BOURNE, Mass. — Just one day after the Cotuit Kettleers saw the 2023 BFC Whitehouse Pitcher of the Year Award winner Cam Hill (Georgia Tech) leave in preparation for the MLB Draft, another arm solidified himself as perhaps the best pitcher in the Cape League.
Through the first 12 games of the CCBL season, eight qualified pitchers have yet to surrender a run. But only one has kept opposing batters hitless — Mikey Ebner (USC).
Ebner’s latest masterclass on the mound came Friday against the Bourne Braves, earning the win over 3 1/3 hitless innings pitched as Cotuit mounted a come-from-behind 7-3 victory against a West Division foe.
The sophomore right-hander was first out of the bullpen for Cotuit after Thatcher Hurd (LSU) turned in 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs but only one earned in his first two times around the Bourne batting order in his first start with the team.
Following a two-out base hit by Chris Stanfield (Auburn), Ebner was handed the ball in a situation he had not experienced on the Cape — a runner on base.
Ebner’s first two outings of the season were perfect, with the first coming against the Orleans Firebirds on June 16, completing a hold over three full innings while striking out four. A week later, Ebner earned his first win of the season as the Kettleers broke a 1-1 stalemate with the Chatham Anglers while he retired all eight batters faced.
Friday was no different, as he induced a groundout to Jack Penney (Notre Dame) to get out of the bottom of the fourth and faced the minimum in the fifth against the heart of the Braves batting order.
“I think just the way he comes out of the 'pen and just immediately attacks,” Cotuit assistant pitching coach Rob Hughes said. “I think that his stuff's obviously really good, but especially really good when he's pounding the zone with every pitch he has. And you come out of the 'pen attacking the zone, it makes your stuff play that much better.”
The first baserunner allowed by Ebner came with two outs in the bottom of the sixth as Garrett Michel (Virginia Tech) drew a walk. He didn’t let it come to a threat, catching the following batter, Matthew Graveline (Ohio St.), looking for his second and final punchout of the night.
Ebner was extremely efficient with his pitches all night, allowing him to go out for a fourth inning of work in the bottom of the seventh.
“I've lately been focusing on just getting ahead early when I can and it’s actually been paying off,” Ebner said.
Stanfield took ball four to start off the frame for the Braves, but Ebner came right back to retire the side in nine pitches to end his night. In total, Ebner needed just 40 pitches for his outing, throwing 24 for strikes.
All in all, Ebner brought his season total to nine no-hit innings, and the two walks kept him at the top of the stat sheet with a league-leading 0.22 WHIP.
“I really enjoy playing out here. And I've been working on stuff with coaches and just I think I have this confidence going right now that is really pushing me to perform the way I have been thus far,” Ebner said.
