harwich wins a marathon, falmouth evens series

One first-round playoff series is going three games.

The other kind of already did.

While Falmouth outlasted Cotuit 6-3 to even the Western Division series, Harwich and Orleans staged an epic game in the East. When it was over, 18 innings and more than four hours later, Harwich had a 1-0 victory and a spot in the championship.

Harwich 1, Orleans 0

I almost went to this game, but with a two-hour drive ahead of me after an 18-inning game, it’s probably better that I didn’t.

Except I really wish I’d seen it.

Extra-inning games that get up to the 13th or 14th inning are incredible enough. This one went 18, and it was playoff game, and throughout the game, the score was 0-0. Crazy stuff. There was tremendous pitching, tremendous defense and not-so-tremendous hitting (Shaver Hansen and his 0-for-8 can attest).

In the end, with fog possibly playing a role, Orleans outfielder Angelo Songco charged in on a fly ball from Branton Belt, and with the shortstop and centerfielder converging, the ball bounced off Songco’s glove. Brian Kemp, who was on second base and going on contact with two outs, raced home to give Harwich the victory.

That’s a tough way to end a game, and for Orleans, a tough way to end a season. But everything that came before the ending was the stuff classic games are made of.

• Six pitchers didn’t allow a run. William Bullock went nine shutout innings for the Mariners, followed by 1.1 by Willie Kempf, 5.2 by Steve Kalush and 2 from Sean Black. For Orleans starter Matt Thomson went 7.1 scoreless frames, Adam Wilk went 3.2 and closer Alex Hassan tossed 6.2 dominant innings.

• Orleans left nine men on base, Harwich 13.

• The Cardinals had the game’s best chance to score in the seventh. Songco was hit by a pitch then stole second and third. On a fly ball to left field with one out, Songco tagged up and headed for home, but catcher-turned-outfielder Tommy Medica cut him down at the plate.

• It was the longest game of the season, and it could have gone longer. The 11:30 curfew was waived.

In all, it was a remarkable game, one that a lot of people will remember.

Falmouth 6, Cotuit 3

Starting pitcher Chris Gloor gave Falmouth exactly what it needed, dominating until the sixth inning and setting the stage for the Commodores to tie the series. They scored two runs in the first, one in the third and one in the fifth before Cotuit finally got to Gloor with two runs in the sixth.

But the Commodores never lost the lead. Rex Brothers pitched 1.2 scoreless innings out of the pen and Ben Tootle picked up the save, stranding two in the ninth to seal the victory.

Trevor Coleman had a home run for Falmouth, Kevin Nolan went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Michael Thomas went 3-for-4.

Looking Ahead

Chad Bettis, who has been Falmouth’s most consistent starter this year, will get the ball in today’s decisive game three, which will be played at 3 p.m. in Cotuit, as long as the rain holds off. The Kettleers have not announced a starter.

Meanwhile, Harwich will get a well-deserved day off.

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