ORLEANS, Mass. — With the Kettleers trailing the Firebirds 2-1 in the sixth inning, Ryan Tyranski (Cincinnati) stepped up to bat. Jake Hanley (Georgia) and Aiden Aguayo (UCLA) had just recorded back-to-back singles, and it felt as if Cotuit might have some momentum.
Tyranski’s mentality was simple: be on time for a fastball. That’s the pitch he was expecting, but instead, he saw a slider. No worries. Tyranski not only managed a hit, but he smashed his first home run of the season to give the Kettleers a 4-2 lead. The score stuck, and Cotuit went on to win its third game in a row Friday in Orleans.
“When you can be the guy, it's great, but the fact that we won is even better,” Tyranski said. “The fact that I was able to break the score open a little bit was nice as well.”
Tyranski’s homer traveled 395 feet, with the ball flying off the bat at 104 miles per hour. When he hit the ball, he had little doubt in his mind that it would leave the yard.
“I knew,” Tyranski said. “Those are always the best ones when you know it's going to go. It was good to finally get one, especially when it's like that.”
The last time that Tyranski and the Kettleers faced Orleans on June 26, he almost hit a home run at Lowell Park, but Rowan Kelly (UC Santa Barbara) spoiled his moment.
“Rowan, the center fielder, made a really good play and took it back,” Tyranski said. “That's funny; that was actually good to get one back.”
Tyranski’s home run came just one inning after the Firebirds hit a homer of their own. Tyler Myatt (Tennessee) homered in the fifth to put Orleans in front 2-1.
The Kettleers recorded their first run in the fourth inning, with Aguayo scoring on a balk to tie the game at one run apiece. It came after Corey Nunez (UC Santa Barbara) hit a single to give the Firebirds a 1-0 lead in the third.
Aguayo notched a team-high three hits against Orleans, and Jesse DiMaggio (Dallas Baptist) chipped in two.
“Honestly, I think I was just seeing a beach ball tonight,” Aguayo said. “I’ve been putting up good at-bats the past couple of days and carrying (my approach) over.”
The Kettleers’ pitching staff saw mixed results, with hot and cold moments. Chase Van Ameyde (Michigan State) stood out, pitching 2.1 innings. He allowed no hits and no runs while notching four strikeouts.
“I feel amazing,” Van Ameyde said. “It was really exciting to go out there for the boys and get the win. (DiMaggio) was unbelievable behind the plate, (and) the defense was great. I'm just glad I could contribute.”
Van Ameyde entered the game in the fifth inning with two outs and two guys on base.
“I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a little bit of pressure,” he said. “But that kind of has to go to the back of the mind (and) add to the fuel.”
Van Ameyde followed Jacob Burnham (Boston College) and Landen Doll (Marshall). It marked Doll’s first appearance as a Kettleer. He entered in the third inning and ended his outing having allowed three hits and a run.
“He pitched his tail off,” Cotuit coach Rob Cooper said. “He got winded there a little bit late, but he’s going to be fun to watch this summer.”
The Kettleers will look to stay hot when they face Brewster at 4:30 p.m. EDT Saturday in Cotuit.
“Our goal was to try to go 1-0 today, and we did that,” Cooper said. “We’re going to enjoy it and then get ready to try to win another one tomorrow.”
