The Reporters Notebook: Wareham
By: Jimmy Middleton | West Chester University
Wareham, MA — Early in this seventy-sixth season of Kettleer baseball, the story has been the pitching—especially the Cotuit bullpen. Returner Chase Hopewell (Cincinnati), Camron Hill (Georgia Tech), and Noah Ruen (Tyler JC) have been lights out so far this season.
Hopewell comes back to Cotuit after just finishing his junior season. The 6-4 righty made fifteen starts for the Bearcats this season, striking out fifty-two batters and walking twenty-seven. While in Cotuit this season, he has appeared in four games, striking out nine and allowing his first three earned runs against Wareham.
Camron Hill is making his first appearance in the Cape League this season with Cotuit. Hill appeared in eighteen games this year, making five starts. The southpaw struck thirty-three batters this season during his time with Georgia Tech. While with the Ketts, he has made four appearances, striking out fifteen hitters and posting an ERA of zero.
Ruen has appeared four times for the maroon and white this season. The sidearmer is another Kettleer with a zero ERA. He has earned three saves on the year, picking up seven punchouts while only giving up five hits. The right-hander has picked up where he left off after having a dominant season at Tyler Junior College. He appeared in nineteen games in his sophomore campaign, strictly out of the bullpen. He struck out sixty-four batters and posted an ERA of .82 this past season.
Hopewell and Hill are both league leaders in the entire Cape League. Hopewell leads the league in wins, while Hill leads in strikeouts and ERA. Cotuit boasts the best ERA in the Cape League through twelve games. The pitching staff also ranks in the top five in hits per game, strikeouts, WHIP, and batting average against.
The game against Wareham featured Hopewell but did not feature Hill or Ruen. Hopewell received his first loss of the year in the contest. All of the arms will look to improve their great starts throughout the long season. Hill and Ruen will mainly come out of the bullpen during their time in Cotuit but don’t be surprised if you see the pitcher from Cincinnati make a start for the Ketts.