With three home runs in Friday’s 8-1 win over Hyannis, the Whitecaps overtook Cotuit – who has been at the top all season – for the league lead in homers. They’re up to 34 in 36 games.

The Whitecaps can claim two of the top three spots on the individual leaderboard, but those guys – derby champ Tyler Hardman (Oklahoma) and derby runner-up T.J. Collett (Kentucky) – weren’t even involved in Friday’s slugging.

Gage Workman (Arizona State) and Jesse Franklin (Michigan) both got in on the act with their first home runs of the summer, while Tyler Gentry (Alabama) hit his second. The Whitecaps have hit at least one homer in four consecutive games.

The pitching beneficiaries on Friday included Stephen Emanuels (Washington), who went 4.1 scoreless innings, and Daniel Harper (Kentucky), who was credited with the win.

Brewster won its second straight and is four points out of a playoff spot in the East.

Friday’s loss eliminated Hyannis from postseason contention.

Falmouth 2, Orleans 1

It may catch up to them at some point, but for now, the Commodores are actually taking advantage of their busy schedule rather than getting worn down by it. With their ninth straight win – a 2-1 triumph over Orleans – they’re opened up a five-point lead at the top of the West standings. Zach DeLoach (Texas A&M) went 3-for-5 with an RBI and Steven Moretto (Cal State Sacramento) drove in the other run as part of a 2-for-3 night. The slim lead was enough for four Falmouth pitchers. Carmen Mlodzinski (South Carolina) struck out five in five shutout innings for the win, while moving into a tie for the league lead in Ks. Christian Edwards (Jacksonville State) followed with two scoreless frames. Caleb Wurster (UConn) gave up a run in the eighth but also stranded the tying run on third to keep Falmouth on front. Zachary Brzykcy (Virginia Tech) recorded his league-best seventh save – and his fourth in the win streak.

Chatham 6, Bourne 2

Chatham won its fourth in a row, and like Falmouth, has a five-point cushion in first place. Four runs in the top of the first inning – against one of the top pitchers in the league, Mac Lardner (Gonzaga) set the tone. Alex Toral (Miami) drove in two with a single, Jamal O’Guinn (USC) knocked in one with a base hit and Kendrick Calilao (Florida) plated one on a fielder’s choice. Two pitchers were both solid for the Anglers, Ty Madden (Texas) allowing one run in four innings and Jack Owen (Auburn) giving up one run in five innings. Lardner was charged with four earned runs, though he did manage nine strikeouts. With Hyannis losing, Bourne clinched the final playoff spot in the West despite the loss.

Cotuit 6, Wareham 1

Oraj Anu (Wallace State CC) moved into the leadoff spot, led off the bottom of the first with a single, and ended up going 2-for-3 with his fifth home run of the summer as Cotuit beat Wareham. Anu added three RBI. Joey Loperfido (Duke), Casey Schmitt (San Diego State), and Coltyn Kessler (Kentucky) had one RBI each. Schmitt also starred in relief, striking out three in 4.1 hitless, scoreless innings. The win moved Cotuit one point ahead of Wareham for second place.

Harwich 4, Y-D 4

Down to its last strike in the top of the ninth, Y-D got an RBI single from Wyatt Young to tie the game, and that’s how it would end. Young went 2-for-5 and is back atop the batting average leaderboard. Carson Taylor (Virginia Tech) homered and drove in three for the Red Sox, while Jake Palmer (UC Irvine) scored two runs. For Harwich, Hal Hughes (LSU) and Chris Lanzilli (Wake Forest) each had two hits and an RBI. Antonio Menendez (Wake Forest) took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before giving up two singles and the homer to Taylor.

What to Watch

Ian Bedell (Missouri) hasn’t had a chance to bolster his status as the league’s top pitcher in a while, but will get the ball as Wareham hosts Hyannis. Bedell was coming off six shutout innings in a July 10 start when his next start was washed out. Bedell has a 0.70 ERA.

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