By Ben Fischer
University of Maryland
August 2, 2018
COTUIT – Notes from the Kettleers’ 5-4 win over the Commodores in the regular season finale.
Will Robertson (Creighton) reached .300 on his final swing of the season
Robertson gets to .300
Right fielder and leadoff hitter Will Robertson (Creighton) entered the ninth inning against Falmouth batting .296. He was already 2-for-4 for his fifth multi-hit game in a row. Heading to the ninth, Robertson needed one man to reach base to have a chance to get a hit and reach the benchmark of a .300 batting average.
The first two batters were each retired, but catcher Zach Humphreys (TCU) grounded a single up the middle to bring up Robertson. He wasted no time, lining the first pitch into right-centerfield for his third single of the game and putting him right at the magic number of .300.
“I was just trying to put the bat on the ball,” Robertson said. “I’m glad Humphreys got that hit. It was kind of a pointless hit but it was really meaningful to me.”
Young excels in debut
The Kettleers have received contributions from a local player all season with pitcher Luke Chevalier (Northern State). But Thursday, another Cape native, Michael Young (Stonehill), gave the Kets quality innings.
Young, a Mashpee native, was signed and activated by Cotuit late Wednesday night and less than 24 hours later, he took the mound at Lowell Park needing to protect a one-run Kettleer lead. Young worked two perfect innings, fanning three and preserving the Cotuit lead.
Young said that he was brought to the attention of the Kettleers organization by Chevalier. The two pitchers were high school opponents, with Chevalier attending Sturgis Charter High School and Young attending Pope John Paul II High School.
While Young said that he enjoyed playing near his hometown, he didn’t want his residence to be his defining characteristic.
“It was cool for sure,” Young said. “My parents and sister were here. It was good to come in and do well immediately. I don’t anyone to say I’m only here because I’m local. I want to be here on my own merit.”
Michael Young (Stonehill) struck out 29 batters in 26 1/3 innings in his senior year
Salvatore almost takes mound
The Kettleers knew their playoff fate heading into Friday’s game. As a result, they trotted out a different look starting lineup, with three players making their first starts. One anticipated debut that did not happen was the pitching debut of Mike Salvatore (Florida State).
Salvatore threw a bullpen during the penultimate week of the season in order to be prepared in case of emergency. With the team locked into the four seed, it seemed as if Salvatore might take the mound in order to preserve the pitchers’ arms for the postseason. Salvy even went to the bullpen and began warming up. However, Young kept the Commodores offense in check, ending the game before Salvatore had a chance to enter.
“We got real close to seeing Salvatore,” Roberts said. “I have no idea if he even knows the direction of the mound…but he’s a tremendous competitor so I could have put him in the game with no problem.”