4 August, 2004

Harwich Mariners Still in the Hunt

     With a handful of games remaining, the playoff hopes of the Harwich Mariners are at the miracle stage. 

     On Monday night it appeared they would take the first steps toward a miracle finish as Kevin Mulvey (Villanova) pitched a complete game gem. Mulvey struck out nine and surrendered only one hit, but Harwich was edged 2-1 by Y-D. The Red Sox currently hold the wild card in the East and the Mariners needed this win to close the gap. 

     "This was a big game, it was a four point swing, we have to get hot and get the big hits," said Harwich manager Steve Englert. 

     The Mariners had their chances including a leadoff double by Tim Grogan (Western Kentucky) to start the ninth. Catcher John Slone bunted him over to third, but Red Sox closer Josh Faiola (Dartmouth College) retired the next two to shut the door on the rally. 

     "We had a couple of innings.We had chances but we couldn't get the one big hit and that is the difference between winning and losing," said Englert. "We couldn't string the hits together, we needed back to back hits; the opportunities were there and we didn't score." 

     Mulvey is the lone freshman on the Mariners team but looked like a veteran as he cruised through the first four innings, retiring the side in order in the first and third. He got early offensive help on a Clete Thomas (Auburn) first inning home run. Thomas waited on a 3-1 fastball from Y-D starter Justin Keadle (Wake Forest) and crushed it over the right center field fence giving the Mariners the 1-0 lead. 

     Mulvey finally slipped in the fifth when he was hurt by his wildness. After surrendering a double he walked two, and two wild pitches and a passed ball put Y-D up 2-1. 

     The Mariners loaded the bases in the sixth, and threatened in the ninth but couldn't get the runs home. 

     For Mulvey this was a big game despite the loss as the freshman proved he could compete with the elite in the Cape League. 

     "I'm a starter at school, and as a freshman I came up here expecting to get some innings in where they needed me," he said. 

     After some struggles from the starters, Englert plugged Mulvey in and Monday was his third start. 

     "He got the job done; it was just an outstanding effort on his part. It was his second good outing in a row and he deserved to win," said Englert. 

     " I've started all my life and I wanted to start up here; it's is the best of the best up here and I'm happy to be here as a freshman," said Mulvey. 

     The Mariners will need to win all of their remaining games and hope Y-D and Brewster falter, but Englert is still hopeful. 

     "We have two games in hand on everybody and we have good arms starting for us. We have a shot, we are still alive but we are going to have to get hot and plate some runs," said Englert 

     It will be a steep uphill climb, but mathematically the Mariners are still very much alive. They are chasing the wild card leading Brewster Whitecaps who lead them 42 points to 34. They will also need to leapfrog third place Orleans (38 points). To have any shot Harwich will need to win all seven or at least six of their final seven games. The one advantage the Mariners have is they play one more game than the teams they are chasing. If the Mariners win out, they finish with 48 points, meaning if Brewster goes 3-3 they will be in a tie with Harwich. 

     The Mariners will also have to hope the Cardinals slump down the stretch or Harwich will be shut out of the playoffs anyway. 

     It will not be easy, as the Mariners will need to beat league leader Y-D, and sweep a split double header against Cotuit and Falmouth on Thursday. They finish up on Aug. 8 at Brewster in a game that could have playoff implications. 

     "Hopefully we can play well enough that the last game will mean something," said Englert.