Colby Wilkerson makes a play in the infield. (Photo by Alysa Rubin)

By Clara Richards | Washington University in St. Louis

Harwich, MA — Before Saturday, the Kettleers had won a game against every team in the league except for Harwich.  The Mariners had been an elusive victory; they handed the Ketts their second loss of the season, tied 4-4, and then beat them by five runs, 11-6.  Yet that all changed as the Ketts took the victory on Whitehouse Field.  

On the third pitch of the game, Tommy Troy (Stanford) hit a soaring leadoff double.  He was brought around to score from a single from CJ Kayfus (Miami) and a left field error, putting the Ketts on the board after the first three at-bats. While the team landed hits all game, they capitalized on fielding errors to bring the second run in. Back-to-back singles from Trotter Harlan (Charleston) and Eddie Park (Stanford) put a runner in scoring position, and after advancing on a wild pitch, Trotter jogged home on a passed ball.

Daniel Brooks (Charleston) started on the mound and pitched three consistent innings, only allowing a hit in the fourth.  While he didn’t land any strikeouts, he pitched to the defense, rotating through his pitch selection and relying on his offspeed pitches to keep batters guessing. The Ketts executed several diving defensive plays to shut down any potential runners, keeping base traffic low the entire game. 

“This may have been the best outfield game that I have seen in the last few years,” head coach Mike Roberts said. “Outfielders don’t get a lot of credit sometimes, and they really played well today.”

Brooks gave up the mound to Will Jacobsen (Harvard) with a runner on second, having let up the first hit of the game, and Jacobsen retired the next three consecutive batters to close out the inning. Jacobsen had previously thrown 13.1 innings for eleven hits, giving up six earned runs. Today, he threw two three-pitch strikeouts in his outing, showing command with his fastball along with his offspeed pitches, a changeup and a slider.

 “This was the first time in the last couple outings that I really feel like I had all three pitches working,” Jacobsen said. “It started with locating the fastball, and then once I had that going, it was just building off that, but having a command of all three pitches definitely makes pitching a lot easier.”

Cam Wagoner (Eastern Michigan) allowed the only run of the game in his 1.1 IP, the score coming in on a hit-by-pitch.  He subbed out for Cam Schuelke (UCF), who has quickly become recognized as a reliable reliever. He has throwing a total of 102 pitches in 4 consecutive outings, and despite the lack of recovery, he has not allowed any earned runs as both a middle reliever and a closer.  This season marks his first time throwing strictly sidearm — during his collegiate season, he went around 50-50 with sidearm and overhand throwing — yet he’s taken the adjustment in stride.  He showed his reliability by retiring four consecutive batters to maintain Cotuit’s one-run lead.

“I definitely feel limited out there [throwing only sidearm] when I’m facing lefties, especially because I have a few pitches up here I’d love to throw,” he said. “But it’s been getting better, game after game.  Throwing just sidearm, I noticed that I’m getting more accurate; the balls are dropping, and the curves are getting better.”  

His teammates have recognized his efforts.  “It’s crazy, crazy—that kid’s the goat,” reliever Jacobsen said about one of his newest teammates. “Just to have a guy like that in the back of our bullpen is huge. It takes the pressure off everyone else and, you know, he’s been fantastic for us. It’s been fun to watch.”

After two wins on the road, the Ketts play Falmouth at home. Their win marks their first multi-win streak since a 6-5 win against Wareham on June 30^th.  The Ketts are 1-1-2 against Falmouth.   

Will Jacobsen plays Harwich in Falmouth, Ma. (Photo by Alysa Rubin)

Reporter’s Notebook: Takeaways from the game

by Joe Pratt | Baylor University

The Kettleers are nearly unstoppable when they jump out to an early lead. They are now 15-1-2 when notching the first tallies of the game. 

• The lead-off batter of the game, Tommy Troy (Stanford) came around to score after smacking a double down the left field line. It was one of two times Troy reached base, the other time being a walk in the top of the seventh. C.J. Kayfus (Miami) had 6 RBIs entering game 31 and grabbed no. 7 with his RBI single in the first. Kayfus went 2-for-5 with two singles. 
• Eddie Park (Stanford) stretched his hit streak to six games with a single in the fourth. Park batted after Trotter Harlan (College of Charleston) who led off with a single of his own. Harlan and Park then advanced twice on wild pitches and made the score 2-0. Josh Pearson (LSU) also had two knocks, a single in the second and eighth. He went 2-for-5 on the night. The other hits came from Carter Trice (NC State) and Calvin Harris (Ole Miss) for a total of 10 for the Ketts. 
• The bullpen has performed on par with the way it did early on in the season. Daniel Brooks (College of Charleston) pitched into the fourth but was taken out after giving up his first hit of the game. His final line was 3.0 IP with no runs on one hit. Will Jacobsen (Harvard) followed and was lights-out. He tossed three perfect innings and struck out four. Cam Wagoner (Eastern Michigan) faced 7 batters. Wagoner lasted 1.2 and gave up one run before Cam Schuelke (UCF) relieved him. Schuelke made his fourth appearance in four games but showed no signs of fatigue. He only threw 16 pitches and had a four-out save. 

The Kettleers return to Lowell Park on Sunday for a 5 p.m. game against the Falmouth Commodores.