Sharks Climb Back to Sink the Mountaineers 4–3
Trailing late on the road, Martha's Vineyard struck for two on Jackson Taylor's go-ahead single in the seventh, then leaned on three lights-out innings from Alex Grant to escape Montpelier with a 4–3 win.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
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0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 1 |
Montpelier, Vermont - On a cool, partly cloudy Vermont evening, with the temperature slipping from the low 70s and a passing chance of rain that never materialized, the Martha's Vineyard Sharks proved that even a thousand feet up in the Green Mountains, the water is never safe. Trailing 3–2 entering the seventh inning, the Sharks surfaced for a two-run rally and held on for a 4–3 win over the Vermont Mountaineers in front of 1,368 fans, improving to 11–4 on the NECBL season.
The Sharks drew first blood in the top of the first. Carter Bentley reached, swiped his way into scoring position, and came home on Nick Barron's RBI groundout for a quick 1–0 lead.
Vermont answered in the bottom of the second, when Bryce Rudisill turned on a pitch and drove it over the right-field wall to tie it at 1–1. The Mountaineers edged ahead in the fourth, manufacturing a run as Alex Benevento came around to score on a wild pitch for a 2–1 edge.
Martha's Vineyard clawed even in the fifth. Madux Lovinelli worked aboard and scampered home on Wesley Scott's sacrifice fly to center, knotting the game at 2–2.
But the Mountaineers struck back in the bottom of the sixth. Benevento, a threat all night, launched a solo home run to left field to nudge Vermont back in front, 3–2.
The Sharks, though, had been circling, and in the seventh, they went in for the kill. With two runners aboard, Jackson Taylor lined a two-run single to right-center, scoring Wesley Scott and Jailen Watkins to flip the score to 4–3. It was Taylor's second and third RBI of the night, and it proved to be the difference.
From there, Alex Grant turned the final three innings into open water. The left-hander slammed the door, allowing just one hit while striking out five over three scoreless frames to lock down the win and improve to 2–0. Behind him, the Sharks' staff was relentless all evening, combining for 11 strikeouts, while the Vineyard defense gunned down three Mountaineer base stealers to choke off every Vermont threat.
Taylor led the offense, going 2-for-3 with the game-winning two-run single, a walk, and two stolen bases. Bentley matched him with two hits, two steals, and the game's first run, while Watkins doubled and came around to score. Starter Ryan Gold set the tone with four innings and five strikeouts before handing off to Jake Lodgek and, ultimately, Grant.
The win lifts Martha's Vineyard to 11–4 and drops the Mountaineers to 6–11.
About the Martha's Vineyard Sharks
The Martha's Vineyard Sharks are a member of the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL), providing top collegiate talent with a platform to develop and entertain fans across the region. The MV Sharks Baseball Foundation, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to promoting baseball on Martha's Vineyard. We are currently seeking support to improve our baseball field at The Shark Tank, enhancing facilities for players, fans, and the community. The total estimated cost for these upgrades is $520,000, and as of today, we have secured commitments totaling $200,000. If interested, your donation will help bridge this gap, directly contributing to better playing conditions, safety features, and accessibility, ensuring the Martha's Vineyard Sharks continue to thrive as a beacon of youth development and local pride. Donate here today via our secure online form at mvsharks.com/donate (powered by MxMerchant for seamless, tax-receipted giving), or email/call Russ Curran at russ.curran@mvsharks.com / 508-813-0380. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a difference and qualifies for tax benefits.