The Hyannis Harbor Hawks (2-1-1) clawed back to tie the Chatham Anglers(1-2-1) in their first extra-inning game of the season.

The Hawks bullpen went above and beyond, all while the offense ground back into the game. Chatham grabbed at what they could, inevitably coming just 90 feet short of walk-off glory.

With the bases loaded in the 10th inning and no outs on the board, the Harbor Hawks certainly had their backs against the wall. Sometimes the ball just seems to fall, and clearly Veterans Field had it out for Hyannis in one way or another. A couple of plays seemed to turn the tides of this one, and just as quickly, a new addition to the story emerged. Ten pitches and three outs later, the Harbor Hawks were out of the jam and settling for a tie.

Offensively, Hyannis battled their way into a close one late in the summer night.

Catcher Brody Briggs stated, “you got to want to be in the situation… the situations you think about before you go to bed.” The Hawks put themselves in the best spot to succeed, taking the game as close as they could.

Coach Karraker says, “It was good to see our bats kind of get better and better as it went along, and to put up two in the ninth, which is not easy to do in this league, and so it was good to see that. And scratch one on the 10th.”

Comeback-ability: the ability to find a way to stay in a ball game. The Harbor Hawks have either been within striking distance or held the lead in their four games played.

The Hyannis bullpen took over the game in just the second inning. Gonzaga righty Erik Hoffberg took over the game down five runs and left it trailing by one, all while holding back this red-hot Angler lineup.

Chatham’s Ethan Mendoza had a 2-for-6 game with three RBIs, proving to be trouble for Hyannis at times. Nonetheless, Stanford Cardinal Ryan Speshyock slammed the door, forcing a weak flyout from Mendoza in the 10th, holding the winning run at third. With traffic on the bases and pressure looming, Speshyock finds a way to dial in.

“I think it's just pitch to pitch. If you make each individual pitch and you don't look into the future, you don't catch yourself kind of in the gray area. Like, I don't know what I'm doing with this pitch. Looking for swing and misses here and there but being selective. If we get one out and a runner on first, we try to get a double play, throw pitches to try to get a ground ball and just manage the game well.”

Speshyock is just one of many shining stars in this Hyannis bullpen we will talk about this season.

Fellow Cardinal Charlie Bates had a couple of hits tonight, his first multi-hit game of the season. The utility man scored two runs and played solid shortstop throughout the night. His approach and confidence level are clearly improving game by game.

“I'm just trying to see the ball better. Getting a little more comfortable. Credit to these pitchers, they are really good so you can't miss your pitch, and I'm learning that fast.”

Bates looks to settle in defensively, saying he's found it a challenge but one he surely can conquer. The team around him is undoubtedly helping fuel his success.

“Oh, my gosh, yeah. That's been a blessing. I mean, Myles [Bailey] saved me tonight, and I hope he can continue to do so later on down the stretch, but, I mean, everyone's so good here, so it's just a blessing to be here.”

Florida State University freshman Myles Bailey hit his first homer of the season 367 feet to dead left-center field, scoring the first three runs of the game for the Hawks. Contrary to the last game, Hyannis took a time or two through the lineup to dial in, but once adjusted, they contested with vigor.

Andrew Williamson, Ray Velazquez, and Myles Bailey all had hard-hit balls in the 8th inning, down just two runs. This stretch of good conduct would inevitably lead to the great at-bats produced in extra innings.

The Hyannis Harbor Hawks continue to show grit early in the season, battling back in tough spots and refusing to fold under pressure. With steady bullpen work and timely offensive sparks, this team is proving it can compete in any situation. As the summer rolls on, Hyannis looks to turn close calls into statement wins.

Hyannis @ Bourne - 6/19 (6:00pm)

Chatham vs Cotuit - 6/19 (7:00pm)