In the final quarter of the season, every game matters. With the standings so close, games against divisional opponents matter even more. So, when Cotuit hosted Wareham Friday in a game that decided who would hold fourth place in the West Division, it meant everything. Fortunately, it was the home side who prevailed in a 5-4 game off the back of incredible performances from Landon Beaver (UAB) and Grady Bivens (Troy).
Bivens has been the workhorse of the Cotuit rotation for a while, setting the record for longest start of the year nearly every start. Friday the right-hander went six innings, allowing just two runs on a long fly from Coen Niclai (Oregon State) in the top of the fourth inning.
While that home run was big for the Gatemen, it only cut into a deficit that the Kettleer bats created in the first two innings. Starter Mark Brissey (Arkansas) struggled with his control, lasting just 1.2 innings while allowing four walks and hitting two batters. This included a bases-loaded walk of Jesse Di Maggio (Dallas Baptist) in the first inning to score a run.
His struggles compounded in the second inning, as Beaver continued his hot streak from Thursday with a two-RBI single. Two batters later, Isaac Sturgess (Wake Forest) hit a single to left field that scored Beaver and made it 4-0 Cotuit.
The Kettleers struggled offensively for the next few innings, with Jake Schweitzer (Louisville) providing Wareham cover to get back into the game. However, once Schweitzer came out Cotuit immediately punished the Gatemen. Like clockwork, Beaver battered a fast ball over the right field fence for a no-doubt solo home run. With his relaxed approach in full effect the last two games, Beaver has been one of the toughest outs on the Cape.
“It’s funny, I wasn’t trying to hit a home run either day,” Beaver said. “But I saw that pitch and knew if I found the barrel it was gone, and I got it right on the spot.”
With the score at 5-2, the Kettleers dug in and attempted to close out the win. But, Wareham did not go down easily. With Bivens out, Coach Rob Cooper handed the ball to Truitt Manuel (NC State) to hold the lead. He did just that, but not without close calls.
Manuel struggled with control, walking his first two batters. After a double play moved a runner into scoring position, Manuel threw a wild pitch to let in his first earned run of the season. The following inning, an opening walk and stolen base from R.J. Hamilton (Duke) allowed him to reach scoring position. Following a Connor Cuff (SE Louisiana) single, Hamilton crossed home to make it 5-4 on a sacrifice fly from Levi Clark (Tennessee).
With their lead down to one in the final frame, Cooper relied on All-Star reliever Chase Van Ameyde (Michigan State). The sidewinder did what he has all year, throw strikeouts. After folding two of his opening three batters on strikes, Will Plattner (Alabama) called game by throwing out a Gatemen baserunner.
The win does wonders for the Kettleers’ playoff odds. While a loss would have put Cotuit in fifth place in the division, the win creates a four-point gap between Cotuit and Wareham and clinches the season series for the Kettleers. In a big game, the Kettleers showed why they deserve to be on the big stage.
“We made it interesting, but at the end of the day you just have to win by one,” Cooper said. “We had some excellent pitching performances and guys at the plate like Beaver stepped up and showed why they deserve the opportunity to be here.”
With a big win in hand, Cotuit heads on the road Saturday to take on Harwich. First pitch at Whitehouse Field is slated for 5:30 p.m., and the starting pitcher is Tyler Brashear (Eckerd).
