By Jon Mettus
July 29, 2015
Josh Rojas debuted for the Kettleers on Wednesday. Photo by Brigitte Rec.
HYANNIS — The Kettleers signed and activated infielder Josh Rojas on Wednesday. The 6-foot, 1-inch lefty batter pinch-hit in the ninth for Cotuit. He fouled off a few pitches before grounding into a fielder’s choice.
“We needed another left-handed hitter,” head coach Mike Roberts said. “We needed another infielder for depth … I thought he had a really god at bat off Dakota Hudson (Mississippi State) in the ninth inning.”
Rojas had been playing in the California Collegiate League until he received a call from Cotuit asking if he wanted to help the team make a playoff run, he said.
“I was excited to go home — our league was finishing up back home — but when I got the opportunity to come out here I definitely had to come,” Rojas said.
Rojas spent two years at Paradise Valley Junior College and will be transferring to Hawaii in the fall. Hawaii noticed him at the Junior College All-Star game and within a couple weeks of visiting, Rojas was signed to play for the school.
“We’ll see over the next few days where he’ll be with this club, but we’re very happy to have him,” Roberts said.
HAYNIE EXTENDS HIT AND RBI STREAK
Will Haynie has at least one hit and one RBI in his last seven games. Photo by Brigitte Rec.
Will Haynie (Alabama) hit a ground ball to short with the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning. It hit off the lip of the grass and shot over the shortstop’s head and into left-center field. Cole Fabio (Bryant) and Brody Weiss (Riverside City College) scored on the play.
For the second times in as many days the Kettleers opponent tried to switch pitchers once Haynie came to the plate and it backfired.
Haynie extended his hitting streak to seven games and has a run batted in in each of his last seven. In that time span, Haynie is 11-for-28 with 11 RBI.
KETTLEERS VISIT CAPE COD BASEBALL LEAGUE HALL OF FAME
The Cotuit players and coaching staff traveled to the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame and the JFK Museum in Hyannis prior to Wednesday’s matchup with the Harbor Hawks.
The players looked through the galleries and artifacts with the most popular exhibit being a video playing in the CCBL Hall of Fame, commemorating one of the CCBL seasons.
“I think the players overall enjoyed it and were able to learn about the history of the Cape League,” Roberts said.
KLEIN OUT 3 TO 4 DAYS
Jack Klein (Stanford) has been nursing a foot injury ever since he fouled a pitch off his foot during a July 7 win over Wareham. He’s played in nine games off and on since then and was able to play in the All-Star game.
While Klein is still taking batting practice, the team is trying to keep him from running, Roberts said, adding that he hopes Klein will be back by the weekend or for Monday if Cotuit reaches the playoffs.
“He’s gonna get treatment (for) three, four or five days and we’re kind of going to just let it simmer down,” Roberts said.
GAA SITS OUT
Cotuit was missing one of its top hitters on Wednesday. Spencer Gaa, who has been hitting in the top of the lineup recently and leads the team with a .300 batting average, didn’t play against Hyannis.
“He said his leg was bothering him so I said OK we’ll play somebody else,” Roberts said.
Roberts didn’t say how long Gaa would be out for.