Chatham, Mass. – The Kettleers have been on fire over the past two weeks, boasting a 10-3-1 record with a plus-20 run differential against opposing teams. That was no different on Saturday night when Cotuit hit the road to play the Chatham Anglers.
The Ketts completely dominated Chatham on the backs of an excellent offensive performance. Every Kettleer batter recorded a hit, including three home runs in a victory over the Anglers, 11-5.
“We’ve made significant progress as a team for being locked in on every pitch,” Cotuit head coach Mike Roberts said. “You can only improve and become a good team if everybody does their job, whether in the bullpen, the dugout or even playing on the field. I really believe that we’re getting very close to being locked in as a complete team.”
The fireworks were happening early and often at Veterans Field and the Ketts were the ones to start it. In the first inning, Easton Winfield (Texas) stepped into the box ready to battle with the Chatham pitcher.
Winfield won that battle quickly, launching a towering blast over the right field wall that measured in at 426 feet, giving Cotuit the early lead.
“He’s an incredible athlete, consistently makes contact and is extremely fast on the basepaths, he’s been an exceptional player for us,” Roberts said of Winfield.
Chatham did rally back in the bottom of the frame, getting to Joey Volchko (Stanford) to the tune of three hits and a run.
Cotuit had a big-time opportunity on its hands in the third inning with two men on base and Devin Taylor (Indiana) coming up to the plate.
Taylor delivered for the team by mashing a 2-1 count breaking ball way over the left field wall. The Kettleer dugout erupted with cheers, knowing that it was gone immediately, as the All-American helped pad a 4-1 lead.
The Ketts would continue to go after the Angler pitching staff when Temo Becerra (Stanford) plated a run in the fourth on an RBI groundout to go up by four runs.
Even with a rough start for Volchko, he would flip a switch after the first inning. Only allowing two base runners while sitting five Anglers down via the strikeout. He would be pulled in the fifth after another exceptional day on the hill where he went 4 2/3 innings, allowing just a single run, striking out six and giving up four hits.
“In the first inning I think I was really just trying to find my footing, so I was trying to let them get themselves out, but unfortunately they put some good swings up,” Volchko said. “As I was going through the ballgame, I think I began to have a better feel for my stuff, so that’s where I really started to find success.”
Volchko currently sits as the No. 3 prospect for the 2026 MLB Draft via futurestarsseries.com. The tall right-handed pitcher hit 100 mph for the first time this summer, and it’s impressive for anyone, but whenever said person just finished their freshman year of college, you become even more blown away.
“It’s a nice bonus to hear that, but I’m out here to try and work on my curveball and changeup to become a better pitcher,” Volchko said about hitting triple digits. “Throwing harder is something I want, but I think my biggest goal is to cut my walks down and try to become a better arm.”
Cotuit continued to flex its muscles in the seventh when powerful left-handed batter Brandon Compton (Arizona State) came to the plate with two men on. Compton sent the baseball just barely over the center field wall, but the runs counted the same as the Arizona native had broken the game open.
The Kettleers would add some more run support in the seventh with a Tanner Thach (UNC Wilmington) RBI double. Thach came around to score just two batters later on a wild pitch to put Cotuit up 11-3.
Chatham would score two runs in the eighth and ninth innings, but it wasn’t enough as the Kettleers came into town and walked out with an 11-5 victory over the Anglers.
“We’re becoming a very consistent lineup, especially from the top of the order,” Roberts said. “Compton, Winfield and Thach were awesome today, and then of course Devin Taylor hit a big-time home run to give us the lead. From 1-9, we’ve just been very good over the last few games.”
Notes
With the exceptional offensive performance today, Cotuit is now the No. 1 scoring offense in the league (176 runs), with the best average (.270) and second in hits (253).
The Cotuit pitching staff shined as well, striking out 14 batters. Which is tied for the most strikeouts in a game this season.
With his home run today, Easton Winfield has now collected hits in his last five games, four of which include a hit and RBI.
Looking ahead
Cotuit will come home Sunday for another heavyweight battle with the Y-D Red Sox (17-9-3) at 5 p.m. but will have an off day on Monday. Starting Tuesday, the Kettleers will have two consecutive road games against Hyannis and Orleans, then will have back-to-back home games against Falmouth and Bourne before having Saturday and Sunday off for All-Star Weekend.