The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School baseball team exploded for four runs in the fifth inning in their home opener on Monday afternoon, en route to a 5-4 win over visiting Dennis-Yarmouth at the Shark Tank in Oak Bluffs. The junior varsity won 9-8 at the same time next door.
The Vineyarders scored an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth, and withstood a last-inning rally by D-Y to even their record at 1-1 behind steady defense and six strong innings from starter James Sashin, who allowed only one run while striking out eight Dolphins.
On Wednesday the team returned to the Shark Tank to beat Somerset Berkely 10-1.
The Vineyarders won the battle of fundamentals on Monday to defeat a Dolphin squad which handily beat them twice in the 2015 campaign. Their four-run uprising was testament to their ability to execute.
As the Vineyard was trailing 1-0 in the fifth inning of a pitcher’s duel between Mr. Sashin and D-Y starter Taidhg Delaney, senior captain Jacob Cardoza began the inning by stoically taking a pitch in the ribs, then stealing second base, to the great delight of his teammates.
After a brief consult with coach Gary Simmons, Elias Fhagen-Smith dumped a textbook bunt down the first base line, moving Mr. Cardoza to third and earning himself a base hit. Not to be outdone, Emerson Mahoney also took one for the team, getting hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs.
Aksel Cooperrider drove in the first run of the season with a long sacrifice fly to centerfield before Sam Berlow ripped a single up the middle to give the Vineyarders a 2-1 lead. A Dolphin error and a single by Aidan Aliberti gave the Purple a 4-1 lead heading to the sixth.
Mr. Sashin, though tiring, showed resilience in the sixth facing the heart of the D-Y batting order. Mr Sashin gave up a base hit and a walk with one out before Coach Simmons visited the mound. Whatever Mr. Sashin told him, Mr. Simmons believed it and left him in, and Mr. Sashin rebounded with two strikeouts to end the inning.
Mr. Cardoza opened the fifth with a pea into the left-field corner for two bases, then stole third before Mr. Fhagen-Smith waited on a curveball before lifting a sacrifice fly to right field, giving the Vineyarders a 5-1 lead.
Lefthander Chris Mayhew relived in the seventh and final inning, and was plagued by infield squibbers and an opposite-field fly-ball triple down the right-field line that led to a 5-4 game. Mr. Mayhew induced a comebacker to the mound to end the threat and seal the win.
As a team sport, high school baseball can be iffy. A couple of outstanding sluggers or pitchers can mask team weaknesses, but that does not appear to be the case for this squad.
Strength up the middle is critical for baseball team success, and this one is strong up the middle with catcher Jonas Lukowitz, who helps manage his pitchers. Shortstop Aksel Cooperrider and second baseman Sam Bresnick made several stops on Monday which won’t show up in the box score, but denied baserunners extra bases and impacted the outcome.
Corner infielders Nainoa Cooperrider (third base) and Mr. Fhagen-Smith made all the plays. Outfielders Emerson Mahoney, Mr. Cardoza, and cleanup hitter Mitchell Chaves ran down several bombs on a windy day. Mr. Mahoney handled the tester of the day, a low sinking line drive to center field, knocking the ball down and holding the hitter to two bases on a ball that might have run forever.
“They can play, no question about it. These kids are talented. They just need some confidence,” Coach Simmons said after the game. “We lost the opener [3-0] last Saturday at Woburn. Jacob Cardoza pitched a strong six-inning game, and James did the same today,” he said.
The Vineyarders open their Eastern Athletic League schedule at 3:15 Wednesday afternoon at home against Somerset Berkley Regional High School.