BOURNE, Mass. – The Falmouth Commodores’ season came to an end on Saturday night, as the team fell 8–6 to the Bourne Braves in game three of the first round in the Cape Cod Baseball League Playoffs.
The Commodores led the game 5–2 in the top of the fourth inning, but the Braves posted six runs in the bottom half to shift momentum in the contest. Will Johnston provided the team with a solid start on the mound, allowing three runs with only two earned during his three innings of work.
Garrett Coe was the first pitcher out of the bullpen, giving up two runs while retiring just one batter. Leo Giannoni then enter the game, giving up three runs including two earned, without recording an out. Kaleb Corbett was dominant in relief, striking out five batters and yielding just one hit in 3.2 frames. AJ Causey followed this by working a scoreless eighth.
Falmouth had a productive night in the batter’s box despite falling short, recording six runs on nine hits. Designated hitter Peyton Stovall had a big game, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs. Third baseman Anthony Mackenzie also came through in game three, as went 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Manager Jeff Trundy said he was proud of the way this year’s club competed and what they accomplished as the first Falmouth team to reach the postseason since 2019.
“The ’Dore family is a very big family and it’s an extended group that reaches far and wide and this group became part of it,” Trundy said. “They became part of it in grand style because they were just such a group of competitors, and [the] kids really wanted to win for each other. And I just told them how much that means to me and everybody else that’s a part of the organization.”
The Commodores received a tough blow early on, as second baseman Colby Halter was hit by a pitch in the hand in the top of the first inning. The University of Florida product went out into the field in the bottom half of the frame, but he was then replaced by Patrick Roche in the second inning.
The Braves didn’t waste any time getting on the scoreboard, taking a 1–0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. Second baseman Matt Shaw hit a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Mac Horvath.
The Commodores got this run back in the top of the second, tying the game at 1–1. First baseman Jacob Walsh lined an RBI single through the left side of the infield, driving in Stovall.
Falmouth crossed the plate again in the top of the third inning, taking a 2–1 lead over Bourne. Stovall lined an RBI single to left-center field, scoring Roche. Walsh lined a ball towards right field with the bases loaded later in the frame, but Shaw made a leaping catch to prevent the ’Dores from extending the lead.
The Braves promptly responded in the bottom half of the frame, knotting up the game at 2–2. Horvath drove a solo homer over the left field wall, hitting his first home run of the playoffs.
The Commodores answered with three runs in the top of the fourth, taking a 5–2 lead. Roche drove a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Mackenzie to cross the dish. Stovall then powered a two-run single that glanced off of the glove of Braves’ left fielder Evan Sleight on a diving attempt. The clutch knock brought home Alex Mooney and Jace Bohrofen. The designated hitter said that despite falling short, he is grateful for the time he spent in Falmouth this summer.
“[It was] an unbelievable experience,” Stovall said. “Just experiencing all the unique stuff that comes with this and this experience has been a dream come true. … It’s been awesome and just making so many friendships with people that I never thought I would have and it’s just been awesome, man. I can’t describe how thankful [and] how blessed I am to be a part of this team.”
Bourne stormed back in the bottom of the fourth with a six-run frame, taking an 8–5 lead. Third baseman Bryce Eblin hit an infield RBI single on a ground ball toward third base, scoring Nelson Taylor. First baseman Christopher Brito then tied the game by lining a two-run double that glanced off of Walsh’s glove at first and rolled down the right field line, plating Eblin and John Peck. Sleight then put the club in front by hitting an RBI infield single on a chopper just to the left of the mound, driving in Horvath. Designated hitter Joshua Kuroda-Grauer then drew a walk with the bases loaded, forcing home Brito. Sleight capped off the scoring by crossing the dish on a wild pitch.
Falmouth then plated a run in the top of the eighth inning, narrowing its deficit to 8–6. Mackenzie drove a solo blast over the center field wall, making it a two-run game. The third baseman’s last home run came during the club’s 12–9 victory against the Wareham Gateman on June 18.
This would ultimately hold as the final score, as the ’Dores were kept off the scoreboard in the ninth. Catcher Josiah Cromwick flew out to right field to end the game.
The 2022 Falmouth Commodores posted a combined 20–23–4, including its regular season and postseason games. Trundy said he is grateful to have coached this group of players during a memorable summer.
“I think certain teams really get to your heart,” Trundy said. “And this one did.”
Note: Featured image by Meghan Murphy.
Click here for Saturday night’s box score.
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Click here for the 2022 Falmouth Commodores schedule.
Tommy Mumau can be reached at tmumau@ithaca.edu. Follow him on Twitter @tommymumau13.
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