HARWICH, Mass. — In sports, the concept of home-field advantage reigns supreme. However, for the 2024 Cotuit Kettleers, this is a notion they've turned on its head. Unlike most teams, the Kettleers thrive on the road, boasting a better record away from Lowell Park.
"The players, the competitors that we have, they want it. They really want to get up for it. I think the players are locked into the game whenever you're playing and trying to show that they belong," first base coach Will Thompson said on the Kettleers playing on the road.
The Ketts played three away games in a row this week and won two of them, including the final game against the Harwich Mariners. Cotuit currently has an 8-4 record away from Lowell Park, which puts them in the top three compared to other teams in the Cape.
The pitching staff is one of the big reasons the Ketts have excelled on the road. Cotuit currently boasts a 4.03 ERA, ranking them in the top three on the Cape regarding road games. A big reason that the pitching staff finds success on the road is that they are striking out a significant number of hitters. So far, they have punched out 105 hitters, ranking them as the fourth-best team in the league. The staff also keeps the ball in the yard, as they have only allowed eight homers on the road, putting them in the bottom three compared to the other teams.
"I think that the road just provides a little bit more sense of awareness, a little bit of an edge. You're not at home, you're not in your comfort zone, and sometimes being out of your comfort zone is a good thing because it sharpens that awareness," assistant pitching coach Robert Hughes said on the staff at away games.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Ketts haven't been quiet either. They have hit 12 long balls away from Lowell Park, one back from the league-best 13. The offense has put up a staggering number of runs on the road, scoring 68 runs in all away games, second best in the league.
"We have put a lot of emphasis on our two-strike approach, and our guys have really bought into and responded well to that. That was reflected today, and I even think yesterday, and just the quality of at-bats that we're taking," assistant coach Padyn Kesselring said on the offense.
When the stakes are high, the Kettleers seem to shine the brightest. They hold the best record against teams with a winning percentage above .500, standing at an impressive 6-4, one of the best records in the league. With 10 more away games on the horizon, the Kettleers' performance will be a true test of their road-game prowess.
Photo by Holden McBerty (Memphis).
