Dupart Goes 3-5 with RBI to Pace Kettleers’ Lineup

By Jessica Isner, Staff Writer
June 24 , 2007

LOWELL PARK, COTUIT, MA — You can’t judge a game by its first inning- proven last night by the Red Sox, and today by the Kettleers.

What started out as a little bit of a mess for Cotuit ended up being quite a show, as the offense picked up the pitching after a rough couple of innings to string together an 8-7 victory over Wareham on Saturday.

New catcher Caleb Joseph, a recent pickup from Falmouth, starred for the Kettleers with three RBI in his debut.

“I like to say I was traded from Falmouth,” Joseph said, “but the truth is that I was released and then got picked up here.”

Curtis Dupart also recorded his first Cape League homer, a double, and a single in the game.

The pitching in the marathon game certainly was nothing to brag about. Wareham starter Matt Petition of North Carolina lasted only six batters, surrendering four runs on five hits. Cotuit’s Matt Wright outlasted him, but not by much, leaving the game after 1+ inning. His line was almost identical to Petition’s: four runs on four hits with a pair of K’s and a pair of walks.

Cotuit’s pitching woes continued with Wright struggling out of the gate. Wareham sent eight men to the plate in the top of the first and jumped ahead early, 3-0, on a home run by Dominic de la Osa. In the inning, Wright allowed three hits, walked two, and struck out two.

Fortunately, the Kettleers offense was having one of its good days and came back to promptly pick up their pitcher in the bottom of the frame. Curtis Dupart of Georgia Tech led things off with a double, stole third, and was sacrificed home by Mike Bianucci. Cotuit then loaded the bases on two singles and an error before Yan Gomes singled home the Kettleers’ second run. Petition made a premature departure, giving way to Milton native Sam Whelen. With the bases loaded and one out, JB Shuck popped out to third, but Caleb Joseph kept things alive with a two-RBI double down the third baseline to put Cotuit up, 4-2. All four runs were charged to Petition.

“It was great,” said Joseph of hitting so well in his first game with Cotuit. “I felt really comfortable out there. No nerves, no jitters.” After being just a temporary player in Falmouth, perhaps the comfort zone of knowing he couldn’t be sent home helped him swing the bat with more authority. “The relaxedness of it is better,” he said. “It was hectic, not knowing if you were gonna be sent home after the game.”

One look at Wareham’s lineup appeared to be enough for Wright: after allowing a leadoff double to 9-hole hitter Seth Henry to begin the second, his afternoon was over. Christian Staehely of Princeton relieved him and retired Mike Demperio before allowing the inherited runner to tie the game at 4. Blake Dean got his second hit of the game, a double to center, but Staehely retired de la Osa on a flyout to end the inning.

Wareham got right back at it in the top of the third, registering two quick singles to make it first and third with nobody out. Staehely then struck out Luke Murton but walked Beamer Weens to load the bases before ceding to Purdue’s Josh Lindblom. Lindblom struck out Henry to induced Demperio into flyout to center to end the inning.

Cotuit broke the deadlock in the bottom of the fourth with a one-out home run by Curtis Dupart, his first of the season. Bianucci followed with a single and he was doubled home by Baker to give the Kettleers a two-run cushion. A walk to Delmonico chased Whelen from the game; he was replaced by Chris Hicks, who escaped from the jam by inducing Josh Harrison into a double play. In the bottom of the fifth, Gomes scored his second run of the day when he doubled on base, stole third, and came home on a passed ball. They added another run in the seventh, with Wareham southpaw Josh Moore on the mound. Pinch hitter Josh Rook singled on, was sacrificed over by Ryan Lollis, and scored on a single by Caleb Joseph. It was the catcher’s third RBI of the afternoon and gave the Kettleers a four-run lead.

Wareham came back for three runs against closer Garrett Richards in the top of the ninth, but they couldn’t complete the comeback.