Whalers Break Open Fourth of July Clash, End Shelter Island’s Winning Streak with 8-4 Victory

The Sag Harbor Whalers used an eight-run third inning to defeat the Shelter Island Bucks 8-4 in Hamptons Collegiate Baseball League action on Independence Day at Mashashimuet Park, snapping the Bucks’ six-game winning streak and moving into a share of first place in the HCBL standings.

With the victory, Sag Harbor improved to 12-8 and joined the top of the league standings, while Shelter Island fell to 9-11 but remained in possession of the fourth and final playoff spot.

After two scoreless innings, the Whalers erupted in the bottom of the third against Shelter Island starter Joe Gaspari (Hartford). Milo Suarez (Dartmouth) started the rally with a two-run single to right-center field, scoring Dominick Mancino (Rhode Island College) and Thomas Shaw (Castleton) to put Sag Harbor ahead 2-0.

The Whalers kept the pressure on as Finley Holmes (Palm Beach Atlantic) drew a bases-loaded walk to force in Anthony Sarro (Fairleigh Dickonson), extending the lead to 3-0. Moments later, Suarez crossed the plate on a wild pitch, and Hudson Meyer (Oswego State) followed with an RBI single to score Collin Harty (Nichols) to make it 5-0. Another wild pitch brought Holmes home before Aaron Vetter (Palm Beach Atlantic) capped the inning with an RBI single that plated Meyer. Vetter later scored on an error, giving Sag Harbor an 8-0 advantage after the explosive frame.

The Bucks began to chip away in the fifth inning. Sam Ametrano (Quinnipiac) doubled home JD Stemhagen (Dickinson) for Shelter Island’s first run of the game before David Swift (Bates) added a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 8-2.

Shelter Island continued its comeback attempt in the sixth when Jackson McBride (Bates) singled to right-center field to score Noah Heath (Rider). Later in the inning, Stemhagen crossed the plate on a wild pitch, trimming the margin to 8-4.

However, Sag Harbor’s pitching staff prevented the Bucks from getting any closer. Ethan Righter (Hamilton) tossed the final 1.2 scoreless innings, striking out two, to preserve the victory.

Brady Ross (Brandeis) earned the win for the Whalers, dominating over four shutout innings while allowing just two hits and four walks and striking out eight. Dominick Mancino worked through a rough fifth inning before Righter shut the door.

Shelter Island outhit Sag Harbor 9-6, led by Stemhagen’s three-hit performance. Sam Ametrano added two hits, including a double and an RBI, while McBride drove in a run.

For the Whalers, Meyer collected two hits and an RBI, while Suarez’s two-run single highlighted the decisive third inning. Sag Harbor drew seven walks and capitalized on two wild pitches and a Shelter Island error during its eight-run outburst.