Not With Three Barrels: Danbury Snaps the Sharks' Streak at Six

Oak Bluffs, MA - It was a postcard night for baseball on the Vineyard — crystal-clear skies, temperatures drifting from the low 70s into the 60s under the lights, and a season-best Sunday crowd of 2,601 packing the Shark Tank. The only thing missing was the bite. The Danbury Westerners cooled off the hottest team in the NECBL, 4–1, snapping the Martha's Vineyard Sharks' winning streak at six games and handing them their first loss since July 1.

The night belonged to Danbury starter Glenn Smith, who entered the game with a 1–4 record and pitched like anything but. The right-hander held the Sharks to two hits over 5.1 innings, striking out six without walking a batter, and three Westerners relievers carried it home from there — Simon Yochum working a clean ninth for the save. In all, Martha's Vineyard managed five hits and a single walk while striking out eight times.

Danbury scratched first in the third, when Kyle Garbowski's RBI single brought home Noel Rivera. The Westerners doubled the lead in the sixth as Gavin Donohue came all the way around on a Sharks error, and Jack Lutte followed moments later with a solo homer to right-center to make it 3–0. Lutte finished 2-for-3 with a walk and scored twice as Danbury's catalyst.

The Sharks answered in their half of the sixth. Austin Pierzynski — who did double duty behind the plate — ripped a double and came home on Griffin Crain's RBI single to left, cutting the deficit to 3–1 and stirring the crowd. But Smith and the Danbury bullpen never let the rally grow, and Collin Mowry's RBI single in the eighth plated Lutte for the 4–1 final.

Lost in the result was a perfectly solid start from Jordan Paradis, who took his first loss of the summer despite allowing just one run on three hits over four innings with four strikeouts. Scott Longo punched out five across two innings of relief, and Warner Gearhart closed the night with 1.1 hitless frames. The Sharks ran when they could, Crain and Carter Bentley each swiped a bag, but the traffic never came.

The win was Danbury's first against Martha's Vineyard in three tries this season, after the Sharks took the first two meetings in June. The Sharks slip to 22–6 on the summer — still the pace-setters of an unforgettable stretch that included six straight wins and a draft weekend that saw seven program alumni selected by Major League clubs. They'll look to start a new streak Tuesday night when the Valley Blue Sox visit the Shark Tank at 7:05 PM.

Quint said it best: he can't stay down with three barrels on him. One harpoon doesn't sink this fish.

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.