By Zach Kaplan
Penn State University
July 11, 2018
COTUIT– Ryan Reynolds (Texas) has had a relatively quiet start to his time with the Kettleers, but seems to be on the cusp of breaking out. Reynolds came essentially straight from Omaha, where his Longhorns lost to Arkansas and Florida in the double elimination format.
Ryan Reynolds (Texas) had a home run that sparked a seven run rally as Cotuit beat Orleans 12-7 at Lowell Park Tuesday.
He broke out on Tuesday in Cotuit’s 12-7 win over Orleans, hitting his first home run as a Kettleer, going 1 for 2 while adding three RBI’s. He increased his batting average .41 points, as he hopes to continue to break out at the plate. Coach Roberts has liked what Reynolds has done as a fielder so far, and expects further development at the plate.
“I like the fact that he scares people. He’s a big guy,” said Roberts. “He’s very good defensively, and I’m hoping that he continues to get confidence offensively, and I know that he wants to hit the ball hard.”
Reynolds’ solo shot to lead off the eighth inning prompted a seven run outburst for Cotuit in the frame, prompting them to a comeback win over the Firebirds.
Oviedo starting to heat up at the plate
Adam Oviedo (TCU) was another home run hitter for Cotuit on Tuesday, slamming one into the trees past the outfield fence at Lowell Park. Don’t look now, but Oviedo is getting hot at the right time as Cotuit plays some crucial division games over the next week.
Tuesday’s home run makes it now three hits and three runs in two games for the shortstop, as he continues to find ways to get on base and make an impact at the plate and in the field.
Adam Oviedo (TCU) had a home run of his own on Tuesday as Cotuit defeated Orleans 12-7 at Lowell Park.
“He’s worked very hard on his swing and his hands,” said Roberts after the game. “You’re not gonna see many people hit a ball further than the home run he hit today. He’s a freshman coming up here, and it’s not easy to be a freshman in this league.”
Oviedo is now batting .231 for the Kettleers, having upped his average .26 points in the last two games. Expect to see his name more often in the lineup as his hot streak continues. Yesterday marked the 20th game Oviedo has appeared in so far this season.
Wild affairs between Orleans and Cotuit becoming a phenomenon
Cotuit and Orleans have one more meeting this season, on July 27 at Eldredge Park, and if it’s anything like the first three, it promises to be an interesting affair.
The first game between the two sides happened back on June 16, when Oviedo’s controversial grand slam proved the difference in a 6-2 Cotuit win. When the Firebirds came to Lowell Park on June 20, Graeme Stinson (Duke) completely had Cotuit’s number for five innings (12 K’s), but received a no-decision as the Firebirds blew Stinson’s 4-0 lead in the seventh, en route to a 5-4 loss.
Which leads to Tuesday’s game, in which Orleans led 7-5 in the eighth inning, only to watch Cotuit explode for seven runs in the frame. The two teams always find a way to make it interesting.
“Yeah sometimes you can get into wild games with an opponent,” said Coach Roberts after the game. “There’s no rhyme or reason to it, but if it’s gotta be wild, I want to come out on the victorious side of that.”
Cotuit will travel to Hyannis on Wednesday for a crucial West Division matchup with the Harbor Hawks. First pitch at McKeon Park is set for 6:00 p.m.