COTUIT, Mass. — In the last week, the Kettleers bats have come to life. Once at the bottom of the league in nearly every offensive statistic, Cotuit now ranks in the top five in team average, home runs, runs, hits and stolen bases.
“The main thing is just making sure we’re on time for fastballs,” shortstop Ryne Farber said. “We’ve done a better job of that recently.”
Farber sure has been on time for fastballs as of late. Nobody has been swinging a hotter bat than him. In the last week, the rising junior is batting .455, which is third in the league, and has seven RBIs.
“I think before this week, I was 1 for my last 20,” Farber said. “I’m trying to be as consistent as I can and handle the failure really well.”
The former Bobcat was an offensive powerhouse in his time at Texas State. Over the last two seasons, he batted .296 and racked up 58 RBIs.
Thanks in large part to Farber, Cotuit kept its win streak alive in a 3-2 walk-off win over Falmouth on Thursday night.
The infielder stepped into the batter’s box with no outs in the eighth inning, and the Ketts down 2-1. Pitcher T.J. Coats of the Commodores shut the Kettleers down, having surrendered just one hit.
“It’s just trying to keep the same approach every time,” Farber said of his mindset at the plate. “Thankfully, he threw me a pitch in an earlier at-bat that got me out, and luckily (this time) I was able to adjust.”
Farber’s adjustment at the plate gave him the opportunity to launch his first home run of the summer over the head of Falmouth right fielder Antonio Morales.
Just like that, the game was tied.
Farber and Kettleers head coach Loren Hibbs were a bit unsure off the bat, but after the ball cleared the fences, it was all celebration in the Cotuit dugout.
“He didn’t hit one in BP or early work,” Hibbs joked. “He’s a really good player and he’s just a pleasure to be around.”
Farber is now third on the Kettleers in batting average (.305), behind only second baseman Jarren Advincula and outfielder Dean West.
