The Firebirds made their way to Yarmouth to take on the juggernaut Y-D Red Sox on Sunday. The July 4th crowds still lingered at Merrill “Red” Wilson Field.

The Red Sox home park is another field that shares its grounds with a high school — this time Dennis Yarmouth Regional. The dimensions are certainly unique. The foul poles on either end are 340 feet or further. The deepest part of center field claims to be 370, but juts in as it borders the trees.

After batting practice concluded and a home owner beyond right field was given some new lawn ornaments, Rowan Kelly (UCSB) was named the Cape League Player of the Week. He posed with teammates as he was given a new Franklin backpack full of gear. Kelly was pumped to receive the award. Dominic Cadiz (UCLA) laughed at the idea that Kelly had stolen the honors from him.

Despite the excitement still lingering in the air, it was another disappointing loss for Orleans. Y-D lived up to their promise of lock-down pitching — allowing Orleans to score only once in the second. The Sox didn’t score more than one run in an inning, but did damage against Birds’ pitching four separate times.

Taylor Penn started for the Sox. He blew away the Birds’ top three hitters in the first. He showcased a lethal combination of fastballs, sliders, and splitters early. Penn is a prominent part of Y-D’s stellar pitching staff — which currently holds a season ERA of 2.32.

Andrew Cutler (George Washington) got the ball for Orleans. The usual long reliever sawed-off three Red Sox to get three ground ball outs in the first.

A patient approach at the plate led to a Firebirds breakthrough in the second. Terrell, back in the lineup for the first time in three games, walked and stole second. Adam Magpoc (SDSU) ripped a double over the center fielder's head to score him.

The 1-0 lead didn’t last. Cutler walked Caleb Daniel, who was driven in by Avery Ortiz on a double in the right center field gap. Cutler went back to getting weak contact to end the Sox scoring. It was knotted at 1-1 going into the third.

Dominic Cadiz notched his Cape Cod League leading 25th hit, but Orleans left him on third. Cutler got three fast outs to end the inning. He worked around a Tommy Goodin single for another fast frame.

The Sox got to Cutler in the fifth. Back to back hits by Mateo Serna and Ty Mainolfi set the table for Dante Vachini, who drove in a run on a fielder’s choice. Cadiz made a nifty play at first — catching a liner and stepping on the bag, ending the inning with a double play.

Orleans went down without a fight again in the sixth. Jake Echols (GCU) took Cutler’s place after five strong innings. Cutler got two outs quickly, then struck out Y-D’s best hitter Tommy Goodin to put up a zero. It was the first strikeout of the day for Firebirds’ pitching.

Adam Magpoc kept the pressure on in the seventh. He singled to left and used his plus speed to take second. AJ Beltré got his second hit of the game, but Magpoc was held at third. An unfortunate double play ended the inning, stranding them both.

Elai Iwanaga (UCLA) took the seventh. Kelly wrangled two flyouts in center, but Mateo Serna got to a high fastball — hitting a deep drive over the fence in right. Orleans would need a multi-run comeback with six outs remaining.

Evan Holewinski (Kent State) made his first appearance for Orleans in the eighth. It was a rocky start. He walked his first hitter on four pitches. Lucas Franco roped a ball into the right field corner, but Magpoc gunned him down trying to take second. The Sox proceeded to execute a perfect squeeze play, bunting in a fourth run. Tyler Myatt (Tennessee) made an excellent leaping catch in left to stop the bleeding.

With one final chance, Orleans got nothing. Birds’ bats were shut down once again. Y-D dealt with Orleans handily, but it wasn’t all doom and gloom.

Adam Magpoc had his best game yet for Orleans, going two for four. His RBI double in the second, single and steal in the seventh, and outfield assist in the eighth displayed his best trait: versatility.

“Being able to do anything gives everybody options,” Magpoc said. “It gives Kelly choices for who he wants to rest and who he wants to play in the field.”

Magpoc kept it honest when asked about the differences between playing for the Brewster Whitecaps and Orleans Firebirds in 2026.

“It’s very fun in Orleans,” Magpoc said. “For a summer ball team that’s trying to find its way and scrap out wins, you have to keep a positive attitude. That’s what you see here — a bunch of guys trying to make the best out of their experience. We’re having some pretty good games as of late, we’re just lacking the big hit. We’re right there if we keep doing what we’re doing.”

Though it might be Magpoc’s first time in Orleans, it’s not his first time being under the supervision and guidance of Kelly Nicholson. Magpoc was a student of Nicholson’s when he attended Loyola High School of Los Angeles. Nicholson has been a math teacher there since 1983. Since 2001, he’s gone coast to coast, first acting as Firebirds pitching coach and being promoted to Field Manager in 2005.

“It’s been a full circle moment,” Magpoc said. “He used to scold me during high school, but for him to see me play at the collegiate level and be proud of me has been great. He was the first guy I reached out to after Brewster. I knew that Orleans was a great program, so I wanted to be here and have that experience with him.”

Orleans will take on the Bourne Braves at Eldredge on Tuesday after a much needed day off Monday.