Before a successful All-Star showing for the Wareham Gatemen (20-13-1), they had a harsh loss to a struggling Harwich Mariners (12-22) squad back on Friday. They lost, 6-3, to the team with the league’s worst record.
At 6-8 in the second half, the loss reflected a continuation of distinct hitting struggles with runners in scoring position (RISP). Collecting just six hits in the game, Wareham went 1-for-5 with RISP, and are now a combined 10-for-75 (.133) with RISP in their eight losses in the second half.
There are now just six games to go in the regular season, and Wareham is on the hunt for solidifying a solid playoff position. They have three home games and three road games left, while they stand second in the West division — a game behind Cotuit (20-11-1).
While the Harwich loss is in the rearview mirror, Wareham now looks ahead to a potential playoff competitor: the Hyannis Harbor Hawks (19-13-1). Just a half-game behind Wareham at third in the West, this game is a matter of seeding between two teams who could meet in the first round of the 2024 Cape League Playoffs come Aug. 5.
This is the final contest between the two West Division foes, with Hyannis leading the season series over Wareham, 2-1. It’s been a competitive series. Hyannis leads the scoring margin, 26-22, in their three meetings, but Wareham hasn’t won against the Harbor Hawks since their inaugural meeting this summer, an 11-6 victory at McKeon Park back on June 23 (Game 8 of the season). The Gatemen poured on a season-best 17 knocks in that win.
Wareham will look to rediscover that offensive display in its third-to-last home game of the regular season, a 6 p.m. tilt at Spillane Field on Monday.
Starting pitchers
Hyannis manager Mitch Karraker gives the nod to Alizeah Gutierrez (Angelo State) for his second start of the year. The 5-foot-10 left-hander made his Cape League debut eight days ago when he tossed two scoreless innings at Bourne.
The southpaw features high-command stuff. In 81 innings for Angelo State this spring, he threw just three wild pitches to the tune of a 4.52 ERA. He also collected 74 strikeouts and held batters to a .222 average when facing him.
Wareham manager Ryan Smyth entrusts the start in the hands of Darin Horn (Coastal Carolina) for his fifth start. Horn has been nothing short of excellent for Wareham as he’s allowed just one earned run in his four starts thus far.
Through 13 innings, Horn maintained a 0.69 ERA. His main strength is controlling the bases. The 6-foot-4 right-hander has allowed just nine hits and five walks this summer, which is good for a 1.08 WHIP.
Despite this success, he does have a 0-1 record. In his only outing allowing a run, Horn got the loss in a 4-1 defeat at Y-D. With run support, though, Horn produces winning games for Wareham.
Players to watch
The much-needed run support could come from so many different hitters for Wareham. Considering there’s a left-hander facing them, the most likely culprit would be the right-handed bat of Colby Turner (Michigan).
After going 2-for-4 against Harwich, he’s slashing .250/.333/.338 on the season. But he’s hitting at a torrent pace in the second half. After hitting .213 in the first half, Turner broke stride with a .289 average in his 12 games in the second half thus far.
He also favors left-handed pitching. While hitting .250 against both right-handed and left-handed pitchers, he features more power against southpaws. His only home run of the year was off a lefty, and his slugging percentage is 10 points higher when facing lefties, too.
While Hyannis is coming off an abysmal three-hit, 9-3 loss at Brewster before the All-Star break, it does still have some hot bats to watch heading into this one. After all, Hyannis does lead the league with 165 RBI.
Kane Kepley (North Carolina) has undoubtedly been a focal point of that run production. The left-handed extra-base hitter displays extreme on-base skills. He has slashed .239/.442/.349 so far. With the eighth-most walks in the league (17), his .442 OBP ranks fourth-best in the CCBL.
He’s also clutch. In Saturday’s 33rd annual CCBL All-Star Game, Kepley supplied a walk-off single to secure the West’s 9-8 victory — the first walk-off in CCBL All-Star Game history.
A positive for Wareham: Kepley — weirdly enough — doesn't favor right-handed pitching. He’s hit for a .217 average against righties this year.
Wareham will lean on any advantages it can get as it looks to right the ship for its Monday meeting with Hyannis.
You can watch the live broadcast as well as other Gatemen content on the Gatemen Baseball Network YouTube channel HERE.
The Gatemen Baseball Network pregame show will go live at 5:45 p.m. ahead of a 6 p.m. first pitch at Spillane Field.
Top photo caption — Colby Turner hits a single in a 6-3 loss to Harwich on Friday, July 26, 2024. Photo by Andrew Duffy.
