Sharks Survive 12–11 North Shore Shootout for Second Straight
James McGee's first-inning grand slam and two-double, four-RBI night, capped by Griffin Crain's fifth-inning steal of home and a 20-strikeout effort on the mound, carried Martha's Vineyard through a 23-run seesaw and past the North Shore Navigators 12–11 for its second consecutive win.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 12 | 2 |
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6 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | X | 12 | 12 | 2 |
Oak Bluffs, MA - Under clear skies and a steady northeast breeze off the Sound, with first-pitch temperatures in the low 70s cooling toward the mid-60s across a marathon three-hour, 55-minute night, the Martha's Vineyard Sharks turned an early feeding frenzy into a survival act — sprinting to a six-run lead, absorbing a furious North Shore counterpunch, and holding on for a 12–11 win in front of 2,810 fans at The Shark Tank. The victory was the Sharks' second straight and pushed their record to 28–10 on the NECBL season.
The water boiled early. Griffin Crain came around to score on Carter Bentley's RBI single to center, and moments later James McGee turned the lineup over the fence entirely, launching a grand slam to right-center that plated Jackson Roper, Will Hampton and Bentley for a 5–0 lead. Before the frame closed, Rylen Stockton scampered home on a wild pitch, and the Sharks had a six-spot on the board before the Navigators had swung the bat in anger.
But this shark tale had a second act, and it belonged to the visitors. Anderson French answered McGee's blast with a grand slam of his own to right, scoring Aidan Sengenberger, Jack Rickheim and Daniel Leikus to make it 6–4. Hunter Kingsbury followed with a two-run double, and Tyler Shulman's sacrifice fly completed the improbable turnaround — seven runs in the inning, and suddenly North Shore led 7–6.
Kingsbury kept the pressure on in the third, tripling home two more to stretch the Navigators' lead to 9–6. The Sharks, though, refused to sink. Jackson Roper crossed on a passed ball, Crain singled home McGee, and Bentley delivered his second RBI single of the night to knot the game at 9–9.
The go-ahead run came not off the bat but off the basepaths. With Bentley swiping second to stir the pot, Crain broke for the plate and stole home clean in the fifth, handing Martha's Vineyard a 10–9 edge and the kind of daylight it would not surrender.
North Shore drew even at 10–10 in the sixth on a Leikus RBI groundout, but the Sharks kept circling. Roper's run-scoring groundout in the home half put them back in front 11–10, and Will Bavaro singled home Bentley in the seventh for a 12–10 cushion.
From there, the Sharks' arms did the closing. After a rocky start on the mound, the Vineyard bullpen went to work missing bats — Kian Vorster (2–1) struck out six over 2.1 innings to earn the win, and the staff piled up 20 strikeouts on the night. North Shore scratched one back in the ninth on Danny Flynn's RBI single, but Ben Waterman slammed the door for his first save, stranding the tying run and sealing the 12–11 final.
McGee was the unquestioned catch of the day, finishing 3-for-4 with the grand slam, two doubles and four RBI. Bentley chipped in three hits, two RBI and a pair of stolen bases, while Crain reached twice, scored twice and supplied the game's signature moment with his theft of home. For North Shore, Kingsbury (4-for-5, double, two triples, four RBI) and French (grand slam, four RBI) made sure the Navigators went down swinging.
The Sharks are back in the water and on the hunt, riding a two-game winning streak.
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.