The Firebirds returned to McKeon Park to face the Hyannis Harbor Hawks on Wednesday. The first off day was planned, but yesterday’s league-wide game cancellations due to stormy weather were unforeseen. In Hyannis, not a cloud was in the sky.

Metal spikes crunched seashells as the Birds migrated into the visiting dugout. The Orleans squad was joined by yet another new addition — Garrett Larsen (Yale). Larsen notched excellent sophomore and junior seasons for the Bulldogs. He hit .372 in his junior season where he started in every game, snatching 27 bags in the process.

“I’m really excited to be here,” Larsen said. “I haven’t played yet all summer, I’ve just been training, so I’m ready to get going.”

Since the Birds last played, the Cape weather had taken a definite turn for the better. As opposed to the near 100° games on Sunday and Monday, Wednesday’s weather was heavenly. Temperatures sat at 70°. A cool breeze blew in from the harbor.

Pitching Coach Jim Lawler stood beside the “Turtle” as he watched the position players take batting practice. For the man coordinating the rotation and bullpen, the rainout giveth and the rainout taketh away.

“We had to move [Casey] Euper to Thursday since his start got rained out,” Lawler said. “Some guys will have to get moved around in the rotation. The good news is that we have a full bullpen rested and ready to go.”

For the 20th game of the season, Chase Frey (Oregon) took the mound for his final Firebirds start. He had come in for one inning of work against Chatham on July 4th to stay fresh, but his last start against Bourne was a gutsy one. He had spread seven hits across five innings of two-run ball. Tonight, Frey was looking for a little more whiff in his game.

Frey did just that, setting a summer strikeout high for himself with seven. Unfortunately, it was the same old story of offensive ineptitude for Orleans. They were completely shut down by the ‘Hawks, recording just two hits and three walks the entire night.

At the halfway point of the summer, the Orleans offense comes in at second worst or worst across the board for most offensive metrics. Their struggles in late and close situations, hitting well with runners in scoring position, and playing well on the road remain the top issues to tackle. Orleans has been more or less carried by excellent starting pitching. Due to a lack of late leads or comebacks, the Firebirds are the only team still without a save in 2026. With dominant starters like Chase Frey and Jacob Haley leaving the rotation, it’s uncertain how those holes will be patched.

Brady St. Pierre began the game for Hyannis. He leaned heavily on a fastball-slider combo, causing Dominic Cadiz (UCLA) to break his 11th bat of the season. No Birds reached base.

The lefty Frey hiked to the hill for Orleans. Though it was no longer a holiday weekend, Hyannis fans still filled both sets of bleachers and the area surrounding them. Frey’s fastball reached 92 miles an hour in the first, which he played an elite slider off of — striking out two Hawks.

Bub Terrell (Auburn) was back playing right field. In his first at bat in the second, he singled and stole his seventh and eighth bases of the year without being caught. Corey Nunez (UCSB) nearly drove him in, but was robbed of a hit and RBI by Jax Gimenez — who made a sliding grab in right.

Frey worked around a double in the bottom of the second, getting some help from Terrell who made a sliding catch of his own in right. He also put two more K’s in the book.

Frey worked a quiet third, finding his fifth strikeout victim. Tyler Myatt (Tennessee) sported a new clean shaven look to try and put an end to his recent skid at the plate, but couldn’t find a hit just yet. The Birds went 1-2-3 in the fourth.

Frey kept Hyannis quiet in the fourth, collecting his sixth strikeout while continuing to put Hawks hitters away with weak contact.

St. Pierre was finally chased off the mound in the fifth, as Adam Magpoc (SDSU) reached on an error and Nunez doubled to right. Righty reliever Cohen Gomez came in to face Cale Stricklin (Charlotte). Gomez got Stricklin swinging. Soon enough, the bases were loaded with two gone for Cadiz. In frustrating fashion, he grounded out, stranding three runners.

Frey kept making the Hawks look silly. He mixed in more changeups going into his fifth inning of work. He struck out his seventh hitter before the inning was over. Frey got one out in the sixth, then his day was done. He did not walk anybody, and only hit one batter.

“I felt like my fastball was jumping a lot more, I was getting a lot more swing and miss than usual,” Frey said. “As long as I’m getting ahead in counts, and we play great defense, the Firebirds have my back.”

Frey is one of a few Birds with a chance to be selected in the 2026 MLB Draft. Though he recently announced his transfer to Oregon where could play his final collegiate season, he says it’ll be a game time decision.

“It’s tough. Oregon is giving me a great offer, and I have a great relationship with their coaches,” Frey said. “Pro ball is also the dream. I’ll have to see where I’m valued and try my best to find a happy medium.”

Brayden Toro (Stetson) replaced Frey. He struck out JP Head and got Charlie Bates to pop out, ending the sixth.

The 0-0 tie was broken in the bottom of the seventh. Tyler Harmony (Northeastern) couldn’t track down a fly ball in left, leading to a double. Taylor Kirk singled up the middle, driving in the first and only Harbor Hawks run.

Joe Nottingham (Georgia) replaced Toro with two outs in the inning. He continued to struggle with controlling his fastball, but got a groundout to stop the damage.

Orleans couldn’t muster a third hit in the eighth. Grant Garman (Hawaii) took the ball and struck out two. The Birds had one final chance for a rally yet again.

Three Birds came to hit in the ninth. Three hitters went back to the dugout. The Firebirds were shut out 1-0 after another futile offensive showing. It was the ultimate low scoring affair at a normally hitter-friendly park.

As Frey left the field, he reflected on his Birds’ tenure.

“The culture and the bond I created with my teammates is the thing I’m going to take away from the experience,” Frey said. “I made some real brothers out here.”

The 6-14 Firebirds return to Eldredge to take on Bourne for the second time on Thursday.