Game 1: Cotuit Kettleers (18-17-1) at Bourne Braves (24-9-3)
Where: Doran Park
When: Friday, 6:00 PM
How-to-listen: https://mixlr.com/cotuit-kettleers-radio-network/events
Probable Cotuit starter: Quinn Mathews (1.55 ERA, 17.1 IP)
The Cotuit Kettleers are back in the Cape Cod League playoffs for the fourth straight season. The chase to title #18 will begin in Bourne, as the Kettleers take on the first-place Braves in the semifinals. Cotuit was 2-3 against the Braves in the regular season.
Quinn Mathews (Stanford) will get the game one nod on the bump. Mathews has been the Kettleers’ most consistent starter since arriving in mid-July. The southpaw has made four starts for Cotuit this summer, compiling a 1.55 ERA over 17.1 innings pitched. He’s struck out 22 batters and allowed just 10 hits. This will be his first start against the Braves this summer.
The Cotuit offense has been on fire entering the playoffs. The Kettleers have scored double-digit runs in five of their last seven games. The offense has been pushed by Jace Grady (Dallas Baptist), Ryan Ritter (Kentucky), and Brett Roberts (Florida State). Grady enters the playoffs with an eight-game hitting streak in which he’s hitting .447. He’s had multiple hits in five straight games. Ritter has an 11-game hitting streak and leads the team with 30 hits. Roberts has a five-game hitting streak and has driven in multiple runs in three of the last four games.