Military Appreciation Night in Wareham was one to remember. The evening began with a Massachusetts State Police helicopter touching down in center field and ended with Wareham's Coen Niclai launching a walk-off grand slam over that same wall to stun Harwich 8-4.

Before the night of June 20th, Wareham sat in the cellar of the West Division with just one win a week into the season. Harwich was 5-1 and the Gatemen needed a monumental effort to take the win.

Wareham’s local community brought out a Herculean effort to get the Gateman back on track. Even with lightning filling the sky in the distance, the community came out and showed their support. This wasn’t limited to fans, as police canines, officers and sirens echoed from their vehicles parked just behind the field.

Wareham catcher Levi Clark, who is in his second summer with the Gatemen, immediately felt the energy that carried into the dugout from the events that night.

"It's always awesome representing those who represent our country, so it's a lot of fun,” Clark said.

Represent they did. Clark had a two-hit game and is attempting to replicate his season last time around on the Cape where he hit .333 with 4 home runs for the Gatemen.

"It took me a few games, but I feel like today's the first day I've kind of seen the ball and felt comfortable in the box,” Clark said.

The Gatemen offense were cold to begin the game and found themselves down 4-1 after five innings. Harwich’s high-flying offense led by Julio Solier and Ty Smolinski caused damage early on.

Wareham needed a huge game to get back into the win column, and this was the day to do it. The Wareham Police lining the fence around the field, were there for more than just show. Kevin Riley, a sergeant with the Wareham Police, is an avid Gatemen fan who was eager to watch the game.

"It's awesome seeing the families and the kids come together and support us and support the game in general,” Riley said. “It's nice to see the community aspect of it."

Riley has no doubt that a helicopter opening the game for the Gatemen will get the team fired up.

“They will enjoy the helicopter just like every other grown man watching it, I know they’ll play hard,” Riley said.

Entering the ninth inning, Wareham found themselves down 4-2. The Gatemen had just a 7.4% chance to win according to the Cape League Gameday site.

As the thunder storm loomed in the distance, the Gatemen felt an energy in the air.

With one out, Tony Lira stepped up to the plate. The Arizona Wildcat slapped a single into the outfield that allowed two runners to score.

Now, with two runners on, Levi Clark was ready for his moment. He walked up to the plate with confidence and shouts from the home crowd cheering on the Wareham veteran. Levi felt collected at the plate as the pitch was fired in.

He was ready for the 360-foot trot around the bases after his game-winning home run. He loaded his legs, and immediately got beamed in the back with a fastball. With the collective groans from the crowd, Clark, hustled down ninety-feet to first.

After Wareham pinch-hitter RJ Hamilton grounded into a force out, Anchorage, Alaska, native Coen Niclai was prepared to deliver in a dream moment. He loaded up and swung and missed, hard.

"I think I got out of myself a little bit on the first swing, so I told myself to just relax and not do too much,” Niclai said.

Niclai gathered himself at the plate and took a deep breath. He thought of the helicopter hovering deep over center field. The very next pitch, Niclai swung, a powerful, but gathered swing.

The ball was hit on a frozen rope to deep center field. Harwich’s Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe tracked the ball back. He lept onto the tall outfield fence and smashed into the wall at full speed before landing on the dirt warning track.

For a split-second, the crowd fell silent in anticipation. Rienstra stood up, with his head down and glove empty. The crowd erupted as Niclai sprinted around the bases and flung his bat into the air.

"It was amazing. Probably the best homer I've hit in my career so far,” Niclai said.

The team gathered around home plate as Niclai delivered the hit to send them all home. Niclai hit the plate directly before his jersey was pulled from his body and a bucket of gatorade was dumped on his head.

Niclai, stood soaking from his gatorade shower, admired his work as the lights flashed and the team jumped together in a huddle.

"It was great. We haven't really cheered each other on vocally in the dugout much so far, so it was good to hear that at the end of the game,” Niclai said. “I think we've all gotten to know each other over the past week. The losses are tough, but after a win like tonight, I think it's going to be great the rest of the year."

For Wareham, this was the chance they needed to turn their season around, and rally the troops.