Cotuit in search of answers with brand-new pitching staff

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Art or Photo Credit: Cullen McKay pitching. Photo by Holden McBerty (University of Memphis).

Cotuit, Mass. – With just four games remaining in the CCBL regular season, a playoff team should be getting ready for the postseason and trying to rest anyone if possible. For the Cotuit Kettleers, that’s the polar opposite of what they’re having to do

The Ketts are facing a major problem regarding their pitching staff that is practically brand new with the recent departures of key arms. In the Cape Cod League, it’s common for a roster to be a revolving door with players coming and going weekly. But to bring in 12 new arms since July 16th is not ideal.

“We’ve had a competitive club the entire summer, but I’m concerned about us at the moment,” says Cotuit head coach Mike Roberts. “It doesn’t have anything to do with the ability of our guys, but rather the cohesiveness of having so many new pitchers. I don’t know them, our catchers don’t know them, and it’s just been tough to try and manage the staff. I’ll admit, I’m struggling with that right now.”

Not to say that these new arms aren’t talented, they’re some of the best pitchers in the country, that’s why Roberts brought them here. However, the timing in which it’s happening has been a nightmare for the Cotuit coaching staff.

There’s a week left of the regular season and then playoffs start right after so the Kettleers must try and figure out which guys can come in during certain situations and with certain catchers. For Cotuit, only one game separates them and the third-place Wareham Gatemen in the Western Division so seeding is on the line as well.

Not exactly perfect timing to learn about your 12 new pitchers while also trying to lock up home-field advantage in the postseason, but that’s what Roberts is trying to do this week.

“Our goal for the week is to try and figure our pitching staff out in terms of what guys can pitch in certain spots and with what catcher,” says Roberts. “But honestly, I’m still trying to figure it out. We’re in a tough situation right now and I don’t have an exact answer on how to manage the guys on the fly. We’ve just got to roll with the punches and see what happens as we go.”

Key Departures

Cotuit has used 39 pitchers this summer with only one, Mikey Ebner (Southern Cal) sticking around from Opening Day. But within the last two weeks, the Ketts have lost star pitchers James Ellwanger (Dallas Baptist), Joey Volchko (Stanford) and Cam Schuelke (Miss. State).

All three combined for a 2.73 ERA, 1.53 WHIP and 60 strikeouts through 39 2/3 innings of work. Those three are a major reason that Cotuit is second in the West and only two games behind the No. 1 overall seed in the league. The Kettleers have worked tirelessly to find new, but good pitchers to bolster the team for a playoff push.

New Arms

Over the past two weeks, a dozen new hurlers have been added to the roster.

  • Joe Sabbath, RHP (Rhode Island)
  • Beau Sampson, LHP (Oklahoma)
  • Mason Davenport, RHP (Stetson)
  • Max Hansmann, RHP (Evansville)
  • Max Martzolf, LHP (Florida Atlantic)
  • Brock Pare, RHP (Central Conn.)
  • Ryan Buckler, RHP (Florida Atlantic)
  • Tyler O’Neill, RHP (Bucknell)
  • Taylor Seay, RHP (Texas State)
  • Brycen Parrish, RHP (North Alabama)
  • Jack O’Malley, RHP (Bucknell)
  • Cullen McKay, RHP (Coastal Carolina)

All of whom were solid contributors to their respective schools and previous summer ball clubs.

The Ketts will be searching for a veteran presence to help make the transition to the team easier. Even with this being Ebner’s first summer with the Ketts, he is that veteran by default and is certainly leading by example as one of the best arms in the CCBL. Through 23 1/3 innings, the right-handed pitcher holds a 1.90 ERA to go along with 22 punch outs and a league-leading 0.59 WHIP.

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Art or Photo Credit: Mikey Ebner (Left) fist bumps Matt Klein (Right) following a scoreless inning. Photo by Holden McBerty (University of Memphis).

He feels that because he’s been here since Opening Day and has adapted to the league, he can help the new guys find their footing.

“A lot of guys including myself were extremely anxious to play in the Cape Cod League just because it’s the premier amateur league and we’ve all heard the stories about the people who play here,” says Ebner. “The thing I always tell new guys is that you’re here for a reason. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t have the stuff to contribute, so just go out there and do your thing.”

Regardless of the uncertainty of pitchers, Cotuit is still in second place in the Western Division with a playoff berth locked up, the seventh consecutive. Offensively, Cotuit has had very little turnover with nine starters that have been in Cotuit since June. So, that works in their favor but finding out what the new staff can do is the main priority heading into postseason play for Roberts and Co.

“It’s extremely difficult, it really is. But we’re trying to keep guys ready to contribute for us at any time,” Roberts said about keeping the team ready. “With everyone we’ve lost, we basically have a brand-new staff. We’re going to practice so we can try to build some cohesiveness.”

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Art or Photo Credit: Brycen Parrish. Photo by Dennis Theoharidis (Mass. College of Art & Design).