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Harwich Captures 4th Annual Nantucket Game

06/26/2005 10:59 AM

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26 June 2005

THIS WEEK IN THE CAPE LEAGUE

Harwich Captures 4th Annual Nantucket Game 

 

NANTUCKET--The Harwich Mariners took advantage of a brisk ocean wind and short outfield dimensions at Nantucket's Tom Nevers Field, hitting three homers to defeat the Hyannis Mets, 9-3 in the Fourth Annual Nantucket Island Pennant Game Saturday. 


 Harwich on Nantucket
Photo by Bob Prew / Harwich Mariners

     The loss for the Mets was their fifth straight, dropping them to 1-7-1 on the season.

     Two Harwich homers left the yard via the bat of second baseman Jim Negrych (Pittsburgh), who lofted a three-run homer to right center in the fourth inning and added a solo blast just one inning later. Third baseman Chad Flack (North Carolina) got the scoring started for the Mariners with a two-run homer to the short center field fence with two outs in the first inning. 

     The Mets had one homer of their own when Kyle Norrid connected with the second pitch of the seventh inning for a solo shot to center. Norrid was the leading hitter for the Mets, going 3-for-4 with a hit-by-pitch. Ninth-hitting Brandon Masters went 2-for-4 with a bases-loaded RBI single to center in the second inning.

     With nine hits apiece, the two teams appeared well matched statistically, but the Mariners did a better job of using the breeze from the ocean -- just about 500 feet behind home plate -- to convert base runners into runs. The Mets struggled again with that task, leaving the bases loaded twice and stranding a total of 11 runners while grounding into three double plays. 

     Mariners starter Adam Ottavino (Northeastern) picked up the win through the minimum of five innings, striking out seven and walking four while letting up two earned runs on five hits. His high pitch count of 101 led him to be relieved in the sixth inning by Nick Starnes (UNC-Greensboro), who struck out three in two innings. Matt Bishop (Endicott) pitched the final two innings of shutout relief, walking and fanning one apiece.

     Mark Sauls struggled in the start for the Mets, lasting just four innings and allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits. A highlight in relief for the Mets was southpaw Charlie Furbush, who allowed no hits in 2 2/3 innings pitched.

     The leading hitter for the M's was Scott Sizemore (Virginia Commonwealth), who went 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in the sixth inning. Jake Dugger drove home a pair in the fourth inning when a sky-high pop-up in the infield dropped in between several fielders.

     Hy-Line Cruises and Nantucket Bank were presenting sponsors for the game, while Fellowship of Thieves Restaurant and Santos Trash Removal sponsored post-game meals for both teams. The Nantucket Cobbletones sang the natonal anthem.

     NOTES...the loss was the first for the Mets on Nantucket since the inaugural Pennant Game, played in 2002 against the Falmouth Commodores...the ever-optimistic Hyannis fan base has frequently called to mind the exploits of the 2000 Mets, who started the season 1-8 before a red-hot July and an eventual trip to the Cape League finals...the nine Hyannis hits mark a season high.

All Photos by Bob Prew / Harwich Mariners


Marty Reilly
 Hy-Line Cruises


Bill Hourhiran
 Nantucket Bank


Steve Englert and
John Reid


Matt Ottavino
Mariners


Mark Sauls
Mets



Chad Flack



Jake Dugger



Baseball by the sea



Baseball by the sea



Harwich Mariners


Will Bussiere, 
CCBL, Assistant Director of Publications

[email protected]

John Garner, Jr.
CCBL Director of
Public Relations & Broadcasting
(508) 790-0394 [email protected]