When Cotuit hosted Yarmouth-Dennis Thursday, the implications were completely different for each team. The Red Sox sat atop the East Division, six points ahead of the next team and already locked into the CCBL playoffs. Meanwhile, the Kettleers were clinging to the final playoff spot in the West Division, just two points ahead of Wareham and losers of three consecutive games.

Despite their vastly different places in the league, Cotuit and Y-D had a grudge match from first pitch to last. Yet, it was the league-leading Red Sox who came out on top 5-3, handing the Kettleers a fourth consecutive defeat.

“It was a good baseball game…” Coach Rob Cooper said. “There’s a reason they have the best record in the league, and we just didn’t find enough offense to win the game.”

Both teams got on the scoreboard early, with the home side striking first in the second inning. Landon Beaver (UAB) made a statement on a first-pitch slider, smashing Connor Hamilton’s (Vanderbilt) pitch over the right field wall. Later that inning, a Ryan Tyranski (Cincinnati) walk set him up to score the Kettleers’ second run when Jesse Di Maggio (Dallas Baptist) blasted a ball in the left field gap for a double.

But, this lead did not last long. Consecutive singles allowed multiple runners to reach scoring position after a sacrifice bunt from Dante Vachini (Cal Poly). Facing the pressure, Jacob Burnham (Boston College) had a lapse in judgement and balked in a run. The next batter, Burnham slightly misplayed a comeback groundball which forced him to throw to first for an out and let the tying run score.

Cotuit and Y-D continued to compete as they each scored one in the fourth inning. Tyler Finkbeiner (Michigan) came in for Burnham and struggled with control, giving up three free passes in his first four batters before walking in the go-ahead run.

In the bottom half of the frame it was once again Beaver who was the hero for the Kettleers. He doubled to lead off the inning before advancing to third and home on consecutive batters. Beaver’s approach shined today with his consistent barrels, echoing the work he has put in with the coaching staff.

“Me and [Coach McKeon] have been working on doing less. Less is more,” Beaver said. “I’ve been trying to get flush and find my direction and I feel like it panned out for me today.”

Ryan Buckler (FAU) held the Red Sox back for a while in the middle of the game, throwing four innings of one-run ball to keep Cotuit in the game. Yet, as the game went on it was clear the Red Sox would be next to score as they kept threatening. They had a runner in scoring position in the fifth but failed to score, but then broke through in the sixth with a Cade Carr (Samford) double and a Ryder Robinson (BYU) single that scored a run.

Unfortunately, Y-D added an insurance run in the ninth inning as well, capitalizing off Aidan Healy’s (Navy) lack of control. Consecutive walks to open the inning put the Red Sox in a good spot before a Mateo Serna (Alabama) single loaded the bases. Healy forced a Carr groundout in the next at-bat, but it managed to bring across a run to make it 5-3. Cotuit had a rally in the ninth inning, but it was too short-lived to cause any damage.

While a chance to take down the league-leaders was a big game for Cotuit, their following game holds even more significance as the division rival Gatemen come to town. A win would clinch the season series for the Kettleers and give them a four point lead, while a loss would take them out of a playoff spot.

First pitch at Lowell Park is set for 4:30 pm, and the starting pitcher for the Kettleers is Grady Bivens (Troy).