we did it at Brewster on Sunday, and then they came back,” Dahm said. “When you throw four or five pitchers in a game, one guy might have a bad inning, which is why it’s important to keep tacking it on,” Dahm said.
Dahm rotated through six bullpen pitchers as the Commodores attempted to hold onto their early lead.
With Falmouth up 4-0 and both starters out, Dahm relied on ‘Dores reliever J’Shawn Unger to bring home the win. The Cornhusker, Unger, is coming off a career year with Nebraska, posting a 4.05 ERA through 40 innings this spring.
Starter Ryan Castillo went three innings, and reliever, Minnesota Gopher, Adam Urban followed with two scoreless innings.
Unger took the mound in the seventh with a four-run cushion. However, the Firebirds turned red hot as a bottom-of-the-lineup rally cost Unger.
Orleans, meanwhile, showed resilience despite the deficit. Ickes proved a difficult out in his 2026 summer debut, drawing four walks in four plate appearances as Orleans attempted to claw its way back into the game.
For Dahm, the early returns are less about isolated wins and more about how his group responds to early leads, mid-game adversity and late bullpen pressure.
“It’s early,” Dahm said. “But I’ve been very impressed with how these guys have stayed focused and kept pitching. We’re playing good baseball.”
While Dahm is still settling into his first Cape League season, Cotuit’s Rob Cooper is the only other new manager in the league. When the teams meet for the first time later this summer in a two-game series culminating on the Fourth of July, Falmouth will face a Kettleers club led by Cooper, whose son Jake serves on Dahm’s coaching staff.
“Rob keeps making jokes that he's going to learn who his wife really likes more,” Dahm said with a laugh. “He kind of thinks she'll be cheering for the Commodores that night.”
Beneath the humor, Dahm sees the matchup as a reflection of one of coaching’s most rewarding aspects: helping the next generation enter the profession, just as he and Cooper once did years ago. The two were Big Ten coaches at Penn State and Iowa, respectively, and have known each other for years.
“Jake wants to be a coach, and we want to help young coaches get into the game,” Dahm said. “That's a great opportunity for him.”
Dahm is excited for the task ahead and knows that, no matter how difficult the game may be, a summer on Cape Cod remains a unique opportunity for everyone involved.
“We want these guys to embrace Cape Cod and enjoy the opportunity to be here,” Dahm said. “Have fun, be responsible and enjoy the experience. It's a unique opportunity for these players, and for our staff too.”
