On Saturday, Cotuit GM Bruce Murphy announced the team awards voted on by the players. Three Kettleers took home trophies, with one being a position player, and the other two splitting Pitcher of the Year honors.
Position Player of the Year – C Jack Natili
The Cincinnati backstop earned Cotuit's Position Player of the Year after a standout campaign with the Kettleers. Natili batted .240 with six home runs and a league-leading 24 RBIs while being named a CCBL All-Star and Player of the Week for July 5-11.
He's been a staple of the Cotuit lineup all summer, playing 37 of the team's 40 games, mainly as the catcher. Without Natili's clutch play, the Ketts likely wouldn't be in their current position, which is why he was honored with this award.
Co-Pitcher of the Year – LHP Payton Manca
Speaking of clutch, Florida State lefty Payton Manca has been Cotuit’s ace for most of the season. The Massachusetts native was also an all-star, boasting a 2.70 ERA and 1.23 WHIP with the fourth-most innings pitched among qualified CCBL pitchers.
His role started as a reliever, but Manca has found himself pitching deeper into every game as a starter over the summer. In his last outing on July 31, the LHP tossed five innings with a season-high eight punchouts.
Manca is one of the best arms in the league right now, and the Kettleers are fortunate to have him along for the ride.
Co-Pitcher of the Year – RHP Ryan Buckler
The Kettleers' pitching staff was so productive this summer, you couldn't pick just one pitcher for the award. Ryan Buckler (Florida Atlantic) also earns this honor as a second-year Kett, thriving in a new role.
Last season, he only came out of the bullpen. However, this season, the local product is now a starter for manager Loren Hibbs. Buckler made his first start on July 9 against Y-D, where he turned in five innings of shutout baseball.
During the regular season, the FAU hurler posted a 2.63 ERA and 0.99 WHIP across 27 1/3 innings. Buckler's last appearance came on Sunday when he tossed three scoreless frames in Cotuit's 6-5 win to clinch a playoff berth.
