By: Shannon Bickert

The Schooners are off to a red-hot start, winning eight of their first ten games.

The team has combined great pitching alongside timely hitting in order to seal close-game victories.

Mystic’s pitching staff has been stellar to start the season. The staff averages one strikeout per inning, while maintaining a team 3.52 ERA, which is good for fourth in the league.

The opening day starter, Dominic Pontbriant (USF), leads the NECBL in qualified starters with a 0.79 ERA across three starts.

Connor Lane (UConn) has been a huge piece of Mystic’s bullpen. Lane has notched two saves (tied for first in league). Lane has struck out 12 across six innings of relief work.

Alongside the pitching, the offense has been clicking at the right time. Gabe Natividad (Winthrop) has hit .400 through the early stretch. Casey Wensley (Bryant) and Anthony Ruugiero (Northeastern) have also been consistent bats in the Schooners’ lineup, hitting over .350 on the season. Devin Russell (UNC) has delivered power at the plate, ripping two home runs. Russell and Wensley have both come in the clutch, leading the team with eight RBI apiece.

Speed on the basepaths has been a difference-maker this season. The Schooners are second in the NECBL in stolen bases, tallying 28 through 10 games. Bryce Detwiler (UConn), Jack Harley (Stetson) and Wensley have all recorded four stolen bags this summer.

Mystic looks to keep the momentum rolling against the best team in the league, Martha’s Vineyard, on Tuesday, June 16 at the Shipyard. First pitch from Ed Harvey Field is set for 6:30 pm.