Whalers Beat Bucks 7-3 in HCBL Home Opener
Steady southerly winds did not stop the Sag Harbor Whalers from earning a 7-3 comeback win over the Shelter Island Bucks in their home opener this past Sunday, June 2.
Boston College sophomore John Nicklas started on the mound for the Whalers and threw a scoreless four innings, allowing only 1 hit with 6 strikeouts. Reed Bastie, a sophomore at Oklahoma State University threw for one inning following Nicklas, giving up a hit and an unearned run to put the Whalers behind 1-0. Pierson graduate and CW Post junior Brandon Kruel came in to pitch the next 2 innings, allowing 5 hits, 2 earned runs and striking out 1 batter, dropping the Whalers down 3-0 in the seventh inning. Gino Basso (sophomore, Georgetown University) and Dan Wertz (junior, Sacred Heart University) finished the game for the Whalers, each pitching an inning and striking out a batter in the eighth and ninth.
The Whalers’ batting was efficient, as they were able to draw a number of walks from the Bucks‘ pitchers, and hit the ball when it was necessary. Dan Rizzie, a sophomore at Xavier University, led the team in hits, going 2 for 2 on the day. Also contributing with a hit each was James Clements (sophomore, Georgia State University), Scott Hagan, Illinois College senior Luke Joyce and Justin Montemayor (sophomore, University of Houston), who drove in 3 runs. Hagan, Joyce and J.J. Franco (senior, Brown University) each had 1 RBI on the day. Franco, still itching to get that first hit of the season, was unable to do so after 3 walks.
Sag Harbor’s timely hitting and minimal errors in the field proved to be essential to their 7-3 win over the Bucks.
The Whalers are hosting the Center Moriches Battlecats at Mashashimuet Park in Sag Harbor for their second home game of the season tonight, Wednesday, June 5 at 5 p.m.
Visit hamptonsbaseball.org for more info about the HCBL, including schedules, team rosters, stats and much more.