Chatham had only one pitcher named to the Cape League All-Star Game in reliever Jack DeGroat (Liberty). Austin Bergner (North Carolina) could have made a case for a spot, too, and he continued making it in the league’s return to action after the All-Star Game Sunday.
Bergner delivered his third dominant start of the summer with nine strikeouts in five one-hit innings as the Anglers beat Cotuit 5-2. The only hit allowed by the 6-foot-4 rising sophomore was a single by All-Star Game West MVP Griffin Conine (Duke). Bergner walked three and struck out nine of the 20 batters he faced.
Bergner now owns a 1.03 ERA, which would lead the league if he met the innings qualification (he’s two innings shy). Three of his five starts have been very impressive. He struck out six in six shutout innings vs. Y-D July 3 and fanned eight over 5.1 innings against Bourne July 16.
The nine strikeouts Sunday were a season-high, giving him 27 in 26 innings.
R.J. Freure (Pittsburgh) and Adam Wolf (Louisville) closed out the win for Bergner. The pitchers were backed by two RBI from Mason Koppens (Northeastern) and two hits and an RBI for Fabian Pena (Manhattan).
Chatham improved to 17-18.
Bourne 8, Falmouth 7
A key game in the West standings won in dramatic fashion by Bourne? We shouldn’t be surprised. The Braves have made a habit of winning close ones, and the latest vaulted them back into first place amid a walk-off celebration. After rallying from a 5-1 deficit then giving up a lead in the top of the ninth, the Braves won in the bottom half on a walk-off passed ball. Lyle Lin (Arizona State) singled with one out in the ninth and pinch-runner Andrew Fregia (Sam Houston State) stole second and moved to third on an error. Scott Schreiber (Nebraska) came up with Fregia on third. A walk-off hero earlier in the year, he simply had to get out of the way this time, as Fregia raced home when a pitch got away. Lin and Jameson Hannah (Dallas Baptist) had two RBI each to lead Bourne. P.J. Poulin (UConn) was credited with the win in relief. Alec Bohm (Wichita State) had three RBI for Falmouth. Bourne now leads the West with an 18-16 record.
Y-D 8, Wareham 3
Wareham was red-hot but has matched up with Y-D in two consecutive games – and nobody is as hot as the Red Sox, who won their eighth consecutive game. Alfonso Rivas (Arizona) went 4-for-4 to lead an 11-hit attack. Connor Kaiser (Vanderbilt) had three hits and scored three runs, while Nico Hoerner (Stanford) had two hits and two RBI. After pitching mostly in relief lately, Karl Kaufmann (Michigan) got the start and allowed just two unearned runs in six strong innings for the win. Tanner Dodson (California) was a bright spot for Wareham, going 3-for-4 to regain the league lead in hitting.
Orleans 5, Harwich 0
Despite its eight-game win streak, Y-D has made up just one game in the standings because Orleans is red hot, too. Sunday’s shutout gives the Firebirds eight wins in their last nine games. Brooks Wilson (Stetson) pitched five innings of one-hit baseball to start the shutout effort and four relievers followed suit. Harwich managed just two hits on the night. Cesar Salazar (Arizona) led the Orleans offense with a home run and two RBI. Brandon Riley (North Carolina) added two hits and two RBI.
Hyannis 2, Brewster 1
Hyannis picked up its first win since July 13 with a 2-1 win over the Whitecaps. Making his Cape debut, Tyler Vaughn (Belmont) provided a much-needed boost to the Harbor Hawks’ beleaguered pitching staff with five scoreless innings. Ryan Weiss (Wright State), Christian Tripp (New Mexico) and Nick Sandlin (Southern Mississippi) finished out the win. Chris Proctor (Duke) and Tyler Frank (Florida International) drove in the runs for the Harbor Hawks.
What to Watch
No games Monday as the teams head to Fenway Park for a workout. When the action resumes Tuesday, Bourne and Falmouth will play again as the battle for first place in the West rages on.