The Hyannis Harbor Hawks suffered a close defeat to the Cotuit Kettleers on Sunday night. In a 10-inning game, Hyannis (10-8-1) struggled to produce runs and score with timely hitting. Through some tough calls, the Hawks couldn’t score more than four runs.
The seventh inning was a breakthrough for Hyannis (10-8-1). Despite several attempts to bring a Hawk home, the team only executed in three of the 10 innings, although runners were on base in almost all offensive frames.
In the top of the 10th, Cotuit (12-7) scored three runs. With the extra-innings runner at second, the Kettleers bunted, resulting in a single. With two hits to the outfield, they extended their lead by three.
On the mound to start the game for Hyannis was Jason Reitz. He struggled at the start of Sunday’s game, walking the first batter he faced. Tanner Thach, the second batter, hit a home run to put the Kettleers up in the first. Through Reitz’s 4 2/3 innings pitched he allowed three hits and walked two, which unfortunately caused damage.
The bottom of the second told a different story. Dalton Bargo led off with a walk, and with an error made by the third baseman, Josh Tate made it safely to first. During a Kane Kepley at-bat, Tate stole and Bargo made it home safely on an infield chopper by Kepley.
Kepley walked in his first at-bat of the game in the bottom of the first. Blake Cavill beat out a fielder’s choice marking Kepley out at second. Alex Lodise hit a single up the middle, advancing Cavill. With runners on first and second, Mason White came up to bat and struck out. He was the third out and Hyannis did not score any that inning.
In the bottom of the fourth with no outs, Bargo led off the inning with a single to right field. Anthony Silva broke out of his hitting slump with a single to center field. After a Cotuit pitching change, Tate, Kepley and Jon Jon Gazdar got out back-to-back-to-back, not producing a single run in the fourth, despite their efforts to move runners.
Kepley recorded two of Hyannis’ RBI with an infield single in the second and a solo homer in the eighth. The leadoff man was advancing runners all game and made it on base in three out of six plate appearances.
“[Kepley] is huge, he gets us going. We feel good about him anytime he’s in the box,” head coach Mitch Karraker said. “Even there in that last at-bat of the game, I felt good about him. He’s been really steady for us.”
Along with the standout outfielder, Sean Fitzpatrick had himself a day. The lefty pitched a total of 2 1/3 innings without a single hit and produced four strikeouts.
“For [Fitzpatrick] to come into the game and do what he did was huge for us. He kind of kept us right where we needed to be,” Karraker said. “He gave us a chance to get the lead there.”
The Harbor Hawks battled hard and fought to the end of the 10th. Emotions ran high for the Barnstable rivalry and they will see Cotuit again for a makeup game on Thursday at 6 p.m.
The Harwich Mariners will be the next team to face Hyannis after an off day, on Tuesday at Whitehouse Field at 6:30 p.m.
