by: Dan Gardella

Martha's Vineyard -  The Westerners fought back and forth but timely hitting and pitching helped them take down the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks 8-7, their second victory against the team in four days. 

Danbury got on the board first in the top of the second inning when Nick Lorusso drove in Caleb Upshaw to give the Westerners the early lead. Starting pitcher Eli Oliphant took the lead and ran with it, holding onto the lead until the fourth, when Martha’s Vineyard would knot things at one. 

The Sharks would take their first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth to hold the slim 2-1 lead before Danbury would answer in the top of the sixth with five runs to take the commanding 6-2 lead. 

The Sharks however, would knock around the Danbury bullpen in the bottom half of the frame with three runs on a pair of home runs to make it a one run lead once again. It was clear this game would need a big play by one side. 

After Martha’s Vineyard tied the game at 6 off of Joe Vail, Danbury would get timely hits from Lyndon Weaver and Alex Bello to take the two run lead heading into the late innings. From there, Antonio Velardi surrendered a lone run before Tyler Penner shut the door in the bottom of the ninth to close out the Westerners’ eighth win of the season.

They return home on Thursday evening face the North Adams Steeplecats, who sit atop the Northern Division at 6:30.