Stay Connected:
Stay Connected:
July 11, 2021 3:28 pm | by GatemenNews
By Jack Sadighian
Nick Clayton (Clemson) threw five scoreless innings, Jimmy Crooks (Oklahoma) launched a three-run homer to right, and Wareham (6-6-4) defeated Hyannis (2-13) 4-2 on Saturday night at McKeon Park.
With Brewster’s 5-3 win over Cotuit and Falmouth’s cancellation against Orleans, Wareham holds sole possession of second place in the West Division. The Gatemen sit 4 ½ games back from the first place Bourne Braves (11-1-3).
“I don’t look at the standings much, but we have been swinging the bat much better over the last few games,” said manager Don Sneddon. “We continue to improve each day.”
Wareham started the scoring in the second. Crooks hit a line drive into left center to score Owen Diodati (Alabama) and give the Gatemen a 1-0 lead.
The run came off Adrian Siravo (Weatherford), who finished with one run allowed off two hits in three innings. In Siravo’s two starts against Wareham, he gave up two runs in 6 ⅔ innings pitched.
Clayton dominated the first five innings. The right hander allowed two baserunners and struck out five. Clayton notched his first win of the season and now holds a 3.14 ERA through 14 ⅓ innings pitched.
“I don’t think I’ve thrown five innings since high school,” said Clayton. “I felt a little fatigue in the fourth inning, but really found to go five.”
Clayton continues to work on stretching his outings. The right hander threw 37 2/3 innings in 18 appearances for Clemson this past spring.
Entering the seventh up 1-0, Crooks followed a Kellum Clark (Mississippi State) walk and Kade Kern (Ohio State) base hit with a 3-run bomb to right off David Furtado (Wake Forest).
“I just try to stay relaxed,” said Crooks. “I just simplify my swing and try to drive it to all parts of the ballpark.”
The catcher finished his day 2-for-4 with 4 RBIs, increasing his hitting streak to 9 games. Anthony Frechette (George Washington) was the only other Wareham player with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a pair of base hits. Ryan Romano paced Hyannis, going 3-for-3 with an RBI triple in the eighth.
Christian Ruebeck and Hunter Schilperoort (University of the Pacific) combined to give up two runs over the final four innings. Hyannis brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but Schilperoort struck out Mason Greer (Missouri State) for his first save of the season. Schilperoort gave up one run with eight strikeouts through his first 8 ⅔ innings pitched in the CCBL.
STRONG DEFENSE
Players on both sides made a number of defensive highlights. In the second, Clark hit a high fly ball to the wall in right. Dominic Johnson (Oklahoma State) raced back, leapt into the air and pulled down the baseball while balancing his right hand on the wall.
In the third, Hyannis put runners on the corners. With two outs, Ryan Proto (UMass) roped a ball to right. Kern tracked quickly to his left and made an underhanded catch while sprinting at full speed. Earlier in the frame, Clayton fielded a suicide squeeze up the middle and threw out Johnson at home plate.
FINAL SCORING LINE
Wareham: 4 runs, 6 hits, 0 errors
Hyannis: 2 runs, 5 hits, 2 errors
UP NEXT
The Gatemen return to Spillane Field tomorrow for the first time since July 7 to finish the two-game set against the Harbor Hawks at 6:30pm. The game will start a three-game homestand for Wareham, with five of the next six games at Spillane Field.
