By: James Middleton | West Chester University
Cotuit, MA – With the playoffs beginning Friday night at Lowell Park, there were some regular season awards to be handed out before the game. Rumors swirled all week about what trophies would be added to the case. Ultimately, Cotuit walked away with the President's Trophy, Camron Hill (Georgia Tech) won the outstanding pitcher award, and Ketts skipper Mike Roberts won the Manager of the Year award.
The President's trophy is awarded to the team with the best overall record in the entire league. Cotuit won the award by five points, with the next closest team being division rival Hyannis Harbor Hawks. Before the 2023 season, the Kettleers won the award six times, with this year's record being the seventh time Cotuit has won. The last time that the Ketts won the President's trophy was in 2012.
Up next is the BFC Whitehouse Outstanding Pitcher Award, which Camron Hill ran away with the award. Hill managed a 3-0 record throughout the regular season with a 1.06 earned run average. At the beginning of the season, the Southpaw was used primarily out of the pen, but a late June matchup was the first time he earned the start, and he never looked back. The Georgia Tech product accumulated seven starts in the regular season, and he also earned the start and win in this year's All-Star Game at Whitehouse Field.
Last but not least is the Mike Curran Manager of the Year award awarded to Ketts head coach Mike Roberts. The Cotuit skipper is in his twentieth season on the Cape and eighteenth with the Kettleers. Over the course of his Cape League career, he has accumulated a record of 431-404. Roberts's 431 wins sit third among active coaches in the Cape League. Alongside Roberts in the dugout and behind the scenes is a long list of assistant coaches and interns that help on a day-to-day basis, Andrew Schreiner, Danny Crossen, Padyn Kesselring, Jake Nemith, Matt Flaherty, Peter Flaherty, Will Thompson, and Elliot Wolf.
Cotuit will now look to add more hardware to the trophy case this season as they face off in the first round against the Bourne Braves. Cotuit was the host in game one of the series, falling short, becoming a game behind in the best-of-three series. The Ketts will travel to Doran Park in a must-win game Saturday night to even up the series at one.