This time last year, Cotuit had just started a six-game losing streak to end the season. Then the Kettleers turned it all around and won six of seven in the playoffs to capture the league championship.
This year, Cotuit can’t afford to lose six straight before the playoffs. The Kettleers are going to have to get hot a little earlier if they even want to make it.
So far, so good for Cotuit.
The Kettleers returned from the brief all-star break with four games left on their schedule. They trailed fourth-place Falmouth by five points.
Last night, they beat the Commodores 2-1, a major victory in their quest for a playoff spot. Cotuit is now three points back with three games to play.
Falmouth took a 1-0 lead last night on a fourth-inning RBI double by Jeremy Baltz (St. John’s). But in the sixth, Cotuit’s Alex Yarbrough (Ole Miss) knocked in the tying and go-ahead runs with a single.
On the mound, Kyle Zimmer (San Francisco) started and went seven strong innings. Armed with the lead, reliever Michael Clevinger (Seminole JC) pitched two scoreless frames to finish off the win.
Cotuit will try to get closer tonight when it hosts Bourne. Falmouth still has four games remaining, starting tonight at Wareham. On the negative side for the Commodores, the team’s final three games are all against first-place Hyannis.
Elsewhere
Nobody’s fighting for a spot in the East but everybody’s still fighting for position. With its 3-2 victory over Brewster, Harwich kept a hold on first place, staying up on Orleans by two points. The game was tied in the ninth when a Darnell Sweeney (Central Florida) double brought home the go-ahead run. Eddie Butler (Radford) was impressive out of the bullpen for the Mariners, allowing just two hits in 4.1 shutout innings. He got the win and Carter Capps (Mt. Olive) got the save.
Orleans stayed two points back of Harwich with a 6-3 victory over Y-D. The Firebirds pounded 14 hits, led by three from Matt Duffy (Long Beach State) and Ronnie Shaeffer (UC Irvine). Matt Boyd (Oregon State) pitched five strong innings and Kenny Long (Illinois State) got the win in relief with three solid frames.
Hyannis finally saw its win streak come to an end as second-place Bourne posted a 4-0 victory over the Harbor Hawks. Kevin Brandt (East Carolina) scattered six hits in 5.1 scoreless innings and Ryan Connolly (Coastal Carolina) allowed just two hits and no runs in the final 3.2 innings. Hyannis starter Jon Moscot (Pepperdine) matched Brandt in his five innings of work, but Bourne got to the Hyannis bullpen with four runs in the sixth. The Harbor Hawks uncharacteristically made four errors in that inning, leading to three unearned runs.
Wareham scored five runs in the second inning and held off a charge from Chatham to beat the Anglers 8-6. Robert Refsnyder (Arizona), Max Muncy (Baylor) and C.T. Bradford (Mississippi State) each knocked in two runs to power the offense. Wareham used six pitchers, with Josh Turley (Baylor) starting and getting the win.
What to Watch
Game: Bourne visits Cotuit as the Kettleers try to make a run at the playoffs. Falmouth will be in Wareham.
Player: Overshadowed by Victor Roache, Cotuit’s Alex Yarbrough has had an awesome season. He’s hitting .286 with three homers and 11 doubles.
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