Whitecaps Victoriously Escape Hyannis

Hyannis, Mass.

​In the 9th inning at McKeon Park, the chords of "Urgent" by ​Foreigner ​played over the loud speaker. The song perfectly captured the sentiments of the Brewster Whitecaps and their fans. After tough losses to Cotuit and Yarmouth-Dennis and a controversial tie against Orleans, Brewster came into Friday night's game against Hyannis looking for a victory to keep pace in the Eastern Division standings. For most of the night, it seemed as though they would win rather easily.

​The Whitecaps offense got on the board quickly, with a Bryce Jordan (LSU) double to lead off the game and a Ryan Noda (Cincinnati) double to drive him in. Hunter Martin (Tennessee) then took the hill and with a few hiccups in the game, Martin pitched an effective 6 1/3 innings. He struck out six batters, including four in a row at one stretch, and only surrendered two runs. Hyannis tied the game on a 2nd inning Zach Rutherford (Old Dominion) sacrifice fly, and then took the lead on a pair of 3rd inning triples by Cody Henry (Alabama) and Kameron Esthay (Baylor). Other than that, Martin kept the Harbor Hawks off the board while he was on the hill.

​Brewster's offense put up more hits and reclaimed the lead to help their starter out. Ryan Gridley (Mississippi State) hit a two run blast for his first home run of the summer in the 5th to put Brewster ahead 3-2 over the Hawks and Brewster built on that lead. Three runs came around to score for the Caps in the 6th, highlighted by a throwing error on a Kekai Rios (Hawaii) bunt and one of Bryce Jordan's four hits on the night. Another run scored in the 7th on when Brent Rooker (Mississippi State) scored on a Zach Gahagan double. And the last two Brewster runs scored in the 8th on a Brent Rooker double.

The game was comfortably in the Whitecaps hands with a 9-3 lead in the bottom of the 9th. Then Hyannis made it interesting. Ryan Feltner (Ohio State) came on and could not record an out. He gave up three straight singles, a walk, and an RBI double to Zach Rutherford that cut the lead to 9-6. Jacob Wloczewski (Binghamton) came on and pitched with the bases loaded and no out. He forced a ground out by Jordan Rodgers that cut the lead to 9-7 but got an out. An error by Gridley at shortstop and a walk reloaded the bases with one out, but Wloczewski got a strikeout to make it two outs. Max Herrmann (Rutgers) came on to get the final out, and forced a ground out to second base to relieve the tension in the stands and end the Whitecaps two game losing skid.

​Martin got his third victory of the season and Brewster claimed sole possession of the fourth and final playoff spot in the East with Chatham losing as well. They take to the road again on Saturday night to face the Wareham Gatemen at Spillane Field. First pitch will be at 6:30.