By: Alec Henden

ORLEANS, Mass. – Throughout Orleans manager Kelly Nicholson’s tenure, wins and losses were never his purpose in coaching. Nicholson preferred to work with young men knowing he’d have a positive impact on young athletes, regardless of the outcome of their baseball careers.

However, you don’t get to spend 15 seasons as the skipper of a Cape League team without finding success. On a beautiful July night, the man who has stood in the first base dugout at Eldredge Park for a decade and a half won his 350th contest as manager.

For a man who made his mark as a pitching coach, his milestone victory will be remembered as a Firebirds' offensive barrage in a 15-3 victory over the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox that broke Orleans' nine-game drought against the Red Sox in the process.

“To be a part of this league for 19 summers and 15 as the manager has been an absolute honor,” Nicholson said. “It means we’ve had really good players and fantastic coaching staffs. I’ve also been here for a long time.”

In typical Kelly fashion, he was quick to praise his opponent, who battled against him throughout his tenure as the skipper for a milestone of his opponent. Earlier this season it was Y-D celebrating a special moment at Eldredge.

“I sent Pick (Y-D manager Scott Pickler) a text today saying ‘I was sorry for the delayed response but congrats on 500,'” Nicholson said. “He was super humble about winning 500. It’s been a really humbling experience and an honor to be a part of this league.”

Wins and losses are how managers and coaches are measured across all sports. While most people in sports rarely remember specific aspects of games, it's the people they met along the way that forever stand out.

“The friends that I’ve made, the people I’ve met and the relationships that are formed are the things that will go with me to my grave,” Nicholson said. “They mean the very, very most.”

The Firebirds (14-11-2) exploded at the plate scoring a season-high 15 runs on a season-best 18 hits.

Orleans outfielder Zach Britton (Louisville) was the offensive star of the night as he hit two home runs and drove in six runs, including an RBI-double in the first.

Britton has swung the bat well throughout the summer but had gone into a bit of a funk of late. Ahead of the game, the team worked to visualize some success that turned into Saturday night’s offensive barrage.

“Before the game, the coaches brought us together and asked us about our most memorable hit,” Britton explained. “We were talking about it for 20 minutes before we set up for BP (batting practice) and I think it gave us a little bit of confidence. It was cool to visualize our successes and tonight it showed. We were pretty confident and committed to our game plan at the plate.”

Firebirds' starter Noah Skirrow threw three innings of one-run ball to start and limited the damage, stranding seven base runners across the first few frames. The newly named Cape League All-Star wasn’t his typical sharp self but found ways to work around traffic on the bases.

“He just made big pitches when he needed to,” Orleans catcher Rob Emery (San Francisco) said of his battery mate. “He wasn’t really sharp all day with his command but he focused up and got to the present moment and limited them to one run when he allowed the leadoff guy on every inning.”

Orleans followed with seven relievers to finish off the victory while also getting a lot of arms some work.

Right-hander Reid McLaughlin (Brigham Young) threw a scoreless inning in relief making his Firebirds' debut.

The Birds will now travel west for a Sunday evening contest with the Cotuit Kettleers. The two teams tied in the previous matchup at Lowell Park on June 26.

Short Hops:

-The Firebirds will be sending three players to the Cape League All-Star game, outfielder Max Troiani (Bentley), left-handed pitcher Jared Shuster (Wake Forest) and Skirrow. Troiani will start for the east team in center field.

-Infielder Shay Whitcomb (UC San Diego) moved into a tie for the team lead in home runs with a solo blast to right field in the fourth inning.

-Orleans will send right-hander Austin Love (North Carolina) to the bump for Sunday’s game against Cotuit. Love was touched up in his previous start against Chatham allowing three earned runs in four innings to take the loss.