Stay Connected:
Stay Connected:
June 21, 2022 7:56 pm | by Barrett Hodgson
The undefeated Cotuit Kettleers visited Spillane Field on Tuesday, June 26th to take on the Wareham Gatemen. Cotuit looked to continue their Cape Cod League dominance while Wareham tried to avoid a four-game losing streak.
Cotuit continued their winning ways and advanced to 8-0 on the season while the Wareham losing streak was extended to four straight games.
After two scoreless innings, Cotuit broke things open in the 3rd scoring four runs. CJ Kayfus (Miami) started the inning with an infield single. He advanced to second on a Chandler Simpson (Georgia Tech) single. Zachary Cole (Ball St.) then laced an RBI single into left that scored Kayfus and a throw home advanced Simpson to third and Cole to second. Victor Scott II (West Virginia) then ripped a two RBI double into left center and advanced to 3rd on a Justin Miknis (Kent St.) infield single. With runners on first and third, the Kettleers put on a play in which Miknis got into a rundown allowing Scott II to score making it 4-0.
Wareham responded immediately in the bottom of the third with three runs of their own. Peter Burns (Boston College) started things off with a beautiful bunt single down the third base line. The Gatemen then walked three straight times, scoring Burns and loading the bases for Blake Wright (Clemson). Wright grounded into an RBI fielder’s choice that put runners on first and third. Hogan Windish (UNC Greensboro) then scored on a wild pitch to cut the Cotuit lead down to 4-3.
The bullpens of both Cotuit and Wareham impressed after neither starter had their best stuff. Ethan Chenault (UNC Wilmington) came in for the Kettleers and went 3.2 innings while striking out four batters. He was dominant, throwing 28 strikes out of his 39 pitches. Will Jacobsen (Harvard) went two scoreless innings while striking out three batters and put Cotuit in position for a save.
The Wareham relievers included Wyatt Hudepohl (Kentucky) and Bobby Alcock (Gardner-Webb). Hudepohl went two scoreless innings and bridged the way to Alcock. The Gardner-Webb product allowed just one baserunner in two innings of work and gave the Gatemen a chance late in the game.
Ryan Ritter (Kentucky) extended the Cotuit lead in the top half of the 9th with a solo blast. The home run was absolutely smoked, clearing the bleachers in left field. The two-run advantage allowed TJ Brock (Ohio State) to come in and nail down the save, giving the Kettleers a 5-3 win.
The Gatemen will travel to Whitehouse Field to take on the Harwich Mariners for the first time this season. Wareham will look to get back into the win column and end this losing streak before it reaches five games.
