Y-D won its seventh straight game Friday evening, defeating Cotuit, 5-1. It was Y-D’s eighth win of the season, widening its lead in the Eastern Division.
First baseman Dean Carpentier recorded two hits in the game, including an RBI single in the fifth inning. His double was his second of the season, ranking second most on the Y-D roster. At USC during his sophomore year, Carpentier posted a .287 BABIP (batting average on balls in play) and an impressive 11.3% walk rate.
Carpentier ambushed Kenton Deverman (Evansville) for a first-pitch double, driving the ball into right field past Nolan Stevens. Jake Bold scored all the way from first base, giving Y-D a 1-0 lead. Swinging first pitch has been a common approach for Y-D this season, with Carpentier’s extra-base hit a continuation of that trend.
“Looking for the fastball on the outer half of the plate, and fortunately got one and put a good swing on it,” Carpentier said after the game.
When Carpentier came up in the seventh inning, AJ Soldra stood on first base with no outs. Staying aggressive, Carpentier fouled off the first two pitches. He then waited for a cutter, hitting it to left field. His second hit of the game was a single, but an error allowed him to reach scoring position on the play.
“I got a cutter over the plate, put a good swing on it and found some outfield grass. Then I was able to hustle to second and get around to score,” Carpentier said.
One of Y-D’s strengths this summer has been its aggressiveness on the basepaths. Whether it’s stealing a base late in the game or stretching a single into a double, those extra 90 feet can be the difference between winning and losing. Carpentier demonstrated that in Friday night’s victory, providing Y-D with a key insurance run late in the game.
Y-D will once again look to extend its winning streak Saturday evening, with the team scheduled to face Wareham at 6 p.m.
