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Photo by Nicole Harnishfeger
Second baseman Jacob Maguire attempts to cut down Newburyport’s Kevin Crossman at the bag in the first game of Sunday’s doubleheader.
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By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
The varsity baseball team came within one strike of clinching a Division III South playoff spot Sunday afternoon, but a last-inning come-from-behind effort from Newburyport eliminated the Whalers hopes of wrapping up the bid a week early.
Nantucket (8-5) lost both games of a doubleheader against the Clippers at home Sunday, 5-0 and 8-7. Also this week, the Whalers defeated Sturgis on the road 5-3 in nine innings.
Late-game errors continue to plague the varsity squad, which has now lost three games this season in the final inning in which they were ahead. The Whalers almost lost another at Sturgis Friday, but rallied in extra innings to take the win.
After collecting only two hits in the game-one shutout against Newburyport, Nantucket broke out as the away team in game two, carrying a 7-3 lead into the final inning. Newburyport did not let up and capitalized on three Whalers errors to load the bases and win the game on a base-on-balls on 3-2 pitch.
“It would have been pressure off the team - riding into the sunset trying to win as many as you can after that. Now we have to pick and choose our battles and pick which one we are going to go after,” head coach Nick Duarte said.
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