Halfway there and living on a prayer.
Tuesday marks the 20th game of the Cape Cod Baseball League season, and the Gatemen are behind where they want to be. A slow start to their season, combined with a recent five-game losing streak, has left the Gatemen at 7-12, five games below .500 and last in the West Division.
However, they have momentum on their side now after a dominant 16-9 victory over the Cotuit Kettleers. It was a win the Gatemen needed after a rough start to July. Each part of the lineup contributed to the offense, scoring nine runs in the first two innings combined.
They now look to carry this momentum into another home game, this time against the Whitecaps.
Brewster had a bounce-back win Sunday against the Hyannis Harbor Hawks, defeating them, 10-4, after being humbled in a 19-3 loss to the Kettleers on Saturday. After a historic 6-0 start to the season, the Whitecaps have cooled off, going 4-8 in their last 12 games.
The Gatemen also defeated them in that stretch in their last matchup, 2-1 on June 27 at Stony Brook Field. The Gatemen hope to make it two wins in a row at home, and the Whitecaps hope to build some momentum of their own.
Starting pitchers
The Gatemen give the starting privileges to right-hander Jordan Stephens (Georgia). Tuesday will be Stephens’ first start of the season after appearing in four games for the Gatemen. He has pitched nine innings, allowed nine hits, nine runs (eight earned), five walks and struck out 11 batters.
His last appearance was against the Chatham Anglers last Tuesday, when he pitched three innings, allowed six hits, four earned runs and struck out four batters. Look to see how he adjusts to the starting role and a longer outing.
The Whitecaps will counter with their southpaw Owen Proksch (Duke). Proksch has started in two games for the Whitecaps. He has a 0-1 record and a 4.05 ERA in 6 2/3 innings pitched. In that span, he allowed five hits, three earned runs, three walks and struck out seven batters.
His last start against the Orleans Firebirds went well. He went 3 1/3 innings, allowed only two hits and a walk and struck out three. He aims to have another solid start Tuesday.
Players to watch
On Sunday, Colby Turner (Michigan) had an unbelievable performance against the Kettleers. He went 4-for-5 with seven RBIs and three runs scored. He crushed not one, but two three-run home runs on his way to earning Codball Player of the Day on X. It was also the third straight multihit game for the Michigan Wolverine. Look for him to make an impact again Tuesday.
Hunter Carns (Florida State) is also another name to keep an eye on. He went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs against Cotuit, and he went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and a run against the Commodores, two straight games with two or more hits. Look for his bat to be in the lineup as well.
For the Whitecaps, it has been tough after the release of star player Josiah Ragsdale (Boston College) ahead of the MLB Draft on Sunday, but players such as Ryan Martin (Dallas Baptist) and Cal Fisher (Florida State) have stepped up for Brewster.
Martin stepped into the outfield in Ragsdale’s absence. In five games, he is batting .333 with one home run and five RBIs. Fisher had a great night against Hyannis, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Look for both of them to make an impact Tuesday.
First pitch for Tuesday's game will be at 6 p.m. at Spillane Field in Wareham. You can attend the game for free, or you can tune in to the Gatemen’s broadcast with Cory Miller, Josh Richardson and Rayna Maggelet on the call by clicking HERE.
