SHARKS DOMINATE PITTSFIELD SUNS 11-4

The Martha's Vineyard Sharks used solid pitching and timely hitting to barrel past the Pittsfield Suns 11-4. With this victory, the Sharks remain in first place in the Futures League ahead of the Nashua Silver Knights by 1.5 games. 

Saturday's afternoon game featured Kyle Brenner (Brandeis) for the Sharks and Peter Gregory for the Suns. The Sharks started the game off strong with 3 runs in the 2nd inning. Nik Campero (UMASS) scored on a Donnie Cimino (Wesleyan) single, which was quickly followed by runs from Cimino and Justin Meier (Bucknell). This lead was not long-lived, however, as the Suns were able to come back with 3 runs of their own in the 3rd. Bo Slemons (Xavier) led off the half-inning with a solo homerun. Gary Tesch (Penn) scored on a Kyle Singleton (Northeastern Oklahoma State) single, which was followed by a Brandon Slattery (Manhattan College) single that drove in Frank Crinella (Merrimack) from third.

Pittsfield took a brief lead in the 4th inning on a Tesch sac fly, but it would be a short-lived lead as the Sharks stormed back in the 5th to score 3 more runs. The Sharks loaded the bases with no outs and were able to push across the first run of the inning when Ryan Siegel (Mercyhurst) was hit by a pitch, which brought Nick Sanford (UMASS) home from third. A sac fly from Ryan Uhl (IUP) brought home another run and a Donnie Cimino single brought home the final run of the inning for the Sharks. Insurance runs were added in the 6th and 8th innings to push the score to 11-4.Starting pitcher Brenner got the win for the Sharks, while reliever Patrick Lia (UMass Amherst) took the loss for the Suns. 

Ryan Siegel continues to lead the team with a .392 average, while Brenner picked up his 4th win of the summer. The Sharks return to action at home on Sunday (7/14) against the Seacoast Mavericks. First pitch is scheduled for 6:45 pm. 

Written by Sharks intern Alex Berman, Wellesley College