Seven Martha’s Vineyard Sharks will represent the Island Sunday as the NECBL All-Star game arrives on the Vineyard for the first time in league history.
Third basemen Michael Snyder, catcher Thomas Bramley, second basemen Dorian Gonzalez, designated hitter Logan Chambers and pitchers Cameron Hill, Stephen Quigley and Alejandro Torres were all named all-stars from the Sharks squad, more players than any other team in the league.
Lately, thanks to superb performance from their star-studded roster, the Sharks have rattled off seven straight wins with the playoffs on the horizon.
On Tuesday, Snyder and Hill were clutch against the Sanford Mainers as the Sharks came from behind to win 4-2. Snyder cracked a double to deep center field for his team-leading 19th RBI and then scored the go-ahead run on a Chambers single. With the heart of the Mainers’ lineup due up in the 8th, Sharks manager Jay Mendez called on Hill for a six-out save and the southpaw delivered.
“That’s what he’s been doing as of late, just racking up those saves. He’s a good guy to go back-to-back innings . . . I think he’s perfect for those last two innings of the game,” Mendez said.
Having a pitcher capable of multiple innings of relief makes a manager’s life easier; having two more equally capable arms in the bullpen is an embarrassment of riches. And in Torres and Quigley the Sharks have precisely that. Torres boasts a sub two earned run average and Quigley leads the team in strikeouts with 36.
“We’re very fortunate,” the Sharks manager said.
Mendez also accredited his team’s recent success to a locked-in mindset that the Sharks hope to carry through this season and into the future.
“It’s a testament to what these guys have been doing on the field day in and day out. We’ve gone through a really grueling schedule these last 12 games,” Mendez said.
“These guys have stepped up to the challenge,” he continued. “We always talk about where they want to be at the next level and that’s playing 162 games a summer. They’ve grinded it out and they’ve been doing a heck of a job.”
In the coming days before the all-star game there’s no let up as the Sharks play four games in three days including a double-header against Coastal Division leading Newport Gulls. After a break on Saturday, the all-star Sharks take the field at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
Sharks general manager Russ Curran said bringing the all-star game to the Shark Tank is an opportunity for fans from all over New England to enjoy everything the Vineyard diamond has to offer.
“I wanted the all-star game to be able to showcase our ballpark. A lot of people never come out here from other teams and it really is a hidden gem,” Curran said.
Before the game, fans can enjoy Mad Martha’s ice cream, Offshore Ale beer and catering from Winston’s Kitchen while a home run derby kicks off the fun at 2 p.m. With a representative from each team in the derby, fans have the opportunity to get an up-close view of sluggers from all over the country blasting baseballs into orbit.
“The Shark Tank is a great place because of the intimacy and proximity of the fans to the field and the access they have to the players,” Curran continued.
In other Sharks news this week, five former players, including three from last year’s team, were drafted by major league baseball clubs in the 2022 draft. Ryan Ramsey, who threw a perfect game at the University of Maryland this season, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 13th round. Levi Usher was also selected by the Royals in the 10th round, Austin Peterson was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the 9th round, Haydn McGeary was chosen by the Chicago Cubs in the 15th round and Spencer Bramwell was selected by the Miami Marlins in the 18th round.
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