By Ben Fischer
University of Maryland
July 21, 2018
COTUIT – Too often for the 2018 Kettleers, when it’s rained it has poured. But after coughing up a 7-0 lead in their 10-9 loss to Chatham on Friday, the Kettleers bounced back, scoring three unanswered runs after the eighth inning to beat the second-place Wareham Gatemen 4-3 in 10 innings.
Garrett Wolforth (Dallas Baptist) now has an extra base hit in three consecutive games
The game moved quickly and remained scoreless through three innings before the Kettleers broke through in the fourth. With runners on second and third, Catcher Zach Humphreys (TCU) grounded into a fielder’s choice, bringing center fielder Duke Ellis (Texas) in from third base.
Wareham struck right back in the fifth. With two outs and runners on the corner, first baseman Lael Lockhart Jr. (Houston) lined a single to right centerfield, scoring right fielder Isaac Collins (Creighton) to tie the game.
Wareham jumped ahead in the seventh inning. Reliever Ryan Lefner (St. Louis) allowed a single and issued an intentional walk, he was pulled for Garrett Gayle (Rice). Gayle forced a weak popup by Wareham left fielder Jeremy Ydens (UCLA), but the ball landed on the grass in shallow right, bringing in the go-ahead run. A wild pitch to the next batter brought in another run for the Gatemen.
The Kettleers evened the game in the eighth inning. With two outs, first baseman Michael Toglia (UCLA) drew a walk. Designated hitter Garrett Wolforth (Dallas Baptist) followed up with a two-run home run to right field, his first as a Kettleer.
Wolforth’s blast continued a solid offensive streak, with four hits, three for extra bases, in his last three appearances.
“It’s really been interesting because I hadn’t had any live pitching for about a month since school ended,” Wolforth said. “I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I’ve been seeing the ball really well and just trying to have the swing go with it.”
The Kettleers pushed across the winning run in the tenth. Left fielder Peyton Burdick (Wright State) lead off the inning with a hit-by-pitch and was advanced to second by a sacrifice bunt. Right fielder Will Robertson (Creighton) brought Burdick in with an RBI single to right centerfield.
Reliever Stephen Schoch (UMBC), bounced back after picking up the loss on Friday, working the ninth and tenth, striking out four over the two frames, and getting the win.
Stephen Schoch (UMBC) leads Kettleers’ pitchers with an ERA of 0.51
Roberts praised the second-year Kettleer for his attitude towards the game and his affection for his summer team.
“I saw the same thing tonight I’ve seen out of Stephen Schoch since he showed up in Cotuit a year ago,” Roberts said. “He just competes and in my 15 years in Cotuit I don’t know if I’ve ever had a player that loved wearing the Kettleer uniform more.”
Most of the Kettleers have an off day on Sunday for the All-Star Game in Harwich. On Monday Cotuit heads to Chatham for a makeup game against the Anglers.