“It’s time to guard the gate.”
That was the text message — minus a few words — Wareham Gatemen manager Ryan Smyth received from Jake Faherty (Arkansas) upon Faherty’s decision to return to the Cape Cod Baseball League for a second summer.
Faherty’s sentiment was echoed by multiple other members of the 2023 Gatemen squad, two of whom will join Faherty in Wareham’s Opening Day roster. Bobby Boser (transfer portal) and Gavin Black (Mississippi State) will also wear the “W” for the second summer in a row, giving the Gatemen a level of experience and leadership that will serve them in the best way.
“No coach sets the culture,” Smyth said. “We try to create a path and a roadmap for them, but the players here are the ones that are going to create culture. And having some returning guys that went through what we went through last summer, I think there’s a different taste in the mouth.”
Wareham didn’t make the 2023 CCBL playoffs, finishing in last place in the West division with a record of 15-27-2.
“They want to change the script a little bit,” Smyth added.
The perfect example of who can set the team’s culture and flip the script? Boser. One of only two Gatemen to play for the entire 2023 summer season, Boser was arguably one of Wareham’s most effective players at the plate, batting .219 with 25 hits and a league-leading 31 walks. The ultra-utility player, who played six different positions last summer, brings immense versatility and a strong sense of leadership to the Gatemen.
“It’s been awesome,” Boser said of his ability to step into a leadership role. “It’s awesome to kind of give them a little insight because I’ve been through it. Having that background is definitely a little advantage.”
Boser had a slow start to the 2023 summer but quickly found his groove and, thanks to his dedication, worked his way to the CCBL All-Star Game.
“He was the Iron Man of the summer,” Smyth said. “The experience that he had last summer is going to get him off to a really good start.”
A broken hamate bone sidelined Boser for 22 games in the middle of the collegiate baseball season, and it was during his rehabilitation process when he started to think about returning to Wareham. When Boser decided a return was in his best interest, there was no way Smyth was going to turn him down.
“He’s a guy that knows what I expect and how these guys are going to be treated,” Smyth said. “Having some of those returners is really important for the new guys, getting them used to what we do here.”
Faherty, who was with the Gatemen from June 21 to the end of the season, brings a similar level of experience. In 18.2 innings pitched, the right-handed pitcher recorded 20 strikeouts and 20 walks and finished the summer season with a 7.71 ERA after facing a total of 94 batters. Upon his return to Arkansas, Faherty improved greatly and finished the 2024 collegiate season with a 1.84 ERA over 14.2 innings in relief appearances, striking out 26 batters.
“He’s just one of those guys that you love having,” Smyth said. “If you’re going to go into war, he’s a guy who I want by my side. He’s got that kind of mentality, that little bit of an edge and attitude that you want on the mound.”
What was just as exciting about Faherty was his clear desire to return to Wareham.
“There’s no other team on the Cape I’d want to come back to,” he said. “The coaches they have this year, Smyth, it’s the best place to be on the Cape.”
Black thought the same thing, thus bringing about his return to his former team. The right-handed pitcher only pitched in three games in the 2023 summer season before suffering an injury that sent him home. Black started two games and left the Cape with a 9.81 ERA over 7.1 innings pitched.
He found success at Mississippi State in the 2024 collegiate season as he recorded a 5.93 ERA over 13.2 innings pitched, striking out 22 batters.
“To give him an opportunity to come up here and throw again now that he’s healthy — and he’s throwing the ball 95 (mph), 96 this year and looked really good — I’m happy I was able to do that for him,” Smyth said.
The goals for Smyth and his team this summer are simple: win and have fun. The returning players know what it feels like to lose. They know what it feels like to win. They all know which is more fun.
Top Photo Credit: Bobby Boser rounds the bases after hitting a home run to the top of the snack shack during Wareham's 5-4 win over the Cotuit Kettleers, July 30, 2023 at Spillane Field in Wareham. Photo by Maddy Djuric.
