Y-D: 2, Harwich: 4
It was a good run for the 2011 Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox. Entering the playoffs with a losing record (19-21-4) there was not much hope for the team against the first place Orleans Firebirds who could not seem to lose a game at the end of the regular season. Nevertheless, the Red Sox persevered and defeated the Firebirds in two games to face the Harwich Mariners in the Eastern Division Finals. That was where the story changed.
We saw a different team in this best-of-three series that Harwich took in two. Truthfully, the pitching was not that bad. Red Sox starting pitchers threw well enough to allow the bats to do their work and score some supporting runs. However, much to the dismay of YD Nation, it was the offense that failed in the series against Harwich.
Sox bats were held scoreless through 17 innings in the series before scoring a pair in the bottom of the ninth yesterday during a comeback run that fell short. Only nine hits accumulated in that painful 17 inning scoreless streak which was outnumbered by thirteen strikeouts during the stretch.
Key Red Sox bats faltered in Game Two of the series. Cody Keefer went 0-3 with three strikeouts, James Ramsey and Stephen Piscotty each put up 0-4 appearances, and Mason Katz went hitless as well with an 0-3 showing. Matt Reynolds who had been red-hot at the end of the season, lifting his average to .322, went 2-17 in the Red Sox four playoff games. It was simply a disappointing way to end the season, yet there was still much to be proud of as Sox players gathered on the field with teammates, host families, and friends at the conclusion of the game.
Andrew Thurman took the mound for YD against Harwich’s Taylor Rogers. Thurman threw 5+ innings allowing three runs on six hits while striking out four. Kyle Hansen hurled the final four innings for the Red Sox allowing only one run in the ninth while also striking out four.
Taylor Rogers was brilliant for Harwich going 8+ before being relieved in the ninth inning by Chris Overman. Rogers ran out of gas in the ninth and ended with a line of two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out six.
The Harwich scoring began quite controversial in the top of the third when Austin Nola sat at second base with two outs. Darnell Sweeney laced a sinking liner to center field on a full count that James Ramsey dove and caught. Or so he thought. Ramsey stood up after making his catch and started to run back towards the home team dugout, but first base umpire Jim McNally ruled that Ramsey trapped the ball meaning Nola scored the first Harwich run and Sweeney stood on second. Ramsey immediately turned to McNally heated and argued his case as Coach Pickler came out to do the same but to no avail. Jake Davies followed with an RBI single to drive in the Sweeney and extend the Harwich lead to 2-0 before the inning ended.
The Mariners added another run in the sixth inning and final one in the ninth on a Nola solo shot.
Searching for the magic they found in the series against Orleans, the YD Red Sox wanted to make some noise in the bottom of the ninth. Derrick Chung and Chris Taylor (2-4) led off the inning with back-to-back singles placing runners on first and second with no outs. Pinch hitter Connor Harrell then dribbled a slow roller under the glove of the first baseman allowing Chung to score and moving Taylor to third.
Now with Ramsey and Piscotty coming to the plate the Sox really hoped for some fireworks. Instead, Ramsey grounded into a fielder’s choice scoring Taylor from third and cutting the Harwich lead to 4-2. Piscotty and Reynolds both followed with ground outs, stranding a runner and ending the Sox playoff run.
It was a fun ride this season although it came to a conclusion earlier than many had wished. The Red Sox players accomplished a lot this season and we wish them the best of luck in their future. And as they say, there’s always next season.
--Ben Stepansky
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