Hyannis Harbor Hawks Stifle Wareham Gatemen on the Road

The grip on first place in the Cape League's Western Division just got tighter.

With Clemson University righty Scott Firth on the mound, the Hyannis Harbor Hawks' point tally in the Western Division race increased and the team's grip on first place grew tighter as the guests dispatched the host Wareham Gatemen, 7-0, last night, at Clement S. Spillane Field in downtown Wareham.

Firth was impressive throughout as he tossed six strong, shutout innings and struck out four batters. Firth scattered five hits and walked three. He also picked off Georgia Tech's Brandon Thomas after a lead-off walk in the bottom of the first that immediately changed the momentum of the game for the usually speedy Wareham nine.

After a scoreless first inning, Hyannis jumped out to an early lead it would not relinquish in the top of the second inning, as Arizona State first baseman Joey DeMichele led things off with a double off the left field wall, Arizona's Joey Rickard reached on an outfield miscue and Cal Towey (Baylor) singled in DeMichele for the only run Hyannis would need.

Hyannis catcher Jeremy Dowdy (Appalachian State) drove in the Harbor Hawks' second run with a basehit and then shortstop Austin Elkins (Dallas Baptist) laid down a sacrifice bunt to make it 3-0, scoring Towey from third base.

Firth made quick business of the Wareham lineup in the bottom of the second and third frames, retiring the side 1-2-3, and again, the momentum belonged to the guests as Rickard reached on an error, stole second base, then scored on a towering opposite field home run by Dowdy to make it 5-0.

Not ready to go quietly into the Wareham night, the Gatemen staged a rally attempt in the bottom of the fourth inning with singles by Johnny Field (Arizona), second baseman Mott Hyde (Georgia Tech) and Danile Palka (Georgia Tech), along with a free pass offered to first baseman Max Muncy (Baylor), but a double play and then an uncanny, pinpoint throw from rightfield to home to nail Muncy ended the threat. The throw was made by Baylor's Towey.

In the top of the sixth inning, Hyannis finally got the best of Wareham starting pitcher Justin Amlung (Louisville) when it plated two more runs on a walk (DeMichele) and hit batsman (Kevin Plawecki/Purdue) and a two-run triple by Towey. The score remained 7-0 after six frames, in Hyannis' favor.

Wareham went to the bullpen with newcomer Barrett Astin (Arkansas) who would not allow Hyannis to score in his two innings of work. Hyannis also went to its bullpen, when Portland righty Kyle Kraus came in and tossed three shutout innings on the hill.

By the end of the seventh inning, most of Wareham's largest home crowd this season had departed, leaving behind only the most faithful of Gatemen and Hyannis fans on hand.

The Harbor Hawks are now 9-2 atop the Cape League's Western Division, whileWareham falls to 5-6, but still in second place, just a one point ahead of the perennial title contenders, the Cotuit Kettleers.