Cotuit, MA– After falling behind early, the Cotuit Kettleers were able to rally and hold off the Chatham Anglers for a 7-6 win. Cotuit produced thirteen hits as four players compiled multiple hits. The Kettleers have won five of their last six games and are now two games over .500. Head coach Mike Roberts was thrilled and thankful for the efforts of his players through roster turmoil overt the last week. Roberts said, “I can’t say anything but thank you to them. We have a whole new team. They don’t even know each other’s names. To come back from three down on a good team like Chatham, all I can say is thanks for the effort.”
Moments that mattered:
Chatham jumps out to three-run lead
The Anglers jumped out to a quick lead with runs in the first two innings. After a leadoff double, the Anglers scored the first run of the game on two productive outs. With runners on the corners and two outs in the second inning, Dominic Tamez lined a double into the right-center gap to score both runners and extend the lead to three.
Bats breakout in five-run fifth
The Kettleers trailed by two runs going into the bottom of the fifth inning. Matthew Donlan (UConn) led off the inning with a single up the middle. After a blooper and a bunt single, Drew Compton (Georgia Tech) stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. After an RBI single in the third inning, it was more of the same for Compton in the fifth. The Georgia Tech product lined a single into left field to plate a run. All three runners crossed the plate after an error from then left fielder to give the Kettleers a 5-4 lead.
In his first home game as a Kettleer, Compton was happy to produce when it counted. Compton said, “I’m just trying to see the ball down and not chase too much. I’m just trying to find barrels and hopefully find some grass which I did today. It feels awesome to do it in this uniform. I like this team. Great environment, great place to play.”
Luke Gold (Boston College) followed the bases-clearing single with a double off the wall to extend the lead to two. Brett Roberts (Florida State) snuck an RBI-single down the first base line to cap a five-run inning.
Cohen closes the door
Harrison Cohen (George Washington) entered the game in the top of the sixth with two men on and one out. The right-handed pitcher induced back-to-back fly outs to center to strand two runners. Cohen allowed one run over the next two innings and held a 7-5 lead going into the ninth. A one-out double cut the lead to one, but Cohen bounced back to lock down the save. The George Washington product struck out Max Romero for out #2. Eric Brown Jr. (Coastal Carolina) laid out to snag a soft liner to end the game. The diving catch completed Cohen’s second save of the summer.
It wasn’t always easy for Cohen against the Anglers, but he was able to battle and get the job done. He toed the rubber with one mindset: attack. “Just be competitive in the zone. Get ahead of guys and throw strikes. It’s simple. If I’m competitive in the zone, it’s going to be a good day for me. It’s really just attack, attack, attack,” Cohen said.
Coach Roberts was proud of the way Cohen fought on the mound. “He totally gutted it out. Tonight, he had to finesse it and he finished it out.”
Notables:
Compton: 3-3, 2 RBI, 1 BB, 1 R
Jace Grady (Dallas Baptist): 3-4, 2 R, 2 SB
Gold: 2-4, 1 RBI, 1 R, 1 2B
Roberts: 2-4, 1 RBI
Cohen: 3.2 IP, 5 K, 2 R
Will Jacobsen (Harvard): 4.2 IP, 5 H, 3 K, 3 R
Up next: The Kettleers will be back at home tomorrow against the Brewster Whitecaps. The Whitecaps are 2-0 vs. Cotuit so far this season. First pitch is at 5:00 PM from Lowell Park.