Cotuit, Mass.一For seven innings, Wareham stayed within striking distance before a costly eighth inning changed everything. The Gatemen were knocking on the door down by a run. Those hopes faded after the Kettleers capitalized for four runs late in the ballgame.

Cotuit first baseman Tague Davis (Louisville) and third baseman Hogan Denny (Indiana) smacked back-to-back base hits. Then after a passed ball to advance both base runners into scoring position and walk to load the bases, Wareham made consecutive fielding errors. The Gatemen needed a defensive hold to keep their deficit at one run for the top of the ninth, but the Kettleers’ late offensive surge put the game out of reach.

“We'll get back out there tomorrow and hopefully cut down some of the defensive mishaps,” Gatemen shortstop Chris Ramirez (Transfer Portal) said. “We'll clean it up."

Errors are to be expected in the early stages of the Cape League season. Eight of the 10 franchises committed mistakes on Opening Day as players continue acclimating to balls flying off of wood bats instead of metal and gauging field conditions to snag hops and ground balls.

The five-run difference doesn’t tell the full story of the afternoon. The Gatemen notched six hits with designated hitter Caden McDonald (Florida) and right fielder Dylan Dubovik (Miami) each recording a pair of knocks. Wareham had multiple runners in scoring position and the bases loaded in the second.

“(It) wasn't the cleanest game in the world, but we did have a lot of guys on base,” Gatemen manager Ryan Smyth said. “I think the first five or six innings we had guys in scoring position, we just didn't capitalize, didn't come up with a big hit. We kind of spoiled a really good start from Garrett Lambert (Transfer Portal).”

Lambert’s starting performance was another bright spot. The righty tossed five innings, surrendered just one hit and didn’t allow a Kettleer on base until the third inning. His four-pitch mix served the Gatemen well, catching corners and edges with the offspeed and throwing hitters’ timing off from fastballs.

“He was a guy that started all year at Mercer, and a proven guy, we were very confident giving him the ball for obvious reasons,” Smyth said. “And he did exactly what he was supposed to do.”

Unfortunately for Smyth’s hitters, Cotuit’s pitching staff also came to play. The Kettleers tallied 14 strikeouts and only allowed one hit over the final three innings. Starter Jackson Yarberry (Indiana) set the tone by stranding eight Gatemen on base. Both relievers, Josh Halcisak (Mount St. Mary’s) and Tyler Brashear (Eckerd) followed those heroics with efficient outings over multiple innings that let their team’s bats get right back to work.

“And I give a lot of credit to their pitchers too,” Smyth said. “They made pitches when they needed to and got outs when they needed to, even if they were in a jam.”

The Gatemen were shutout in game 1 and made a few early-season mistakes, but all eyes turn towards Wareham’s Opening Day at Spillane Field.

“Tonight, we’re resting up, hydrating,” Smyth said. “It's been hot out here, hot and sticky, but we’re resting up. Get to the yard tomorrow, get some early work in, and be ready to go for our home opener.”

Yes, there are moments that Wareham wants back from Cape League Opening Day. That is bound to happen with a roster that began practicing together this week. But the hitters made solid, encouraging contact at the plate in a deep outfield and the pitchers kept a high-profile Cotuit lineup at bay and only allowed two earned runs.

A new day, and a familiar ballpark, awaits.