Wareham, Mass. — After Saturday’s 11-4 loss to the Falmouth Commodores, the Gatemen were looking for anything to get back on the right track.
They lost five straight games, the longest losing skid of the season. They hit rock bottom after they committed seven errors and allowed the Commodores to score in six consecutive innings.
The Gatemen were desperate for a rallying call, something to turn the tide, especially with a day off on Monday, and Tuesday marking the halfway point of the season. What they ended up getting behind was an unexpected musical instrument.
A triangle.
The instrument, typically used in Western Classical orchestras or high school music classrooms, was found in an unusual place on the baseball field.
“I found it in the John Deere gator over there. Before the game, I didn't know what it was, and then someone said it was one of those things you ring. So then we decided to hang it up,” said third baseman Colby Turner (Michigan).
This random find turned into an idea of a rallying cry, as Turner hung up the instrument by a piece of athletic tape from the top of the Gatemen’s dugout over the entrance to the hitters entrance to the field. The intention was that it would ring after every run scored by the Gatemen.
Most of his Gatemen teammates did not know of its existence, let alone why it was there. However, they would soon find out as it quickly became popular in the dugout with how much it was used.
The Gatemen (7-12) routed the Cotuit Kettleers (7-11-1) by a score of 16-9, snapping their five-game losing streak and getting the bounce back they were looking for.
The game started out with fireworks as the Gatemen took command of the game in the first inning. Despite a Cotuit run that scored on a wild pitch in the top of the first inning. The Gatemen offense exploded for five runs.
Designated hitter Chris McHugh (NC State) doubled to right field to score first baseman Levi Clark (Tennessee) to tie the game 1-1. Catcher Hunter Carns (Florida State) then scored on a passed ball, Colby Turner doubled to score McHugh, and then left fielder Kollin Ritchie (Oklahoma State) demolished a 2-run home run, his first of the season, 435 feet to right center field to make it 5-1 Gatemen.
There was even more offense in the second inning. Hunter Carns singled to drive in second baseman Brayden Randle (Ole Miss), and Colby Turner crushed a 3-run home run to give the Gatemen a commanding 9-1 lead.
Each time the Gatemen scored, the team rang the triangle, something that raised the energy in the dugout, which had been absent in the last few games.
“They wanted to rally around something and just bring a little excitement to the dugout. That's what they wanted to roll with, and it seemed to work, so we kept rolling with it,” said Gatemen Field Manager Ryan Smyth.
The offense was also great for starting pitcher Cooper Consiglio (NC State), who put up a solid start in 4.2 innings, where he allowed 5 hits, 3 runs (2 earned), 2 walks, and struck out one batter. The large lead allowed him to relax and focus on his pitching.
“It's really relieving as a pitcher. You can just go out there, especially with that big of a lead, and throw strikes. Let them hit it, let them work. Chances are, they're going to get themselves out,” said Consiglio.
After the fifth, the Gatemen added on more runs. Levi Clark singled to score Brayden Randle, then Colby Turner blasted another 3-run home run to give the Gatemen a 13-3 lead.
Colby Turner had a stellar performance. He went 4 for 5 with 2 home runs, a double, and a single, and knocked in 7 RBI. His performance earned him ‘Codball Player of the Day’ on X. He sparked a great night for the Gatemen offense with his bat, and his leadership carried the team throughout the game.
“He got off to a slow start, but he looks great right now. Him seeing the ups and downs last year, the maturity of knowing what this league can do to players is huge for our team. It started with his preparation in BP, and it looks like he's seeing the ball well. So I'm happy for him. Hopefully we can keep riding his bat for a little bit,” said Smyth.
The Gatemen almost closed out the game in seven innings by a ten-run mercy rule, but Cotuit’s Jack Natili (Cincinnati) crushed a grand slam with two outs to put Cotuit down only six runs. Thus, the game continued, and the Gatemen added more runs to their lead.
In the eighth, Brayden Randle singled to score shortstop Vance Sheahan (Miami), then right fielder Chase Krewson (UCF) scored on a wild pitch, and Hunter Carns drove in Brayden Randle to make it 16-7 Gatemen.
The Kettleers did get two more runs in the ninth to make it 16-9, but the Gatemen’s lead was too large to come back from, and Wareham secured their first win of July and their first since their 6-4 win over the Orleans Firebirds on June 29.
The win was huge for the Gatemen, who had dealt with so much adversity during their five-game losing streak. However, they banded together after a poor performance on Saturday and proved to themselves, the fans, and the scouts that they are the high-caliber, talented athletes that they are.
“I think it's a really good bounce-back win after last night. I think our guys knew we didn't play anywhere near up to expectations or what they're capable of the night before. And I think tonight there was a little bit of a different vibe going on right from the get-go,” said Smyth.
“It means a lot. You know, it's good to get back on track. It's a long season, so not too worried about the skid, but you always want to get out of it,” said Consiglio.
The Gatemen take this momentum into a day off on Monday before another home game against the Brewster Whitecaps on Tuesday. First pitch for that game will be at 6:00 p.m. at Spillane Field in Wareham.
