Hyannis, Mass. 一 After coming off of its best offensive performance of the summer, a season-high 14 runs against Falmouth in a dominant run-rule victory at Spillane Field, Wareham’s offense strolled into Hyannis’ McKeon Park with virtually the entire lineup card feeling some sense of momentum.
Seven different Gatemen tallied base knocks against the Commodores: five of those came from the bottom half of the lineup, a unit that will become crucial for Wareham’s late-season playoff push. The same names, the same bats, that dismantled the Commodores less than 24 hours ago, all appeared against the Harbor Hawks.
Unfortunately for Wareham’s strong playoff chase in the final week of the Cape League calendar, Hyannis’ pitching staff recovered after allowing 20 runs over its last two games. Although the Gatemen struck early with singles in the first frame from both leadoff hitter Dylan Dubovik (Miami) and Levi Clark (Tennessee), the Harbor Hawks adjusted early and then only gave up five more base knocks throughout the final eight frames of the game.
There was certainly pressure in the top of every frame: the Gatemen finished the night with six opportunities to plate a runner in scoring position, and they had 10 men on base that just couldn’t reach home due to clutch opposing pitching with runners on.
“I think we almost had just as many hits. We didn't have as many free passes and hit a couple mistakes on the bases, but it was mistakes out of aggression, and I'm okay with that,” Wareham manager Ryan Smyth said. “We put pressure on them to make plays, and they ended up doing it. So credit goes to their defense tonight.”
While Hyannis was able to pitch its way out of jams and keep Wareham off of the scoreboard, the Gatemen’s top stars were still able to rack up top numbers. Clark finished with a two-for-three day at the plate to head on yet another hit streak this summer, and RJ Hamilton (Duke) totalled his fifth multi-hit game of the season with a three-for-four night that led all batters.
Clark and Hamilton are two of Wareham’s four Cape League All-Stars and were both of the Gatemen’s positional player selections, and will be crucial players down the stretch in the fight for playoff positioning. Wareham has utilized Clark at catcher, designated hitter and first base, and Hamilton has shown he can produce in the batter’s box and on the base path from wherever his name lies on the lineup card.
“They're guys that have been here from the beginning, and they're playing hard. They know what these games mean to us right now at this point, and seeing them lock in here at the stretch when those guys out of anybody should be the most tired, it means a lot to me that they're still giving it their all,” Smyth said. “They still fight there and they know we're close, and that's really great to see.”
Clark and Hamilton were Wareham’s lone multi-hit players on Sunday, but now the Gatemen head into a league-wide off-day ahead of the final six games of the CCBL schedule. Wareham faces four West Division teams down the stretch, including a Cotuit squad that sits just two points ahead for the final playoff spot, but it first takes on Water Wizz in what should provide some strong team bonding before closing the regular season.
Gatemen players will work various parts of the water park and interact with fans before enjoying tall water slides and a lengthy lazy river themselves.
“I love Water Wizz day, I think it's going to be really fun,” Smyth said. “Our players get a different perspective and get to work some of the stations and everything else there, and then get to enjoy the water park later in the day. I know my kids love it, I know Eric Luksis’ kids love it. So it's going to be a fun day overall, and I'm looking forward to getting there.
While Wareham suffered a slight setback in Hyannis, it must have a short memory and stay alert for whatever the final week has in store.
