Nick Wimberly shines in his Cotuit debut

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Nick Wimberly (Florida Atlantic) delivers a pitch against the Wareham Gatemen. (Photo/Finn Murphy)

COTUIT, Mass. — The Kettleers' starting rotation has been lights-out this summer. Its 3.65 ERA is the best in the league.

Rob Evans (Miami) was scheduled to pitch against the Wareham Gatemen on Friday night. However, his coaches at Miami called him back and decided that he had done his job.

His departure left a hole for the starters. Evans posted a 1.32 ERA across 13 ⅔ innings pitched and struck out 13 in his time on the Cape.

Instead, Nick Wimberly (Florida Atlantic) got the nod Friday for his Kettleers debut, and he seemed to make up for the lost arm in Evans.

In five innings, the Florida native struck out four and only surrendered two hits as Cotuit won, 3-2, in walk-off fashion.

“It was really everything,” he said of what was working well for him on the mound. “I was getting ahead of hitters and getting into two-strike counts early really helped me out.”

Cotuit isn’t Wimberly’s first stop this summer. He appeared in six games for the Southern Maryland Senators of the Cal Ripken League. Across 27 innings, the right-hander posted a 2.67 ERA and struck out 43 batters.

He earned Pitcher of the Week honors in Week 6 of the summer season, and also got himself an All-Star nod for the South Division.

Wimberly wants to continue that success as the Kettleers look to make a playoff push.

“I had a really good summer there,” Wimberly said. “As long as I stay confident in myself, I feel like I’ll succeed at any level.”

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Kide Adetuyi (Florida Atlantic) pitches in relief Friday against the Gatemen. (Photo/Dennis Theoharidis)

A familiar face can always help someone adapt to a new team, and Wimberly has that in Cotuit with two of his FAU teammates. Kide Adetuyi joined the team with Wimberly on Wednesday, and Ryan Buckler has been a staple on the mound already this summer.

“(Buckler) told me everything’s friendly,” he said. “They’re all college guys, and I’m a college guy. It’s a fun group of guys to be around.”

Another thing Buckler told him about: the level of competition.

It’s no secret that the Cape League boasts the best college talent in the country, and Wimberly noticed that almost immediately.

“There’s a lot more discipline,” he said of the difference between the Cal Ripken League and the CCBL. “It’s tougher to get guys away.”

Wimberly comes in at a crucial time in the season. With just two games left, and the Kettleers looking to make a playoff push, the hurler is aware of the weight of each pitch.

“I was just trying to go out there and do my best, win or lose,” he said. “I’m always going to put us in a position to win. That’s the main goal. I’m going to give it my all.”