Navs Fall Friday to League-Best Sharks

LYNN, Mass. — The North Shore Navigators fell 5-2 to the New England Collegiate Baseball League-leading Martha's Vineyard Sharks in Friday night's game at Fraser Field.

North Shore (7-11) scored in the first inning, but couldn't generate more offense until third baseman Jason Bello (Florida International) hit a late home run to lead off the eighth. Still, the Navs limited the Sharks to six hits, and reliever Charley Bergsma (Harvard) struck out four in two innings. 

After conceding six runs across a doubleheader with the Keene SwampBats Thursday, the Navs' defense picked up where it left off, as starter Sam Perry (UMass) took out the Sharks through the minimum three batters in the first inning.

Shortstop Michael Brown (Hofstra) topped the first with his ninth walk of the season. After a wild pitch and stolen base, Brown opened the scoring as catcher Daniel Leikus (Rhode Island) singled to right for a 1-0 advantage.

The second inning saw the first three Martha's Vineyard batters reach base, including designated hitter Wesley Scott (Louisiana Tech) via a double. But North Shore threw first baseman Nick Barron (Northwestern) out at home to keep its shutout afloat.

Although the Navs were retired 1-2-3 in the frame's latter half, they then did the same to the Sharks, as Perry struck out two. The Navigators' offense gained a baserunner in the bottom of the stanza, as right fielder Danny Flynn (Northeastern) was hit by a pitch.

With Martha's Vineyard coming off a 16-run performance, its lack of early offense was uncharacteristic. That halted during the top of the fourth. On an 0-2 count, Barron blasted a ball onto a grass mound beyond the right-field fence for a 2-1 lead, scoring right fielder Carter Bentley (Northeastern), who previously walked.

The Sharks quickly returned to offense and registered two baserunners after a walk and center fielder Kevin Hall's (UAB) right-field single. However, once Lynn native Josh Doney (UMass Lowell) relieved Perry for his first home appearance this season, Martha's Vineyard was quieted.

Then, it was Ethan Hunt's (Southern New Hampshire) time on the mound, and he handled the Sharks through four batters at the top of the sixth. Martha's Vineyard starter Jordan Paradis (UMass Dartmouth) and reliever Ethan Santerre (Salve Regina) kept the Navs hitless for six straight innings.

Martha's Vineyard achieved a 3-1 lead in the seventh on Hall's double. That scored catcher James McGee (Kennesaw State). Still, reliever Charley Bergsma (Harvard) recorded a strikeout during the frame.

The Sharks loaded the bases in the top of the eighth after left fielder Griffin Crain's (Louisville) single preceded two walks. McGee capitalized, scoring Crain and Bentley with a single for a 5-1 advantage.

The Navs weren't deterred, cutting the margin to three on Bello's solo rocket beyond the left-field fence. Although Lorcan Lee (Quinnipiac) recorded a strikeout during a 1-2-3 ninth, the Navs' offense couldn't swing momentum in their direction.

The Navs are back in action Saturday against the North Adams SteepleCats at Fraser. First pitch is at 1:35 p.m.