Sharks Devour Blue Sox 11–6 for Fourth Straight
Austin Pierzynski reached base all five times he came to the plate and Michael Devenney retired every batter he faced over three perfect innings, carrying Martha's Vineyard to its fourth consecutive win.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 3 |
|
|
1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | X | 11 | 12 | 0 |
Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts, Fog drifted in off Nantucket Sound on a warm, soupy Sunday night, the temperature sliding from the mid-70s into the mid-60s with the air thick at better than 90 percent humidity and not a drop of rain to clear it. Back in home waters for the first time in a week, the Sharks made the murk work for them and by the time the haze settled over the Shark Tank, Valley had no doubt this was no accident. Martha's Vineyard jumped on the Blue Sox early, never trailed after the second inning, and rolled to an 11–6 victory in front of 3,501 at the Tank, running its winning streak to four and improving to 14–4 on the NECBL season.
Valley drew first blood when Lucas Alberti turned on a two-out pitch in the top of the first and drove it over the left-field wall for a 1–0 lead. The answer was immediate: Wesley Scott led off the bottom half by depositing a ball over the right-field fence to even it at 1–1.
The Sharks took the lead for good in the second, and they did it with two outs and nobody on base. Nick Rubino and Austin Pierzynski opened the inning with singles, but a pair of quick outs left them stranded — until Jackson Roper laced a two-run single, aided by a throwing error, to make it 3–1. Roper promptly stole third, scored on a passed ball after Ty Fredo drew a walk, and Ryan Thompson capped the rally with an RBI double. Four runs, all after the second out, and a 5–1 cushion.
Valley clawed back in the third, when Alberti, in the middle of a four-RBI afternoon, ripped a two-run double to pull within 5–3. It was as close as the Blue Sox would get.
Martha's Vineyard slammed the door in the fourth with a four-run barrage built on patience and pressure. Roper and Fredo singled, Thompson walked to load the bases, and the runs poured in: Jack Kamin's fielder's choice plated one, Rubino drew a bases-loaded walk for another, a passed ball brought home a third, and Pierzynski singled to center for the fourth. Suddenly it was 9–3, and the home crowd could exhale.
While the bats did their work, Michael Devenney (2–1) was quietly authoring the night's most efficient performance. Taking over in the fourth, the right-hander faced the minimum across three innings, nine men up, nine men down, three by strikeout, to extinguish any thought of a Valley comeback. Starter Thomas Achey had set the tone with five strikeouts over his three frames, and Ryan Renfroe slammed the book shut with a perfect ninth.
The Sharks tacked on a run in the sixth on Will Shaheen's sacrifice fly and another in the seventh on one of the night's most audacious plays, as pinch-runner Kevin Hall stole home. Valley scratched out cosmetic runs in the seventh and eighth, but the margin never tightened enough to matter. Martha's Vineyard finished with 12 hits — three apiece from Pierzynski and Roper, the latter adding two stolen bases — and, tellingly, did not commit a single error behind a Blue Sox club that gave the ball away three times.
Clean, patient, and ruthless from the second inning on, it was the kind of complete night that turns a hot week into a statement. The Sharks return to the Tank on Monday to host the Ocean State Waves.
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.