Brewster, MA- Despite holding the Brewster Whitecaps (2-2-1) scoreless over the last eight innings, the Cotuit Kettleers (2-3) were unable to overcome a two-run first inning in a 2-0 loss on Saturday night. The Whitecaps opened the scoring in the first inning as Shawn Goosenberg smashed a two-run homer over the left-center fence. It was just the Whitecaps’ second home run of the season. The Kettleers’ had their best pitching performance of the season, but couldn’t find the timely hit after posting 16 runs the night before.
Justin Meis (Eastern Michigan) made his second start of the season. Meis gave up the homer in the first but settled into a groove after that. The right-handed pitcher didn’t walk a single batter in four innings pitched. After the first inning, he allowed just two baserunners. The Eastern Michigan product became the first Cotuit starter to make it through the fourth inning this season. Meis finished with a final line of 4 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K, 2 R, and 1 ER. Through two starts, Meis has a 3.68 ERA. Coach Mike Roberts was pleased with how Meis through the ball, saying, “I thought he pitched really well. He’s a competitor, he’s in the strike zone, so I like and I’m happy to put him out there every six days.”
The Kettleers’ biggest threat came in the fourth inning. After three walks, Brett Roberts (Florida State) stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Roberts crushed a deep fly ball to right-center field, but it was reeled in by the right fielder just in front of the ‘380 FT’ on the fence. Roberts’ fly ball was one of a few off Cotuit bats that fell just short of leaving the biggest park on the Cape.
Despite the bats not finding the scoreboard, the Kettleers kept themselves in the game. Alaska Abney (Coastal Carolina) entered the game in the fifth inning and kept the Whitecaps off balance for three scoreless innings. Abney allowed just a hit and a walk while striking out four. The sidearmer is yet to give up an earned run through 4.2 IP this season. Dalton Rhadans (Wofford), another sidearmer, tossed a perfect eighth inning. Coach Roberts mentioned after the game that he loves having sidearmers and their competitiveness on his teams. He said, “I love sidearmers. I always have for a long, long time, I’ve developed a lot of them. Some people consider them ugly, but I consider them beautiful. I love to watch them pitch, I’ve never had one that wasn’t a fierce competitor. I really enjoyed watching Alaska and Rhadans out there tonight.”
Cole Cummings (UC Santa Barbara) extended his hit streak to five in the loss. He’s hitting .364 through five games. Luke Gold (Boston College) stayed hot with a hit and two walks. Gold has reached base in seven of his 12 plate appearances.
The Kettleers had traffic on the bases in the sixth inning, but Eric Brown (Coastal Carolina) got just under a fly ball to left field that stranded two men on base. Cotuit went down in order over the last three innings as they were shutout. Despite being shut out, Roberts felt they swung the bat well and just didn’t have much ball luck. “We definitely swung the bat well. A couple of line drives the shortstop caught. We hit three or four balls really deep. This is the biggest field in the league. It was a great game, good pitcher’s duel. We just hit em a little bit too high and didn’t get them in the gap, but I was pleased with our overall performance.”
UP NEXT- The Kettleers will return to Lowell Park tomorrow for their first home game since opening day. Cotuit will take on Bourne at 5:00 PM. Cotuit’s first game against Bourne was rained out on Tuesday. Roberts is looking forward to being back in Cotuit after three straight games on the road. He said, “Without a doubt, we’re really happy and excited and I think we’ll have a big crowd tomorrow.”