BREWSTER, Mass. — Following their Opening Day victory over Orleans in which they logged nine runs on 11 hits, multiple members of the Bourne Braves’ lineup shared the same simple explanation as to why they found early and sustained success at the plate Saturday: Hitting is contagious — a microcosm for the entire game of baseball.

When one player picks up a base knock, it becomes increasingly likely that the ones who follow will achieve the same feat. It’s a matter of swinging the momentum in their favor and running with it, which the Braves certainly did to kick off the 2024 campaign.

“One guy gets a barrel, the next guy gets a barrel, it just kind of tumbles [like] a domino effect,” outfielder Isaiah Jackson (Arizona State) said following the victory over Orleans. “So everybody’s just seeing the ball well. They were just leaving it up for us that inning, so we just capitalized on it and got some runs across.”

Bourne’s (1-1) fortunes in the batter's box continued on Sunday, with the Braves tallying double-digit hits for the second straight game. But it ultimately didn’t matter, as the Brewster Whitecaps (1-1) scored four of the game’s final five runs to earn a 4-3 win.

“We hit, we just didn’t hit with runners in scoring position,” head coach Scott Landers said. “Like I told them, in the first six innings we had runners in scoring position every inning except for I think the third, and we didn’t get any runs.”

Much like their first game of the summer, the Braves drew first blood in the second inning Sunday. Infielder Nick Roselli (Binghamton) led off the frame with a single into center field, which was followed by another single from outfielder Davis Gillespie (Southern Mississippi). The two baserunners were then driven in by catcher Matthew Graveline (Ohio State). In total, Bourne put five runners on in the second, and both of its runs came with two outs on the board.

Brewster punched back in the third though, plating three runs in another two-out rally. Infielder Nolan Schubart (Oklahoma State) got things started with a solo shot to right field, and infielder Chase Mora (Texas State) put the Whitecaps ahead with a two-RBI single.

Throughout the remainder of the contest, Bourne had several opportunities to tie the game or even take the lead, but they were ultimately for naught. The Braves finished 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position while stranding 13 baserunners. However, outfielder Chris Stanfield (Auburn), fresh off a 2-for-4 night at the plate, wasn’t concerned, as it’s still very early in the summer.

“That’s baseball,” Stanfield said. “Sometimes baseball is a tough game. But, I say, just flush it, go home, get some rest and come out tomorrow, because it’s a new day.”

Bourne remained within striking distance of Brewster due to another strong showing from its bullpen. After a three-inning start from right-handed pitcher Wyatt Parliament (Virginia Tech), who was responsible for seven baserunners and two earned runs while striking out three, righty Nolan Sparks (Rochester) held the Whitecaps scoreless through two frames.

Sparks’ dominance set the table for left-hander Joseph Ariola (Wake Forest). Despite allowing a run in the sixth on an RBI double from Gio Cueto (Stetson) that went off the center field wall, he otherwise limited the damage. His successor, lefty Miller Green (Vanderbilt), was impressive in his lone inning of work, fanning two without a single baserunner to his name.

With one out in the top of the ninth, Bourne strung together a last-ditch attempt to keep the contest going. Infielder Camden Kozeal (Vanderbilt) drew a walk, infielder Braden Holcomb (Vanderbilt) singled and Roselli worked a walk to load the bases. Jackson then struck out, but a wild pitch from righty Sonny Fauci (Rutgers) bought Kozeal enough time to score from third.

However, the Braves’ woes with runners in scoring position again reared their ugly heads, as catcher Caden Bodine (Coastal Carolina) flew out to end the game.

“We’ve just got to move forward,” Landers said. “It’s only the second game of the summer, and they’re getting used to wood bats right now. We had some good at-bats. We had 11 hits, we just didn’t do it when the lights went on.”

Pivotal sequence

Sparks was mostly responsible for putting up zeroes in his two frames on the mound, but he did receive some help from his defense in the fourth. With one away, Brewster outfielder Nick Dumesnil (California Baptist) popped a bloop into shallow right field. However, what appeared to be a base hit was quickly negated, as outfielder Landyn Vidourek (Cincinnati) made a sliding catch for out No. 2.

Through all of this, Whitecaps infielder Tyler Pettorini (Ohio State) was on first base, but during the next at-bat, he attempted to steal second. Graveline was a step ahead and made the throw to Roselli for the inning-ending out.

Hitter of the game: Chris Stanfield

After going 1-for-5 in the Braves’ season opener, Stanfield was a major catalyst at the plate against Brewster, again hitting in the leadoff spot. He went 2-for-4 with a walk and a stolen base Sunday, joining Holcomb — who went 3-for-5 — as the only other Bourne player to record multiple hits in the game.

Consistently hitting for contact is nothing new for Stanfield. In 185 at-bats for Auburn in 2024, he logged a .276 average with 25 RBI. For Stanfield, the key to success has been staying true to his approach and setting the table for his teammates.

“Trusting your approach, trusting your training that got you here,” Stanfield said. “Because everyone here is a really great player. Just believe in yourself, as well. Hitting is definitely contagious. Being at the leadoff spot just trying to get on for the guys behind [me].”

Pitcher of the game: Nolan Sparks

While left-handed starter Connor Wietgrefe (Minnesota) stole the show on opening night by posting six strikeouts in five shutout innings, it was Sparks who shined for Bourne out of the bullpen Sunday.

Entering the game in the fourth inning, the senior didn’t skip a beat, striking out Cueto, the first batter he faced. After navigating his first frame of work without allowing a run, Sparks made a statement in the fifth, striking out the side. In total, he threw 32 pitches — 20 of which were strikes — and faced the minimum through his two frames of work, mainly using his fastball to find success.

“Just electric stuff,” Stanfield said. “Fastball to both sides of the plate, multiple off-speed pitches, just dominant. That’s how you do it. That was great to see, especially in a loss, but there are still a lot of great things that we did today just to carry on the rest of the week.”

A look ahead

Bourne is now 1-1 on the summer following Sunday’s loss to the Whitecaps.

Sunday’s loss positions the Braves squarely in the middle of the Cape Cod Baseball League’s Western Division, with three teams tied for second with 1-1 records. Brewster, on the other hand, also moves to 1-1 on the young season and finds itself tied for second place in the Eastern Division. Next on the Whitecaps’ schedule is the undefeated Harbor Hawks, who they will see Monday in Hyannis.

Landers’ group will continue its three-game road trip Monday when it visits the Chatham Anglers, who are 1-1 with a loss to the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. Lefty Donovan Zsak (Rutgers) is in line to start on the bump for Bourne and will likely square off against Kyson Witherspoon (Oklahoma).

In 2024, Zsak posted a 4.11 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 39 strikeouts through 35 innings of work. Witherspoon was a workhorse for the Sooners this season, pitching 80 innings — second-most on the team — with a 3.71 ERA while fanning 90.

First pitch in Chatham is slated for 7 p.m. Eastern.

Notes

With three hits Sunday, Holcomb has consecutive multi-hit games and leads the CCBL with five knocks on the year… Bourne’s six stolen bases are tied with Hyannis for the most in the league through two games… Hitting .319 as a team, Bourne leads the CCBL in batting average. The next-best team, Harwich, is hitting .279… The Braves also lead the league in doubles (4), on-base percentage (.422), OPS (.744) and slugging (.377).