Three games and three wins for the Hyannis Harbor Hawks since their blowout loss to Wareham late last week, in part due to an incredibly aggressive offensive approach. Most recently, the Hawks (6-2-1) took down the Falmouth Commodores by a score of 5–2, plating three of the five runs before the halfway point.
Hyannis has made a habit of starting hot, getting the bats going early in four of their last five games. The only games the Hawks have not managed to strike first were the tie at Chatham and the loss to Brewster. Hyannis will get a second chance against Brewster at 6:00 p.m. EST on June 25, looking for redemption. Manager Mitch Karraker discusses the importance of jumping ahead in these games.
“Anytime we can set the tone offensively on the road it’s big or kind of give us a little bit of wiggle room…Thomas [Crabtree] gets his first start tonight, and he gets to walk out there with a two-run lead. That's a big deal. Getting off to a good start whether it's defensively or offensively, we want that, and our guys have done a really good job with that, the last few games.”
Karraker is clear about the team's intention to cause damage early. Hyannis hasn’t given many teams opportunities to score in the early innings, which has led to confident pitching and more consistent play. Getting hits off the Cape’s best closers is no easy task, and Karraker details how the Hawks get it done.
“Our analytics department does a great job of getting the videos, scouting reports beforehand, so the guys can get at least a little bit of a look at what they might see. And then it's the in-game adjustment, so, hey, this is where I'm getting. I'm gonna take advantage of it. Our guys have done a really good job of balancing both of those.”
A strong bullpen has been the backbone of the flashy offensive unit Hyannis has featured as of late. Infielders like Ryan McKay and Jaxon Willits take pride in making consistent contact and laying off pitches out of the zone. McKay went 3-for-5 with two RBIs on the 24th against Falmouth, raising his team-leading batting average to .375.
“I think everything happens as soon as I wake up. You know, I wake up, get a good breakfast, and go, you, get my body going. It's a long day. Games are at 6 o'clock, so I can't just be sitting around all day. So I usually go hit the weight room, you know, get my body going, and then when it comes to BP, I just spray the ball to the left side, you know, try not to hit runs, because it messes up my approach.”
You probably won’t see Ryan McKay down at the beach or golfing before a game, not because he isn’t a well-rounded guy. The athletes here on Cape Cod treat this like a college season without all that school stuff. The way these guys prepare their bodies and minds keeps them ready to jump on a 95-mile-per-hour fastball in the first inning.
Brewster poses a tough test, and the Harbor Hawks will have to respond. With Brett Lanman on the mound and a lineup loaded with talent, Karraker looks forward just one moment at a time. One game at a time.
“We don't talk about streaks or anything like that… You know, it's just been good that we've won the last three days, right? So tomorrow it'll be a new chapter and we'll see what tomorrow brings.”
McKeon Park will host the second matchup between these two summer league titans. If Hyannis can strike first, this one could tilt Blue and Orange.
Check out the Parking Lot Preview on the Hyannis Harbor Hawks YouTube channel, uploaded before each game.
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