Hyannis, Mass. – Coming into Tuesday’s ballgame, the Kettleers held just a two-game lead on Hyannis in the West Division standings. So, with just 10 games left in the regular season and Patriot Cup on the line, there was a lot at stake in the Tuesday game between the Ketts and Hawks.
Cotuit leaned on a good performance from the Kettleer arms and two long home runs to capture the Barnstable Patriot Cup and build its division lead over Hyannis in a 6-2 victory.
“All four of our pitchers threw strikes, and between that and letting the ball be put in play for the defense to work, you’ve got a good chance of winning,” Cotuit head coach Mike Roberts said. “We did that well and didn’t make any errors when the ball was put into play. Also, [Brandon] Compton and Devin Taylor had two home runs that got us runs. Those guys are crucial to our lineup and are a part of our core hitters.”
Through the first two frames, runs were hard to come by with both pitchers having sensational starts. Only allowing two hits and no runs, but it wouldn’t last long as the Ketts would go to work in the third inning.
Compton (Arizona State) launched what looked like a home run, but it hit off the top of the center field wall for only a double. However, on the next swing, Taylor (Indiana) would make sure there was no doubt when he crushed a 401-foot, two-run shot to put the Ketts up by a pair of runs.
"In the first at-bat, I saw a lot of junk and his fastball and just got a feel for his stuff," said Taylor. "The second time around, I saw his curveball on the first pitch and when I saw it break I knew it would end up over the middle of the plate. I got a good swing off and I knew that I didn't miss it right off the bat."
It didn’t take much longer for the Ketts to add to the lead. In the fifth inning, Compton launched a three-run home run halfway to Boston, putting Cotuit up 5-0.
After that three-run frame from the Kettleers, Roberts would pull Gabe Nard (Duke) after a good day on the bump. The Blue Devil went four shutout innings, surrendering three hits and striking out three batters.
Cullen McKay (Coastal Carolina) got into trouble in the seventh, allowing runners at first and second with no outs. Roberts would go to CCBL All-Star Mikey Ebner (Southern California) to get them out of the jam.
Ebner would also have trouble with the Harbor Hawk offense but would escape with just two runs scored.
The Ketts added an insurance run in the ninth when they found themselves with runners at the corners. An error on a pickoff to first base allowed Nolan Nawrocki (South Carolina) to trot home and pad the Cotuit lead, 6-2.
Zach Duenas (Southern Illinois-Edwardsville) came into the game in the ninth to try and lock up a victory for the Kettleers. Doing just that, he went 1-2-3 with a pair of strikeouts to get the win over Hyannis, 6-2.
Notes
Nard made the second start of his collegiate career and turned in a very good performance. Going four scoreless frames with three strikeouts as well as being efficient, throwing just 59 pitches.
The duo of Compton and Taylor continue to dominate at the plate. Over the last six games, the two have combined for four home runs and 16 RBI.
The Kettleers have been dominant over the last two weeks, going 10-3-1 en route to the best overall record in the CCBL at 20-10-1.
Looking ahead
We’re nearing the end of the CCBL regular season with just nine games remaining and the All-Star break coming up. Cotuit is in the driver's seat for the No. 1 overall seed and will need to stay focused for the end of a long summer.
“I call it self-motivation, these guys have been playing since the end of January and it’s up to them,” Roberts said about keeping players motivated. “It’s about how much you love the game, love the community and how much you want to win. These games are for the players, so it depends on them.”
Cotuit will be back in action when they play at Orleans on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
