Article By: Joseph McLaughlin

Yarmouth, Mass. — The sun shone bright at Red Wilson Field as the Gatemen exited the bus. For some, it was a familiar sight, with the Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game concluding on Saturday at that same field.

The Gatemen entered the All-Star break suffering a 9-8 loss to Bourne on Friday. The loss began as a 9-0 blowout, but the Gatemen clawed their way back to make it a 9-8 game.

Before that, they had won seven straight games, placing them atop the West Division, and they entered Monday’s matchup with the Y-D Red Sox to battle the best of the East Division. They were ready for the challenge and started the final two weeks of the season on the right foot.

The Gatemen (15-14) defeated the Red Sox (15-12-2) by a score of 6-5 after eight innings before the game was called due to darkness. The win strengthens their grip on the number one spot in the West, placing them three points ahead of second place after Bourne lost to Orleans, Hyannis lost to Brewster, and Cotuit lost to Chatham. 

The game started strong for the Gatemen, as they struck first. In the first inning, First Baseman Chris McHugh (NC State) blasted a double to left center field to score Right Fielder Colby Turner (Michigan) and put the Gatemen up 1-0. 

He struck again in the top of the third after he smoked a two-run home run to bring home Turner. McHugh grabbed his first home run at Red Wilson Field earlier this season, and he was not only stoked to hit another, he was excited to kickstart his offense.

“I just sat on a slider on the home run and was convinced it was gonna come, and I got it. Just to bring the momentum back that we had on Friday, after coming back from 9-0, and, you know, installing that back for us was huge,” said McHugh.

Shortly after that home run, Center Fielder Hayden Yost (Florida) crushed another two-run home run to right center that plated Third Baseman Vance Sheahan (Miami). The hit put the Gatemen up 5-0 and in control of the game.

“We needed to score some runs there. And I battled through the at-bat and was able to get a hanging breaking ball that I put a good swing on. So, that was huge and propelled our team to an early lead,” said Yost.

However, the Red Sox were quick to make the game close. After a great start from Starting Pitcher Logan Baisley (Florida Gulf Coast), he found himself in trouble in the bottom of the third inning. 

It started with a two-RBI single from Jack Arcamone (Richmond) that put Y-D on the board. Then Chris Hacopian (Maryland) doubled to score two more runs and make the score 5-4 Gatemen. 

However, the Gatemen stayed calm, did not let the bad inning control the game. They instead took charge, both offensively and defensively, and continued to be relentless to the very end of the game.

“I think that's something that we've kind of achieved throughout the summer. We just keep grinding, keep going, and no matter what the score is, we believe our offense can fight back. And, that's kind of the mentality we bring one through nine,” said Yost.

“It's just been the story the last two weeks. We’ve battled with teams coming back and vice versa. Just knowing that our offense can compete whenever, and our pitchers will hold it down, it's just a great feeling up in the box and for our pitchers on the mound,” said McHugh.

It is a mentality that Wareham Gatemen Field Manager Ryan Smyth has preached since the beginning of the season. Now, it is paying dividends in the most crucial hours of the Gatemen’s campaign.

“I've said it from the beginning, right? We were battle-tested early on. We played in some tight games, and lost. Now, that tide has shifted, and we're finding ways to win those games. Incredible job by our bullpen today, coming in and getting some big outs. And, it was just enough hitting to get a job done tonight,” said Smyth.

The Gatemen pitching staff then shut down the Red Sox offense. Great outings by TJ Schlageter (Louisville), Eli Jones (Northwest Florida State), Kaleb Applebey (Austin Peay State), and Ty Starke (Louisville) made quick work of Y-D’s bats and gave their offense confidence to continue attacking. 

They then struck again in the top of the fifth. Designated Hitter Caden McDonald (Florida), who earned the honor of CCBL Player of the Week, crushed a double to deep center field to score McHugh. That made the score 6-4, which gave the Gatemen a comfortable lead to defend.

The Gatemen held on for a 6-5 win over Y-D after a resilient effort to stay ahead, but the victory came with a scare.

Applebey went down with an apparent leg injury while fielding a short ground ball in front of home plate, a moment that immediately silenced the crowd and dugout.

"He's got some ice on his leg, but he said he was going to be all right,” said Smyth. “He's a tough kid. It’s just one of those unusual plays where two guys are going for the ball at the same time, just trying to make an out in a tough spot. Luckily, we got the out, but it was a scary moment."

Applebey was removed mid-appearance and replaced by Starke. His status remains uncertain, but hopeful to make a return soon. 

Now the Gatemen look to close out quarter three of the season with a bang as they face the Chatham Anglers at Veterans Field on Tuesday.

It will be a special day as well, with ESPN’s SportsCenter traveling down the Cape to cover the game as a part of their 50 States in 50 Days campaign. Reporter Molly McGrath, Boston College alum, will be covering the game live before first pitch.

“These guys play on ESPN all the time, so it should be nothing new to them. I'm just glad that, you know, network like that's coming out here and, you know, showcasing a capability game,” said Smyth.

First pitch for that game will be Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. at Veterans Field in Chatham.