From The Shark Tank to Lowell Park
By: James Middleton | West Chester University
Cotuit, MA – It takes forty-five minutes to get from Cape Cod to Martha's Vineyard, the home of the Martha's Vineyard Sharks and James Sashin (San Diego). The Ketts have at least four more games this season, and Sashin was one of Cotuit's final roster transactions.
“I started this summer with YD, but wasn’t able to get into a game before they released me. I was definitely excited to get another opportunity to pitch here, something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Sashin on playing in the Cape.
A native of Oak Bluffs, MA, Sashin played his high school baseball at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School. He accumulated many accolades in high school, including helping the baseball team make the playoffs for the first time in twenty years, the best overall record in MVRHS baseball history, and the lowest season ERA in school history with .83.
After high school, Sashin left the Vineyard and moved 3,051 miles away to attend the University of San Diego. However, he was not on the baseball team for the first year of his college career. He was just a student. As a sophomore, Sashin walked on to the baseball team in 2020.
“I actually tried out for the football team and made the football team. Then a week later I ran into the baseball coach and he asked me if I still wanted to tryout, so I quit the football team and went to baseball,” said Sashin on walking on to San Diego.
Sashin has now spent three seasons with San Diego in the spring while also playing for his hometown team, the MV Sharks, in the summers. The right-hander has spent four summers in the NECBL, three with the Sharks, and his most recent stint being the 2023 summer. The Shark Tank is the home field of the MV Sharks, but it is also where MVRHS plays its baseball games. Combining high school and summer ball, Sashin has spent a total of seven seasons at The
Shark Tank.
“It was a blast, I kind of grew up there. I also hosted Sharks players in high school so it kind of directed me to college baseball. I have a lot to owe to Russ and the guys over there,” said Sashin.
Sashin now makes his way off the Vineyard to Lowell Park to boost the Kettleer bullpen in its final games of the season. He comes to Cotuit after playing eight games for the Sharks, where he posted an ERA of 3.21. In those eight games, he had a record of 2-1 while punching out thirty-three batters while only walking ten.
“I was lucky enough to win a summer ball championship with the Sharks last summer. I know how lucky you have to be to go all the way, so I’m just trying to enjoy the ride,” said Sashin on the Ketts playoff push.