By: Shannon Bickert
The Schooners are back at the Shipyard to kick off the month of July. Mystic hosts the Waves on Wednesday, July 1, and Upper Valley on Thursday, July 2. The Schooners will then return for the holiday and host Newport on America’s 250th birthday and host First Responders Day on July 6.
Both Ocean State and Mystic are coming into the meeting fresh with an off day on Tuesday. The Waves have been struggling, dropping six straight games. Mystic has been on the up, taking two consecutive wins.
Ocean State most recently fell to the top team in the NECBL, the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks. Owen Morgan (Oregon) hit a solo shot in the loss.
Mystic is coming off a Vermont road trip where they put up a nine-spot in the fifth inning. Casey Wensley (Bryant) recorded a six-RBI contest. Wensley and Jamie Zee (Notre Dame) each hit home runs in the big fifth inning.
Mystic leads the season series 3-0 over the Waves. In their last contest, the Schooners trailed by a run heading into the ninth inning but exploded for six unanswered runs in the top of the ninth inning. Jack Harley (Stetson) reached five times with three hits and three stolen bags in Mystic’s win.
The Schooners offense has warmed back up since their three game slide last week. Mystic enters the game with a .234 team batting average, while Ocean State comes to the Shipyard with a .244 clip.
This season, Mystic has proved patient at the plate, recording 129 walks which is good for second in the NECBL. Their ability to draw walks has given the Schooners a .379 on-base percentage this summer. All season, Mystic has caused chaos on the basepaths, swiping an NECBL-leading 69 bases through 19 games played. Cam Righi (UConn) and Wensley both have swiped 10 bases this summer, while Bryce Detwiler (UConn) and Harley have each tallied nine.
Harley has recorded a hit in his last seven games played. In his last two games played, Harley has tallied six hits. The Mendham, New Jersey native enters the night with a .306 batting average in 15 games played.
First pitch from the Shipyard is set for 6:35 pm on Wednesday evening. Tune into the live-game broadcast on NECBL+.
