A four-game winning streak to start the season made the Wareham Gatemen an instant contender this summer. They maintained that status all season, and now another four-game win streak has them playing for the top prize.
Wareham beat Falmouth 7-4 Thursday in game two of the West Division Finals, securing a second consecutive playoff sweep on the heels of wins over Cotuit in the first round. Wareham is into the league championship series for the first time since 2012, when it beat Y-D for the title.
A five-run fifth inning broke open a 1-0 game Thursday, and Wareham shut Falmouth down for the final three innings to secure the win.
Austin Shenton (Florida International) led the offense again, going 2-for-4 with a home run. In four playoff games, he’s 9-for-15 with three home runs and six RBI. Isaac Collins (Creighton) and Drew Millas (Missouri State) added two hits each. Every player in the lineup reached base.
Making only his second start and coming in with a 5.75 ERA, Nathan Florence (Hartford) went four scoreless innings. Three runs off MacGregor Hines (Dallas Baptist) – two of which were unearned – helped Falmouth get closer, but Alex Stiegler (Yale) pitched scoreless seventh, eighth and ninth innings to seal the win.
The defeat ended a good summer for Falmouth, which had one of the most talented lineups on the Cape. That lineup looked primed for a playoff run when the Commodores swept Hyannis, but Wareham stood in the way.
What to Watch
Unplayable field conditions after heavy rain Thursday forced a postponement of game two between Brewster and Chatham. They’ll give it another go this afternoon. Chatham leads the series 1-0.