A year ago today, on Aug. 6, 2024, the Wareham Gatemen’s season ended at Lowell Park after a 7-4 playoff loss to the Cotuit Kettleers. It was a one-and-done playoff game, leaving the Gatemen eliminated and wanting more.

Fast forward to the present day, and the Gatemen find themselves defeated by the Kettleers in the postseason, suffering a 5-4 loss in 10 innings at Spillane Field. It was an instant classic, but not the end of the Gatemen’s season.

Wareham gets another chance to mount a comeback and win this opening-round series, which was brought back by the Cape Cod Baseball League this season.

The Gatemen played Game 1 well on Tuesday, but the Kettleers just played it slightly better. Now the Gatemen aim to avenge their Game 1 defeat and even the best-of-three series at 1-1.

Starting pitchers

The Gatemen will start their right-handed two-way player, Caden McDonald (Florida). McDonald served as the designated hitter on Tuesday and, for the most part, was controlled by Cotuit’s pitching, going 1-for-5 with an RBI.

His last start as a pitcher was against the Bourne Braves last Wednesday, where he threw for four innings with seven hits, two earned runs, one walk and two strikeouts. This summer, he has posted a 3.51 ERA in eight appearances, five of which were starts. He will likely be the designated hitter and the starting pitcher Wednesday.

The Kettleers are responding with one of their top arms in Payton Manca (Florida State). Manca has been tremendous for Cotuit this season, starting six of seven games with a 2.70 ERA in 30 innings pitched.

In that span, he has allowed 26 hits, nine earned runs, 11 walks and 25 strikeouts. His last start against the Orleans Firebirds on Thursday was stellar, going five innings with just three hits, one earned run, two walks and eight strikeouts.

Players to watch

For Wareham:

• Chase Krewson (Rutgers) had the best night for the Gatemen offensively in Game 1. He went 3-for-5 with an RBI and, lately, has been the spark for the Gatemen’s offense in the heart of the order.
• Colby Turner (Michigan) was responsible for three of the four Gatemen runs in Game 1. He went 1-for-3 with two walks, two RBIs and a run scored, and his veteran status on the team has motivated the players around him.

For Cotuit:

• Landon Beaver (Alabama-Birmingham) has been a great addition to the Kettleers. In Game 1, he went 2-for-5 with two RBIs and a run scored.
• Luke Matthews (Kent State) sealed the win for the Ketts in Game 1, making a ranging play to his right to save the game in the bottom of the 10th. He went 2-for-4 with two RBIs at the plate on Tuesday.

First pitch for Game 2 of the best-of-three series between the Gatemen and the Kettleers will be at 4 p.m. at Lowell Park in Cotuit. You can attend the game for free, or you can tune in to the Gatemen’s radio broadcast with Cory Miller, Josh Richardson and Rayna Maggelet on the call by clicking HERE.