By Courtney Swift
Kettleers Lead Writer
June 23, 2012

COTUIT – Not one, not two, not even three, but rather five long balls left Lowell Park Saturday in Cotuit’s final game of their home stand. However, four of the five homers belonged to the Harwich Mariners, dashing the Kettleers hopes of being above .500 for the first time since the first two games of the season. The team’s strong offense pushed the Mariners past Cotuit (now 4-5) with a monstrous 9-2 win.

Harwich got on the board early off of Cotuit starter Jordan Smith (Western Carolina) after Austin “Chief” Wilson (Stanford) connected for a two run shot in the first giving Harwich the early 2-0 lead. Wilson added to his strong performance launching another two run homer in the seventh. Brett Austin (NC State) and Sam Dove (Georgia Tech) also contributed with two-run home runs of their own. Smith pitched four and two-thirds giving up four runs on eight hits while striking out five and walking one.

Harwich has already hit 15 home runs in nine games this season. “It’s not how hard you throw it’s how efficient you throw,” coach Mike Roberts said. “So we just gotta be a little better. It shows pitching wise that we gotta keep the ball down.”

The Kettleers supplied a little power of their own when Cael Brockmeyer (CSU Bakersfield) launched his second homer of the season over the right-center fence in the fourth. Raph Rhymes (LSU) also had an RBI, but the closest Cotuit would come to Harwich was a score of 4-2 at the end of the fourth. The Kettleers threatened in the sixth after loading the bases with just one out. James Roberts (USC) and Brockmeyer singled, and Aramis Garcia (Florida International) walked, but two strikeouts ended the inning and the comeback. “We’ve got to hold onto the bat, and swing the bat all the way around,” said Roberts. The Mariners pitching staff combined for 14 strikeouts on the night.

Cotuit heads to Chatham Sunday looking for their second win against the Anglers this season. Garcia said the team is ready to look ahead. “Just flush this loss, and just come back tomorrow and play hard and be ready to play.” Southpaw Kevin Ziomek (Vanderbilt) will take the mound looking for his second win of the season.

To see more postgame interviews, visit the Kettleers Official YouTube Channel.