Hyannis Bats Thrive in Orleans, Post 15 Runs in Road Victory
By: Ben Pope
After putting up only three runs the previous night, the Hyannis Harbor Hawks’ bats came to play in Orleans Thursday night. Hyannis (20-12-2) tied its highest run output of the season and took down the Orleans Firebirds 15-5.
“We’re all just playing our game, keeping it simple to our approaches and pushing ourselves,” outfielder Zach Ehrhard said about the team’s success recently. “We’re really clicking and trusting each other, really coming and playing team baseball every night.”
After coming up empty in the top of the first, the Harbor Hawks faced an early deficit with Orleans (16-15) scoring a pair of runs off starter Jack O’Connor in the bottom half. After a leadoff triple to begin the frame, Drew Faurot drew the runner home on a sacrifice fly. Owen Carapellotti drove a second runner in on an RBI single later in the inning.
Hyannis responded in the following inning, starting off with a Will Taylor solo shot. After an Aaron Parker walk and Trey Lipsey single, Ehrhard kept the line rolling with an RBI single to center and knotted the score at two. Orleans starter Sam Hliboki walked Cam Smith to face Zach Yorke next, which proved costly. After striking out in the first, Yorke rebounded in a big way and drove a double into the right-field corner, plating two more for the Harbor Hawks.
After a pitching change, Hyannis was able to score its two runners on an error by shortstop Jack Penney and a groundout by Harbor Hawks newcomer Brandon Eike.
Jack O’Connor settled in after his rough first, navigating four innings for Hyannis while allowing just the two runs early. Despite the tough beginning, head coach Eric Beattie liked what he saw from his right-hander.
“It’s frustrating as a starter to go out and get hit in the first,” Beattie said post-game. “[O’Connor] showed some good maturity going out and still competing for his team.”
The Hyannis offense would stay quiet for a bit but reawakened in the sixth for more damage. Separated by one at-bat, Zach Yorke and Brandon Eike teed off for homers to the pull side and elevated the Hawks’ lead. This is Yorke’s second home run of the season and served as Eike’s first home run in his Hawks debut.
“[Eike] had a good plan out there,” Beattie said.“ [He’s] very athletic [with] great bat speed, and he showed both those off tonight.”
Hyannis added on three runs in each of the seventh and eighth innings, matching their season-high run total of 15 (first done vs Chatham July 14).
Zach Ehrhard led the offensive charge once again, recording three hits and two runs scored at the top of the Harbor Hawks lineup. Ehrhard has been on a tear recently, recording his 5th multi-hit game in the last eight contests. Despite the move to the top of the lineup, the Oklahoma State product isn’t changing up his game.
“I’ve been making some adjustments, and just seeing the ball well. I’m starting to trust myself, my hands, my abilities, and it’s paying off.” Ehrhard said post-game.
Hyannis has a +34-run differential in their latest eight-game stretch, moving closer to first-place Cotuit. Coach Eric Beattie isn’t taking this recent stretch lightly, giving tribute to the competitiveness and effort from his players.
“We don’t want to take these wins for granted, it’s hard to win at any level, especially the Cape,” Beattie said. “…just important to keep a loose mindset and take it one game at a time.”
The Hawks look to move their winning streak to four on Friday evening in a home matchup against the Harwich Mariners. First pitch is scheduled for 6 P.M at McKeon Park.
Ben Pope can be reached at bpope9202@gmail.com and can be found on Twitter @bope016.
