Sharks Run Down Danbury 4–2 for Sixth Straight

Danbury, Connecticut — On a warm, cloud-draped early-summer evening at Rogers Park, the mercury easing from the low 80s toward the mid-70s, humidity clinging near 66 percent, and scarcely a breath of wind stirring the outfield flags — the Martha's Vineyard Sharks proved the danger doesn't stay on the coast. Spotted a run before they ever came to bat and held scoreless into the fifth, the Sharks flipped a taut pitcher's duel on its head with a three-run sixth and rode a suffocating bullpen to a 4–2 victory over the Danbury Westerners in front of 406 fans. The win lifts Martha's Vineyard to 16–4 on the NECBL season and extends its winning streak to a season-best six games.

Danbury landed the first blow. In the bottom of the first, Jack Lutte turned on a Callen Powers offering and drove it over the right-field wall for a solo home run and an early 1–0 lead. It would be the only mistake anyone would remember Powers making. The right-hander otherwise carved through three innings, striking out four before handing the ball to the bullpen.

The Sharks answered in the fifth. Austin Pierzynski came around to score on Wesley Scott's sacrifice fly to right field, squaring the game at 1–1 and setting the stage for the frame that decided it.

That frame arrived an inning later, and Martha's Vineyard made it count. Will Shaheen laced an RBI single to right to bring home Ryan Thompson and push the Sharks ahead 2–1. Bryan Sornas,  who reached base four times on the night, three of them by walk, worked a bases-loaded free pass to plate Nick Rubino for a 3–1 edge. Scott then delivered his second run of the night, grounding out to second to score Pierzynski and make it 4–1. Danbury scratched one back in its half of the inning on Gavin Donohue's RBI single, but that was as close as the Westerners would get.

From there, the Sharks' relief corps slammed the cage door shut. Jack Volo (1–0) followed Powers with two hitless innings and four strikeouts to earn the win, Scott Longo punched out three over two frames, and Ben Waterman closed it with two scoreless innings for his second save. All told, four Martha's Vineyard pitchers combined for 12 strikeouts and scattered just five hits, and the bullpen surrendered only a single hit and no earned runs across the final six innings. Shortstop Jackson Roper paced the offense with a 3-for-5 night, while Scott quietly drove in a pair without a base hit of his own.

Six straight, and the water only keeps getting deeper.

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.