By Jon Mettus
Syracuse University
July 29, 2016
COTUIT — The Kettleers topped Hyannis, 3-1, in a must-win game at Lowell Park on Friday. Cotuit is now just three and a half games back of the Harbor Hawks for the final playoff spot in the West with five games remaining in the regular season.
The Kettleers and Harbor Hawks will play one more time this season on Monday, Aug. 1 with the winner likely taking the last playoff spot.
Colton Hock bounces back
Colton Hock had his best start. Photo by Brigitte Rec.
Colton Hock’s (Stanford) last start was his worst of the year. Four innings, six runs and nine hits in a night filled with many moments to forget for Hock.
But he rebounded on Friday, throwing six scoreless innings in what head coach Mike Roberts called “probably threw as well as anyone has thrown in the Cape this summer.”
“Today he pitched like a starter,” Roberts said. “… He just pitched instead of threw.”
The first two innings weren’t perfect with three runners reaching base. The final four of his outing were where he hit his stride. Hock faced the minimum over the last four innings and retired the last 11 batters that he faced.
Zach Rutherford (Old Dominion) watched a fastball land on the outside corner to end the third inning and Cody Henry (Alabama) fanned on one to end the fourth. All-in-all, he finished with six strikeouts and only three hits and a walk allowed.
Marques Inman debuts
Marques Inman made his Cotuit debut. Photo by Brigitte Rec.
A new face donned a Cotuit jersey as Marques Inman (West Virginia) played and started for the first time after signing with Cotuit on Tuesday. The corner infielder hit fourth as the designated hitter and went 0-for-4 with a strikeout.
“He’s very loose, he has good actions and I enjoyed watching him swing the bat out there today,” Roberts said. “We’ll learn more about him over the next few days. Very glad to have him.
“No matter where you are in the standings, every team has to go look for players.”
Cal Stevenson thrives at home
There’s no place like home. And Cal Stevenson (Arizona) continued his league-best home on-base streak with a single in the fifth inning, stretching it to 16 games. He was 1-for-3 hitting out of the No. 9 spot and scored the winning run.
Stevenson’s streak started back on June 14 against Bourne — the fourth game of the season. Since then, he’s hitting .302 with 16 hits, 12 runs and 12 bases on balls at Lowell Park. For the season, his average is .248. The majority of his production at the plate has come from the friendly confines of Cotuit.