Barthol, Holcomb homer in dominant 8-1 win against Cotuit

COTUIT, Mass. — Things didn’t end well for the Bourne Braves the last time they played a game at Lowell Park, which was nearly three weeks ago. In an offensive slugfest that lasted five-and-a-half innings, they fell to the Cotuit Kettleers, 8-7, despite easily playing well enough to win.

But Bourne is currently playing like a far different team than it was 21 days ago.

While the Braves were 6-9-2 heading into July 6, they entered Friday only one game below .500 with an 11-8 record in July. It has boasted one of the best staffs on the Cape that has pitched to a league-best 3.42 ERA, and with a recent resurgence at the plate, field manager Scott Landers’ group appears to be finding its groove at the right time.

The Braves (16-16-2) kept the good times rolling on Friday, scoring two runs in the first inning and never looking back in an 8-1 victory over the Kettleers (20-11-2) — their third win in their last four games. More importantly, Bourne is at .500 for the first time since June 16.

“We finished strong this week, going into the break,” Landers said. “We get to take two days to recover and reset a little bit, get them away from baseball and then get going down the stretch.”

Bourne got ahead early on Friday, striking with two outs on the board during the top of the first. Shortstop Marek Houston (Wake Forest) and second baseman Camden Kozeal (Arkansas) strung together consecutive singles to kick off the evening, and the former was driven in by first baseman Braden Holcomb’s (Vanderbilt) sacrifice fly to open the scoring.

Outfielder Tristan Bissetta (Clemson) kept the two-out rally going, as he slammed a drive down the right field line for an RBI double, getting to starter Joey Volchko (Stanford), who entered the game with a 1.93 ERA, as quickly as possible.

“It’s huge,” third baseman Blake Barthol (Coastal Carolina) said. “[Volchko] was pretty good, and our pitchers threw dominant today. So the earlier runs we can get the better.”

DOUBLE B WITH A BOMBBBBB 🧨🧨 Blake Barthol knocks a 2-run homer to extend the Braves lead 4-1 after 6‼️‼️

Posted by Bourne Braves on Friday, July 26, 2024

Cotuit cut the Braves’ 2-0 lead during the bottom of the third courtesy of first baseman Tanner Thach (UNC Wilmington). After shortstop Temo Becerra (Stanford) led off the frame with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball, Thach picked up his 24th RBI of the summer on a single into center field.

That run proved the lone blemish to left-hander Ethan McElvain’s (Vanderbilt) four-inning start. The Tennessee native lived by his heater on Friday, and for good reason, striking out six and only issuing one walk.

“He pitched really well,” Landers said. “He keeps getting better and better, and we’re going to need him down the stretch. But overall, I thought he was good. Fastball had some life, he threw some good sliders, some good changeups. So I just expect him to be better each night out.”

The Braves bats got going again in the sixth. Catcher John Schroeder (Florida Atlantic) reached via a single, and with two outs, Barthol got ahold of a 1-2 pitch and sent his first home run of the summer 381 feet into right-center field, extending his team’s lead, 4-1.

With runners on second and third and Cotuit’s infield in during the next frame, Holcomb slammed a single up the middle to bring in both runners and increase the Braves’ lead. The Florida native struck again during the top of the ninth, launching a two-run homer into right field.

Two of Bourne’s relievers — righty Griffin Hugus (Miami) and right-hander John Abraham (Florida State) — shut the door on Cotuit during the game’s final five innings, relinquishing only one hit and no walks while fanning a combined eight.

Hitter of the Game — Braden Holcomb

Through 30 games and 105 at-bats, Holcomb had been a force at the plate, hitting .321 this season and earning the opportunity to represent Bourne in the 2024 Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star Game on Saturday.

However, there was one part of his game missing — power.

For an infielder who possesses a 6-foot-4, 257-pound frame, a lack of extra-base hits through the majority of the summer was surprising. Heading into Friday’s game, Holcomb only had five doubles, with the rest of his knocks being singles.

He changed that with one swing against Cotuit.

During the top of the ninth with Kozeal on first, Holcomb pieced a 1-0 pitch for a two-run shot that traveled 358 feet and was 101 mph off the bat. The long ball solidified a 3-for-4 day that saw him contribute five RBI.

“I was just trying to be on time for the heater and catch it out in front,” Holcomb said. “I honestly just did some damage and it worked out.”

Pitcher of the Game — Griffin Hugus

In three innings of work, Hugus nearly followed up southpaw Zach Crotchfelt’s (Texas Tech) six-up, six-down performance on Thursday, as he faced 10 batters during his outing against Cotuit.

On top of his fastball, he debuted a new pitch on Saturday — a cutter that he threw for strikes.

Hugus wasn’t responsible for a single base runner and struck out three of the 10 hitters he saw. The Miami commit now owns a 2.89 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 18 2/3 innings this summer.

“He’s been working on a cutter-slider, and today it was good,” Landers said. “I think he needs it going into next year at Miami, and it was working today.”

A look ahead

Bourne’s win was massive for its playoff hopes, as it increased its lead to three games over last-place Falmouth, which lost to Orleans on Friday.

Seven members from the Braves will partake in the All-Star Game festivities on Saturday at Guv Fuller Field in Falmouth. The game starts at 6:05 p.m.

After the All-Star break this weekend, the Braves will head to Orleans on Monday to visit the Firebirds. The probable starter for Orleans is southpaw Miles Gosztola (Gonzaga). In seven appearances and three starts, he owns a 1.72 ERA with 14 K’s through 15 2/3 innings. Gosztola’s last start was on July 21 in Harwich, where he went three frames while striking out three and allowing one earned run.

The Braves’ starter on Monday is to be determined. First pitch will be at 6:30 p.m. from Eldredge Park.

Notes

Houston extended his on-base streak to 11 games with a knock on Friday… Kozeal has been consistent against right-handed pitching this season, boasting a .319 average in 72 at-bats this summer… Conrad (Wake Forest) and Holcomb each have an OPS over 1.000 on the road this season… During July, the Braves have recorded the fifth-most hits (155) in the league… Bourne has also drawn the most walks (168) on the Cape this summer… The Braves' 344 strikeouts and 77 stolen bases both rank first in the Cape Cod Baseball League.

Photo credit: Amanda Blasberg