By: Matt McHugh and Matt Liberman
August 14, 2017
After a whirlwind 2017 season, we pulled out our top 10 moments of the summer. Let us know on twitter @CotuitKettleers if you agree with our list, or if there’s another moment you want to mention!
Third baseman John Cresto (Santa Clara) drove in two runs in Cotuit’s 10-0 win over Falmouth in the home opener.
No. 10 – Kettleers Rout Falmouth 10-0 in Home Opener
Led by Dylan King (Belmont) and John Cresto (Santa Clara), Cotuit smashed Falmouth in their first showing at Lowell Park. King pitched four shutout innings and struck out seven his first time through the Commodores’ lineup. Cresto led an offensive surge with two hits, two steals and two RBIs. Cotuit plated 12 hits in the game to improve to 2-0 on the season.
No. 9 – Chase Shugart Strikes Out 9 in First Start
Hard-throwing right-hander Chase Shugart (Texas) was exclusively a reliever at school, but with the Kettleers in need of starting pitching help, he stepped up big time in his first start since high school. Shugart struck out nine batters in 3.2 innings, and the Kettleers went on to beat the Chatham Anglers 12-3.
No. 8 – Thomas Dillard Strikes Out Four in Pitching Debut
In the final regular season game against the Y-D Red Sox, the Kettleers had already locked up home field advantage for the first round of the playoffs. In order to rest their pitching staff, they used two position players on the mound. Outfielder Brett Kinneman (NC State) threw two innings, and utility player Thomas Dillard (Ole Miss) threw two shutout innings while striking out four. Both players had not pitched since high school, but proved to be effective in their pitching debuts.
Adam Scott (Wofford) finished his 2017 Cotuit season with a 2-1 record in six appearances.
No. 7 – Adam Scott Shines in Final Start
With his bags packed and his father in attendance, Scott (Wofford) threw six innings of two-run ball in a 9-3 victory for Cotuit over Falmouth. Scott left the next morning back for school and wrapped up his season with a victory. The southpaw finished the season with a 2-1 record and a 4.05 ERA while providing Cotuit with one of its most dominant arms of the season.
No. 6 – Griffin Conine Named Co-MVP of All Star Game
Despite a 5-3 loss for the West Division in the All-Star Game, Conine (Duke) was named the West MVP after delivering a two-run home run to originally put the West ahead. Conine hit the home run off of Orleans pitcher Joey Murray, whom Conine had struggled against earlier in the season. But in front of 8,000 people at Spillane Field, Conine delivered.
No. 5 – Kettleers Take Home Hardware
Griffin Conine (left) was named best pro prospect, and Greyson Jenita (right) was named League MVP.
Two different Kettleers outfielders took home the biggest individual award the Cape League has to offer. Centerfielder Greyson Jenista (Wichita State) was named the league MVP as voted by the coaches. Jenista hit .310 with 3 HR, 16 RBIs and 9 SB while also playing strong defense in centerfield in his second season with the Kettleers. Rightfielder Griffin Conine (Duke) was named the best pro prospect as voted on by the scouts. He hit .329 with 9 home runs and 28 RBIs in 42 regular season games. He finished tied with Brewster’s Mickey Gasper for the league lead in home runs.
No. 4 – Gian Martellini’s Walk Off Single Against Brewster
In game 1 of a Father’s Day doubleheader, the Kettleers were in need of a boost heading to extra innings. With his father in the crowd, Gian Martellini (Boston College) delivered a walk-off single to give Cotuit a 4-3 win over the Brewster Whitecaps. The win extended Cotuit’s undefeated start to the season, and ended up being the only walk-off Kettleers win of the summer.
Zane Collins (Wright State) threw Cotuit’s first complete-game shutout in seven years to beat Wareham (2-0).
No. 3 – Zane Collins Throws a Complete-Game Shutout Over Wareham
For the first time since 2010, the Cotuit Kettleers threw a complete game shutout, courtesy of Zane Collins (Wright State). The lefty sinkerballer had everything working, as he mowed down the Wareham Gatemen with 117 pitches. Collins threw the only shutout on the Cape League this summer, and it marked the first Cape League shutout since 2015.
No. 2 – Michael Toglia’s Game-Tying Home Run Against Hyannis
Down 9-7 in the bottom of the ninth against Hyannis, and with a six-game winning streak on the line, Michael Toglia (UCLA) cracked a two-run home run to tie the contest at 9-9. Cotuit couldn’t add any runs after that, and the game ended in a tie due to darkness, but Toglia’s home run turned a six-game winning streak into a seven-game undefeated streak, Cotuit’s longest streak in five years.
Cotuit Head Coach Mike Roberts earned win 300 Wednesday night and capped it with a Gatorade bath, The final score was 11-4, Cotuit over Hyannis.
No. 1 – Coach Roberts’ 300th win
Cotuit beat Hyannis 11-4 at Lowell Park on July 19 for Roberts’ 300th win with the Kettleers. Roberts is the only manager in Cotuit history with 300 wins, and he achieved the feat in just 14 seasons. After falling 4-0 to the Harbor Hawks, Cotuit responded with 11 unanswered runs en route to the win. After the game, Cotuit presented Roberts with a bat signed by the entire team. “Today probably ranks up there right aside those two championship trophies,” Roberts said that night. “I could never coach any other place and I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to coach here the last 14 years. I can say I’ll go home tonight and smile.”