Zac(k) Attack Leads Braves Over Mariners

By: Jacob Janower

Already a College World Series star, Zack Hess (LSU) came to the Cape Cod Baseball League with a specific goal in mind to become an even better pitcher. His intention was to get a consistent third pitch after flashing a solid fastball and changeup during his freshman season with the Tigers.

After making three starts with the Bourne Braves, he feels like he is closer to achieving what he set out to do this summer.

“I still feel like there is some progress I need to make with it and I still need to keep working at it,” Hess said. “I definitely feel like I made some strides while I was up here. I think coming up to the Cape was really big for me.”

His final appearance culminated with the Braves (20-17) taking home a 4-1 win over the Harwich Mariners (11-26-1) as both teams dodged the inclement weather on a night with rain in the forecast.

Another Zac- Zac Susi (Connecticut)- had his best game of the season, flexing his muscles for two solo home runs.

Susi has been a mainstay in the lineup, but it has mainly due to his ability to hit for average and steadiness behind the plate. The power he flashed has not been a specific focus of his during the summer, but it was a welcomed sight regardless.

“It was more working on creating good swings in every type of count I get and all types of pitches and keeping the bat in the zone for as long as possible,” he said. “Just at the end of the day hitting the ball hard. I’ve been trying a little bit to get a little elevation to the balls I’m hitting, keeping the balls off the ground.”

His battery mate Hess did his job on the mound, but was limited to just three innings, which was expected due to limitations that he came to the Cape with. He did not allow a run and walked a tightrope in two of his frames of work.

“Today I felt like I was commanding the zone,” Hess said. “A little bit shaky in the first but once I made an adjustment I felt like I was filling it up pretty good and keeping the guys off balance.”

The right-hander loaded the bases but got a strikeout to end the first inning and recorded another strikeout and a groundout to strand two runners in the third.

“You don’t want to give up a big hit when you have guys on base because that’s really a rally killer,” Hess said. “You want to give your team every single shot to stay in the ball game.”

He finished his summer with 10 strikeouts and three earned runs allowed in 10 and 1/3 innings.

Andrew Fregia (Sam Houston State) added to the power showcase with his third home run of the season, which tied him with Susi for the team lead. Thursday also marked the second time this season that both Fregia and Susi have homered in the same game.

The win was capped off by a strong effort out of the bullpen from relievers Sean Leland (Illinois) and Kyle Marman (Florida Atlantic). Leland entered with the Braves already ahead 3-0 and retired nine of the first ten hitters that he faced. He only allowed an earned run in his fourth inning of work on a tricky play in which Jameson Hannah (Dallas Baptist) doubled off the runner on first on a sacrifice fly by Cobie Vance (Alabama), but Matt Vierling (Notre Dame), who was on third, scored before the play concluded.

Leland has been very strong as of late, having allowed only two earned runs in his last 12 and 1/3 innings.

Marman is another pitcher who seems to be settling in and locking down a role as sort of a “secondary closer” when Ryan Feltner (Ohio State) is unavailable. He struck out three hitters in 2 and 1/3 scoreless innings to end the game.

“The guys came out throwing strikes, which was the first thing I noticed,” Susi said. “It was probably one of the better outings we have had all summer. Guys attacking hitters, not being afraid of anybody. It felt like we had a lot of strikeouts tonight in some big situations with guys on in scoring position.”

Scoreboard Watching

Once again, the Braves moved back into first place with the win due to a loss from the Falmouth Commodores. The Cotuit Kettleers, who are three points back, had their game rained out on Thursday.

With seven games left to play, the Braves have a lead of just one point on Falmouth.

Stat That Mattered

Neither team had a hit with runners in scoring position, as the Braves and Mariners combined to go 0-for-11 with three walks.

Brave of the Game

Susi had the first multi-home run game of any Brave this season. He went through a bit of lull at the plate after he was named to the All-Star team, as he was just 1-for-16 since July 14 entering Thursday night, but the powerful showing could steer him back in the right direction.

Coming Up: For the first time since June 26, the Braves will face off against the Brewster Whitecaps. Doran Park will the site of the final of four games between the teams.