Until It Bites: A Four-Run Eighth Drowns the Waves as the Sharks Reel Off a Fifth Straight
Trailing 4–2 entering the bottom of the eighth, Martha's Vineyard drew three straight bases-loaded walks and pushed across four runs without a single base hit — James McGee delivering the go-ahead free pass and Kevin Hall reaching three times and scoring twice — to steal a 6–4 win and stretch the streak to five.
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
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0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
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0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | X | 6 | 6 | 2 |
Oak Bluffs, Massachusetts — Under clearing evening skies and a light southeasterly breeze drifting in off the Sound — temperatures easing into the upper 60s, the air thick and humid after a foggy, near-80-degree afternoon, and not a drop of rain to be found — the Martha's Vineyard Sharks spent eight innings looking lifeless in the water. Then they bit. Down 4–2 with their last six outs in sight, the Sharks erupted for four runs in the bottom of the eighth without putting a single ball in play for a hit, escaping with a 6–4 victory over the Ocean State Waves and running their winning streak to five.
The Waves drew first blood and held the early advantage. Justin Hackett came around to score on a wild pitch in the second, and an inning later Owen Morgan crossed on a Max Farrell sacrifice fly to left, pushing Ocean State in front 2–0.
Martha's Vineyard clawed even in the bottom of the third. James McGee came home on a Waves catching miscue to make it 2–1, and moments later Ryan Thompson laced a single to center field to drive in Kevin Hall and square the game at 2–2.
But the visitors kept finding the next wave. Farrell singled to center in the fifth to plate Blaize Ward for a 3–2 edge, and in the sixth Morgan turned on a pitch and drove it out for a solo home run, stretching the Ocean State lead to 4–2 and quieting the Tank.
Then came the eighth, a lesson in patience. With the bases loaded and the Waves' bullpen unraveling, the Sharks simply refused to chase. Jackson Taylor worked a bases-loaded walk to force in Kevin Hall and trim it to 4–3. Jailen Watkins did the same, drawing a walk to bring home Griffin Crain and knot it at 4–4. Then McGee laid off ball four to force in Will Hampton with the go-ahead run, 5–4. Before the inning was through, a wild pitch let Taylor scamper home for a fourth run of the frame. Four runs. Three bases-loaded walks. A wild pitch. Not one ball that found the outfield grass — just a relentless, disciplined eight innings of waiting for the water to turn.
On the mound, the Sharks got exactly what they needed to stay close. Starter Ryan Gold spun three innings and fanned three, Jake Lodgek bridged the middle with a pair of strikeouts, and Angel Cruz, who surrendered only Morgan's solo shot across three frames while striking out three, was in line for the win when the offense surged ahead. Landon O'Donnell handled the rest, retiring the side in order in the ninth and striking out one to slam the door on the 6–4 final.
Kevin Hall set the table all night, reaching base three times and scoring twice, while McGee finished 2-for-3 with a double and a hand in both the tying and go-ahead sequences. The win, the Sharks' fifth in a row, lifts Martha's Vineyard to 15–4 on the NECBL season.
The message for the rest of the league is the one Quint warned about: this shark can look dead in the water right up until the moment it isn't.
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.