With eight of ten teams making the playoffs this season, nobody’s ever going to be out of contention. But in the early part of the season, Harwich and Cotuit certainly weren’t in a good spot. Harwich went 5-10 in the month of June, while Cotuit got off to a 2-8-1 start.
Now, the Mariners and Kettleers are two of the hottest teams in the league. Both won last night for their seventh victories in their last 10 games. Harwich has won four straight and sits just four points back of second place. Cotuit has won two in a row and has climbed into second place in the West, just two points back of Bourne.
Harwich kept things going with its strongest offensive performance of the season, beating Wareham 12-4. Seven Mariners had multi-hit games led by Pratt Maynard (NC State), who went 3-for-4 with two RBI. The Mariners delivered five extra-base hits and finished with 17 hits total. Clint Moore (Army), Craig Manuel (Rice) and Taylor Motter (Coastal Carolina) drove in two runs apiece.
Andrew Leenhouts (Northeastern) allowed two runs in six innings and got the win.
As for Cotuit, the Kettleers matched up with Brewster, who’s been pretty hot in its own right and boasts the best record in the league. But Austin Wood (St. Petersburg) and David Colvin (Pomona-Pitzer) combined on a shutout as Cotuit won 3-0. Wood went 6.2 innings, striking out six and allowing just two hits. Colvin didn’t allow a hit in 2.1 innings of relief. Amazingly, it’s the first time Brewster has been shut out all season.
The Cotuit offense was led by leadoff man Michael Faulkner (Arkansas State), who went 2-for-4 with two RBI, raising his average to .346. Deven Marrero (Arizona State) had two hits and scored two runs.
Elsewhere
What to Watch
Doran Park hosts a battle of first-place teams as Brewster heads West to Bourne. The Whitecaps will have Austin Lubinsky (Minnesota) on the hill. Bourne goes with Austin Stadler (Wake Forest).