Singing Surgeons – EMass Sports

2021 All-Star pitcher Ryan Fleming has pitched just twice since June 24, 2021, for the Waltham Cutters. Four of the seven Cutters’ games in July were postponed or called off in the middle of the game due to inclement weather. This includes that infamous tie against the Singing Surgeons on July 17.

“This season has been anything but normal and that’s coming from someone who started during a COVID-19 shortened season,” said Fleming.

Fleming returned to the mound on August 1 against the Milton Fighting Irish. He proceeded to fire a four-hit shutout, walking two and strikeout ten. Half of his strikeouts were as a result of his curveball, one of three pitches in his repertoire. He also features a fastball and changeup.

Additionally, Fleming provided his own run support with an RBI fielder’s choice and then he proceeded to score from first on an RBI double by catcher Devin Conroy. This was in the middle of a four-run first inning that provided all the run support Fleming would need in the contest. Waltham won the game 5-0.

“I am very much a momentum pitcher,” said Fleming. “And from my perspective pitching from ahead is infinitely easier.”

The win improved Fleming’s record to 2-0 this season and the Cutters’ record now stands at 10-4-1. He has started each of the last two games for Waltham firing 12 2/3 innings of two-run ball, surrendering eight hits, and collecting 19 strikeouts during those contests.

“Once I am grooving, as long I am making competitive pitches, I don’t think there a lot of teams that can beat me straight up,” said Fleming.

Ryan Fleming has accounted for 45% of his team’s strikeouts on the mound this season. Photo by Whitney Dowds

During his 2021 campaign, Fleming has allowed two runs or fewer in seven of his eight appearances. His only outlier this season came in his June 24 start, where he was charged with nine runs on 11 hits in four innings against the Middleboro Mocka Rays (15-2).

This comes one season after finishing with a 3-1 record in seven appearances, where he gave up two runs or fewer in six of those games to help him win the MABL 18+ Rookie of the Year award in 2020.

“What’s impressed me most about Ryan is his dedication to the game in always working to make himself better,” said Jeff Coveney, President of the Boston Men’s Baseball League and the Waltham Cutters’ manager. “That extra work has paid off on the field.”

When he is not pitching, Fleming patrols right field. Offensively, he currently is tied for second on the Cutters in hits (11) and is ranked third in RBIs (5).

The Cutters return to action against the Greater Boston Bandits (4-11) on August 11. The first pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Nipper Park in Waltham.

Saturday’s matchup between the Waltham Cutters (8-3-1) and Singing Surgeons (4-7-1) began under partly cloudy skies, but the weather gradually got worse. It started with a small sprinkle but quickly became a steady downpour in the bottom of the fourth with occasional lightning flashing across the sky. The umpires called the game off in the top of the fifth inning citing concern for player safety and the game ended in a 4-4 tie.

In fact, four of the five games in the Boston Men’s Baseball League 18+ division were postponed this past weekend due to inclement weather.

On Saturday, the Cutters’ offense finished with just three hits but when faced with a chance to knock in runners in scoring position, they pounced on the opportunity. Third baseman Brett Fundell launched a 2-run double in the top of the first, while All-Star first baseman Dan Wilson added an RBI single two innings later. Both Fundell and Wilson accounted for three of the seven base runners for Waltham in this contest. Additionally, they added their final run on a balk by Surgeons’ starter Zeke Golnick, scoring second baseman Tim Vardais in the third inning.

“Our plan was to be aggressive at the plate and swing early in the count (expecting fastballs),” said Wilson. “We stole 3 bases during the game to get guys in scoring position knowing it would be tough for the catcher to make an accurate throw.”

The Waltham Cutters currently sit atop of the South division but are currently just one point behind in the standings behind the Merrimack Valley Marlins (8-3). They have outscored their opponents 52-33 this season. Offensively, they are led by Dan Wilson and center fielder Adam Anderson who combined for 22 hits and 14 RBIs.

The Surgeons scored all their runs without base hits, using two sacrifice flies in the first inning and third innings and two fourth-inning wild pitches to pull even. The two wild pitches in the fourth inning were crucial because they occurred as the rain began to intensify and nobody was certain how long the game would last.

“It didn’t appear as if the weather affected things for my club,” said Surgeons’ DH Steve Pinner. “I remember toward the end telling one of the players to be ready to take an extra-base because the opponent had to pick up a wet baseball to throw. We saw this with the increase in wild pitches as the game progressed.”

Sitting at 4-7-1, the Surgeons will look to earn their first win since June 26 when these two teams next meet again on July 22. On the mound, their rotation is led by Jack Stockless, who has started the season with a 3-1 record, a 2.95 ERA, and 14 strikeouts on his way to being named to the MABL 18+ All-Star team. Stockless leads the staff in wins and strikeouts. All-Star center fielder Peter Blunt added two more hits, helping take over the team lead in hits with 10.

“Top to bottom they were making solid contact and spraying the ball all over the field,” said Cutters All-Star RF Ryan Fleming. “Even the plays we were making were on hard-hit line drives or sharp grounders.”

Both teams are set to face off again on July 22 and 24. Waltham defeated the Surgeons in their first matchup this season, 10-5 on June 5.

Tag: Singing Surgeons

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