By Will Kraus, Bates College

Video by Jacob Cohen, Boston University

Photos by Josh Muir, Endicott College

July 27, 2019

Mervis swings at Chatham

CHATHAM, MA – The Kettleers put on a show, displaying their playoff potential in a 10-3 statement victory over the Chatham Anglers who Coach Roberts said had “ been the best team in the league,” coming into Saturday’s game with the most wins in the Cape League. 

“It was a team effort from top to bottom. So I’m really pleased with that.” Roberts continued postgame.

Cotuit out-hit the East Division leaders by a whopping 15-4 and dominated the ‘RISP battle’ on both sides of the ball. The Kettleers batted nearly .500 (9-19) with runners in scoring position, whereas Cotuit’s pitching staff held the Anglers to just .111 (1-9) with RISP.

The game got off to a shaky start in the bottom of the first as starter Jackson Wolf (West Virginia) walked the bases loaded with two out, but Wolf was able to get a force out at third to keep Chatham from taking an early lead.

From that point on though, Cotuit really cruised, jumping on Chatham’s starter, Daniel Federman (Miami).

Gonzales bats at Chatham

The Kettleers got it going in the third when Oraj Anu (Kentucky) laced a single to score Adam Oviedo (Oral Roberts) from second.

Mason McWhorter (Georgia Southern) would tack on two more with a big two out single up the middle with the bases juiced that extended Cotuit’s lead to 3-0.

Cotuit really put themselves in the driver’s seat in the following inning. 

A Nick Gonzales (New Mexico State) opposite field single followed by a base knock by Matt Mervis (Duke) put the Kettleers up 6-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth.

Wolf throws home at Chatham

Wolf pitched a solid four innings allowing just two runs followed by three impressive relief innings by Bo Hofstra (Purdue).

“Bo hadn’t pitched in nine days and he needed to get out there.” Roberts said. “He was very fresh. Bo’s got a lot of ability and he threw the ball extremely well.”

A major key behind the ten runs Cotuit produced in this one was the 1-2-3 bats in the line-up. Anu, Gonzales, and Mervis combined to go 11-16 (.688) with 7 RBI.

Mervis would come in to close the game out, tossing two scoreless frames in the eighth and ninth, striking out Jamal O’Guinn II (USC) on a low heater to end the ballgame.

Anu gets ready to lead the game off

“As I told the guys after the game I thought it was kind of a professional outing tonight by both teams. I thought the guys upped their play tonight and did a really good job against them.” Roberts commented postgame.

It was certainly a huge team win as the Kettleers defeated a very strong Chatham team for the first time in their fourth and final regular season match-up. 

When asked what he would like to see in the final five regular season games Coach Roberts had a very simple answer: “Wins.”

Next Up

Cotuit (19-16-4) hosts the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox (21-16-3) at Lowell Park Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 5 PM.