BREWSTER, Mass. — Heading into Tuesday's contest against the Brewster Whitecaps, Cotuit desperately needed a win to snap its six-game losing streak. Brewster boasted the league's best record, so somebody needed to step up and provide a spark for the struggling Ketts.
Stetson right-hander James Hays did just that, tossing 4 2/3 innings, allowing just one run and striking out seven batters in Cotuit's 6-2 victory over the CCBL's best team. While Hays was good Tuesday, it has not been perfect this summer for the rising junior.
He made his CCBL debut June 17, when he was lit up against Harwich, surrendering six hits and six runs (two earned) while walking a pair of batters in 1 2/3 innings.
"It was really just figuring out how to have a chip on my shoulder. Coming here (to Brewster) and slowing the game down, setting the pace for the game and executing pitch to pitch instead of focusing on pitches further in the count. That was the main thing I focused on today," Hays said after his start Tuesday.
Hays was locked in from the jump, tossing a 1-2-3 frame in the bottom of the first. He allowed two hits and a run in the second inning, but that would be the end of his struggles. The right-handed hurler tossed a scoreless third, fourth and two-thirds of the fifth while punching out six and not walking any Whitecaps.
His performance was anything but the June 17 start against Harwich, and it helped set the tone for Cotuit’s second win of 2025. Hays went after batters and pounded the zone while being surgical with his pitch selection, showing his capability.
“It’s essential (for someone to set the tone early). I came out here against a good team, a great lineup, and I’m shutting them down for a couple of innings,” Hays said. “Then, having our bullpen come in to finish it gets the team excited for upcoming games.”
Now that the Ketts have snapped their losing skid and built some confidence, it can have a snowball effect on the rest of the summer. That victory showed them and everyone else that they can compete with anyone. If Cotuit rattles off another win or two, the team will be flooded with confidence and a desire to replicate that success day in and day out.
When a talented team gets in that mode, it can be dangerous for the opposition. Like Cotuit manager Loren Hibbs has been saying for several days, the team must stay focused on improving daily, which can translate to success on the field.
“I think we need to keep the same mindset, come out and grind every pitch and every at-bat. If we do that, things will eventually take care of themselves,” the Cotuit pitcher said.
