By Will Kraus, Bates College
June 14, 2019
Cotuit continued their dominant play on Friday, defeating the Brewster Whitecaps 8-2, improving to 3-1 four games into the season.
Power of Dodd
Mason Dodd (Belmont Abbey College) stepped up to the plate in the top of the second inning with the bases loaded and two out. Cotuit trailed by one, but a base hit would likely put the Kettleers ahead for the first time in the game.
Dodd smashes a triple to center. Photo by Josh Muir
Newcomer Parker Chavers (Coastal Carolina) took his lead, sidestepping down the third base line with his eyes glued to Brewster starting pitcher Jimmy Ramsey (Kentucky University). At second base Cody Pasic (Maine University) did the same, and Nick Gonzales (New Mexico State University) on first shuffled in front of first baseman Tyler Hardman (Oklahoma University) as Dodd took his stance from the left side of the plate.
Ramsey set up from the stretch raising his left leg before hurling his 6-9 frame toward the plate. Dodd stepped forward, swung his bat and sent a towering shot over centerfielder Coby Boulware’s head. As the ball rolled into the fence, hitting a hanging banner titled Whitecaps Chavers, Pasic, and Gonzales scored. The Kettleers applauded Dodd’s stand up triple while Cotuit fans who traveled to Brewster cheered the 4-2 lead.
Dodd impressed on the basepaths as well, moments later taking advantage of a passed ball by acrobatically maneuvering his body in a headfirst dive as his right hand touched the plate just before the scrambling Ramsey applied the tag.
Hometown Hits
Cody Pasic (Maine University), a Cotuit native, has played solid ball, getting his first at bat on Wednesday night in Hyannis.
Pasic steps into the box against Brewster. Photo by Josh Muir
Pasic’s first plate appearance came in the fifth inning against the Harbor Hawks as Pasic pinch-hit for Grant Holman (California Berkely). With one out and men on first and third Pasic approached the plate from the left side for his first ever Cape Cod Baseball League at bat.
Pasic worked the count to 2-2 before smashing a line-drive in between shortstop and third, acquiring his first hit and RBI in just his first CCBL at bat.
“It’s kinda surreal. It’s always been a dream to play for the hometown team. I’m just happy to be here and play for coach.” Pasic responded when asked about what playing for his home team is like.
Pasic tacked on another hard base hit RBI in the ninth, completing an impressive 2-3 performance in his CCBL debut.
Pasic got his first start at catcher on Friday against the Whitecaps. He worked well with the Cotuit staff and got his third CCBL hit, helping the Kettleers in their 8-2 victory over Brewster.
“I’ve been itching for it.” Pasic said of his first start at catcher. “I’m just happy to be back there. It’s where I feel comfortable.”
Pasic certainly looks comfortable in the Kettleers colors following his first two games of action in the CCBL.
Cotuit’s Dominant Pitching Staff
Cotuit’s pitching staff hasn’t allowed an earned run in eighteen innings. Sean Sullivan (California Berkeley), Joey Walsh (Boston College), Bo Hofstra (Purdue), Richard Brereton (Emory), Zach McCambley (Coastal Carolina), Beck Way (Belmont Abbey), and Joe Nahas (Georgia Southern) have shut down Hyannis and Brewster. In the last
Joe Nahas fires home. Photo by Josh Muir
two games the Kettleers have allowed just six hits and five walks while striking out 24 batters.
Major Impression
Allbry Major (Xavier University) has flashed in three games with Cotuit, both in the hitting department and in the field. The switch-hitting left fielder is batting 583., going 7 for 12 in three games with three doubles.
Major dives into second. Photo by Josh Muir
Major made a fantastic play in left field in the ninth inning against Brewster on a sinking fly ball hit hard into the gap between left and center. Major sprinted from left, timing the ball perfectly as he fully extended, laying out for to record the second to last out for the defensive play of the season for Cotuit to this point.
Gonzales Takes one for the Team
It’s a well-known fact that Nick Gonzales is a fantastic hitter. In fact, Gonzales posted the best batting average in Division I baseball for New Mexico State University, accumulating a staggering .432 average for the Aggies. In the second inning Gonzales displayed his toughness and leadership as well.
Nick Gonzales scores on Dodd’s triple. Photo by Josh Muir
Following Brewster’s two run first to take a lead Gonzales came to the plate with the bases loaded and an opportunity to get Cotuit on the board. A curve ball got away from Ramsey and Gonzales deliberately turned his back toward the pitch, letting the ball hit him in order to put the Kettleers on the board. Gonzales smiled as he jogged to first, the run clearly more important to him than a bruise on his back. It’s selfless plays like these, making sacrifices for your teammates that could make for a very special summer.
Cotuit’s Responses to Adversity
Over four games the Kettleers have given up runs to fall behind their opponents five times. Remarkably Cotuit has responded by erasing the deficit in their next plate appearances four out of those five times, recapturing the lead thrice.
Cotuit celebrates the win. Photo by Josh Muir
Next Game
The Kettleers (3-1) take on the Harwich Mariners (1-2) at 5 PM Saturday evening as they return home to Lowell Park.
Kettleers Roster: https://www.kettleersarchive.org/roster/
Brewster Whitecaps Roster: http://www.brewsterwhitecaps.com/2019-roster.html