By Ben Fischer
University of Maryland
June 17, 2018
COTUIT – Following a pie-eating contest in between games of the double-header against the Y-D Red Sox, the Cotuit Kettleers feasted on Y-D pitching, taking game two 11-3 to complete a sweep after a 5-4 walkoff win in game one.
In both games, the Kettleers battled back from early deficits. Despite starter Anthony Veneziano (Coastal Carolina) not allowing a hit in the inning Cotuit allowed a run in the first. An error, a walk, a fielder’s choice and a sacrifice fly put Y-D immediately out in front.
In the second inning, Y-D left fielder Brad Beesly (Cal Poly) roped a home run down the left field line, extending the Red Sox lead to 3-0.
The Kettleers struck back to take the lead with a four-run third. Left fielder Will Robertson (Creighton) started the scoring with an RBI double. Cotuit followed up with a run on a passed ball and two RBI singles to take a 4-3 lead.
Pitcher Anthony Veneziano fires a pitch during Cotuit’s 4-3 win over Y-D on June 17, 2018
Cotuit struggled early against Y-D starter Chandler Fidel (Arkansas-Little Rock). Fidel, a lanky left-hander, kept the Kettleers off-balance by pitching backwards, using his off-speed and breaking pitches to set up his fastball.
“He did a really nice job. He threw a ton of breaking balls and kept the ball down,” coach Mike Roberts said. “We struggled the first time around, but the second time around we did a little better.”
After the Red Sox tied the game in the sixth, Cotuit put two runs on base with nobody out in the seventh inning. After getting to two outs, first baseman Zach Biermann (Coastal Carolina) roped a single into the right-centerfield gap, giving the Kettleers their first walk-off of the year.
“I really like our lineup right now,” Roberts said. “I thought they really ground it out today. Zach had a wonderful at-bat, there were several guys who put on great at-bats today. We were very thankful he came up with that big hit with two outs.”
First baseman Zach Biermann fields a pickoff throw against Y-D on June 17, 2018
In game two, Cotuit trailed 3-2 heading to the fifth inning. With one out, Robertson and DH Thomas Dillard (Ole Miss) hit back-to-back singles. After that, three different Y-D pitchers issued five consecutive walks, giving the Kettleers a 6-3 lead. Catcher Rey Pastrana (Marshall) put an exclamation point on the inning and his Cotuit debut by lacing a double into right-centerfield, scoring two more runs.
“I haven’t played in about three weeks, so I just tried to keep it simple,” Pastrana said. “I match up well against lefties so I got pretty lucky there and he just threw me a fastball over the plate.”
The Kettleers added three more runs in the sixth, with center fielder Beau Brundage (Portland) shortstop Adam Oviedo (TCU) and Pastrana all contributing RBI hits.
The sweep gives Cotuit a three-game win streak. The Kettleers get back in action on Monday, facing the Bourne Braves at 5 p.m. at Lowell Park in Cotuit.