Just When You Thought It Was Safe: Sharks Return to Bristol Waters, Bite Blues 3–2 for Second Straight Win

Bristol, Connecticut, Two nights after Bristol handed them their most lopsided loss of the summer, the Martha's Vineyard Sharks swam right back into the Blues' home waters and reclaimed them. On a sweltering Connecticut evening where the mercury had pushed past 90 degrees during the day, and the air still hung thick under overcast skies with barely a breeze, the Sharks rode a masterful long-relief performance from Jake Lodgek to a 3–2 victory at Muzzy Field on Friday night. The win is Martha's Vineyard's second straight, squares the season series with Bristol at two games apiece, and lifts the Sharks to 18–5 overall, including a sparkling 9–1 mark away from the Island.

The Sharks drew first blood in the opening frame. Kevin Hall raced home with an unearned run when Jackson Roper's ball was misplayed by Bristol right fielder Mason Breton, Roper taking second on the play for a quick 1–0 lead.

Martha's Vineyard doubled the edge in the second, when James McGee came around to score on Hall's sacrifice fly to right field.

Bristol answered in its half of the second without the benefit of a base hit. Sharks starter Thomas Achey wrestled with his command, walking five over his two innings of work, and a Martha's Vineyard throwing error on Antonio Ducatelli's ball allowed Mason Breton and Colin Crowley to cross with two unearned runs, knotting the game at 2–2. For all the traffic, Achey's line held firm where it mattered most: no hits and no earned runs allowed.

Then Jake Lodgek took the ball in the third and simply never gave it back. Over seven scoreless innings, the Sharks reliever scattered two hits, walked nobody, and struck out seven while facing just one batter over the minimum. A double play turned by Jackson Taylor, Nick Barron, and Jailen Watkins helped erase what little traffic Bristol could muster on a night the Blues managed just two hits in total.

The Sharks kept the pressure on against a parade of five Bristol pitchers. Starter Ty Davis plunked three batters and was gone after 3.1 innings, but stranded runner after runner until the seventh. That's when Jackson Taylor delivered, lacing a double down the right-field line off reliever Jack Ruditzky to score Griffin Crain, move Carter Bentley to third, and put Martha's Vineyard in front, 3–2.

It was all the cushion Lodgek (W, 2–0) would need. He slammed the door the rest of the way to seal the win and pin the loss on Ruditzky (0–1). Bentley paced the offense with three hits and a stolen base, Ethan Gonzalez chipped in two knocks from behind the plate, and Taylor finished 2-for-5 with a double and the game-winning RBI. Hall's quietly complete night at the top of the order — a run scored, a run driven in, a walk, and a stolen base — set the tone from the first inning on. In all, the Sharks banged out nine hits while stranding 11.

Winners of two straight and a perfect 2–0 at Muzzy Field this summer, the Sharks are back in action Monday night at the Valley Blue Sox.

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.