Rain-stained puddles outlined Judy Walden Scarafile Field on July 2nd, where the Hyannis Harbor Hawks suffered a lopsided 11–1 loss to the Cotuit Kettleers. The Harbor Hawks (8-5-1) got on the board quickly in the bottom of the first, responding to two early runs for Cotuit (5-9-1). A 390-foot bomb from Jaxon Willits brought energy to the Hyannis dugout and cut the lead in half—but it would be the Hawks’ only offensive production of the night.
Cotuit’s bats stayed hot and their execution crisp, as they extended their lead in the sixth and seventh innings. The Kettleers' top three hitters consistently found ways to reach base and manufacture runs. Cotuit's second baseman and center fielder opened the game with back-to-back quality at-bats, putting pressure on Hyannis starter Brett Lanman early.
In a tough spot, Lanman battled to escape the jam, but Cotuit opted for small ball. Hyannis manager Mitch Karraker, who has emphasized limiting free bases and execution all season, credited the Kettleers' early strategy.
“[Cotuit] put down a good sack, and executed really well offensively. You don't see that a whole lot in the Cape. Usually they let guys swing. They played good baseball. They played really good baseball.”
Hyannis had no answer for Cotuit’s pace or pressure, and the game slowly slipped out of reach. The Kettleers executed on both sides of the ball, limiting Hyannis to just four hits and controlling the tempo from start to finish. That early sacrifice was emblematic of Cotuit’s approach: smart, disciplined, and relentless. The bunt led directly to a run-scoring wild pitch and sacrifice fly, putting Hyannis in an early hole. Typically, the Hawks are the team capitalizing on errors—but recently, they’ve been on the giving end of those opportunities.
Offensively, the Hawks made contact—but not consistently. A few hard-hit balls nearly altered the game’s course, but Hyannis failed to come through with runners on base. Cotuit’s pitchers worked ahead in the count and threw strikes.
“[The Kettleers] made really good pitches, I mean, they were ahead in almost every count… They didn't walk anybody, which is unusual for our team. We usually walk at least a couple more times a game.”
Karraker acknowledged how rare it is for Hyannis to go without multiple walks. When ahead in games, their patience pays off. But when trailing, the Hawks have struggled to adjust to aggressive pitching—a pattern that’s now emerged over the past three contests.
“The win category… We like to win and I think our players like to win. It's more fun, obviously, when you win. So figuring out a way to get back in the win column is going to be important and I don't care what it looks like. I don't care if we walk seven again next game. As long as we score more runs than the other team, that's what we're looking for.”
The loss doesn’t shake the team’s identity, but it adds urgency to upcoming matchups. With the All-Star break on the horizon, Karraker knows each game carries increasing weight. Hyannis has responded well to adversity in the past—and they'll need that same resilience moving forward.
Despite the skid, Hyannis remains atop the West Division in the Cape Cod Baseball League, holding a three-point edge over Falmouth. The Commodores play Cotuit twice before the Hawks face off against the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox, who currently lead the league. As July begins, the Hawks aim to reset and rediscover the fast starts and clutch moments that propelled them to the top.
Hyannis plays the Y-D Red Sox at McKeon Park on July 3 at 6:00 p.m. EST.
Reach Matt Ford-Wellman
X: @MattFW_4
Gmail: mfordwellman.media@gmail.com
