Cotuit’s 7-0 Win Gives it a 7-point lead in the Western Division Standings

By Megan Kerr/Asst. Web Editor
July 21, 2006

COTUIT, MA —  After two straight games of meager offensive output by the Kettleers, their bats finally came alive against the second place Wareham Gateman as Cotuit won the important contest 7-1 over the Gateman. With the help of clutch batting and amazing defense, Cotuit was able to increase their lead in the Western Division. Cotuit was focused on getting this victory against a team that was inching closer to them in the standings, as demonstrated early on when Kyle Russell (Texas , 1 for 4) laid out to save a run in the top of the third inning. This amazing diving catch seemed to inspire the Kettleers as Cotuit was able to get on the scoreboard first as they jumped on Chris Hicks (Georgia Tech, 0BB, 1K, 4H), who coming into the game had only allowed one run over fifteen innings and had a .60 ERA, in the bottom of the third to grab an early lead.

Cotuit scored four runs in the third inning off of hits by Justin Smoak (South Carolina, 1 for 4, 2 RBI) and Jeffrey Rea (Mississippi St, 3 for 5) to give the Kettleers a lead that appeared to be insurmountable due to the great pitching by their starter Christian Staehely (Princeton, 0BB, 4K, 5H). Staehely pitched eight solid innings for the Kettleers as he completely held the Wareham attack in check, picking up his team leading fourth victory of the season. Staehely had plenty of help in earning his victory from his defense, such as Brett Lilley’s outstanding diving catch to rob Steffan Wilson (Harvard, 0 for 4) of what appeared to be a sure double down the left field baseline, and from his offence, who continued to put pressure on Wareham pitching in the sixth inning.

Hicks, who picked up his first loss of the season, was taken out after allowing five straight men to reach base in the third inning and was replaced by reliever John Ely (Miami Ohio, 2BB, 3K, 2H). Ely didn’t allow any more Kettleers to cross home plate in the third inning, but was unable to keep Cotuit’s offence from adding to their lead as the Kettleers bats went back to work in the sixth inning. Matt Angle and Jeffrey Rea produced three more runs for the Kettleers, giving Cotuit a seven run lead that would prove to be more than adequate for the Kettleers to pick up their nineteenth victory of the season.

Jay Brown (Young Harris, 0BB, 1K, 0H) came on in the ninth to close out the game for Cotuit, which he managed to do with a one-two-three inning. Cotuit stays at home where they will face the Harwich Mariners as the Kettleers bats look to continue to do damage against opposing pitching.