Bourne, Mass. — The Gatemen got off the bus after a long drive from Wareham to Bourne. What is normally a short distance drive became a long hike due to Fourth of July traffic.
However, it did not bother the players, as when they got to Doran Park, they were ready to play ball. The Gatemen came off from the most heartbreaking loss of their season thus far, losing 6-5 to the Harwich Mariners at home in extra innings after allowing two runs in the top of the ninth with two outs.
It was a loss that stunned the team, but they seemed determined and ready to avenge that loss in their first matchup with the Braves this summer. However, they would not get a chance to do so.
The Gatemen (6-10) fell to the Bourne Braves (6-9-1), 4-3, in a rain-shortened, five-inning game at Doran Park after a severe thunderstorm swept through Cape Cod.
The loss ended controversially. Wareham was leading 5-4 in the top of the sixth inning when the game was halted. However, because the game was called before the sixth inning could be completed, the official result reverted to the last fully completed inning, the fifth, when Bourne held a 4-3 lead.
Per Cape Cod Baseball League rules, five innings constitute an official game, meaning the Braves were awarded the win.
It is another crushing blow to the Gatemen, who just experienced a heartbreaking loss to the Harwich Mariners at Spillane Field on Wednesday. Now they suffer their third consecutive loss and fall to fifth place in the West Division standings as the Braves and Kettleers leapfrogged them with wins.
The game started with a bang from the Braves as they plated three runs in the first inning. Starting Pitcher Daniel Powell (Kennesaw State) found himself in trouble early, allowing 3 hits and 2 walks while the Braves had eight at-bats in the inning.
The Gatemen quickly responded, however, thanks to a solo home run from designated hitter Chris McHugh (NC State) deep to left field. The hit got the Gatemen on the board and quickly changed the mood in the Gatemen dugout.
In the third, the Gatemen picked up a second run thanks to left fielder Andrew Cain (Arizona), who drove in shortstop Vance Sheahan (Miami) on a groundout to make it 3-2. Then Kuhio Aloy (Arkansas) crushed a solo home run for the Braves to bring their lead back to two.
The Gatemen again responded in the fourth, Vance Sheahan drove in right fielder Easton Breyfogle (Arizona) to put the Gatemen within one. With the score at 4-3 in favor of the Braves, the top of the sixth came, and the Gatemen scored two runs. Vance Sheahan again brought Easton Breyfogle home, this time on a sacrifice fly. Then, second baseman Brayden Randle (Ole Miss) hammered an RBI single into right field to score pinch runner Colby Turner (Michigan) to make it 5-4, Gatemen.
However, both Gatemen runs in the sixth inning would not count as the game was officially called in a rain delay in the middle of the sixth inning, taking Bourne’s 4-3 lead at the end of the fifth as the official score.
It is a frustrating loss for the Gatemen, who could be seen upset in and around the dugout at how the game ended. It was a loss that was out of their control, and they could only watch as their 5-4 lead became a 4-3 loss.
Luckily for the Gatemen, they will have another crack at the Braves on Friday for a Fourth of July showdown. Wareham has all the motivation in the world now and aims to get itself back in the win column. Part two of the Battle of the Bridge starts at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, July 4, at Spillane Field in Wareham.
