Bourne Braves Struggling As They Head To Postseason

By: Rich Maclone
Published: 08/10/12

The Bourne Braves cost themselves a little pride, but nothing more, in their regular season finale on Tuesday night against the Wareham Gatemen as they dropped a 6-5 decision in extra frames. The Braves, who had clinched a Cape Cod Baseball League playoff spot earlier in the week, open up the tournament this afternoon with a game at Cotuit at 4 PM.

Bourne grabbed a 5-2 lead in the top of the seventh inning, thanks to a two-run home run by Jack Reinheimer (East Carolina), his first of the season. The Braves could not hold onto that lead, though.

Wareham rallied for three in the bottom of the frame which ultimately sent the game into extra innings. Ryan Sullivan (Seton Hall) walked with the bases full to drive in the first run of the inning for the Gatemen and then Kyle Schwarber (Indiana) singled in another run to make it 5-4. Tyler Horan (Virginia Tech) then drove in the tying run with a sac fly to right field that made it a tie ballgame.

Bourne never threatened again in the game, and the Gatemen sent their fans home happy with a walk-off win in the 10th. Dan Palka (Georgia Tech) started the winning rally by singling to left and then Mott Hyde (Georgia Tech) walked to put two aboard for the night’s hero, Dustin DeMuth (Indiana), who doubled to left center to win the game for Wareham.

The Braves dropped their final home game of the regular season on Monday night, against the same team, falling to Wareham that night by an 8-3 count.

The contest was in doubt until the late innings as Wareham busted open a 2-2 game by scoring runs in each of the last three frames.

Tyler King (Nebraska) pitched well for the Braves in a starting role but did not factor in the decision. King went five strong, allowing two runs—one of which was earned—and gave up just two hits and one walk with two strike-outs.
Hawtin Buchanan (Mississippi) was tagged with the loss for the Braves. Buchanan ran into control issues and was touched up for a pair of runs, giving up two hits and three walks over two innings. The pitcher who followed fared no better as Ryan Donohue (LaSalle) gave up four runs, three earned, over his two innings against Wareham.

Bourne finds itself limping into the playoffs as the team dropped five of its last six games. The team finished tied with Hyannis for the worst record in the Cape League, at 17-27, but advanced into the postseason based on having more wins in their head-to-head matches.

Now that they’re in, they find themselves with a tough assignment as they draw Cotuit in round one. The Kettleers have been scalding hot during the second half of the season. Cotuit posted an 8-2 record down the stretch and finished with the best record in the league, going 30-14 overall, which is the best CCBL record in the last five years.

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