Patrick Forbes, Whitecaps celebrate after decisive three-run blast in the sixth inning. Photo Credit: Sadie Parker
By Mark Rappaport
CHATHAM — Brewster looked destined for their first loss of the season heading into the sixth inning at Veterans Field against the Chatham Anglers Sunday evening but kept their record spotless thanks to clutch hitting.
The Brewster Whitecaps (1-0-1) and the Chatham Anglers (0-0-1) battled throughout the night to finish in a tie, 10-10 in ten innings.
“In my book on the road, where this game was in the sixth inning, that’s considered a win for us,” Whitecaps’ head coach Jamie Shevchik said. “[I’m] very proud of the way that those guys fought. You get down, 7-1 in the Cape League and it’s really hard to come back. So kudos to our guys.”
The Whitecaps’ pitching struggled throughout the first five innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits and five walks. Brewster’s offense was not much better, and was only able to muster one run in response.
The top of the sixth inning began with a single by first baseman James Tibbs (Florida State) and a no-doubt home run by shortstop Payton Green (NC State) to narrow the score to 7-3.
Then, designated hitter Dylan Leach (Missouri) and shortstop Dylan Hoy (Marist) walked to give right fielder Patrick Forbes (Louisville) a chance to knock in a few runs. Forbes took advantage of the opportunity and smacked a home run to bring Brewster within one run of tying the Anglers.
“We put together some good at bats. The long ball helped us today, we had some big home runs,” Forbes said.
The rally continued as center fielder Will Turner (South Alabama) and third baseman Vincent Cimini (Boston College) walked, giving Tibbs a chance to tie or take the lead. Tibbs did just that, smacking a double to right-center field, scoring both Turner and Cimini, taking an 8-7 lead, and completing the comeback for Brewster.
James Tibbs launches a double in the sixth inning to give the Whitecaps a 8-7 lead. Photo Credit: Sadie Parker
Over the next two innings, Brewster reliever John-Biagio Modugno (Rutgers) pitched two lockdown innings to silence Chatham in the sixth and the seventh.
In the top of the seventh, the Whitecaps returned to the plate looking for more. Green came to the plate and reached first on an error by Chatham third baseman Xavier Casserilla (Seminole State). Green would eventually score off singles by Leach and Hoy and a sacrifice fly by catcher Weston Eberly (Columbia), giving Brewster a 9-7 lead.
The score would remain the same until the bottom of the eighth when Chatham came rolling back. Modugno struggled after two shutdown innings, and the Anglers would come back to take the lead from Brewster in the eighth, 10-9, headlined by a go-ahead RBI single by first baseman Kyson Donahue (Hawaii).
Facing a familiar deficit, Brewster was down in the top of the ninth, one run short of the Anglers. Leach came through for Brewster and launched a home run to right field, tying the game at ten apiece. In the bottom of the inning, Chatham threatened, though did not score.
In the top of the tenth, with new rules in place, Brewster looked to take the lead in extra innings. Forbes began the inning at second base and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Turner. Then, the Anglers intentionally walked Cimini and brought in Ervis Solis (Miami Dade CC) out of the bullpen, looking to elicit a ground ball to secure a double play. Solis did just that, forcing Tibbs to ground a ball to second base, ending the inning.
In the bottom of the tenth, Brewster was looking to secure a tie, which seemed like a difficult task. Reliever Andrew Sentlinger (Virginia Tech) recorded a strikeout and then hit a batter. Closer Ben Gorski (Rutgers) was brought into the game, looking to record two outs. Gorski recorded two strikeouts, and the game was over, tied at ten apiece.
Although Brewster did not win this game, the team was able to muster a seven-run comeback in the second game of the season. The Whitecaps showed that they were clutch and resilient with team chemistry, even after only being together for a few days.
“I just don’t want them to ever die,” Shevchik said. It’s also about winning here too. And that’s something that these guys need to understand and I’m proud of them.”
Patrick Forbes highlighted a similar tone about Brewster’s resilience.
“We competed. I really liked that out of the guys,” Forbes said. “It was kind of a true test for us. So I’m glad we could get a tie out of this. It’s not a loss.”
Brewster will look to get back in the win column Monday afternoon against the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox at Red Wilson Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4:45 p.m.