Baseball Keeps Rolling, Wins Fifth Straight Game

Photography by David Creed

The Whaler baseball team avoided disaster Tuesday afternoon but did what good teams do, which is find a way to win a game at the end even when momentum isn’t on their side. Nantucket won 11-8 against the Sturgis West Navigators despite being up 11-2 going into the final inning.
Shea Dwyer was tremendous for Nantucket in his first varsity start, pitching 6 1/3 innings while keeping the Navigator’s bats very quiet for most of the game.
“Everything and more we asked of him,” head coach Jack Pearson said. “Really what we were looking for was four innings. (Dwyer) went right after them. His pitch count was up and the situation was starting to get a little stressful at the end so I thought it was the right move at the end (to make a pitching change)."
Eric Acosta came into the game in relief with the mission of getting the final two outs and was excellent. He was hammering the strike zone and forcing the Navigators to fight off pitches, including one at bat that lasted over 10 pitches and had eight foul balls. He got the job done at the end.
A three hit day for senior second baseman Garner Ray sparked the Whalers attack, something that has commonly taken place throughout the season. He also had a pair of stolen bases.
The Whalers are suddenly 6-9 this season and in the midst of a five game winning streak. It is a testament to the hard work of these players, desire to keep pushing forward even when things weren’t looking great, and the coaching of the Whaler’s staff led by Pearson and Stefan Mandle that has led to a complete turnaround in their 2022 spring season.
A total team effort.
Every Whaler had a hit in this game. The base running was smart and effective. The fielding was exemplary up until the final inning and the morale remains high for a team and program that is beginning to set a standard to be followed in the years to come.
“A little pressure situation can be good for these guys,” Pearson said. “They battled and didn’t shrink in the moment. Five in a row and they are pumped. We are ready for St. John Paul.”
The Whalers will travel to St. John Paul II on Wednesday to take on the Lions at 4 p.m.