By Will Kraus, Bates College

Video by Jacob Cohen, Boston University

Photos by Josh Muir, Endicott College

July 23, 2019

A powerful storm system that produced tornadoes for the first time on Cape Cod since 1977 and soaked the Cape kept four games from happening, but Cotuit and Bourne mustered eight innings of baseball in a 2-2 tie at Lowell Park Tuesday night.

Sullivan takes the mound against Bourne

After a couple days off Cotuit didn’t seem rusty at all in the first inning. Starting pitcher Sean Sullivan (California Berkeley) put up a 0 in the top of the first and the Kettleers’ bats immediately provided their starter with a lead.

In the bottom half of the first with two out and men on first and second Joey Loperfido (Duke) stepped to the plate from the left side to face Bourne starter Nick Dombkowski (Hartford). Loperfido delivered, pulverizing the fourth pitch he saw down the right field line before racing around the bases and diving headfirst into third for a triple that scored Casey Schmitt (San Diego State) from second and Oraj Anu (Kentucky) from first. 

Sean Sullivan would keep the two run lead and the Braves at bay for seven scoreless innings, striking out six in the longest start by a Kettleer this season. 

“I really like what I see from Sullivan.” Coach Roberts said postgame. “He’s got a little of that ‘It’ factor. I’m a guy who really believes in that ‘It’ factor and he’s got ‘It.’ He’s got something that you want every college pitcher to have.”

Sullivan has now thrown thirteen consecutive shutout frames, bringing his ERA to just 2.17.

Loperfido hits a triple

Loperfido continued to dazzle throughout the game, adding a double and a single that made him just a home run shy of the Cycle.

“Well I think [Loperfido’s] family is here this week so I think that’s what’s doing it for him.” said Roberts.

It was after Sullivan came out after seven that Bourne clawed its way back into the game.

The Braves struck for two runs in the eighth, tying the ballgame on a Cody Morissette (Boston College) double.

Roberts seemed truly pleased with the team’s performance.

Loperfido runs in from right field

“I thought we played really well today.” Roberts commented. “I told them they’re fun to watch. We continue to do some really good things. We’re getting better. I keep telling them I really like this team so let’s just keep working on the little things. I love the team’s effort and I think it’s going to continue to get better every night.”

In terms of areas in which his club can look to improve Roberts pointed toward the team’s general hitting approach.

“We’re a little picky in regards to a lot of our offensive guys were looking for the perfect pitch.” Roberts continued. 

While the Kettleers couldn’t catch the two points they wanted against Bourne, the continued emergence of Sullivan, the hot bat of Loperfido, and Coach Roberts’ optimism about the team’s future bode well as the season begins to wind to a close. 

Next Game

Cotuit (17-14-4) travels to Stony Brook in Brewster on Wednesday to take on the Whitecaps (14-19-1) at 5 PM.