Wacky 5th inning results in crucial Gatemen win over Cotuit
July 30, 2019 9:41 pm | by Andrew Lang
Wacky 5th inning results in crucial Gatemen win over Cotuit
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Nick Gonzales (New Mexico State) led off the ball game with his league leading 11thdouble. Joey Loperfido (Duke) got on base with a hard hit single into left and Ben Sems (Kansas) tried to make a play, but overthrew Jacob Teter (Florida Southern) at first base scoring a run on an error.
Gonzales is not just a Gatemen killer, but a league killer, as in the 3rdinning he perfectly placed a triple into right field sending home Cotuit’s second run. After the triple, Gonzales this season is 10-23 against the Gatemen with two doubles, two triples, and a home run.
Tanner Bibbee (Cal State Fullerton) relieved Prater in the 4thinning. Besides Gonzalez hitting at will, Prater had a solid outing posting a final line of 3.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 S0. With the help of a double play, Bibee completed a 1-2-3 inning to start.
Pete Derkay (Tennesee) made his presence felt in his Wareham Gatemen debut. Derkay roped a triple into left field sending home two runs tying the game 2-2. The Gatemen offense kept the train rolling. After the triple, Ward and Matt McLain (UCLA) took back to back walks loading the bases with no outs. Nick Jones (Georgia Southern) walked a 3rdstraight batter scoring a run.
“It felt great hitting that triple, I have always wanted to come up here and it was just nice to come through for the team” Derkay said. “I like being here I like the guys, they are fun to be around and I am just excited to finish this out with them.”
Jones’ nightmare inning continued as a wild pitch made it 4-2. The 5 runs in the 5thinning scored on Jones were scored on just 1 hit. Jones threw a second straight wild pitch to score Wareham’s 5thrun. Jones finished with a final line of 1.0 IP, 1 H, 5 ER, 6 BB, 4 SO.
The Kettleers finally recorded an out in the inning, but it was on a Dallas Beaver (South Carolina) sacrifice fly extending the lead to 6-2. The Kettleers had a chance of their own to strike back in the 6thinning. Oraj Anu (Kentucky) led off the inning with a double and worked his way to 3rdbase with one out. Cotuit failed to capitalize stranding the runner at 3rd.
Brandon Pfaadt (Bellarmine) took the mound for the Gatemen in the 7thinning. Tanner Bibee was excellent earning the win. He finished with a final line of 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB 2 SO. Pfaadt had a nice start striking out 2 of the first 3 batters he faced in a 1-2-3 inning. Pfaadt one upped himself in the 8thinning striking out the side.
On a very strange string of events the Gatemen scored in the 8thinning. Matt Rudick (San Diego State) reached on a single and scored on a stolen base and a two base error. Pfaadt went on to complete his 3 inning no-hitter in the 9thinning retiring the side in order. Pfaadt earned a 3 innings save finishing with a final line of 3.0 IP 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO.
“This is great competition, you know it’s the best players around so you have to be mentally prepared and physically prepared every day to come out and contribute” Derkay said. “I just want to go out there and have fun and try to stay mentally locked in.”
The Gatemen improved to 22-17-2 on the season and retain sole possession of 2ndplace in the West Division. The Kettleers fall to 19-8-4 and now trail by 4 points sitting in 3rdplace in the West Division. Cotuit looks to bounce back hosting the Falmouth Commodores at 5:00 p.m. Wareham is back in action today in Bourne playing the Braves at 2:00 p.m.
Photo by: Ryan Lemay
