Ridin’ high in June, shot down in July. That’s life.
August has arrived and the Wareham Gatemen (20-16-1) have hit a struggle of epic proportions. After a 4-0 loss at Chatham, the Gatemen are now riding a five-game losing streak – their longest streak by a large margin this summer.
Wareham has been outscored 36-16 by their opponents during this stretch. And the struggles have arrived on both sides of the ball. Since July 25 – when the streak began – the Gatemen have hit for a league-worst .182 batting average and have thrown for a league-worst 7.65 ERA.
With three games left in the regular season and a playoff spot clinched, the only matter worth winning for is home field advantage in the playoffs. As the three seed in the West, Wareham would have to leap over second place Cotuit to earn that right.
It’s a good thing they’re playing each other today! The Cotuit Kettleers (21-14-1) are only a game ahead of Wareham in the West division standings. The Kettleers lead the season-series 3-1 over Wareham this season and have outscored them 19-13 in those meetings.
Wareham also hasn’t beat Cotuit since their very first matchup, a 4-2 victory in game three at home back on June 17. But Cotuit is riding a losing streak of their own – three in a row.
With two struggling teams facing off, a playoff advantage is on the line in this battle of two heavyweights in the West for a 6 p.m. contest at Spillane Field Friday night.
Starting Pitchers
Wareham Manager Ryan Smyth gives the nod to Cole Leaman (Lehigh) for his seventh start of the year. The right-hander is 1-3 this year and has a 6.52 ERA in 19 and 1/3 innings this season.
Leaman has experienced ups and downs like any pitcher has in this league. He started the year with five scoreless innings against Falmouth – Wareham's first win of the season. He’s allowed at least one earned run in each of his starts since. He most recently tossed three innings versus a strong Harwich offense. He allowed two earned runs on four hits and a walk.
Against a left-hand heavy offense in Cotuit, Leaman will have his hands full in his final regular season start.
Cotuit Manager Mike Roberts entrusts reliever Luis Misla (SUNY Cortland) for his first start of the year in this contest. The 6-foot left-hander has appeared in four relief opportunities thus far and hasn’t fared well. He’s conceded seven earned runs in four and 2/3 innings thus far – a 13.50 ERA. The southpaw also hasn’t tossed more than one and 2/3 innings in an outing this season.
A big opportunity for the Wareham bats to find life once again.
Players to Watch
Both teams’ offenses were top two in the league in average, but both squads are coming off shutout losses in their previous games.
Brandon Compton (Arizona State) is one of the few bats remaining hot for Cotuit. He went 1-for-4 in Thursday’s loss to Hyannis and is slashing .302/.394/.448 on the year. He’s reached base safely in all except one game in the second half. Since the midpoint of the season Compton is hitting at a .370 clip, and is slugging .519. Easily the hottest Kettleer at the dish right now.
Yohanna Dessureault (Stetson) remains the hot bat for Wareham. He hit 1-for-4 in Thursday’s loss at Chatham, and now has hits in five of his last seven games. With a .330/.363/.536 slash-line, Dessureault ranks fourth in the league.
He’s also the hottest hitter in the second half for Wareham, hitting at a .362 clip since July 10.
Both offenses will lean on their star bats to spark something in their respective late-season slumps.
You can watch the live broadcast as well as other Gatemen content on the Gatemen Baseball Network YouTube channel HERE.
The Gatemen Baseball Network pregame show will go live at 5:45 p.m. ahead of a 6 p.m. first pitch at Spillane Field.
Top photo caption -- Yohann Dessureault (Stetson) hitting a single at Veteran's Field in Chatham, MA on August 1, 2024. Photo by Kyler Armstrong.
