by Evan Barber (Living the Dream Blog)
Interviews by Andrew Brooks and Evan Barber : Alex Yarbrough, Coach Chad Gassman, Coach Roberts
Game video by Joe Cavanaugh: Torston Boss scores winning run
Walkoff Play-by-Play by Seth Bernstein (mp3, 417k)
July 9, 2011
COTUIT – Torston Boss (Michigan State) is the Boss.
Boss was undoubtedly the player of the game for the Kettleers going 3 for 3 with 4 RBI. Boss also scored the winning run for the Kettleers in the 11th, rounding the diamond all the way from first. It was Boss’ best game of the year in the Cape League.
“I’ve been struggling a bit and when you get a big hit like that with the bases loaded it really gives you confidence,” said Boss in between breaths shortly after the win.
It’s not often that you see extra innings at Lowell Park without the lights, but according the Coach Mike Roberts his team “turned the lights on.”
Kendall Graveman (Mississippi State) pitched the final three innings of the game without letting a run cross the plate, and got out of a jam in the 11th that gave the Kettleers a chance to win.
The bottom half of the 11th inning started with Kyle Wren (Georgia Tech) who struck out swinging for the first out. Then Boss stepped to the plate and hit a single, his third hit of the game. With a 1-1 count Alex Yarbrough (Mississippi) scorched a liner to the corner in right and Boss hopped on his Spartan horse to score the winning run.
“I saw it in the corner and I knew I had a chance to score and I just ran as fast as I could and I scored,” said Boss of the winning run.
Yarbrough went 1-6 on the day, but his one hit came at the most key moment of the game.
“I had a tough day at the plate earlier and I hit the ball decently but I had nothing to show for it and I was glad that I was able to come through in the 11th,” said Yarbrough of his final at bat.
Runs came early and often for both teams. The Harbor Hawks scored the first run of the game in the fourth at bat. The Kettleers called and raised the Harbor Hawks’ bid in the bottom half of the inning by putting up two runs to take the lead.
Kyle Zimmer (San Francisco) didn’t bring his best pitches to the game, as the first pitch he threw struck Eric Stamets (Evansville) in the stomach for the first runner on. Besides the hit by pitch to start the game, Zimmer didn’t walk a single batter but pitched only 4 ⅓ innings and gave up four earned on 6 hits.
With the win the Kettleers earn 2 more points in the standings but still sit in last place in the East with a 9-13-2 record. Despite the loss, the Harbor Hawks (16-8-0) still lead the division. The Kettleers look to continue their recent run of success on Sunday the 10th against the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox at Red Wilson Field starting at 5:00 p.m.