Rob Cooper's Kettleers are beginning to build momentum. With starter Jonathan Adelmann continuing his outstanding start to the summer and newcomers already contributing, Cotuit rode a three-run sixth inning to a 3-2 win over the Orleans Firebirds on Friday.

Cotuit relied on another fantastic outing from starter Jonathan Adelmann to edge past the Firebirds. Adelmann has had a stellar start to the summer with just one run allowed through 11 innings.

Adelmann fanned four Firebirds and allowed just two hits through his 4.1-inning start.

Adelmann, a Bucknell pitcher, has fully stepped into his role for Cotuit as a starter. Adelmann was a big get in Cooper’s first recruiting class on the Cape and a name that he knew would perform.

"I've known his coaches for a long time. I knew he pitched up here before,” Cooper said. “I checked out his numbers, and the thing that kept coming back when I talked to his coaches was how competitive he is and how much he loves to compete. That is bearing out every single day."

Adelmann featured in seven games out of the bullpen with a 3.97 ERA last summer for Cotuit and has been even better this time around.

Adelmann has now started three games on the Cape and is giving the most talented hitters serious trouble, even on his off days.

"Today, I didn't think he had his best stuff, and he still gave us a real quality outing,” Cooper joked. “I just feel fortunate that he pitches for us."

Cooper may have an ace on his hands, but the Kettleers still have work to do at the plate.

Cotuit is batting just .199 after 11 games, good for last on the Cape. However, with the wins slowly adding up, Cooper’s blueprint is becoming a reality.

"To be honest with you, I feel like our guys have fought. We've been in a lot of one-run games. We got walked off last night, so the fight's there,” Cooper said. “I give our guys credit because a lot of times in summer ball, guys won't do that. But these guys care, they have pride, they want to win and they're trying to get better at their craft. I was proud of their fight."

Cooper has built a tightly-knit team that fought hard for his now fourth win on the Cape, but he is not done adding. On June 23, Aiden Aguayo, a UCLA infielder, joined the team; By Friday, he was hitting leadoff.

"It's a great experience for sure,” Aguayo said. "Just being here for a couple of days so far, these guys are awesome. It's really fun playing with this team, and I'm just enjoying every moment of it."

Aguayo, the California native, played in 38 games for UCLA this spring. He walked twice, stole a base and scored the first run for Cotuit after being driven home by Dawson Park.

The 19-year-old is now three games into his Cotuit tenure and is quickly adjusting to Cape League ball.

"It's definitely a bit of a transition,” Aguayo said. "The first game, I had a little rough start, but as you keep swinging with wood, I've kind of found my way around here."

Aguayo hit 20 RBIs with UCLA as a freshman and is looking to perform and develop as a player on the Cape. Cooper has been a huge support for Aguayo.

“He's making it a really good experience for us, and he's been very welcoming, which is awesome,” Aguayo said. “That's something you want in a coach. He's very loyal and I think he's been great for us this year."

Cooper is looking to stack wins to get back into the fight in the West Division. He has enjoyed the energy and commitment the Kettleers have been bringing to the field each day.

"All these guys want to play professionally and the energy is different,” Cooper said. “It needs to be, being present in what's going on, even if they’re not playing. If these guys want to play baseball at the highest level, they're going to have to be present."

With Cotuit up 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh, Aguayo walked and Ryan Tyranski looked to extend Cotuit’s lead over the Firebirds. Tyranski barrelled a pitch to deep right field. The ball kept flying back, but a Firebird was fiercely tracking the ball down, step by step.

Rowan Kelly, another player in his first week on the Cape, ran past the warning track and leaped into the air, crashing into the fence face-first.

He smashed into the chain-link fence with his glove hand high in the air and his body nearly parallel to the grass. He collapsed to the ground as the ball disappeared from view. The crowd went silent as he lay motionless. Kelly’s first movement was to raise his glove in the air to show that he had made the catch.

Although Kelly's inconceivable catch was for naught, the new additions to the Cape League are beginning to find their footing. Cotuit hopes its victory is another step toward making a run in Cooper's inaugural summer on the Cape.