The Hyannis Harbor Hawks got off to a hot start to its 2024 campaign, defeating the Falmouth Commodores 10-0 in seven innings. Jon Jon Gazdar stood out as the Hyannis' most productive hitter of the game, picking up right where he left off in the spring, and last summer with the Hawks.
The middle infielder got his offensive output started in the fourth inning, coming up with Camden Janik and Wallace Clark on base. Gazdar smoked a ground ball down the third baseline, getting past the diving glove of Falmouth's third baseman.
With Janik and Clark both touching home, the two RBIs for Gazdar gave Hyannis a four-run lead at the time. This capped off a big inning for the Harbor Hawks, after struggling to get things going out the gate.
"A snowball effect kind of just happened with us," Gazdar said. "We played a lot of small-ball and were just going base to base, just kind of all tumbling together and then yeah, made a big snowball."
Gazdar wasn't done there at the plate, coming back up with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Austin Peay product drove a hard-hit line drive into left field, allowing Janik and Zach Yorke to come around and score. This gave the Harbor Hawks their sixth and seventh runs of the game, electrifying the crowd at McKeon Park.
"I'm really happy and grateful to be back here, it's just awesome to play in front of these fans again," Gazdar said.
On the night, Gazdar finished 2-3 at the plate with four RBIs, playing a massive part in Hyannis' run-rule victory to start the summer off on the right foot.
This being the second season that Gazdar has been with Hyannis has played a huge role in his early success, getting the opportunity to see what the league is like through 19 games in 2023. His experience also helps out with other guys in the clubhouse, able to teach the new players how things work with the Harbor Hawks and what it takes to have success.
"I think it's exactly what he's done all year [at school]," head coach Mitch Karraker said of Gazdar's quick start. "He's comfortable being here because he was here last year, and you can tell he's a mature kid with a really good approach. He was the leader that we expected him to be when he came in."
Part of the benefit to experience on the Cape comes in the field. Knowing the conditions and how each field's grounders move and bounce allowed Gazdar to make a few impressive plays over at second base to round out his successful night.
"As a team aspect, defense is a big importance to us," Gazdar said. "Everybody is just focused on being one pitch at a time, staying present and it showed. I thought we had a good game on both sides of the ball."
Coming up next for the Harbor Hawks is a matchup against the Harwich Mariners on Sunday, June 16 at 5:30 p.m. who are fresh off a 13-2 victory over the Cotuit Kettleers to kick off the new season. Gazdar's presence on and off the field will play a huge factor in keeping the wins coming for his team.
"You have to have a little bit of a short memory," Gazdar said. "Of course, you've gotta take your wins and your losses and just take it one pitch at a time and learn from everything but you gotta just have a short memory. You know, whether you have a good day, you have your best day, or your worst day you know you're gonna get the chance to come back out here the next day and get a chance for yourself again."
