Vineyard Devours Keene 16–7 for Back-to-Back Wins

Keene, N.H., Under mainly clear skies on a cool June evening in southwestern New Hampshire with temperatures easing from a daytime high near 78°F into the low 60s by the late innings, with a light breeze out of the east, the Martha's Vineyard Sharks turned a road trip to Keene into a feeding frenzy. Scoring in six different innings and piling up 18 hits, the Sharks rode a monster seven-RBI night from designated hitter Ryan Thompson to a 16–7 demolition of the Keene Swamp Bats at Alumni Field, claiming their second straight win and improving to 12–4 on the NECBL season.

The Sharks were hunting from the opening pitch. In the first, Thompson laced an RBI double to right field to score Griffin Crain for a quick 1–0 lead. They tacked on two more in the second, as Austin Pierzynski singled home Nick Rubino and Jackson Roper doubled to right to plate Pierzynski, making it 3–0.

Then came the third, and the bottom fell out for Keene. The Sharks sent a parade to the plate, scoring four times on Bryan Sornas's RBI single, a bases-loaded RBI walk from Will Shaheen, a wild pitch, and a run-scoring single by Crain, blowing the game open at 7–0 before the Swamp Bats had truly come to bat.

Keene scratched back with single runs in the third and fourth to make it 7–2, but Martha's Vineyard simply kept pouring it on. Crain doubled home another run in the fifth and Thompson added a sacrifice fly for a 9–2 cushion. In the sixth, the Sharks struck for four more, Roper was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, Crain drew a bases-loaded walk, and Thompson ripped a two-run single that an error stretched even further, opening a commanding 13–2 lead.

The Swamp Bats finally found their power in the bottom of the sixth, when Michael O'Brien, T.J. Schuyler, and Jackson Smith all went deep — Smith's a two-run shot — for a four-run inning that trimmed the deficit to 13–6. But that was as close as Keene would get.

Thompson made sure of it. In the eighth, the DH put an exclamation point on his evening, launching a three-run homer to left field to push the lead back to 16–6 and cap a remarkable 3-for-5, seven-RBI night. Keene managed a run in the ninth on a sacrifice fly to set the final at 16–7.

The Sharks did damage top to bottom. Crain finished 3-for-5 with three RBI, Roper went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and three runs scored, and Pierzynski reached base four times while crossing the plate three times. Leadoff man Kevin Hall was a constant nuisance, scoring three runs on two hits and two walks. On the mound, starter Callen Powers gave the Sharks three steady innings, and Ben Waterman (W, 1–0) slammed the door, retiring the side in order over the final three frames without surrendering a hit while striking out three.

**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.