HARWICH, Mass. — Kettleer baseball has been rocky to start the new season. Cotuit lost, 8-2, Monday to Orleans but came into Harwich on Tuesday looking to rebound. Starting pitcher James Hays (Stetson) was jumped on early, and with no run support, the Ketts were downed, 6-0, on the road to start the summer 1-3.
After a 1-2-3 top of the first for the Ketts, Harwich quickly got on the board. Niko Brini (Wofford) led off with a triple before coming in to score on an RBI groundout in the next at-bat. Eric Becker (transfer portal) drew a one-out walk, then strolled into second easily after Hays’ wild pitch.
He scored a batter later on an RBI single by Maddox Molony (Oregon). Hays would eventually get out of the inning, but not until the Mariners took the early lead.
Cotuit threatened in the next half inning as Nolan Stevens (Oklahoma) and Easton Winfield (Texas) strung together a pair of singles. However, that threat would be silenced after Case Sanderson (Nebraska) grounded into a double play to end the frame.
In the bottom of the inning, Harwich jumped on Hays to the tune of three hits and four runs, highlighted by a Molony two-run home run that was mashed over the left-field wall. That would be the end of the line for the Cotuit starter as he was pulled after just 1 2/3 innings pitched in which he surrendered six earned runs.
Payton Manca (Florida State) took his place and recorded the third out of the inning on a flyout to Andrew Wiggins (transfer portal) in center field.
The Seminole had a good outing but got into trouble and was pulled with two outs in the bottom of the fifth. His final line was three innings pitched, two hits allowed, no runs surrendered and a strikeout. Brandon Langley (Western Carolina) took his place and got the final out of the inning.
Langley tossed two more shutout innings before he was pulled for Max Haug (George Washington) in the bottom of the eighth, who tossed a 1-2-3 frame with a pair of punchouts to bring Cotuit to its final three outs.
The Kettleers made some noise in the top of the ninth by loading the bases with two outs. But Sanderson struck out swinging to end the ballgame.
Notes
Cotuit has started the 2025 season 1-3, its worst start through the first four games since 2016, when the Kettleers started 0-4.
The Kettleers’ offense has been ineffective to start the summer. Right now, they’re last or tied for last in runs, extra-base hits, stolen bases and home runs.
Looking ahead
The Ketts will have Wednesday off for the annual “Fenway Day,” where all CCBL teams take batting practice and do field work at Fenway Park. Cotuit will return to the diamond Thursday when it plays at Chatham. First pitch from Veterans Field is at 7 p.m.
