What a weekend for young Tyler Bellan of Division 3 Wheaton College! Saturday the Kettleers bullpen catcher was notified that he was being promoted to the active 30 man team roster since Will Plattner was being placed on the 7 day injury list Then Sunday Coach Rob Cooper notified the catcher that he would be in the starting lineup that night against Hyannis. Bellan took advantage of his opportunity, playing solid defense, walking twice and scoring the game’s only run in the Kettleers 1-0 victory.
The storyline brought back memories of Kettleers in the past.
The season is 2013. The Kettleers have a temporary catcher on the opening day 30 man roster named Nolan Clark from little known Concordia. One by one the 3 permanent catchers either get drafted, leave for Team USA or get injured. Suddenly Clark is thrust into the starting lineup and takes advantage of his opportunity. It was one of the hottest summers in memory yet Clark who lost close to 20 pounds catching day after day refused to take a break and be taken out of the lineup. Clark was one of two players who was on the opening day roster and the final day roster as he became an inspirational leader for the team and was nicknamed “Captain Clark”. That 2013 team (25-18-1) swept thru the playoffs and won the 16th championship in Cotuit’s long and storied history.
We move on to 2019 and a similar story. The opening day roster features a young catcher, Cody Pasic of Cotuit who was a temporary player, not expected to stick when some of the permanent players would arrive. He was once a Kettleers batboy and camper, someone who was a regular at Lowell Park, and now he was battling for a roster spot. The local kid who had matriculated to the University of Maine was working
hard in daily practices, hoping to get his opportunity which finally came in late June. Pasic impressed the coaching staff with his tenacity and spirit and overnight became the starter and leader for the 2019 squad. It was Pasic who caught all 15 innings in a classic and emotional Game One of the Championship Series at Harwich. Then 14 hours later he was again behind the plate at Lowell Park for the clincher which set off a celebration that Cotuit will long remember. It was the first time in decades the Kettleers had won a championship at Lowell Park.
Two stories about back-up catchers that eventually led to Kettleers championships. Will history repeat itself with Tyler Bellan?
