Ketts Extend Win Streak to 5 with Win over Harwich
By: James Middleton | West Chester University
Cotuit, MA — Good teams take advantage of opportunities, and the Ketts did just that tonight. In the top of the third, a costly two-out error by the Harwich left fielder kept the inning going as Cotuit would score three with two outs. Cotuit rode the big inning as they secured the 6-1 victory over the Mariners.
Making his third start of the summer was Jake Gigliotti (Northeastern). The right-hander twirled four innings of two-hit baseball, punching out five in his start. It wasn't without a bit of chaos, as Gigliotti had to work out of jams in the second and fourth inning.
The Ketts opened the scoring in the second when a towering fly ball hit by Emilien Pitre (Kentucky) found its way over the right field wall for a solo shot.
The error in the third allowed for runners to occupy second and first, with Grant Norris (Penn State) stepping up to the plate. Norris sent a ball the opposite way to bring home the first run. A walk to Josh Pyne (Indiana) loaded the bases for the lefty from UNC-Wilmington, Brock Wills. On a 2-1 count, Wills pulled a ball down the right field line for a two-RBI single. The Ketts took advantage of the error, as all three runs that came around to score were unearned.
"In my second at-bat, I kind of went with the approach of everything up the middle. I was able to get a fastball in the inner half and just do some damage with it. I think my approach has helped me in that aspect," said Wills on his RBI single.
The bats went quiet for both teams until the eighth inning. In the top half, Harwich scored on a single to the left fielder, where the runner that scored reached on an error by the Kettleer defense. When Cotuit got up to bat, Josh Pyne (Indiana) and Teo Banks (Tulane) found themselves on the corners by way of a walk and hit-by-pitch. An errant pickoff attempt by the Harwich pitcher would bring home Pyne and allow Banks to get to third. James McCoy (Kentucky) stepped up and hit his second double of the night to bring home Banks and the Ketts final tally.
"Just sticking to what I've been training and doing that. One of them got placed perfectly, but that's baseball; you can hit a line drive right at someone, and it ends up being an out. Knowing that it's not all mechanical, it can be mental, or it can be timing," said McCoy on his two doubles.
Out of the bullpen tonight was Finn McIlroy (UCLA) and Cole Mathis (Charleston). McIlroy was the first arm out of the bullpen, pitching two innings only and earning the decision in his appearance against Harwich. Mathis took the ball after playing first for the game's first six innings. The right-hander was on the mound for three innings as he closed out the game, shutting the Mariner offense down.
Cotuit moves to a record of 19-7 and a five-game winning streak with the win over Harwich. The nineteen wins is a Cape League best as the Ketts lead the league with 38 points. The Kettleers will welcome the Gatemen to Lowell Park at 5 p.m. tomorrow. Wareham sits at the bottom of the western division with just ten wins.