Article By: Joseph McLaughlin

The good times keep rolling for the Gatemen. Winners of 11 of their previous 13 games and holding a three-game winning streak, they have defeated their competition with ease. 

Thursday’s 8-1 win against the Firebirds was a masterclass on Wareham Gatemen baseball. The Gatemen played a gritty game, wore down the opposing pitchers, and dominated at the plate, all while throwing an amazing game on the mound. 

The Gatemen are red-hot at the right time and return to Spillane Field to face the Cotuit Kettleers. Cotuit is another team that is starting to heat up at the right time, coming off back-to-back wins, including an 11-0 shutout over the Hyannis Harbor Hawks on Thursday.

That win propelled the Ketts into third place in the West Division while the Gatemen sit atop the standings. Tonight will be a crucial game for both teams as they both race towards the playoffs.

Starting Pitchers

The Gatemen will start right-hander Tate McGuire (Arkansas). McGuire, the second-year Gatemen, has been a fantastic starting arm for Wareham this summer. He has made three starts in four appearances, posting a 1.38 ERA. He pitched 13 innings, allowed eight hits, three runs (two earned), four walks, and has struck out seven batters.

In his last start against the Kettleers on July 17, he went five innings with three hits, one unearned run, one walk, and four strikeouts. McGuire is one of the Gatemen’s best starters because of his ability to shut down the opposing team early. He will need to do so again tonight.

The Ketts will counter with their southpaw starter Payton Manca (Florida State). Manca has appeared five times this summer, starting four games, and holds a 3.79 ERA. He has pitched in 19 innings, allowed 22 hits, eight earned runs, nine walks, and struck out 15 batters.

His last start against the Y-D Red Sox did not go as he had hoped. He pitched three innings with seven hits, five earned runs, one walk, and struck out three batters. Manca will be looking for redemption tonight, but will have to earn it against a Gatemen lineup that has been relentless all month. 

Players to Watch

For Wareham:

• Caden McDonald (Florida) has been on a tear this July. He started the game as a pitcher, going five innings scoreless, only allowing one hit, then hit a solo home run to extend the Gatemen’s lead to 5-0. It is something only 79 Major League pitchers have done in the history of baseball, and it is only a taste of what he has done for Wareham this summer. 
• Aris Rivera (Central Florida) also made his return to the Gatemen on Thursday. The now two-time Gatemen had an electrifying 2025 debut, going three-for-three with three RBI. He is both valuable at the plate and behind the dish, catching. 

For Cotuit:

• Jack Natili (Cincinnati) has been having a monster season with the Ketts. He crushed his third grand slam of the summer on Thursday against Hyannis. He caught against the Harbor Hawks, but it would not be surprising to see him somewhere in the lineup with how he has been hitting this season.
• Caden Bogenpohl (Missouri State) also had a great night on Thursday, going two-for-three with two walks, two RBIs, and a run scored. He could also be a force to be reckoned with in the heart of Cotuit’s order. 

First pitch for tonight’s game will now be at 7:00 p.m. at Spillane Field in Wareham due to inclement weather in the area. Admission is free, but if you cannot attend the game, you are in luck. The game will be broadcast on Cape League TV with Cory Miller, Josh Richardson, and Rayna Maggelet on the call. Click HERE to tune in.