Be a Swiss Army knife.
That’s what Ryan Smyth tells his players.
Be able to do a little bit of everything and be adaptable. Find ways to get on base and cross the plate, make the necessary plays and don’t be afraid to take a risk and go all out. That’s how you win baseball, so that’s what Smyth emphasizes.
In Wareham’s 5-2 win over the Orleans Firebirds Tuesday night, the Gatemen showed they are indeed a team full of Swiss Army knives. Whether they were diving for fly balls, turning double plays, legging out triples or staying patient and earning walks, Smyth’s team showcased their ability to take advantage of the situations they were in.
“The hitting’s starting to come around,” Smyth said. “You’re seeing more barrels, more loud outs, really good takes and walks, and our guys are finding ways on base. We can do a lot of things when we get guys on base.”
Wareham scored all five runs in the first four innings, immediately making hard contact off Orleans’ starting pitcher. Brendan Summerhill (Arizona) set the tone for the night, lacing a sharp single to right field and stealing second base just minutes later. Murf Gray (Fresno State), who has been one of Wareham’s most effective batters, continued his trend of smacking RBI singles by sending a ball out to center field and bringing the speedy Summerhill in to score.
Smyth pointed to Summerhill and Gray specifically as two players who are able to adjust in the moment in that Swiss Army knife-esque way, and Summerhill continued to showcase his talents later in the game as he hit an RBI triple in the second inning and worked a walk in the fourth inning, eventually coming around to score once again.
He was one of three Gatemen to record two hits on the night, and one of four to drive at least one run in. For someone who arrived in Cape Cod barely 48 hours prior to Tuesday night, Summerhill fit in perfectly.
“He came into a group that gelled pretty quickly in the first week and, to be honest, by the end of the first day you would’ve thought he was here the whole week,” Smyth said. “Everybody has his back already.”
Even when Summerhill went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts in his first Gatemen appearance Monday night, he never stopped giving it his all and trying to adjust to make an impact. For the sophomore outfielder, whose breakout season at Arizona gave him a reputation as one of the most adaptable Wildcats, it was only a matter of time before he settled in.
“I just tried to do less,” Summerhill said. “Yesterday I think I was trying to hit a homer. Today I shortened up, played my game and was able to find some success.”
To Summerhill, playing his game also means trying to just have fun and enjoy being in the Cape Cod Baseball League. That kind of mentality means he didn’t just fit in with the Gatemen on the field, but in the dugout as well.
“It’s good to see guys come in and blend with this group,” Smyth said. “That means our group that’s here is open to him, and it also means that he was open to hearing new things from our guys.”
The chemistry the Gatemen have on and off the field enables them to stay loose and simply enjoy playing the game of baseball together. Everything in the sport is contagious, including attitude, and the Gatemen have an abundance of good ones. The fact that they’re finding success because of it is no surprise.
“It’s fun to watch,” Smyth said. “These guys are playing loose, it’s exactly what I want. They’re having fun, and that’s how you win games out here.”
Top Photo Credit: Brendan Summerhill slides into home during Wareham's 5-2 win over the Orleans Firebirds, June 18 2024, at Spillane Field.
