Yarmouth-Dennis pitching staff shoves past Brewster in 2-0 victory

By Ben Strober

It was the top of the sixth, and the offense was nowhere to be found all evening for either team.

Dominant starting pitching on both sides silenced any mere chance to put together a rally.

Following a two-out walk and stolen base from Max Viera, the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox finally had a shot to grab the lead.

Recently hot-hitting Hunter Hines stepped into the box, hoping to find YD the spark they desperately coveted.

Hines got a 2-1 fastball that found too much plate, and he hammered it high and out of the park for a game-changing two-run blast.

Hines’ blast marked the only two runs scored by either team in the game, as Yarmouth-Dennis’ pitching stole the show.

Jackson Kent, Sawyer Hawks, and Blake Aita dominated Brewster, compiling 15 strikeouts and allowing just four hits, sending the Red Sox to a confident 2-0 road victory over the Whitecaps.

The Red Sox’s victory over Brewster becomes the first time they’ve beaten an opponent multiple times this season.

“That was awesome,” manager Scott Pickler said. “The pitching pulled us through this game. They threw strikes.”

RJ Austin led off with a single and then swiped second base. Brewster starter Javyn Pimental did an admirable job stranding Austin, inducing two grounders to end the threat.

Kent turned in his first start of the summer, and the first time through the Whitecap order was near perfection. Kent allowed just one baserunner and struck out the side twice.

“It had been about three weeks since facing live competition,” Kent said. “I felt really strong out there, and it’s just a good feeling to be back.”

Pimental found his groove early as well. Austin’s leadoff single was the only baserunner he allowed the first time through the YD lineup.

The Red Sox implemented two on and one out in the fourth, but couldn’t muster anything from it. Max Viera failed to steal third, and Jakob Christian struck out to end the inning in a flash.

Kent finally hit trouble in the fourth. A two-out hit by pitch prompted a rally that loaded the bases. Kent held the Whitecaps in check, battling through a lengthy at-bat with Patrick Forbes, ultimately inducing his inning-ending grounder.

Kent’s day concluded following four superb innings of no-run ball and six strikeouts.

“He had total control of all three of his pitches,” Pickler said. “He did a great job today and set up the rest of the guys for success.”

Austin hit what was the hardest hit ball of the day leading off the sixth —it was one of those days though — his shot fell at the base of the wall for an out.

Finally, Hines broke the ice, that same inning.

A two-out walk from Viera and stolen base off reliever Davin Pollar set the stage for Hines and YD to break through.

Hines’ third homer of the season rocketed him to the top of The Cape.

Newly committed Vanderbilt Commodore Hawks took over for Kent in the fifth, and he started dealing. Following Hines’ blast, Hawks sat down the side.

Brewster threatened in the seventh, notching a two-out walk and an infield single. It wasn’t any matter for Hawks — he forced a weak infield pop-up to hold the lead at two nothing.

“I had trust in my stuff and the defense behind me,” Hawks said. “I knew if I filled up the zone, they’d have my back.”

Hawks delivered a gusty three innings out of the pen, striking out six Whitecaps.

“It felt good out there,” Hawks said. “Just having to live up to the commitment of being on Vandy, now you got to go out there and shove.”

The Red Sox nearly found insurance in the top eight. Austin reached second with two outs, giving Brady Day a chance to add to the lead. Day hit a blooper that forced SS Payton Green and LF Trevor Austin to collide. 

Somehow, Green corralled the ball, stealing a run away from Yarmouth and ending the inning.

Pickler entrusted Aita to gather the final six out — and for good reason — Aita ended Brewster’s hopes by striking out four of the seven batters he faced.

Brewster was no match for YD’s dominance on the bump, and the Red Sox’s defense saw a vital improvement by making no errors.

“Today was an example of the way things should be played,” Pickler said.