Gloomy skies greeted the Cotuit Kettleers (3-5-1, West) as they got to Lowell Park Tuesday to face the Brewster Whitecaps (6-3, East). Despite being rejuvenated after a day off, it appears the glum weather carried over into the team performance as the Kettleers lost to the Whitecaps 6-0.
Brewster struck first in the top of the second inning. Grady Bivens (Transfer Portal) plunked Jamie Laskofski (North Carolina) and then Dane Harvey (Ohio State) beat the shift for a single that put runners on the corners. Laskofski officially put the Whitecaps on the board when he scored on a fielder’s choice.
Bivens had an up-and-down outing for Cotuit. While he only allowed one run, he struggled to command the strike zone. The right-hander plunked three batters — all lefties — signifying a weakness to keep pitches away from that area. In contrast, Santiago Garcia (LSU) had an extraordinary outing for Brewster. The rising senior kept the Kettleers to just one hit in the first four innings and did not allow an earned run. This is part of a greater hitting trend with Cotuit, who have not scored a run in the first three innings of a game in a week.
One bright spot for the Kettleers Tuesday was Landon Beaver (UAB). The center fielder had both of the team’s hits and made multiple plays in the field. As a returner, guys like Beaver will look to make good at-bats a common theme amongst the team and right the ship.
“I think Landon has had some pretty good at-bats over the last week or so, and it paid off today…” Coach Rob Cooper said. “I’m hoping that it gets contagious here with the rest of the team.”
Cotuit had their first chance to score in the bottom of the fourth, when Dawson Park (LSU) had a lead-off walk and then stole second. Park would then advance to third on a tag-up, setting the stage for Jake Hanley (Transfer Portal) with two outs. But Hanley grounded out, keeping the Kettleers scoreless.
The Whitecaps had a similar chance in the top of the fifth when a fielder’s choice put Brody DeLamielleure (Florida State) on first. He then advanced to third on a passed ball and a groundout. However, unlike Cotuit they would score with two outs when Owen Jenkins (Texas Tech) hit a broken-bat single into center field to extend the lead.
This then compounded after a walk and a poor back pick attempt by Hogan Denny (Indiana) sent two more Whitecap runners across home plate, doubling their advantage. With the free pass battle going 8-1 in favor of the Whitecaps, the inability to execute clean field plays continues to nag Cotuit.
“We have to be better…” Cooper said. “We have the ability to make plays, we just have to finish them.”
Things went from bad to worse in the top of the seventh inning. A walk followed by a single from DeLamielleure put runners on the corners with no outs. Despite a valiant effort to get out of the jam, a two-out double from Laskofski scored two more runs. After a 1-2-3 bottom half of the inning, the game was called for darkness.
This is yet another game in a brutal stretch for Cotuit that is eerily resemblant of the start of the 2025 season in which they won just two of their first 10 games. That being said, that Kettleer squad was one game away from a championship appearance so a turnaround is likely.
Cotuit will have a chance to rebound tomorrow night when they head on the road to take on the Bourne Braves. First pitch at Doran Park will take place at six p.m. EDT, with the starting pitcher for the Kettleers slated to be Joel Core (Stetson).
