OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Sometimes there’s no doubt.

The very moment bat met ball, Grayson Porter pretty much knew it was gone but he also was careful not to start the traditional trot. He figured it was better to play it safe than to set himself up for an embarrassing moment or show up the opposition.

“Whenever you square one up it always feels good,” Grayson said about his fifth inning grand slam that helped lift the Old Orchard Beach Raging Tide to a 9-2 win over the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks in a Futures Collegiate Baseball League game played Tuesday night at The Ballpark.

“I was running hard right out of the box because I didn’t know if it was going to hit off the wall or not.”

Porter’s grand slam capped a five-run fifth inning that left the Sharks (25-26), playing a single game after four straight days of doubleheader baseball, in the dust.

Leading 3-1, the Raging Tide (22-29) began the frame by loading the bases and scoring their first run of the inning when Sharks’ shortstop Dylan Tice couldn’t get the ball out of his glove after fielding a grounder by Dan Fratus. The error gave Old Orchard Beach a 4-1 lead with the bases still loaded. One out later, Porter stepped to the plate and put the game out of reach.

“It was a no doubter, you could tell on contact,” Reidy said.

“We’ve been trying to get Grayson to swing at fastballs early in the count a little more. He’s done that lately and got one that time.”

The break-out inning added to a good start by the Raging Tide after scoring three times in its first at-bat to jump into a 3-0 lead. Old Orchard Beach opened the game with four consecutive singles off Martha’s Vineyard starter Matthew Cook (0-5). Jason Vosler, who went 4 for 5 in the game, and Matt Verrier each stroked run-scoring hits while Dan Fratus pushed home the third run when he hit into a fielder’s choice.

Raging Tide starter Tyler Laverriere (4-4) embraced the early run support and retired 12 of the first 15 batters he faced, allowing just a pair of singles and a walk through four innings.

“It’s a lot easier when you come out with a lead,” said Laverriere. “It’s easier to get ahead of hitters, stay with the game plan and kind of go after hitters and it worked out.”

The Sharks got to Laverriere in the fifth when Tice singled to drive in a run to make it a 3-1 game. The inning came to an abrupt end when the next batter, Tad Gold, sent a sharp liner that second baseman Brett Flutie grabbed and stepped on second to complete an unassisted double play.

Laverriere was cruising along until the seventh when his defense let him down. A pair of errors by Flutie elongated an inning and spelled the end for the Old Orchard Beach pitcher. After allowing a run Laverriere, who gave up two runs on seven hits while striking out five in the winning effort, turned the game over to Adam Ogburn with two outs and the bases loaded. Ogburn got out of the jam by striking out Sharks’ pinch hitter Kyle Brenner.

Ogburn shutout the Sharks the rest of the way. He allowed two hits and struck out three.

— Contact Mark Jeanneret at 282-1535, Ext. 323.