The Wareham Gatemen almost pulled off the improbable Friday night, mounting a five-run ninth inning in an attempt to come back against the Hyannis Harbor Hawks. While they fell two runs short of tying, the Gatemen still confirmed to themselves and everyone around them that they aren’t satisfied going down without a fight, and they’ll try to do whatever they can to get a win.
Whether or not they can carry that momentum and energy over to the next day, and the next game, is the question. Saturday could provide the answer.
Wareham will play host as the Brewster Whitecaps make their first trip to Spillane Field in the second meeting between the two teams. In their first contest, the Whitecaps dominated in a 15-4 run-rule affair. That loss spurred the Gatemen to a six-game winning streak, however, and in the 12 games since their loss to the Whitecaps the Gatemen are 8-3-1. Brewster, in its last 12 games, is 5-7 and is currently on a two-game win streak, with victories over Harwich and Falmouth. The Whitecaps are 7-10 overall to Wareham’s 11-5-1 record.
The Gatemen are coming off three straight hard-fought games — one win, one tie and one loss — that has left the team taxed but not about to quit.
Starting pitchers
Wareham will look to Heath Andrews (NC State) to set the tone Saturday with a solid — and preferably extended — start. It will mark the right-hander’s first start in a Gatemen uniform, but he has two relief appearances already under his belt this summer. Across three total innings pitched, Andrews boasts a 0.00 ERA with one strikeout and one walk through nine batters faced. In his freshman year at NC State, Andrews posted an 11.57 ERA across 9 1/3 innings of work, striking out six batters and walking eight.
DJ Primeaux (LSU) will toe the rubber for Brewster in his first start, but sixth appearance, in a Whitecaps uniform. The left-hander holds a 0.96 ERA with 11 strikeouts, four walks, five hits and one earned run across 9 1/3 innings of work. At LSU, Primeaux threw just 3 2/3 innings across nine games in the 2024 season. He recorded three strikeouts while giving up five hits, two walks and one run for an ERA of 2.45.
Players to watch
Jace Rinehart’s (West Virginia) first CCBL home run Friday night was a long time coming. The outfielder has showcased his potential for power time and time again, but couldn’t quite hit the long ball. Unfortunately, Rinehart’s two-run shot couldn’t quite propel the Gatemen to victory over the Harbor Hawks, but it was a big moment nonetheless; the first one is always the hardest, they say. Rinehart has been a staple in the Wareham lineup and left field alike, slashing .278/.400/.444 with six RBI and four doubles.
In Brewster’s dominant win over Wareham on June 20, Andrew Fischer (Ole Miss) was one of the many standouts for the Whitecaps. He posted a team-high six RBI as he went 2-for-2 with two walks and a grand slam. Fischer has played in all 17 of Brewster’s games and is hitting .241 with a team-high 13 walks.
First pitch for Saturday’s game is scheduled for 6 p.m. from Spillane Field. The game will be broadcast via Cape League TV.
Top photo credit: Jace Rinehart hits a home run in Wareham's 8-6 loss to the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, July 5, 2024, at McKeon Park. Photo by Kyler Armstrong.
