Nathan Hall. Photo by Dennis Theoharidis (Mass. College of Art & Design)
Cotuit, Mass. — On Friday night, the Cotuit Kettleers and Hyannis Harbor Hawks opened their five-game, yearly rivalry series for the Barnstable Patriot Cup. It was a back-and-forth affair, but in the end, the Ketts used two clutch hits in the latter part of the game to escape with a 4-2 win.
“Our pitchers were phenomenal for us today,” Cotuit head coach Mike Roberts said. “They threw strikes, and when you do that it obviously gives you a good chance to stay in the game, and that’s what it did for us.”
Runs were at a premium Friday, but Hyannis got the scoring started early in the second inning as it was able to plate two on Cotuit’s ace, Cam Hill (Georgia Tech). However, it wouldn’t take long for the Ketts to return the favor. In the fourth, Grant Jay (Dallas Baptist) barreled up a 2-1 breaking ball, sending it just over the wall in left field to tie the game at 2-2.
That home run would also put Cotuit in first place in home runs in the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL) with eight long balls.
From that point on, both teams' pitching staffs continued to shove on the mound, posting three straight scoreless innings from both sides. In the seventh, the Ketts put the newly activated Nathan Hall (Clemson) in a big spot with a runner on second, two outs and the ballgame tied.
Hall delivered with a clutch RBI single to plate Jarren Advincula (Cal Berkeley) and break the tie.
"I knew it was a big spot, but I just tried to calm my heartbeat, slow my breathing, and my breath had a big part of that,” Hall said. “I focus on not trying to tense up and do too much, keep a loose grip on my bat, and I try to keep it simple. Hit it where it's pitched, and I turned on it and I came through for the team. It felt good."
Just an inning later, Cotuit added to its lead when a wild pitch scored Tyler Cerny (Indiana) and gave the Kettleers some cushion. That would be the final inning of the ballgame as the umpires called it due to darkness, and the Ketts held on to win, 4-2.
Cotuit will be back in action Saturday evening as it will make the road trip to face the Brewster Whitecaps. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.
Cam Hill. Photo by Dennis Theoharidis (Mass. College of Art & Design)
