Certain sounds make a baseball game what it is. The thump of a pitch hitting a catcher’s mitt, the crack of the bat after a hard-hit ball and the roar of fans after a victory. However, teams often have their own unique audio culture including songs played on the PA system, chants from fans or common lines said between teammates on the field.
From long-standing traditions to new catchphrases brought on by the coaching staff, this audio culture can be seen at every game both at Lowell Park and on the road.
One of the oldest and most well-known catchphrases that can be heard at Kettleer games is, “Have a hit!” This chant originates from longtime fan Ivan Partridge, who used to stand near the dugout and shout it during big moments. While Partridge sadly passed away in 2017, his legacy lives on in multiple ways.
Firstly, Partridge’s family has continued to show up to Cotuit’s games and chant his signature phrase during Kettleer at-bats. They have traveled to both home and away games this season, keeping team spirits up when pressure gets high.
Secondly, Partridge’s voice was recorded before his passing and is used often on the PA system at Lowell Park. With runners in scoring position, one can bet that Partridge’s raspy call will boom around the ballpark.
But, there are also some new calls brought in this year by the players and coaching staff alike. One catchphrase often used by Coach Rob Cooper is, “So what?” The call reminds players that baseball is not easy, but the best players are able to take what is given to them and make the best out of it.
“‘So what?” to me means that not every play or call is going to go our way and we don’t need it to,” Cooper said. “I need these guys to know that they are good enough players to overcome it and that dwelling on the last pitch will make them mess up the pitch in front of them.”
Cooper started saying the phrase back during his assistant coaching years. He sees it as a way to build a team mentality based around grit, and can be heard saying it quite a bit if a pitcher is struggling on the mound or a player commits an error in the field.
Another tagline that can be heard at Kettleer games is, “Win your ones!’” Brought to the team by J.J. Moran (Stanford), he uses it in close pitching counts like 1-1 to remind his pitchers of the importance of getting ahead. He even switches it to a “Win your twos!” when the count gets to that level.
Moran first heard the tagline back during his time at San Marcos High School, and learned it from one of his old coaches. While it might seem bold to bring a catchphrase onto a team with all new players, Moran thought it would be a good way to build camaraderie. Whether he’s at third base or in the dugout, Moran is not afraid to be vocal about winning the close counts.
“I’ve had plenty of pitchers come up to me and say ‘Hey, thanks for keeping me in the moment,’” Moran said. “I try to make it fun out there too which slows the game down and keeps us in the right mindset.”
The sounds of Cotuit games make watching the Kettleers a unique experience that one cannot find anywhere else in the CCBL, college baseball, or even pro baseball. Whether they come from a longtime fan who simply wanted his team to have a hit, or a corner infielder trying to help his pitcher win his ones, they do their part to make Cotuit Kettleer baseball what it is.
