The Harwich Mariners clinched their seventh Cape Cod Baseball League championship on Tuesday night, defeating the Bourne Braves 4-2 in Game 3 at Whitehouse Field before a crowd of more than 7,000 fans. The victory capped a season that saw the Mariners surge through the playoffs, sweeping the Brewster Whitecaps and the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox to earn a spot in the finals.
A milestone for the franchise
Manager Steve Englert, who guided the club to its fourth league title, praised the team's resilience after a tightly contested series. "We knew we had to stay focused," Englert said, noting that the Mariners' chemistry and consistent performance were the cornerstones of their success.
JP Peltier was named the league's Most Valuable Player after posting a .346 batting average with two home runs, 12 walks and six RBIs. His clutch hitting helped spark the offense that produced the decisive runs in the ninth inning, where Luke Morgan induced a pop‑up to seal the championship.
The Mariners' pitching staff, featuring Colin Lebel, Bryan Matuschat, Reese Oakley and Tommy Mitchell, delivered several shutouts and kept Bourne's lineup in check throughout the series. Their ability to mix velocity with precision proved pivotal in the high‑stakes game.
The win marks a historic milestone for Harwich, extending a championship streak that began in 1933 and includes titles in 1983, 1987, 2008, 2011 and 2024. With this triumph, the Mariners cement their dominance in the league and set a benchmark for future teams.