Sean Youngerman (Oklahoma State) and Marko Sipila (San Diego State) are no stranger to being the underdog. The pair of former Division II products dominated the Bourne lineup which featured six Power Five hitters as the dense fog immersed the field around them.

Youngerman and Sipila combined for six scoreless innings and tossed the first Y-D shutout of the season as the Red Sox took down the back-to-back Cape League champs 2-0 in seven innings.

Youngerman spent two seasons with Westmont College before announcing his decision to transfer to Oklahoma State on June. 30. Sipila played two years at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs and is heading to San Diego State next spring.

Wednesday’s performance gave their new college coaches and the rows of MLB scouts behind home plate a glimpse into what they can accomplish on the big stage.

The two right-handers allowed the fewest hits from Y-D in a game this summer as a first inning single from Ethan Conrad (Marist) was the only hit Bourne tallied. No more than four Bourne hitters came to the plate in any of the seven innings as the Braves were hitless for the final five frames.

Youngerman and Sipila didn’t allow a Bourne runner past first base as just four Braves reached in the fog-shortened game. The former tossed four scoreless innings with four strikeouts and was unfazed by the talented sluggers 60-feet, 6-inches away despite the big name brand their school may carry.

“It definitely gives me the confidence to know that I can throw against these hitters,” Youngerman said.” “It was just a stepping stone process. Westmont helped me get where I am and without them, I wouldn't be here and I wouldn't get those opportunities so it's all about growing and this is why I'm out here. I want to keep growing and keep getting better.”

Westmont went from the NAIA level to Division II while Youngerman was there and the 6-foot-3 right-hander also won a NAIA National Championship. Youngerman has elevated his talents alongside the competition level and has become one of the most unhittable arms on the Cape.

Youngerman has gone 16 ⅔ consecutive innings without allowing a run which spans his last four starts. The last time Youngerman gave up a run came 28 days ago on June. 26 against Cotuit.

Youngerman allowed six runs and three homers in his first 7 ⅓ innings but he’s brought his ERA down to 2.28 with 32 strikeouts in 23 ⅔ innings. Youngerman said he worked with head coach Scott Pickler who helped enhance his mechanics and generate more movement on his pitches. The lessons clicked as Youngerman has a 1.06 WHIP with just nine walks and opponents have a lowly .182 batting average against him.

Youngerman has at least four strikeouts in each of his six starts and said he attacked Bourne hitters early in the count with the fastball. The right-hander threw over 62 percent of his pitches for strikes and got ahead of hitters over 50 percent of the time. With his commanding three-pitch mix and full confidence in the defense behind him, Youngerman has developed into a fearless talent.

“I just know my guys got my back,” Youngerman said. “We always seem to have really good defense and the offense has been picking it up constantly so the ability to trust that those guys are going to make plays and they're gonna come back and swing it definitely helps allow us to attack hitters. It always helps when you're pitching with a lead.”

The Red Sox didn’t take the lead until the top of the fifth after a two-run single from Ethan Petry (South Carolina) who gave Sipila a chance to pitch with a 2-0 advantage. Sipila was added to the roster on Sunday and made his debut with the Red Sox on Wednesday with two scoreless innings in relief.

Sipila showcased the splitter he started throwing in April and paired it effectively with his curveball. Sipila struck out West Division All-Star Braden Holcomb to end the sixth and let out the harnessed emotion he pitches with. It was a release of excitement that signified how Sipila came ready to attack the best Division I has to offer despite his Division II beginnings.

“It's the feeling of being under recruited,” Sipila said. “It's just great to feel like I gotta prove something sometimes so it was really fun to come out and do that and be able to compete against these guys.”

Photo by Sophie Solarino