By Jon Mettus
July 24, 2015

Summary

Austin Sexton (Mississippi State) struck out 12 batters and only gave up two hits across seven innings of work to lead Cotuit (14-23) to a 3-0 victory over Harwich (16-20-1) at Whitehouse Field on Friday. Justin Dunn (Boston College) came in to close out the final two innings and earned the win as the Kettleers scored all of its three runs in the final two frames.

Cotuit has now moved up to fourth place in the West Division — the final playoff spot. Falmouth (13-23-1) lost to Orleans on Friday and sits a half game back of the Kettleers.

At the plate

Will Haynie (Alabama) finished 3-for-5 with three singles and a run batted in. He drove in the Kettleers first run with a line drive into center field in the eighth inning. Haynie is now 6-for-12 with 4 RBI in Cotuit’s last three games.

In the field

In the bottom of the third inning, Harwich’s Brock Deatherage (NC State) hit a ground ball down the third base line into left field with a runner on second. Ryan Lidge (Notre Dame) rounded third and headed home, but Brett Stephens (UCLA) fired a throw home that one hopped to Haynie at the plate. Haynie swiped his glove across Lidge’s hand and arm just before Lidge could touch the back corner of the plate.

Notable number

15 — Sexton (12) and Dunn (3) combined for 15 strikeouts for Cotuit. That’s the most strikeouts Kettleers pitchers have compiled in any game this season.

Up next

John Woodcock (Virginia Tech), Mike Paez (Coastal Carolina) and Jack Klein (Stanford) are set to compete in the Cape Cod Baseball League All-Star game on Saturday at 6 p.m. at Spillane Field in Wareham. Will Haynie will appear in the home run derby prior to the game at 5 p.m.

The Kettleers’ next game is on Sunday when they face the Orleans Firebirds at Lowell Park at 5 p.m.