By Maxwell Paul McLaughlin
Brewster, M.A. – The Whitecaps got back on track in a big way with a 7-1 win over the Orleans Firebirds.
After struggling the last few games, the long ball carried the Whitecaps to a huge win to stay alone in second place and get back to .500.
“We needed a good game today; we had good pitching. I was very happy with Matt Bedford, and we scored enough runs to play a complete baseball game from start to finish,” Whitecaps manager Jamie Shevchik said.
The Whitecaps jumped on the board first in the bottom of the fourth inning. Cam Fisher (Charlotte) hit a solo home run, then Kevin Keister (Maryland) hit a two-run bomb to make it a 3-0 score.
The Whitecaps picked up their fourth run of the game off a fielders choice that scored Davis Diaz (Vanderbilt) from third.
The Whitecaps continued the takedown of the Firebirds with three runs in the bottom of the third. The first run came in off a passed ball that scored Kevin Keister (Maryland) from third.
Davis Diaz (Vanderbilt) then hit a two-run home run to make it 7-0; Carson Demartini (Virginia Tech) followed with a triple but could not score.
Kevin Keister (Maryland) had a huge breakout game for the Whitecaps with a Homerun, double and a run scored.
“I haven’t played well the last couple of nights. It was good to get my feet under me and play well tonight,” Keister said.
Matthew Bedford (Notre Dame), George Welch (Southern New Hampshire), Colton Sundloff (Oklahoma), and Braxton Pearson (TCU) all pitched for the Whitecaps and dominated.
All the pitchers combined to only allow six hits and one run in the most complete game on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball the Whitecaps have played this year.
It was a much-needed win for a team struggling through July; hopefully, this gets the Whitecaps back on track for a big playoff push.